20. Jude
Jude
Luca texted me a photo of a butternut squash and a pumpkin side by side on his kitchen counter this morning.
Luca: Pick one.
I’d picked the butternut squash, and had been looking forward to the dinner he was cooking for hours now.
Luca was the second owner of Bianchi’s, after his father. And while they did the classics—lasagna, spaghetti, carbonara—exceptionally well, my favourite dishes were when he got creative with seasonal produce. Last year’s pumpkin tortellini soup was a highlight.
That man knew how to deal with abundance, and our local farmers were more than happy to keep supplying him with it.
By the time the end of my workday rolled around, my stomach was rumbling in anticipation. I sat outside in Main Street Park enjoying the warm dappled sunlight, until it was time for dinner. My phone buzzed as I walked up the street.
Harlow: I’m on my way there now!
I couldn’t help but smile at the little yellow, blushing face emoji she’d put after the message as I began walking.
I’d been to plenty of food events with the town council before, but this one had a bit more eagerness surrounding it.
It was even being called a “media night.” Harlow’s presence was helping to add to the excitement of it all.
The whole town knew by now that she’d moved here from the UK and had experience in some big marketing firms. I don’t think she realized how impressed everyone was with her.
I wanted to see her, too. She had been grateful but quiet as we unloaded her things from the trailer yesterday, and she’d left quickly this morning for a meeting at a local farm. I couldn’t help but wonder how she was feeling.
Lately, thoughts of her filled my mind more than I’d like to admit.
I tried to resist the way I craved her. But I couldn’t stop. I longed for her presence. I enjoyed spending time with her. My best work was done when she was beside me. Seeing her smile made my day.
I shouldn’t want more of her, but I did.
The realization had shocked me, but it was clear the second I’d seen her slumped shoulders on that downtown street.
I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted with a woman who would be leaving town. I just knew that I wanted her around.
But I also knew I should keep those burgeoning feelings to myself. I couldn’t go after my temporary co-worker and roommate. That would only cause trouble.
“Judey!” Luca called out as I pushed the door open. He had a lopsided grin across his face and his blond hair looked like it needed a trim, like always.
“Excited for tonight?”
“Of course, man.”
The smell of tomato, oregano, and of course, butternut squash washed over me.
There were only two restaurants currently on Main Street, and Luca already knew he would secure a place at the fall festival.
I mean, everyone who had passion and a plan would get a spot with a town this small.
Still, I was happy that he was enthusiastic about showcasing his fall menu to us ‘critics’.
“Do you think your city girl is going to like my cooking?” Luca asked as he sat me at a cozy table by the front window.
I shot him an unimpressed glare. “Don’t call her that.” Then I shook my head with a laugh, “But, yeah. Of course she will.”
“Well, I’m sure she has big city taste.” He elbowed me slightly. “I want to impress her.”
“Impress, huh?” My glare might have been slowly returning. Last he’d told me he’d been seeing a guy in Ottawa, but maybe that had ended. I didn’t have any right to be angry, but even the idea of Luca—
“Relax, I just wanted to see your reaction. Dawn was so right.” His smile quirked. “Don’t worry, I just want to impress the mighty council with my cooking.”
I rolled my eyes, and Luca did a mock bow before turning away to meet Margot who’d just arrived. I waved and then leaned back into my chair, tapping my foot against the black and white tiles.
My outstretched legs already took up most of the room beneath the table. Bianchi’s had some bigger seating options other than the one I’d been sat at. But I guess this one was technically perfect for two. Still, it felt far too romantic for what was really a work dinner. Far too tempting.
Work dinner. Remember that.
I might not have been able to keep my thoughts away from Harlow, but that’s where any fantasies I had needed to stay. In my head. I had no business picturing myself on a date with a woman who would be leaving in a month.
Plus, Harlow deserved better than a work outing disguised as a date.
If I were with her, a nice dinner at Bianchi’s would be great, but it would be something I’d offer on a regular basis.
As a first date, I’d do something more special.
Not that I was actually thinking about how I’d try to seduce Harlow Spencer.
At least I wasn’t, until she breezed into the room and shrugged her coat off onto a hook, revealing a black and white dress with a short skirt that flowed around her hips and ended at the delicious curve of her thighs.
I might be thinking about it now.
My body stiffened as she caught my gaze. Her chocolate brown eyes lit up, and I couldn’t pull mine away. My staring was about to get impolite.
But the dress had long black velvet sleeves that looked like they were falling off her shoulders, and flowy white fabric, tied into a bow right between her breasts. Like a present.
Fuck, I need to look away. Right. Now.
How was that dress staying up? And how would I take it off?
I tore my eyes away a second too late, and I could feel myself getting hard. Not only did I look so plain compared to her beauty lighting up the room, but now I had to readjust myself under the fucking bistro table.
“Hey,” she said in a breathy voice as she pulled out the chair across from me. “Sorry, I’m a bit late.”
I swallowed dryly, trying not to let my words get trapped in my throat. “You’re not.”
“Everyone else is already here.”
“Nothing’s too far away in Autumn Creek, doesn’t take them long to get anywhere.”
“Yeah, the alpaca farm was a little farther out and I know you haven’t been there since the recent renovations—Isabella mentioned it.” Warmth spread throughout my chest at her casually mentioning people around town. “But I think it would be perfect for the festival!”
I must look like a fool smiling at her like this, but she was talking about Autumn Creek like she belongs here.
“That would be great.” I knew Maple Ridge well from when I’d helped Issy out with the fencing in the paddock, but she had spruced up the old property even more since them. “I trust your judgement.”
“Oh yeah, you trust me?”
“Should I not?” I smirked.
She shrugged her bare shoulders. “Well, I’ve scheduled us for a tour next week to see everything set up. So you don’t have to trust me. You can see it for yourself.”
“Thanks.” But I did trust her, more and more every day. Still, it seemed like she knew me well by now. Of course, I’d want to go see every vendor and farmer to know if they needed any support. Not because Harlow couldn’t handle it, but because I liked to be there to help in any way I could, too.
Luca stepped up to our table, now wearing a black apron. He grinned down at Harlow. “Nice to meet you properly. You look lovely tonight.”
He isn’t wrong.
The warm lighting and maroon accents of the restaurant brought out the blush on Harlow’s skin. “What, not me as well?”
“What can I say? She cleans up better than you. I’ve seen you wear that shirt at the ciderhouse before.
” I rolled my eyes at him and he put down two plates in front of us.
“We have honey roasted delicata squash. Enjoy.” He left to give the other tables their food, but not before shooting a wink over his shoulder at me.
I cleared my throat and cut into the crescents of squash.
“You do look nice.”
“What?” Harlow paused with her lips parted, fork halfway to her mouth.
“You look beautiful.”
She didn’t blend into Autumn Creek. She was like sprinkles on top of Brie’s cookies or cinnamon on a Sweater Weather coffee. She was a shining addition. One who held my attention captive.
She shrugged, placing the food into her mouth. After a moment she replied, “I just thought I’d put it on since I have so many clothes now. And my jeans were covered in mud after seeing the alpaca fields.” Her brows furrowed for a second. “But I guess it might be a bit much.”
“No,” I replied—too quickly, and her doe eyes darted to mine. How could she ever think she’s too much? “It’s perfect. You deserve to dress up and enjoy a nice dinner.”
Blush crept up her cheeks again. “Stop it with all the compliments. I know you’re only being so nice because of what happened yesterday.”
“Yesterday? Here I was thinking you dolled yourself up to say thanks for driving you.” I leaned across the table, hopefully distracting her. She didn’t need to think about everything that happened right now. I wanted her to enjoy herself. “Is it not just for me?”
She laughed, and it was like birdsong on an autumn breeze. I wanted to hear it again. Every damn day. When I was with her, chatting easily like this, it was like my worries—about town, about the farm, everything—had been hung on the coat rack at the door. I could finally relax.
I’d never felt like this before. And it was terrifying.
I knew she was only in town until the end of October, but I just needed someone to remind my heart of that.
She took a sip of her wine. “Really, though, thank you for yesterday.” I could see her cheeks turning a shade closer to crimson and her eyes darted hastily away from mine.
“I didn’t like you seeing all of that. But thank you for standing up for me.
I just can’t believe he treated me like that.
Especially in front of you. I’m a bit embarrassed, to be honest.”
I brushed the back of my hand over her knuckles as she held the stem of her glass. “Well, I can’t believe you’re embarrassed when you did nothing wrong. He’s the one who’s a joke.”
“I think I just feel ashamed. Like seeing him dragged me back to who I was before I left. For a moment there I regressed into thinking I needed to be the version of myself that he liked. But that just isn’t me.”
I nodded. “Whatever happened with him is in the past. And I don’t know a lot about it, but I’m sure you have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re far away from all of that now. Let’s just enjoy dinner and not think about him.”
She nodded gently. “I can do that.”
I’d do anything I could to take her mind off it. That guy was a dick, and she was far too good to have her mind taken up by worrying about him. So I’d try my best to not brood over that asshole as well.