Chapter 20
She was remarkably quick in the discovery of attachments. —Sense and Sensibility
Elinor
Edward’s holding my hand. It’s such a small thing—but it’s not.
My heart is thundering. Does the fact that I’m letting him mean that I’ve forgiven him?
I don’t know. Tonight has been surprisingly fun.
Of course, I shouldn’t be surprised that Edward and I could talk for hours.
Getting along with him has never been my problem.
The problem is trusting him. But I’m still holding his hand because I don’t want to let go.
“Elinor . . . I . . .”
Before Edward has a chance to finish what might have been a potentially interesting sentence, we are interrupted.
“I knew it!” squeals Jenn Juarez, marching right up to our table, pointing at the two of us like she has caught us doing something scandalous.
I whip my hand out of Edward’s and hide it under the table.
There’s no chance J.J. didn’t notice us holding hands.
She has a sixth sense for stuff like that.
But I’ve already decided what my tactic will be: deny, deny, deny.
“You should thank me, Elinor.” She points at Edward. “The first day we met, I told him to go for you. And look at you two now. Good job, tiger!” She winks at Edward. I am so embarrassed I can’t look at him.
“J.J., we’re not a couple,” I say coolly.
“Maybe it’s not official, but anyone can see where things are going.”
J.J. teases Annie all the time about imagined romances.
And I’m sorry to say that I have always thought Annie was a bit dramatic when she complained about J.J.
’s wisecracks. “Just be a good sport,” I’d tell her.
“Don’t worry! No one takes J.J. seriously.
” I need to officially file an apology with my sister.
Right after I file my complaint with her for setting me up like this.
I’m doing my best to remain calm and cool, but inside, I’m dying of mortification.
My eyes flick to Edward to see how he’s handling it.
He appears completely unbothered and thoroughly amused.
I can’t match his emotions. The delicate shoots of tenderness unfurling in my heart a few minutes ago wilt under the glaring sun of J.J. ’s relentless teasing.
“Don’t try to fool me,” she continues. “I have a knack for this stuff. Your sister says she and Brandon are just friends. But I know better. He’s obviously head over heels for her.”
“Really?” I ask momentarily, distracted from my own predicament.
Truthfully, I have been amazed by Brandon’s indifference to my sister.
From what I’ve seen, he treats Annie more like a nanny than a love interest. He’s polite and seems to tolerate her joining their father-daughter outings.
But he doesn’t look like a man in love. Then again, she finagled him into inviting Edward here tonight for this nacho setup. So she must have some sway with him.
“That one plays his cards close to his chest,” says J.J. knowingly. “But I see him. Every afternoon he goes to the lobby to listen to her play piano—every single day.”
“But that’s for Pepper! She worships Annie,” I say.
“Pepper writes in her notebook during the performance. Brandon listens. Word on the street is her park ranger boyfriend is moving soon. You two could have a double wedding.”
And now I want the ground to swallow me up.
“It’s been great, J.J.” I stand up. “I’ve really got to get going now. Thanks for the nachos,” I say to Edward.
“I’m coming with you.” He stands up.
“Good to see you again,” he says to J.J., who hugs him like they are old friends.
“I expect I’ll be seeing more of you,” she says to Edward before also giving me a big hug. And I really can’t complain—J.J. gives the best hugs.
Everyone in the bar watches as Edward and I leave together. In this town the news will spread like wildfire. Sure enough, my phone buzzes as soon as I’m outside
Annie: Is it true?
Are you and Edward dating?
I heard you two were cozy at the taproom
“So it begins,” I mutter to myself.
“What begins?” asks Edward, who has just caught up to me.
“Annie just asked if we’re dating. We sit together in a booth for a few minutes, and the whole town jumps to crazy conclusions.”
“It’s not that crazy,” he says.
I take fast strides across the tiny parking lot, but he easily keeps up.
“Did you walk here?” he asks, when it’s obvious I’m leaving the lot and headed for the road.
“Yep, Annie took the car to the aquarium. Just another step in her meddling. It’s not far. I won’t give her the satisfaction of knowing you drove me home.”
“Umm . . . I respect that, but I don’t like the idea of you walking a couple of miles at night without a good shoulder.” He points down the tree-lined road. He’s right. The shoulder’s fine in the daylight, but at night it’s really not safe.
“Fine . . . I mean thank you. I’ll take a ride.”
I follow him back to the parking lot, where Edward walks over to a silver sports car. I don’t know the make, but it must be British because he opens the left door for me.
“Another car?” I ask with a heavy dose of judgment. I’m salty because Annie’s ridiculous matchmaker plot is actually working.
“Yes, another gift from my grandpa.” We pull out onto the dark windy road.
“Where do you keep all your cars?” I ask.
He laughs.
“That’s been a problem. We have parking for two cars at the house. And the third I keep at my dad’s. But I need to sell it or store it somewhere. Grandpa was so wealthy he was sometimes a bit out of touch. More than once he gave me expensive things that were more of a burden than a gift.”
“Kind of like a cottage with three annoying tenants.”
“No,” he laughs. “That was one gift Reginald thought through. He knew exactly what he was doing when he left me Bumble Cottage.” Before I can ask a follow-up question Edward changes the subject. “So, when did your sister and Brandon become so chummy?”
“It’s the strangest thing. Brandon, Annie and Pepper are like The Three Musketeers. They do everything together. The natural conclusion would be that he’s in love with her, because most guys are. But he sure doesn’t act like it.”
“Why’s that the natural conclusion? I would think Annie would fall for him. Brandon’s a catch.”
“True! He’s a great dad, and he’s not bad looking. But she swears up and down that there are absolutely no sparks. And I don’t think she’s lying.”
“Maybe she’s lying to herself.”
“Maybe? I don’t think Annie’s used to having a guy who’s her friend and not half in love with her. I didn’t know it was possible for a man to be immune to my sister’s charms.”
“Excuse me—I have absolutely no interest in your sister.” This is the sweetest thing Edward could say.
I never thought I minded being overlooked for Annie.
I certainly don’t want a posse of men following me about.
But it is satisfying knowing that at least one man—in fact the man I like best—prefers me to my sister.
“You’d be the first.”
“I doubt that. The cowards are just intimidated by you.”
“And you’re not?” I ask with a tease.
“Oh, I’m terrified.”
He parks the car in the gravel driveway outside Bumble Cottage.
My home looks inviting, with warm light pouring out of the windows and the sound of Annie playing Chopin floating through the garden.
He opens my door for me and walks me to the garden gate.
The white arch leading to the garden is laden with honeysuckle, and the sweet scent surrounds us.
“Thanks for tonight.” He says hands in his pockets. “It was nice.”
“Yeah.” I don’t know what to say. I feel too much for words, and I’m not at all sure what I want to do with these feelings.
Except I do. The truth is, somewhere between nachos and easy conversation, my fears and frustrations with Edward have evaporated.
Now I’m filled with cautious hope. Maybe this could be . . . something good.
“You know . . .” I hesitate, “maybe we should do it again sometime?”
“Absolutely!”
“Great, I have the day off Sunday . . . maybe we could . . . ?”
“Eat nachos and talk about everything and nothing?” He smiles, and the creases appear by his eyes, melting my heart just a little.
“Yes, exactly that.”
“I would love that—” His face falls mid-sentence. “But I . . . uh . . . can’t. Maybe another time?”
Have I been reading this whole thing wrong? He sounds like he’s trying to let me down gently. I’m so confused.
“Or maybe not,” I say, my tone colder. “It is a long drive for you.”
“That’s not it,” he says, running a hand through his hair, “I just remembered something. And—”
“No problem. I totally get it. There’s a reason I don’t date tourists.” I open the gate and begin to walk through.
“Wait! Elinor!” He grabs my wrist. “I’m swamped right now. Let me check my calendar and get back to you. Okay?” He drops my wrist. I rub the place where his hand has been, but not because his grip was too tight. The lack of his touch feels like a deprivation.
“Okay,” I say without much hope. “Have a good night.”
I walk away slowly. I don’t want him to know how much I’m starting to care. I feel like such an idiot. Did I imagine it all? I was so flirty tonight. But he had been flirty too. Talk about mixed signals—this is why I don’t do romance. I listened to my mom and sister, and look where it’s left me.