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I was confused… by so many things. The look in Tony’s eyes right then. Why Rory seemed to be so invested in the state of my heart.
“Why do you care so much? I mean, why are you doing this?”
He offered me a one-armed shrug before admitting, “Because you deserve to be happy, Ava. I hate what Liam did to you, and I’m so sorry about it. I swear I didn’t know.” He sounded so sincere and concerned.
Since I’d been back in Port Rufton, we’d never really talked about what had happened. I’d been too embarrassed.
“I never thought you did,” I said, and he looked relieved.
Not once had it ever crossed my mind that Rory might have known what his former best friend was doing behind my back. I had known it would have killed him to keep quiet and not tell me. I was grateful he’d never been put in that position.
“So, yeah… you deserve happiness. And honestly, I hate seeing two people who so obviously like each other not give in to their feelings. Especially in this town,” he continued, explaining why he was pushing me and Tony together.
“What are you saying?”
“That there aren’t enough single people to go around, so it feels like a waste.”
“Well now, I wouldn’t want to be wasteful,” I said with a smile, and he nodded, like he had known I’d be agreeable.
“Once this works, by the way, you owe me.”
He gave me a wink before heading out the back door, leaving me alone to finish loading up the fridge whilenotthinking about Tony Garcia and this plan.
THIS IS A BAD IDEA
AVA
My best friend, Elise, was currently cracking up in my kitchen while I prepped today’s menu and lunch specials before we opened.
“He said what?Oh, this is brilliant. I can’t wait to watch it all unfold before my very eyes,” she said as she rubbed her growing belly.
Elise and I had been friends since grade school. She had married the only guy she’d ever slept with and was pregnant with their first child. The two of them currently worked at one of the only inns in town. Everyone in Port Rufton seemed to inherit their family business if they stuck around long enough.
“You should have seen Tony’s face when he saw Rory kiss my cheek. I thought he was going to burn the restaurant to the ground.”
“Told you he likes you.” She sounded so cocky about it all.
“Yeah, but you’re supportive to a fault. I can’t trust anything you say.”
I gave her a look that dared her to disagree, and she grinned.
“You’re not wrong. But I’ve been telling you since he first got here. That man wants a piece of you. And you should definitely give it to him.”
Elise had been saying exactly those words since the moment Tony had arrived and stayed at her inn. The restaurant had been closed at the time since a big storm was heading in. I still cooked my meals there though and prepped a slew of deliveries for those who I knew wouldn’t be able to get out of their homes once it hit.
I’d stopped by the inn to bring Elise some of my mom’s desserts and a couple dozen cornbread muffins for any wayward guests or locals who wandered in. Apparently, Tony watched our interaction from the living room fireplace the entire time. I hadn’t even seen him standing there. Elise claimed he was mesmerized. I told her she was insane. But then I had seen him for the first time a couple of weeks later, and it was me who had been damn near mesmerized.
“Do you think it’s a bad idea?” I suddenly grew nervous as I replayed Rory’s simple plan in my head.
“No. I think it’s perfect. It’s going to drive Tony mad.” She clapped her hands together, and I wondered just how crazy pregnancy hormones made people.
“I’m not sure you’re the best judge of things in your current state.” I pointed toward her belly. “Get Greg on the phone. Let me ask him.”
“Gladly.” She reached for her cell and pressed a single button before setting it down on top of the counter. It started ringing out loud as we waited for him to pick up.
“How’s my gorgeous wife and baby mama?” Greg answered, and we both grinned.
“Honey, I’m here with Ava,” Elise said out loud. “And you’re on speakerphone.”
