Chapter 17
LORI DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO think about what was developing between her and Malcom as she waited for him to drive his truck across the street. She could very well walk over to his trailer, but he’d said he’d pick her up. Kissing him last night had been . . . really amazing. And this afternoon, in the shop? That kiss had taken things to another level. First, it was in a public place, which was kind of a declaration in and of itself. And it had been in the middle of the day, and not after some romantic date. So another declaration.
Malcom seemed to be the kind of guy who didn’t wait if he wanted something. He simply acted.
And now, Lori’s cheeks were hot again.
What were they doing, though? Malcom didn’t know his plans from one day to the next, and Lori . . . well, she wasn’t going to allow herself to finally crush on a guy, only to have him disappear. She needed to focus on things that she knew were guarantees. Like prepping her parents’ house to sell and planning the expansion of her shop.
Her phone rang. It was her mom, of course, of all the moments. “Hello?”
“You were right about the postal scam,” her mother said. “I talked to my neighbor, and she said her husband had clicked on some weird link, and then his phone went haywire.”
Lori was barely listening because she saw a truck pull up in front of her shop. Malcom.
“Oh that’s too bad about your neighbor. Look, Mom, I’ll call you later, if that’s okay,” she said in a rush. “I’m heading to Everly’s for dinner.”
“Oh? A girls’ night out?”
“Not exactly.” Lori balanced her phone against her shoulder and picked up the casserole dish that was still warm. She headed toward the shop door, but paused before opening it. “It’s the girls and the guys. But I’m running late.”
Not late quite yet, but there was the risk of that. Not that she couldn’t be a little late. She tried to balance the casserole dish with one hand and open the door, but it really needed to be carried with two hands.
“Who’s your plus one?” her mom asked.
“What?” Lori gritted her teeth. She’d said too much. “Uh, my friend Malcom.”
And now he was out of the truck. Probably seeing that she was having a bit of difficulty.
“I’ve asked around about him—” her mom started.
“What do you mean you asked around?”
“Well, I talked to Lydia, and she said—”
The door opened, and Malcom was suddenly standing there. “Need an extra hand or two?” he asked.
“Is that him?” Her mom’s voice came through loud and clear. “Maybe I can say hello?”
“You’re not saying hello,” Lori bit out, then regretted her sharp tone. It would only be another thing to apologize for. Besides, Malcom could hear everything.
She handed the casserole dish to him, then grasped her phone. “Look, I’ll call you later. Love you.” She hung up before her mom could reply. “Sorry about that.”
When she looked up at Malcom, he only smiled. “I’d be happy to say hello to your mom.”
Lori huffed out a breath. “Don’t you dare.”
His brows shot up. “Dare what? Speak to your mom?”
She waved a hand at his person. “Be all amazing and stuff. My mom will be making wedding plans before you can hang up with her.” She turned to lock the shop door, giving her flaming cheeks a moment to cool off.
His chuckle was low. “She sounds like an entertaining person.”
“Oh, she is.” A text buzzed her phone, and Lori glanced at it. “Speaking of my mom, she’s now texting me. Wants to know where you grew up.”
Malcom’s eyes creased with his smile. “Tell her Montana.”
Lori put her phone on silent. “I think she can wait. How about we change the subject?” She crossed to the truck, and Malcom barely made it in time to open the door for her. She climbed into the passenger seat. “I’ll just hold the casserole on my lap, so it doesn’t slide around.”
Malcom set the dish on her lap after she put on her seat belt.
When he climbed into the other side of the truck, he paused before pulling out onto the road. “How are you?”
She released a slow exhale. “Fine. How are you?” How did he do that? Amid all the chaos, a simple question made her feel seen and noticed by him.
“I’m great,” he said, putting on his blinker. “The rest of my afternoon has been kind of crazy, but I’m hoping it’s all going to lead to some great stuff.”
Now Lori was curious. “Like what?”
He glanced over at her as they reached a stop sign where they’d turn left. “I want to bid for the condo project,” he said. “Take it over. I’m lining up investors. Austin is interested, he said. And there are a few others too. If I can get the final person on board, then I should be able to qualify for a bank loan.”
Lori stared at him. Austin was going to invest and . . . “You’re going to take it over from your brother?”
He smiled over at her, then turned onto the next road. “Essentially. I mean, he’s off the project because of his bankruptcy, so I’ll be approaching the city again. But I’m pretty sure the mayor will be happy to have my offer so quickly. We can start up again as soon as the bank approves it.”
“Wow.” Lori wasn’t sure what she felt. She was impressed, that was for sure, but it was more than that. A fluttering had started deep in her belly. “So you’re sticking around if that approval goes through?”
“I’m sticking around no matter what,” Malcom said, his voice low, soft. “Austin offered me a foreman job at the museum if my plan doesn’t happen.” He slowed the truck in front of Everly and Austin’s home. Light spilled out onto the porch and steps, and cars filled the driveway.
Malcom wasn’t leaving—at least not this year. Would he stick around after his job was done? Regardless, he needed these good things to happen, especially after how his brother betrayed him.
“That’s really amazing, Malcom,” she said as he pulled to a stop. “Everyone will be so excited.”
“Are you?” he asked, his gaze focused on her, his eyes dark in the cab of the truck.
“Of course I’m excited,” she admitted. “And I’m so happy for you. I hope you get that loan.”
“Me too.” He didn’t move.
She didn’t move. Were they going to keep sitting here? And why did it feel like butterflies were swarming inside of her?
“I was wondering . . .” he began. “Since we have all this good news happening, maybe you might reconsider our dating status?”
She swallowed as the butterflies pushed their way into her throat. “You mean beyond you kissing me in random places?”
He chuckled. “Yes, beyond that. You don’t have to answer me now,” he said. “In fact, take your time to think about it, since I’m not going anywhere.”
Ever? Or just for a while?
“Okay, I’ll think about it.” Did she really have to think about it? It might be a good idea to take some time, because at this moment, she wanted to tug him closer and kiss him. But if she did that, it would be written all over her face, and her friends would surely notice.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek, lingering for a moment. “Did I tell you that I like you?”
“You said you liked my earrings.”
He drew away. “That’s true too.” He opened his door and climbed out. Just like that.
Lori was trying to decide if she was disappointed he hadn’t kissed her for real, when he opened her door and lifted the casserole dish off her lap.
“Ready?” he asked, his gaze locked on hers.
It seemed that he was asking more than if she was ready to head into Everly’s house. “Yes.”
“You beat us,” Brandy’s voice sang from a car that slowed behind the truck. “Looks like you brought something substantial.”
“A casserole,” Lori said.
Ian turned off the engine, and he and Brandy climbed out of the car.
“We brought chips and salsa,” she said. “Boring, I know, but we both ended up having extra busy days.” She eyed Malcom.
Lori looked from him to Brandy. What was going on?
“You might as well spill it,” Ian said, coming around the car and draping an arm over Brandy’s shoulders. “You know you’re dying to.”
“Spill what?” Lori asked.
“Only if it’s okay with Malcom,” Brandy said coyly.
“It’s okay,” he said in a steady voice.
Huh? Lori was completely lost.
“Ian is going to invest in the condo project with Malcom,” Brandy blurted with a huge smile.
Lori’s brain jogged to catch up. “Oh. Wow. That’s great.”
Ian grinned. “The numbers line up, and I’m also going to build furniture for the main office lobby. A little publicity on my part.”
Warmth prickled Lori’s arms. If Ian was investing, and Austin was too, it meant that Malcom was really entrenching himself into Everly Falls. Which made her both exhilarated and nervous at the same time. What if they did date, and it didn’t work out? Would their friends have to choose sides?
She brushed that thought away because Everly had just opened the door to the house. “Well, come in, everyone.” She waved an arm full of jangling bracelets. “The party’s inside, not out in the dark.”
Everyone headed inside, and the conversation about Ian investing was put on hold. Lori had more questions, but here and now weren’t the right place and time. Was Ian the final person he’d been waiting on? No, she decided. Malcom hadn’t seemed surprised.
Everly and Austin had set up a long table in their living room so everyone could be seated together.
“Love your outfit,” Stephenie said, coming over for a hug.
“I love yours too,” Lori said.
Stephenie was wearing a dress, of course—a dark red one that paired well with her deep-brown knee-length boots. Lori’s light sweater was embroidered with the outlines of autumn leaves, which also went with her silver earrings in the same leaf shape.
Malcom set the casserole dish on the table, then fell into a conversation with Austin and Cal as Austin explained some of the upgrades he’d done on this older home.
With Malcom so thoroughly occupied, Lori felt like she should be doing something so she wouldn’t just follow him around like she wanted to. She headed into the kitchen, where the women had congregated.
“What can I do to help?” she asked Everly.
“He is sooo into you,” Brandy said in a hushed whisper from where she was pouring salsa into a glass bowl. “And I think it’s cute that he carried the casserole in.”
Lori had to stop from rolling her eyes. “Cute? He was helping.”
Brandy just grinned, matching Everly’s smile. The sisters both looked like Cheshire cats.
“I must say I agree.” Julie paused in adding dressing to a giant green salad. “Dave saw him at the bank today and said that Malcom brought you up several times.”
Lori frowned. “What did he say?”
She waved a hand. “I don’t know. Men don’t elaborate.” She glanced toward the living room as if to make sure they weren’t being spied upon. “But the fact that Dave even mentioned it . . . that’s significant.” She waggled her eyebrows.
Should Lori tell her friends about what Malcom had said in the truck? Ask for their advice?
“What’s going on?” Brandy asked. “I know that look—something’s up.”
Lori released a breath and took a seat at the counter on one of the stools. “If I tell you, you have to promise not to say a word—and that means to any of the guys. And especially your mom , Brandy and Everly.”
The sisters exchanged surprised looks.
“Cross my heart,” Brandy said, doing just that.
The men’s voices rumbled from the front room, something about shelves.
But Lori lowered hers just the same. “He wants to officially date.”
Her friends squealed, keeping their voices down. Still, Lori’s eyes widened as she panicked that they’d been overheard. But there didn’t seem to be a break in the men’s conversation.
“I’m so happy for you,” Brandy said, clapping her hands silently.
Lori held up her hand though. “I haven’t given him an answer yet. I mean, I don’t know how long he’ll be in Everly Falls.”
Everly came around the counter and set a hand on her shoulder. “I think he’s made it pretty obvious he’s staying.”
“Really?” Julie asked, eyes wide. “I thought his job had been nixed.”
Stephenie elbowed her as Austin and Cal walked into the kitchen.
“Need help with anything?” Austin asked.
“You can grab the drinks,” Everly said. “We’ll carry the rest in.”
Lori pulled out her phone and sent a text to the group. I’ll explain more later .
They all gathered at the table, then began to pass around the food. The potluck was a success because the food choices seemed to all go together. Maybe not in theme, but Lori’s casserole paired well with Julie’s salad, the fruit platter from Stephenie, Ian’s potato salad, and Austin’s peach pie—the only decent thing he could make, he claimed.
Through it all, Lori was hyperaware of everything Malcom. What he said, who he talked to, when he looked at her, when he smiled . . . basically, his very presence. It wasn’t really a question if she wanted to date this man, it was if she should . Because, right now, right here, it seemed the perfect scenario. All of her friends enjoyed being around him. But their hearts weren’t on the line—not like hers.