8. Graham
GRAHAM
T he knock on the door startles me, cutting through the silence of the evening. I glance up from the site plans spread across the kitchen table, frowning. No one comes by unannounced. That’s one of the reasons I like Bardstown—quiet, predictable, no surprises.
But when I open the door, there she is. Mia.
She stands on my porch, one hand on her hip and a determined smile on her face like she’s already decided she’s not taking no for an answer.
“Mia,” I say, leaning against the doorframe. “What brings you here?”
“Oh, you know,” she says, breezing past me into the house without waiting for an invitation. “Just thought I’d pay my favorite reclusive landscape architect a visit.”
I sigh, shutting the door behind her. “I didn’t realize I was your favorite.”
“You’re also the only one I know,” she quips, flashing me another grin as she drops onto one of the chairs at the table. Her eyes sweep over the blueprints, but she doesn’t comment on them. Instead, she leans forward, resting her elbows on the table like she’s about to get serious.
“Okay, here’s the deal,” she says, and I already know I won’t like whatever comes next.
I cross my arms over my chest, staying where I am by the door. “What deal?”
“Sophie needs your help,” she says, her tone matter-of-fact.
I blink, caught off guard. “Sophie?”
“Yes, Sophie,” she says, rolling her eyes like I should have expected this. “My sister. You met her at the café the other day.”
“I remember,” I say, maybe a little too quickly.
“Good,” she says, clearly not noticing—or not caring—about my tone. “She’s planning Ethan and Riley’s wedding, and Riley wants this perfect outdoor venue. We found one already—the Holloway estate.”
“That’s great news,” I respond, wondering when Mia will get to the point of this visit.
“Exactly!” she says, like I just proved her point. “My sister needs someone to help with the gazebo designs, aisle, and the rest. I mean, you create beautiful outdoor spaces for a living. Who better to help Sophie than you?”
I let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Mia, I keep to myself for a reason. This isn’t my thing.”
She stands, crossing her arms as she faces me. “Look, I get it. You like your space. You don’t want people prying into your life. But this isn’t about that—it’s about helping my family. She doesn’t have much time to figure this out on her own, and Riley’s got her heart set on something amazing. Graham, you have the talent to make this outdoor venue unforgettable. You know how to transform a space into something magical. You’d be doing us a favor.”
I glance at the table, pretending to study the site plans, but my thoughts are already spiraling. Helping Sophie means spending more time with her, and that’s the last thing I should want. Especially since I’m still not quite over how I felt seeing her for the first time the other day at the café. Her smile, her laugh, and the energy of her presence seemed to shift the air around her.
It’s dangerous, and I feel this pull toward her. Because getting closer to Sophie means risking everything I’ve worked to protect.
But Mia doesn’t let up. “Just think about it, okay? I’m not asking you to give me an answer right now.”
I finally meet her gaze, and the earnestness in her expression makes it hard to say no.
“I’ll think about it,” I say.
Mia grins, clearly satisfied. “Good. I’ll let her know.” She heads for the door, pausing to give me one last look. “You’re a good guy, Graham. Don’t overthink it.”
The door clicks shut behind her, and the silence rushes back in.
I sink into the chair she just vacated, running a hand over my face. I tell myself I’ll take the time to weigh the pros and cons, but the truth is, I’m already leaning toward yes.
Not because of the wedding. Not because of Mia’s insistence.
But because of Sophie.
Something about her pulls at me, something I can’t quite name. She’s sharp and confident, with an energy that feels out of place in Bardstown but somehow fits perfectly at the same time.
I shouldn’t want to get to know her. Getting close to people has never worked in my favor—it’s too easy for them to ask questions, to dig into the parts of my life I’ve buried.
But despite everything, I can’t help the thought that creeps into my mind.
Maybe Sophie wouldn’t dig. Perhaps she’d see me for who I am now, not who I used to be.
It’s a dangerous thought, and I know it. But as I sit there, staring at the door Mia just walked out of, I realize something.
I’m tired of keeping everyone at a distance.
And for the first time in years, I wonder what it would be like to let someone in.
Taking a deep breath, I push the plans on the table aside and grab my phone. I don’t know if this is the right decision, but maybe, just maybe, it’s worth the risk.
I dial Mia’s number and wait for her to answer.
“I’ll do it,” I say as soon as she picks up.
Her cheer is loud enough to make me wince, but a small smile tugs at my lips despite myself.
“Good,” she says. “You won’t regret this.”
I’m not so sure about that, but I won’t say it. Instead, I end the call and stare out the window, the sky fading into the soft hues of dusk.
If I do this, I’ll need to be careful. Sophie can’t know too much, and I’ll have to set boundaries.
But as much as I try to convince myself it’s just another job, I know it’s not.
Because Sophie isn’t just another person passing through Bardstown. She’s more, something I can’t put my finger on… something special.
And that scares me more than I’d like to admit.
T he morning is crisp and bright as I park my truck in front of the Holloway Estate on the outskirts of Bardstown. Sophie’s car pulls up moments later, a sleek black sedan that looks entirely out of place on the gravel drive. She steps out, dressed in tailored pants and a cream blouse that looks like it came straight off the pages of a designer catalog. Her heels click against the uneven ground as she approaches, her posture perfect, her movements deliberate.
She looks so beautiful; it’s almost unreal. I clear my throat, trying to get my thoughts in order. Sophie carries herself like royalty. It’s in the way she glances around, her gaze assessing, sharp but not unkind. She stands with effortless grace, as if the world was built to accommodate her.
I’ve seen that posture before, that poise.
It’s the same way my mother used to stand during royal functions, her head held high, her presence commanding the room without a single word, effortlessly embodying the expectations placed on us.
And now, here’s Sophie Davis, radiating the same quiet authority and unshakable confidence.
It’s like a slap in the face, pulling me back to the castle—back to a life I’ve spent years trying to leave behind.
“Good morning. Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. I hope my sister didn’t hassle you too much?” she asks, her voice smooth and polite, with just the faintest edge of curiosity.
I nod, keeping my expression neutral. “Morning. Surprisingly, it didn’t take much for her to get me on board. I could say working on this with you is kind of like my wedding gift to Riley.”
“That’s so thoughtful of you. Let’s take a look around, shall we?” She smiles.
“Yeah,” I say, crossing my arms as I watch her. “It’s a little overgrown, but it’s great. The vines, the garden area—it works.”
She nods thoughtfully, stepping closer to the archway and brushing her fingers lightly against the stone. “It’s beautiful,” she says, almost to herself. “But it needs a lot of work.”
There it is again—that tone, that air of quiet authority. She’s not wrong, of course. The place does need work. But the way she says it—decisive, almost detached—reminds me of how my father used to discuss the castle grounds as if they were a project to be managed rather than a place to live in.
I clench my jaw, shoving my hands into my pockets.
“What’s it like being back?” I ask suddenly, the question slipping out before I can stop it.
She turns to me, her brows furrowing slightly. “What do you mean?”
"I just wonder how it feels, coming home after so long," I say, my tone sharper than I intended. "Does it still feel like home to you?"
Her lips press together briefly like she’s weighing her response. “It’s family. I grew up here, Graham. Bardstown is my home,” she says finally, her voice calm but firm. “My cousin’s wedding is here, and I wanted to help. That’s all. Why do you ask?”
I glance away, focusing on a patch of wildflowers growing near the edge of the property. I tell myself to let it go, to do the job, and move on.
“I just thought we’d talk about something while we work.” She gives me a perplexed look that says she wasn’t expecting that response from me, considering my track record of being the town’s recluse. “Shall we check the other side?”
Her head tilts slightly, her gaze narrowing as she studies me, her eyes glimmering as she smiles. “Are you always this impatient?”
I can tell she’s joking, but at the same time, her question catches me off guard, and I feel my jaw tighten. “I’m just trying to save us both time.”
“Well,” she says, turning back to the archway, “time isn’t something I’m worried about. I want to get this right.”
She’s not wrong, but the way she says it grates on me. It’s not her fault—I know that. But standing here, listening to her talk about getting things “right,” all I can think about is my father’s voice echoing through the castle halls.
“Perfection is a prince’s duty,” he used to say. “Anything less is a failure.”
“If you’re not worried about time, I am. I need to do a bunch of other stuff, but I gave them up just to be here.”
“And I’m genuinely grateful for that. And if you’re in such a hurry to leave, you could just make videos of the area and leave.”
Did she just say that to me? And why did it sound so dismissive?
I scoff. “Are you dismissing me?”
“No. But if you have other things to do, I’m afraid I have to offer a solution that works for both of us.” She smiles, but I can see through it; she can already tell I’m starting to get rattled, and she’s enjoying it.
I sigh. “It’s okay; I can spare a bit more time.”
“Thank you, Graham.” She walks ahead of me before turning her head back around to look at me. I stop in my tracks at the bright smile on her face and how beautiful she looks under the sunlight. “I think we should check the lake now. I remember it being on that side.”
She points to the far north and starts making her way there without getting a response from me.
I sigh, walking as fast as I can. “Careful! The ground is muddy.”
Just what did I let Mia rope me into?