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Holly
“Please tell me it’s cat appreciation day or something?” I was breaking all my rules and I needed a reason. I wanted to spend the rest of the day with him picking out the essentials for Cheddar and easing him into his new life as a cat dad. Honestly, I wanted to spend the rest of the day with him anyway, cat or no cat. I had no reason other than I liked him. A lot. He was fun and sweet and adorable and sexy, and I was pretty sure I could fall for him if I let myself. But my days of reckless abandon were over so I couldn’t. Not yet.
“Nope, sorry. ItisWaffle Day though. Want to stop for chicken and waffle tacos at the food trucks on the way back to my place?”
“Um, heck yes, I do. Those are my favorite. Holiday hall pass!” I held my fist out and he bumped it with a grin.
“It’s also Tolkein Day,” he informed me. “I hope you’re ready to find out what a huge fantasy nerd I am.”
“Uh, dude,The Hobbitis my favorite book of all time and I watch at least one of the movies a week with Jude and Levi. Wanna watch a movie tonight too?”
“Absolutely. You’re becoming one of my favorite people to spend time with, Holly.” A smile tipped up the corner of his mouth before he turned to put the bags in the truck, then opened the passenger door for me. “I’ll get the rest. Be right back.”
“Okay.” I sat the cat carrier on the seat and took Cheddar out to snuggle him.
“Holly.” The deep voice close to my back made me jump. “Did you get a new truck?”
I whirled and poor Cheddar let out an alarmed meow. “Jared.” I was only a tiny bit relieved it was him instead of a pickpocket or carjacker. “Don’t sneak up on me like that and no, it’s not my truck.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Sure, it’s okay.” I tucked Cheddar closer to my chest.
“I received your permits today. An apothecary shop, huh? Looks like you’ll be staying in Sweetbriar after all.”
“That’s the plan.”
“You know about the Sweetbriar Street Festival, right? The Sweetbriar Chamber of Commerce, which I happen to be on the board of”—he winked at me—“holds it every year. We started the tradition when you were gone, and I’ve never seen you attend one so I’ll explain. Local shop owners set up booths for the town folk and other business owners to sample their wares. There will be live music, a dance floor, kid games... you name it, and we have it. You should plan on setting up a booth. It would be a great way to get the word out about your little store. You can have a booth even if it’s not officially open yet, just fill out the papers. I’d love to be your official escort. I could introduce you around. There will be suppliers in attendance as well as merchants. It would be a great way for you to make useful contacts.”
“Uh, I don’t—”
“I’m trying to be a nice guy here.” He grinned. “Cut me a break, will you?” His voice was teasing, even flirty, but it left me cold. “Anyway, did I mention I’m about to put you on the schedule for the inspection of your building? Next week, perhaps?”
“No, I wasn’t aware of that. Luke and Liam are running the renovation. They’re supposed to take care of everything. You should probably contact one of them—”
“Of course. Luke’s company is always above board on everything they do. Owen is a worry, though I’m sure you know all about his reputation around town. I’d hate for anything to get in the way of you opening your store...” He was hinting at something but I had no idea what it could be.
“Right...”
“So, about the Sweetbriar Street Festival? I’ll shoot you a text or stop by Violet’s to make plans. Yes?”
“Sure, we can talk about it later.” Was he threatening my permits in order to get me to go with him? I dismissed the thought. He wouldn’t do that.Would he?
Liam approached with the rest of Cheddar’s things and dumped the boxes into the back of the truck with a borderline hostile look aimed at Jared.
“Hey. What’s going on?” His face was stone, and his voice was growly and pitched intimidatingly low. If I didn’t know him, I’d be scared right now.
Jared spared him a glance then nervously cleared his throat. “Cute cat, Holly.”
“Yeah, thanks. It’s Liam’s.” I wanted to put Cheddar back in his carrier. I didn’t want him anywhere near Jared, which was a weird thought, but I also didn’t want to turn my back on him, which was an even weirder thought.
“Hey, remember that cat you had back in high school? Persephone, was it?”
I nodded without answering. She was the most beautiful kitten I’d ever seen. My mom had rescued her from an animal shelter. She was an early birthday present a few weeks before I turned sixteen. She had disappeared sometime during my birthday party. I had spent weeks looking all over town for her and Jared had insisted on following me around and helping.
“We spent all those weeks together, putting missing posters up all over town. It broke my heart how sad you were.”
“I remember.”
