CHAPTER 25
Tally
“You’re doing it again,” Penny mumbles, kicking me in the shin beneath the table.
“Ow.” I reach down and rub at the spot as Rosie snickers beside me. We’re having dinner at Wicked Wine and Cheese and have a plateful of a variety of cheeses and meats sitting in front us. Basically, it’s my version of heaven. Or it was before I started getting the third degree from these two.
“Eventually you’re going to have to tell us what happened between you and the cowboy,” Rosie teases.
I roll my eyes, pretending I have no idea what they’re talking about.
Pretending that Walker didn’t kiss the life out of me after the farmers market and then act like it never happened.
It’s been days and, under the guise of getting ready for the Daffodil Festival and the Hall vow renewal, which will require a hell of a lot more work than either of us had anticipated, Walker’s been gone before I wake up and returns after I’m already in my bedroom.
I’d be upset, but I haven’t minded the space to think. Truthfully, that kiss threw me more than I’d like to admit. I’ve kissed boys before, plenty of them, but I’ve never been kissed like that.
Kissing—and sex—and all the acts in between are meant for the singular purpose of getting off. Relieving stress. But Walker’s kiss wasn’t that. In fact, it did the opposite; it wound me up and tied my stomach in knots.
All I can think about is doing it again.
“Oh look, it’s our mayor,” I say loudly, excited to turn the tables on Rosie. “Think he’s coming here to meet a lady friend?”
Penny snorts as Rosie scowls and violently stabs the cheese knife into the baked Brie.
I study Fletcher as he chats with the hostess.
He’s a very good-looking man, always smiling, and the curls on his head giving him a boyish charm.
The hostess hands him a to-go bag, and Fletcher thanks her before heading our way.
I practically squeal in excitement as Rosie’s cheeks flame red.
She tugs on her signature gold hoops and looks anywhere but at Fletcher as he steps up to our table to say hello.
“Hi, Fletcher. You having a picnic tonight?” I ask.
I couldn’t think of a more romantic date.
Cheese and wine with my girlfriends is fun, but having a man provide both of those things in a meadow under the stars would be perfect.
A vision of me arriving in the wildflower meadow and seeing Walker sitting there with a hopeful smile plays in my head, and my stomach flips at the thought. Shit.
“No. My mother loves her cheese. I wanted to surprise her with some since she’s always watching Henry for me.”
“I’m sure she loves spending time with him,” Penny says.
Fletcher nods—though there’s something sad in his expression—before glancing at Rosie, who still has yet to look away from the Brie, which she’s murdered seven times over. “Well, I hope you ladies have a good night.”
He’s barely reached the door when I turn my focus on my best friend. “I seriously don’t get it. Why do you hate him so much?”
Rosie shrugs. “I just do. He’s arrogant and always up in everyone’s business.”
“He’s just friendly,” I point out.
Penny’s oddly silent.
I glance at her. “What do you know?”
Penny and Rosie share a look that I hate.
It highlights the time I’ve been away. The time when the two of them shared secrets.
Growing up, it was me and Rosie. Or me and Penny.
Maybe sometimes the three of us, but not often.
Penny was older and spent all her time with her high school best friend, Jake Montgomery.
They were inseparable. Always caught up in a book, or hanging at his house on the water.
Rosie and I, on the other hand, spent most of our teenage years sneaking boys and drinks into the cottages at night.
During the day we would drive around for hours, dreaming of the day when we’d leave Hope Harbor.
Until I did and Rosie couldn’t. And now, well, now I’m the one on the outside and I have no idea how to get them to let me in completely.
Finally, I lift up my glass and glare at Rosie, “Tell me why you hate the mayor or forever suffer bad sex.”
Rosie sighs and clinks her glass against mine like I’m the worst friend ever. “You know how hard it was to get the brewery approved with the town?”
I nod, relieved that she’s finally talking to me.
“Well, he was the mayor back then, too.” She shrugs, like that’s enough of an explanation. And maybe it is. But I still feel like there’s something more.
“Ladies!” My back goes ramrod straight at the sound of Rayna McGovern’s loud voice.
Somehow, while we were distracted, the Liberty Ladies have appeared out of nowhere.
My mother isn’t with them. Though I’m not surprised, considering she’s in just as much of a tizzy as Walker is about getting the farm ready.
I’m sure she’s sleeping right now from sheer exhaustion, even though it’s only six o’clock.
“Hello,” Rosie says, and the three of us wave at them. “What are you gals up to tonight?”
“Oh, we thought we’d have a little wine while we discussed this cowboy book we’re all reading. We’re halfway through. What about you?” Babs asks. She’s in a low-cut red top, and I work to keep my eyes on her face.
“We’ll be ready on Monday,” Penny tells them. It’s good she’s replied because the last thing I’m doing is reading a book about a swoony cowboy. I don’t need any help getting carried away in my own mind.
“That’s good,” Babs replies. “We do love our spicy Mondays.”
I offer a polite smile and hope we’re done engaging, but Babs steps closer and somehow her breasts really do seem to lunge toward my face. “You know, we were just talking about you.”
“Me?” I push back in my chair to get a little breathing room.
“Did you know that Rayna owns the building that Mabel’s Bakery used to be in?” Babs muses.
My stomach flips. “No. I had no idea.”
“She’s looking for someone to rent it,” Babs says.
I glance at Rayna, who smiles smugly.
“Have you ever thought of doing something like that?” Babs continues.
“Oh no, I don’t have any formal degree. I just like to bake.”
“Hmm,” she hums. “Well, what about a stand at the farmers market?” She says this to Rosie, who tilts her head toward me in question.
Penny nods. “That’s a really good idea. What do you think, Tally?”
“We’ve got a lot going on at the farm at the moment. The big wedding for one. Plus, they will need the cottages ready for guests because there’s no hotel rooms available in town that weekend.”
Towering behind Rayna, Ruby Simmons perks up. “Oh, my husband could probably help with that. He’s in need of some extra work.”
I blow out a breath. “Walker’s in charge, and I’m not sure we have the money to pay people right now.”
Her lips twist in disappointment. “Okay, well, let us know if he changes his mind.”
“Think about the farmers market, Tally,” Babs adds, tapping a hand on the table before stepping back. “You’re good at what you do.”
I smile awkwardly. “I will.”
The four of them disappear, and the girls go back to talking like everything the Liberty Ladies just said didn’t throw my heart in a tailspin.
“So,” Penny interrupts my thoughts. “What do you think?”
I play dumb. “What do I think about what?”
“The bakery,” Rosie answers matter-of-factly.
I frown. “Who’s going to buy my stuff?”
Penny shakes her head like she thinks that answer is a cop-out. “Okay, maybe not the bakery just yet. But what about your own stand at the farmers market?”
My head swivels, and I stare at my sister. “Where would I even bake?”
Penny taps her lips. “Oh, if only you had a big kitchen to work in. Oh wait, you do.”
“Ha ha,” I say sarcastically. “You forget that I currently share that kitchen with Walker. I doubt he’d be happy if I set up a whole business in the kitchen.”
“I’m sure you could make it worth his while,” She. grins at me, her eyes dancing.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I mumble, stuffing a cracker and a piece of cheese into my mouth.
Rosie’s raspy laugh breaks through the quiet of the restaurant. “Sure you don’t.”
But just like the two of them have their secrets, I’m keeping Walker and his mind-blowing kisses to myself for the time being.
“Why don’t you invite him to meet us at the brewery one night to celebrate the Hall vow renewal? Maybe you could even tell him about Mrs. Simmons’s idea.”
I bite my thumb as I consider it. Why don’t I?