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“You look lovely.” Charles’s eyes respectfully moved over me, never dipping too low.
“Thank you.”
He held out his elbow. “Ready for the final date?”
A small flicker of relief hummed through me. Perhaps Charles had no intention of asking me out beyond the auction dates—thank god—and I wouldn’t have to come up with an excuse to let him down gently.
I gave him a tight-lipped nod and slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow. Charles set a steady pace, and togetherwe walked down the rows of the farmers’ market. He was an expert at small talk, and though I tried, I couldn’t find anything between us.
Not a single spark.
As we made our way up the opposite side, my shoulders stiffened when I realized he was headed straight for the Sullivan Farms booth. My heart stuttered.
As we approached, Duke’s eyes zeroed in on Charles and, more specifically, my hand tucked into his elbow. Subtly, I dropped my hand from his arm and shifted the tiniest step away from Charles.
Duke’s eyes were dark and penetrating, a stark contrast to the easygoing, friendly smile Charles wore. “Beautiful morning, isn’t it?”
Duke’s response was akin to a grunt as he held Charles in his stare. My heart wedged into my throat. It was rare I was ever this close to Duke, and my senses were on overdrive. Mixed with the warm, sweet smell of ripe blueberries was the unmistakable, masculine scent ofhim. Tiny hairs on my arms stood on end, and I averted my eyes, looking at the berries, jams, and jellies—literallyanywherebut the intense face of my secret friend.
When I dared to look up, Duke’s eyes flicked to mine for a fraction of a second before looking out beyond the stall and into the crowd. His jaw was flexed, nostrils flared, shoulders pulled back tight. He was like a warrior, ready for battle. Heat tingled and pooled between my legs at the intensity radiating off him.
Seemingly unfazed, Charles let Duke’s cold and dismissive attitude roll off his back. Once we’d finished our loop of the market, I thanked Charles for the small bouquet of flowers he had insisted on, and we parted ways.
On the drive back home, I couldn’t get Duke out of my head. The harsh reality settled over me: in a small town, royalty was everything, and I was a King.
FIVE
SYLVIE
The next morningafter my shift at work, I pulled into my driveway. For the past few years, I had lived with my aunt Bug in her opulent home. MJ lived there, too, and most days, it was nice to have someone to talk to, and the money I saved on rent was a bonus. I had budgeted and planned to move into my own apartment by spring. Not just move out butaway.I’d already filled a Pinterest board with ideas—the southern charm of Savannah, Georgia, was calling my name. The only thing holding me back was savings. That I could tackle, and then I’d be gone.
Maybe then I would feel like my life hadfinallystarted.
Eventually.
Nestled amid the lush greenery and picturesque surroundings, her home stood as a testament to my family’s wealth and opulence. When I scanned the driveway, my heart sank. Instead of MJ’s little red sports car, my father’s luxury Porsche was taking up her space. I swallowed past the lump that formed in my throat. Reaching into my bag, I sent my sister a quick text.
I thought we were doing lunch today?
MJ
I’m sorry to bail on you. Red had a bad morning, so I decided to stay a little longer. Rain check?
Of course. See you when you get home.
You’re the best. Just don’t tell Dad, okay?
My heart squeezed, and I immediately thought of Duke. Growing up, Red Sullivan had seemed larger than life. Beloved in our community. He was also my father’s rival. However, unlike my father, Red always wore a smile, and no one spoke an ill word of him. No one except my father, of course. As far as I could see, the two men didn’t have a reason to be at odds. Dad hated him on principle and, for him, that was enough.
After losing his mother, the last thing Duke needed was to carry the burden of the family business while his father’s health declined, but that was exactly what he did. I’d always assumed hewantedthe burden, but as our unlikely friendship unfolded over the last eight months, I began to see the truth behind it. Duke stepped up to save the family farm, and it may not have ever been whathewanted.
I had started to put my car in reverse—I didn’t have the energy to deal with my father today—when Aunt Bug stepped onto the front porch and waved.
Fuck.
I pulled off to the side and parked, holding my head high and shoulders back. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air, guiding me toward the immaculate front lawn.
“This is a surprise. I thought you were busy today.” Bug opened her arms to me, and I stepped into her embrace. An adult woman living with her aunt may seem pathetic, but really,Bug’s house was huge, and she always gave me space. Plus, knowing it was temporary helped me feel like less of a loser.
