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Ophelia’s probably asking herself how I know where she lives and why I am on her property at this time of the hour.
“Good morning, Hamlet.” I step right up into her personal space and grin. “How would you have found me after you ditched me Friday? By the way, that wasn’t very nice of you.”
“What?”
“You heard me as clearly as your cousin behind you. Morning, Chance and Pixy/Bugger. Good to see you”—I kick an eyebrow up aimed at Ophelia—“again.”
“Again?” Ophelia looks from me to her cousin and back with a look of bewilderment.
“Morning, Tucker,” Chance says cheerily, giving me a short manly wave.
“Baaaa.”
I bite down on a chunk of the inside of my cheek to stop the laugh from bursting forth. Good to know the little guy is on my side.
Ophelia folds her arms, narrowing her eyes, not taking them off me while talking to her cousin. “Something you want to tell me, Chance?”
“I’ll let Tucker do it.”
“Chicken,” she looks over her shoulder, muttering to her cousin.
Chance laughs. He has one hand shoved in the pocket of his jeans, and he shrugs. “You may have missed the meet-and-greet.”
She sidesteps me, mumbling under her breath, which sends out a wispy white cloud against the dark sky into the cold, early morning air while tapping the passenger seat on the bike with her finger. “Something you want to tell me?” Diversion is her tactic.
“This is Shamus’s motorcycle. I’m just borrowing it for a few hours.” I point down because two can play that game. “I am digging those pajamas and the goat slippers you have on—”
“Seriously? Do you know what time of the morning it is?” she hisses at me. There’s my little spitfire. “Why are you here?”
“Don’t you mean, ‘How do you know where I live?’” My Cheshire Cat smirk conveys,I one-upped you.
“Just hear Tucker out, cousin. Aubrey and I are giving you the day off. We will drive back home later tonight.”
“Why?” She spins around on her cousin, crossing her arms. “You knew about this?” she accuses him, although she already knows the answer.
“Sure did. Tucker stopped by yesterday for a chat while you were out with Jensen. He’s a tad early.”
“You said nothing to me.”
I give Ophelia and her cousin a moment to hash it out.
Aah, yes, Jensen Peterson of Peterson & Son Carpentry. The competition.
I had no shame yesterday subtly questioning Aubrey when she proudly gave me a quick tour of the tiny house they were staying in, showing off how brilliant Ophelia is with her clever interior design. Informing me, Jensen had gotten squarely placed in the friend zone.
I do not doubt Jensen’s a nice guy. After all, he is Ophelia’s friend, and I think she picks her friends wisely, but I knew when I first met the pocket rocket I wasn’t going to let her slip through my fingers without further investigation into matters of the heart.
Knowing I am going away for ten weeks tomorrow, I won’t hesitate to bring friends in to keep an eye out for the junior Mr. Peterson.
I don’t blame the guy for having eyes for Ophelia. She’s the complete package, but we also have an established connection, and I will have to think fast to make sure she can’t forget about me. Ophelia will be my package to unwrap and no other man’s, even if I have to wait ten weeks.
“… Aubrey will be hearing from me. Not cool, both of you, for taking Tucker’s side and organizing a non-date behind my back. You are getting coal for Christmas, cousin.”
Chance is still getting a dressing down. I haven’t missed anything, but non-date?Paleease.
I hold a finger up. “If I might interject. It is wonderful to make friends with your family and get their approval. It means I am a nice guy to go on a date with.”Sometimes you just have to blow your own horn and act smug.
Chance tilts his head to the side, then cups his ear. “I think I hear the call of my beautiful wife.”
