Page 34 of Sterling Fight

“How is this going to—” Clay continues, pointing between Judd and me.

“Who wants dessert?” Vale asks, glancing at me from her position at the opposite end of the table. She stands rather quickly, bumping her knee beneath the table, and I’m grateful for the distraction despite the narrowed, questioning gaze in Vale’s eyes.

Halle pats my leg, and I turn toward her. “Don’t worry. We love a good second chance romance around here. And these things have a way of working out.”

Halle offers me a compassionate smile and I’m certain there’s a story between her and Knox I don’t know yet.

Glancing back at Judd, I’m worried I might never hear their tale. He won’t look at me. Instead, he picks up a bowl of potato salad and stands, helping his sister clear the table without speaking to anyone, including me. I don’t like the slump in his shoulders as I watch his back while he walks away.

As for Halle’s second chance romance comment, Judd and I would have had to be romantic in the first place, and that never happened.

13

[Genie]

“Imessed up.”

Judd’s head snaps in my direction as he drives us to his home. “How did you mess up?”

“I mentioned living in Knoxville.”

He’s silent a second. He’s been quiet most of the afternoon after I explained what I do and where. But Judd had also been attentive. He rarely left me alone unless he sensed I was comfortable with the brood of women suddenly in his family.

Enya is married to Sebastian. Her sister, Cadence, engaged to Ford. Halle and Knox are a second chance romance as reunited high school sweethearts, and I learn they are newly married. And Mavis is engaged to Clay.

“Don’t sweat it.” Judd pauses another second and shifts in the driver’s seat. “Your business sounds really cool.” He lets another beat pass. “Are you sure you want to sell?”

I’m not, but I’ve weighed other options.

“Have you talked to a financial advisor?” Judd asks next.

“Not really.” I hate how I sound so sheepish, like I haven’t done my homework. Licking my lips, I turn toward him. “Judd, please don’t make me feel stupid about my own business.”

“What?” His head jerks toward me again, pausing a little longer than he should considering he’s driving.

“My mother thinks my job is just a hobby. I like to draw, she says, like it isn’t creative or artistic to make graphic designs. And she’s shocked that I know anything about calendars, assuming I must be copying my ideas from someone else.”

In some ways, I guess I do copy others. I research novelty dates, but also customs and cultures and religions to know what dates are important to them and why. My calendars are meant for people to embrace the day.

Suddenly, Judd is pulling over onto the very narrow shoulder of the road. He shifts into Park, hits his hazard lights, and abruptly turns his entire body to face me.

“First, I call bullshit with your mother. It’s not a hobby. It’s your fucking livelihood, and I think you love it. You glow when you talk about it.”

My cheeks heat at the mere mention of glowing. I do love designing. The creative outlet. The quirkiness of the dates. The fun in them.

“And second, I don’t ever want you to feel like I’m belittling you. Like I’m putting you down for who you are or what you do or think or say. I’m sorry if you felt that way.” He swipes through his hair and then dangles his arm over the steering wheel. “I respect what you do, and respectfully, I want to help.”

Judd might be mocking me and the way I spoke to him about his fights only last night, but the raw fear in his eyes that he might have hurt my feelings has me believing he’s sincere.

“I just want to understand why you’d sell,” he continues. “There’s something in your voice that sounds uncertain. But you’re right, I don’t know your industry. Maybe you could tell me more about it.”

I’m so shocked I suddenly can’t think of anything to say. Not many people ask so directly for information, nor hold my gaze as if truly interested in knowing more about what I do.

“As you might have picked up, Sylver Seed & Soil was our parents’ dream. Our mother’s, actually. She loved plants and animals, especially horses, and even if we are a small town, there was a farm-and-fleet business in need of some TLC. My parents bought it and turned it into Sylver Seed & Soil. My father nearly ran it into the ground after my mother died, though.” Judd swallows thickly, lowering his eyes a second.

“I’m so sorry, Judd.” I knew his mother had died. I even know his father is dead as well. There were rumors about his dad, but I don’t remember them exactly. Some of them, I really hope weren’t true. For Judd and his amazing siblings’ sake.

Unable to help myself I reach for his thigh. Judd’s eyes track the movement and then pause on my fingers against his leg.