Page 30 of The Cherry Blossom Boathouse

“This is Abbey, by the way,” Grace said, introducing Sophie to the strawberry blonde. “She manages the marina office Luke runs his tours from.”

“Hey, nice to meet you,” Abbey said, giving Sophie a genuine smile.

“Lovely to meet you, too.”

“I am so fascinated with your boathouse bookshop plans,” Abbey said. “I’ve often eyed the place up myself. What are you planning to do?”

As Sophie launched into her ideas, she was constantly aware of Luke’s presence.

Grace’s eyes flicked toward the bar then waved. “Hey, Luke! Come over for a sec!”

“What are you doing?”

“Just wanting to chat to a friend,” Grace said with a small shrug. “No big deal.”

Luke peered over, sighed, then strolled toward them. “Evening,” he said, with all the emotional generosity of a weather report.

Sophie offered her brightest totally unbothered, totally normal smile. “Hey!”

“We were just admiring your sudden ability to function in social settings,” Grace said. “It’s honestly inspiring.”

Luke’s mouth twitched. “Jake’s fault. He talks until you forget you’re supposed to be angry.”

“Is that what it takes to get you to smile?” Sophie said. “A controlled blaze and peer pressure?”

Grace snorted into her punch and Luke’s mouth tugged just slightly at one corner. “Arson and emotional blackmail do tend to bring out my best qualities.”

Luke’s gaze lingered on her, eyes traveling over her dress, then he quickly looked away.

Abbey cleared her throat with all the subtlety of a foghorn. “We were just talking about Sophie’s plans for the boathouse. She tells us she’s aiming to launch at the Solstice Serenade?”

“Yep, I know,” Luke said with another heavy sigh.

The look on his face suggested he really didn’t think she could do it. That hurt more than it should.

“I know it won’t be easy,” Sophie said. “But I have done the research. I’ve mapped out every phase. And I’ve never wanted something this much.”

Luke exhaled, scratching the back of his neck. “Well…if anyone could strong-arm a miracle out of rotten floorboards and bad wiring, I guess it’d be you.”

Sophie blinked. “Was that—support?”

Luke shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “Might’ve been. Don’t get used to it.”

Grace grinned into her punch.

“Grace! Abbey!” Mabel shouted from the table. “I need your help!”

“We’re being summoned by the Cherry Blossom High Priestess,” Grace said with a sigh.

“If we’re not back in ten minutes,” Abbey added, “assume we’ve been sacrificed to the festival gods.”

She winked at Sophie and the two women sauntered off toward Mabel, leaving her alone with Luke.

“So, they got you with the Blossom Blessing,” Luke said, reaching forward to pluck a pink petal from her hair. His fingers hesitated for a fraction of a second, as if he’d surprised himself with the gesture. “Means you’ve officially been initiated.”

Sophie tried to ignore the flutter in her stomach at his proximity. “Is this where you tell me it’s all made up? Some elaborate hazing ritual for newcomers?”

“Made up in nineteen ninety by Abe—the old guy who initiated you and has taken it upon himself to be an unofficial mayor of this town,” Luke confirmed, nodding toward the cup Sophie was holding. He leaned close, bringing with him a hint of his musky aftershave. “But don’t tell the others,” he said in a low voice. “The younger members of town are convinced it’s an ancient tradition dating back to the town founders.”