Page 69 of The Cherry Blossom Boathouse

“Claire was…” Grace hesitated, clearly choosing her words carefully. “Let’s just say she knew what she wanted and didn’t much care who she stepped on to get it.”

“All flash, no substance,” Mabel added with a sniff. “More concerned with how things looked than how they worked.”

“The type who’d rearrange your entire bookshelf without asking because she’d seen something ‘better’ on Pinterest,” Ella said with unmistakable disdain.

“But also beautiful, impulsive, adventurous, a force of nature,” Caleb added. The other women shot him looks and he shrugged. “Just trying to add a counter-balance. I mean, we all know she’s got nothing on our London gal.”

Sophie gave him another weak smile, trying not to show how each word landed like a stone in her stomach. Claire sounded exactly like the kind of woman Sophie wasn’t: spontaneous, glamorous.

A new voice joined the conversation then, loud and slightly slurred.

It was Natalie, the side-eyeing woman from the town hall meeting a few weeks back, her short dark bob disheveled and her cheeks flushed with what was clearly not her first drink of the evening. “Are we talking about Claire?” She dropped into an empty chair, sloshing her drink as she did. “I personally got on fine with her.”

“Natalie,” Mabel said, her tone carrying a note of warning, “maybe switch to water?”

Natalie waved her off. “I’m fine. And I’m right. You were all too hard on the girl. She was good for Luke! Shook him up. Showed him what it’s like to color outside the lines, just like his ma was taught the same by her handsome city fella back in the day. That’s why Luke keeps having these summer flings,” she added, gesturing to Sophie, “always chasing the high Claire gave him, the same high his mother went for.”

Sophie frowned.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Natalie said. “Luke’s flings never lasted past Labor Day.” She tilted her head, matching Sophie’s frown. “I guess what with it being spring, even if your fling doesn’t last past Labor Day, that’s still longer than the others since Claire. Plus it gives him a chance to keep an eye on the renovation while”—she made an obscene gesture with her hands that had Mabel gasping—“you know.”

“Natalie!” Grace hissed.

“What? I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking. At least with a fling with Sophie, he can make sure she doesn’t make any changes he doesn’t like.”

Sophie felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her head. Was that what people thought? That Luke was sleeping with her to control her renovation? To make sure she didn’t change his precious lake?

“Let’s get you some coffee,” Mabel said, helping Natalie to her feet and dragging her away.

As they left, an awkward silence fell over the group.

“Don’t listen to her,” Grace said, squeezing Sophie’s arm. “Natalie’s still bitter that Luke never returned her interest. Plus, she’s three sheets to the wind.”

“Of course,” Sophie said, forcing a smile that felt brittle. “I didn’t take it seriously.”

But as the conversation moved to safer topics, Sophie found her eyes drawn back to Luke across the room. He was laughing now: a rare, full laugh that transformed his face, making him look younger, more carefree. Did he laugh like that with Claire?

As if sensing her gaze, Luke looked up, catching her eye. His smile, warm and private, sent a curl of heat through her despite her doubts. He raised his glass slightly in silent greeting.

Sophie raised hers in return, ignoring the knot of uncertainty tightening inside her.

“Don’t let Natalie get in your head,” Grace whispered to her. “Whatever’s between you and Luke…it’s real. Anyone with eyes can see it.”

“Thanks,” Sophie said, wishing she could be as certain.

Luke walked across to them then. “You all right?” he murmured, lips close to her ear. “Saw Mabel dragging Natalie away. What’d she say to put that look on your face?”

“Nothing worth repeating,” Sophie replied, leaning into his touch. “Just drunk nonsense.”

Luke’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t press. Instead, he nodded toward a quieter end of the deck. “Mikkel’s doing some fancy fireworks thing in ten minutes. Want to grab a good spot? Get some quiet time?”

“God, yes,” Sophie said, relieved for the change of subject. “Lead the way, Captain.”

Luke guided her through the crowd, his fingers warm against her back, protective without being possessive. By the time they reached the railing at the edge of the deck, Sophie’s earlier unease had begun to dissolve, replaced by the simple pleasure of being near him.

The next hour passed in a blur of laughter, conversation, and Mikkel’s truly spectacular fireworks display over the lake for Caleb. Sophie found herself swept up in the genuine warmth of Solace Springs’ little community, all the while hyperaware of Luke beside her—his rare but genuine laugh, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, how his hand never strayed far from some point of contact with her body.

And bloody hell, he looked good in the glow of the party lights. The blue shirt brought out the intensity of his eyes, and when he rolled up his sleeves to help Mikkel adjust something on the grill, Sophie nearly swallowed her tongue at the sight of those forearms. The man could make even the most mundane tasks look indecently attractive.