Page 61 of Windward Hearts

Her grandmother stroked her hair. “You have one life to live,” she reminded Hope. “You have to reach for your happiness. Grab it with both hands.”

“You’re right,” Hope said.

Miriam looked at her expectantly.

“Oh… did you mean right now?” Hope asked, blinking in surprise.

“No time like the present,” Miriam said.

Hope waited for the spasm of worry that she felt certain would course through her… but it didn’t arrive. There really wasn’t any sense in stalling. It wouldn’t change their situation if she waited. Either he wanted to make something of the flirtatious energy that sparked between them, or he didn’t. If he didn’t, better to know now. If he did… well, then waiting would only deny them both happiness for longer.

“Okay,” she said, feeling a rush of confidence. “Okay. I’m going to do it. I’m going to tell him.”

“Proud of you, honey!” Miriam called from behind her as Hope went out the door.

Hope tried not to second-guess herself as she hurried to Riverstone Kitchen. She quickly waved to a few coworkers as she went to the kitchen window, not letting herself get drawn into any conversations. She paused when she reached the window, though, and just took a moment to watch Jared in his element.

He wasn’t doing anything fancy, just chopping some herbs. But his hands were so deft with a knife in them, and he was clearly in his element. When he caught sight of her out of the corner of his eye, however, he put down his knife and turned to her with a broad grin.

“Hey, Hope,” he said. She was struck by just how handsome he was. Chef whites weren’t a super cute outfit, in Hope’s opinion, but Jared really made them look good. Probably it was just… him. His kindness, his ability, his generosity of spirit. And, yeah, his face. He had a really cute face.

“Hey, Jared,” she said. She was probably smiling in a super dopey way.

“I didn’t think you were scheduled today…”

“Oh, I’m not, actually,” she said. She gathered her courage around her like a blanket. “I actually came to talk to you. Do you… have a minute?”

He scrunched his nose, glancing down at the mountain of herbs that he hadn’t yet chopped.

“I’m kind of in the middle of a rush,” he admitted ruefully. “But you’re welcome to come in.”

“Yeah,” she said, feeling a little spasm of nerves. “Yeah, okay, let me just…”

She crossed her eyes at her own awkwardness as she went into the kitchen, then paused and took a breath before letting herself in.

Even though he’d only seen her a minute or two prior, Jared sent her another dazzling smile over his shoulder as she entered.

“Don’t look away from your work,” she chided, approaching him. “That’s how you lose a finger.”

“I’m a professional, Hope,” he teased. “Don’t worry about me. Anyway, what did you need to talk about?”

She took a deep breath… and then it all spilled out of her.

“When I came to Magnolia Shore, I thought it would be temporary. I mean, I was just here to help my grandmother, right? I didn’t even think I would get any kind of job, let alone one that I really like. No, that I love. I love working here. I love the work, and I love the staff. And I love this whole town. I love the book club. I love quilting. I want to stay. I want to stay with the people I love, and that—” She sucked in a breath and took the plunge. “That includes you. I love you. I want to stay here, I want to work here, and I want us to be together.”

For a moment, Jared kept calmly chopping herbs. Hope didn’t dare look at his face.

“You can definitely keep working here… but I am going to have to cut your hours,” he said. She couldn’t read his tone, but a frisson of worry went through her. She’d been talking a big game, mostly to herself, but now that she’d done the brave thing and admitted how she felt… she was definitely having some doubts.

“Oh,” she said quietly. “Uh, okay.”

Inwardly, she was much less calm than she seemed. Was this his way of letting her down easily? Had she not only messed up their newfound friendship by confessing her feelings but also wrecked a job that she loved?

“Uh, can I ask why?” Her voice sounded small even to her own ears.

Jared turned to her, and the smile on his face made her feel a whole lot better.

“Well,” he said, putting down the knife on the table behind him. “I just worry that if you work here full time, it will get in the way of your new quilting business. And I could never forgive myself if I got in the way of your happiness.”