Chapter 11
Sage
The weekend had gone by pleasantly, with a Sunday Holt dinner where we played backgammon and stuffed ourselves with homemade desserts.
We all considered ourselves especially lucky in the bakery department.
It was a push to see who would win between Phiny and Lila.
Hell, even Maggie could give them a run for their money.
Later, we teased Lo Lo about her terrible dating history.
She kept trying to date doctors from nearby areas, but she hadn’t yet realized it wasn’t the right fit for her.
She’d been working over in Alder Valley, but she was moving to the local hospital this month.
I thought she should break the mold and go out with someone totally different, but Chloe was a good girl and stuck to what she knew.
Today, after getting my orders filled, I left the shop in Cedric’s charge and went to Chapter & Crumb with an order of potted plants for impulse buys near the register.
I was busy arranging my little sign in the display when a silhouette filled the doorway. Glancing up from where I knelt, my breath stilled. That height could only belong to one person in this town.
Rhodes’ broad shoulders filled the doorframe for a heartbeat before Opal darted ahead of him like a small comet in sparkly sneakers. Her hair was a mess, and her glittery backpack swung wildly with every step as she made a beeline for the children’s section, as if she’d been here a million times.
“Watch your backpack…” Rhodes called out to her, but she didn’t stop.
“I’m going to find a unicorn book, Daddy. And a cat book!”
I sat back on my heels as I watched Rhodes linger near the entrance, doing his visual sweep as if he were making sure there weren’t any threats.
Pushing to my feet, I brushed the dirt from my palms onto my jeans, catching Lila’s eye across the counter.
Her eyes were already sparkling in what I knew was mischief.
She cleared the counter and headed toward the children’s section, her voice warm and friendly as she approached Opal. “You know, sweetie, there are a couple of unicorn books on the bottom shelf right there.” She guided the girl toward the colorful spines.
Opal smiled up at her, giving her a toothy grin, already talking about how she'd finished a book last night with her daddy. Lila shot me a quick, knowing glance over her shoulder before disappearing into the stacks with her.
That left Rhodes standing there, hands shoved into the pockets of his dark jacket, the faint scent of sweat clinging to him from whatever work he'd been doing at Castleton all day—he met my eyes for a beat too long.
Something low in my stomach twisted, not unpleasant but definitely unwelcome because I refused to let this man unsettle me in my best friend's shop.
“Hey. Glad you didn’t hit your head on the way through the door.”
He scowled at me in an impressive fashion, but it just made it funnier.
“I’m not that tall.” His hand ran over the back of his neck even as I chuckled at him.
“I don’t know.” I winked. “You’re pretty tall to me.” That was probably enough teasing, although his lips tipped up in a smile. “So, how are you settling into town?” I asked, keeping my tone light even as his eyes flicked back and forth between his daughter and me (probably just to be polite).
“Busy. There’s a lot to do out on a property that size.
Not sure what the hell I was thinking.” He shoved a hand into one of his back pockets, making the muscles in his shoulder stand out, and I tried not to stare.
“East did a great job on the inside, but there is so much that needs to be done outside. Right now, I’m focusing on the fencing.
The perimeter needs to be fixed so I can make sure all the security functions. ”
He was talking as if I wasn’t really there, zoning out.
Suddenly, I felt a bit sorry for him and a little worried.
He looked tired, and I wondered if being alone with Opal was new for him.
Perimeter? This wasn’t the military. What did he think was going to happen here in our sleepy little town?
Although we did have the whole thing with Hattie just a few months ago.
A fence was a good idea, especially with a little girl who was going to be exploring all the fun things that the grounds out there had to offer.
“Daddy! Daddy! Look.” Opal was dancing over to him with a handful of books, showing them to him one by one. “Can I get these?”
“These look great. A unicorn … and you found a cat series for us to start. I can’t wait.” He tugged at her hair.
“Can I have a cookie now, Daddy? Or one of those cupcakes that I like.” Opal pointed at the case. “You promised. With whipped cream frosting.”
“You’re right.” Rhodes gave the case a considering look as he hoisted her up onto his hip. “I promised you a treat. You remember Sage. Say hello.”
“Hi.” She nodded at me noncommittally, but I couldn’t blame her lack of interest when there were cupcakes on offer. Dessert was the most important decision of the day.
Opal chose a confetti cupcake topped with a mound of frosting that could cover two cupcakes. Phiny had come from the back, where she was making a batch of dough, to introduce herself, breaking into smiles for them.
"She talked about it the whole drive over, and this morning. Begged, actually.” He gave her nose a little tap and then brushed a kiss on both cheeks. “She said the frosting here tastes like clouds."
“Kipp thinks so, too.” Lila set the plate on the counter and added a tiny glass dish of the cream, swirling it with a spoon before she showered it with sprinkles. "You must have been very good on your first day of school to get a cupcake.” She winked at the little girl.
“I was.” Opal flashed another bright grin. “School is so fun here. We get to play tag at recess and swing on the swings. Mrs. Maverick is really nice, and I made friends.”
“That’s awesome,” Lila answered easily as she rang them up.
Phiny leaned forward on her elbows, chin in her hand, eyes dancing. "Speaking of friends … Sage seems to have a new friend. Sage, tell us, did your secret admirer send anything else to the shop today? Or was last week’s bouquet a one-hit wonder?"
Heat crawled up my neck, and I shot her a warning look that she ignored completely. "Phiny." The last thing I wanted to talk about in front of Rhodes was me getting flowers. “Be quiet,” I hissed.
"What? I'm just asking." She turned her attention to Rhodes, all innocence. "You hear about the flowers that showed up at Sage’s place? Gorgeous."
Rhodes's gaze flicked to me, sharp and assessing, but he didn't smile. His jaw twitched, and I’d say he looked irritated, but that was his perpetual state, so it was hard to tell. Maybe I annoyed him, or it was just Phiny. "Sounds like someone doesn’t know you own a flower shop.”
"Or someone has too much time on their hands," I muttered, pushing the bag of books further across the counter toward him.
Our fingers brushed when he reached for it, just the barest graze of callused skin against my knuckles, and I jerked my hand back faster than necessary, cursing the way my pulse jumped in response.
His eyes darkened fractionally, lingering on my face before dropping to where my hand now curled against the edge of the counter. "You okay?"
"Fine." The word came out sharper than I intended. I cleared my throat and forced a lighter tone. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Delphina snorted softly. "You should tell Rhodes about the Castleton greenhouses while he's here. He's got all that space going to waste, and you know more about plants than anyone in three counties."
Rhodes tilted his head, curiosity flickering across his features. "You mentioned them the first day. Said something about rare plants."
I hesitated—the memory of standing inside that first greenhouse with Opal, showing her how to scrape the bark and find green beneath the brown, surfaced unbidden, warming my cheeks all over again.
There was a moment when it felt like my life was just the way I had always imagined it.
Right now, he was distracting me with the way he filled up the space, taking up the whole counter like frickin’ Lurch from the Addams Family.
Frowning slightly, I tried to force a smile. “Well, those are incredible. Or they could be."
“I take care of my things.” The way he said it made the words feel more personal than they should have in a room full of pastries and books. Everything in me went hot and tingly. He’d tilted his head at me, and unexpectedly, I felt myself blush under his scrutiny.
Only when Opal’s voice broke in did I startle out of the haze. She was wiggling in his arms to be let down. "Can we sit outside and read while I eat? Please, Daddy?"
He glanced toward the small wrought-iron tables on the sidewalk, visible through the window where late-afternoon sun still held some warmth. "Sure, Oppie.”
“I’ll help her outside,” Lila offered, giving me a knowing look.
Opal darted toward the door, cupcake held precariously while Lila followed to ensure she settled safely—leaving me alone with Rhodes and Phiny, the air suddenly heavier and quieter.
With exaggerated slowness, Phiny motioned toward the back.
“I should just check on the next batch. You know …
don't want them bursting into flames.” She paused beside me, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper loud enough for Rhodes to hear.
"You should offer to take a look at those greenhouses.
Professional opinion. For Opal's sake only.”
She slipped away before I could protest, the kitchen door swinging shut behind her with a soft thud. I rolled my eyes. “Sorry about my sister.”
Rhodes didn't move—he just watched me, arms crossed loosely over his chest, the faint scar along his jaw catching the light. "She's not subtle."
"None of them are. My family is full of busybodies. I got lucky with Lila as a sister-in-law. At least she minds her business.” I shot a look at Phiny’s back.
“Soon, Hattie and Kipp will tie the knot, and I’ll get another great sister, too.
” I leaned my hip against the counter, needing the solid wood to ground me under his stare, but I wasn’t going to be intimidated.
I grew up with brothers, so Rhodes wasn’t going to put me off.
"If you're serious about saving what you can, you should get someone out there to figure out what’s worth salvaging.”
"I hired a master gardener from up near Portland,” he interrupted, voice even. "He's coming tomorrow to assess. There’s also a structural engineer coming from Seattle to look at the glass itself and the greenhouses specifically.”
Disappointment flickered through me, quick and irrational that I didn’t even deserve to be feeling.
For some reason, I was feeling slightly crushed because I was the one who wanted to brush away the ivy and look at the old plant labels.
Tamping down my own feelings, I forced myself to say brightly, “Good. Smart.”
"But," he continued, drawing out the word and stepping closer to me until I caught the scent of him again, "I could use a second set of eyes. Someone who knows the history of the place.”
The offering made my breath hitch. "You sure?"
His gaze dropped to my mouth for the briefest second before returning to my eyes. “I’m sure.”
Forcing myself to ignore the heat that bloomed low in my belly, I swallowed. "Tomorrow, then. After school?"
Rhodes straightened and picked up Opal’s books to carry them out to her. “See you tomorrow,” he repeated, voice rougher now. “My daughter’s waiting.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. He walked out into the sunlight, broad back filling the doorway, and I exhaled shakily, pressing my palms flat to the cool counter as if that could steady the sudden feeling that curled through me. Did he think I was flirting? Wait … was I?
Lila reappeared at my side, arms crossed, smirk firmly in place. "Well. That was interesting."
"Shut up," I muttered as blood suffused my cheeks. “I told him you were my favorite new sister. Don’t make me a liar, and Hattie is going to be joining the family soon, so you’re absolutely replaceable.”
“Ah, someone’s a little testy.” She gave me a squeeze. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell your brothers yet that you and Rhodes have chemistry. Like red hot.” She headed towards the kitchen, and just as she was about to disappear through the door, she shot back, “But Phiny probably will.”