Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Jo had learned that hearts, like flowers, cannot be rudely handled, but must open naturally…” ~Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
T he slick condensation coated Nat’s hands in wet coolness as she clutched the iced hazelnut latte. Every other Saturday, she and Dad swapped who managed the half-day clinic. This was a rare Saturday where both she and Summer were free to wander the farmer’s market.
“So, we have fifteen minutes before Carmen brings Liam back from story hour at Cow Tales.” Summer tipped her head toward the coffee shop/bookstore down the street from the city hall parking lot turned open-air market.
The colorful stalls were filled with fresh produce, baked goods, homemade jam, and honey. An abundance of craft stands pulled Nat’s attention with an array of jewelry, knickknacks, and clothing.
“How was the date? Did he kiss you?” Summer waggled her brows.
“Yes.”
“How was it?”
“It was good.” Nat shifted her eyes to a pair of ruby-red slipper ballet flats displayed on a folding table at one of the artisans’ stands.
Sometimes you must play the part. Duncan’s words echoed in her ears, forcing her gaze away from the tempting shoes.
“Did it erase all past kisses?” Summer asked with a cheeky grin.
Nat took a long drink of her latte.
“So, that’s a no.”
She sighed. “It was a good kiss. It just… It just didn’t erase an almost kiss.”
Summer’s forehead wrinkled. “With whom?”
She looked around. There were too many people. Grabbing Summer’s arm, she dragged her to a green iron bench on the sidewalk outside the farmer’s market. It was far enough away from the clusters of perusing patrons to not be overheard but within sight for Carmen and Liam to find them.
“Noah and I almost kissed,” she whispered.
“What!”
Nat’s eyes narrowed, and she motioned around them. “Inside voice, please.”
“Sorry.” Her tone was soft, but her eyes were loud with giddy excitement. “When did this happen?”
“Ten years ago.”
“Ten. Years. Ago.” Summer repeated with deliberate slowness.
“It was after Evan died. It was the night of the funeral. It was…” A tremor broke loose in her voice. “…It was a lot. Mom was a mess. Dad was trying to take care of her. Clayton was distant. I felt so alone.”
Summer threaded their fingers. “And Noah was there for you?”
“Yeah.” She smiled through a long sigh. “He’d found me crying in the gazebo in the backyard. I was alone. He held me for the longest time. Just telling me to let it out. That he was there. That he had me. After there were no more tears, he kissed my temple. My head tilted up, and there was this moment. Like when you hold two magnets close enough to pull to one another but not connect. Then Clayton came outside, and Noah backed away.”
“Did you two ever discuss this?”
Nat shook her head.
“Nat.” She pushed out a disappointed but understanding breath.
“Mom!” Liam bounded down the street.
Nat and Summer’s heads jerked toward his happy squeal. Liam skipped alongside Noah, who wore an amused grin. Noah and Clayton had befriended the little boy over the last year, taking him fishing, to the library, or for play dates with Fitz and Lizzie.
“What? Is he like Beetlejuice?” Nat muttered under her breath.
“You didn’t even have to say his name three times,” Summer said through a fixed smile. “You, okay?”
“Yup.”
“Hey, baby. How was story hour?” Summer knelt, opening her arms in greeting.
“Mathew dressed up like a bear,” he chirped.
Summer cocked her face to Noah.
“The story was about a bear. You know Mathew, he loves a costume.” Noah grinned, pushing his hands into the pockets of his dark blue jeans.
Oh, goddess! Stop looking at how those jeans caress his muscular legs. Nat averted her gaze.
“Speaking of costume. Little Francisco needed an outfit change, so I volunteered to walk my man here to meet you ladies,” he said, referring to Carmen and Mathew’s nine-month-old son.
“He pooped his pants,” Liam whispered.
“Yeah.” Noah chuckled, shaking his head. “It was a scene. Mathew forgot the change of clothes in the diaper bag.”
“But he remembered his bear costume,” Nat chimed in with a small smile.
“Yep.” Noah gazed at her, a strange intensity in his blue eyes.
“Well, at least Francisco will grow out of it, but Mathew…” Summer trailed off as all of them laughed.
“If you ladies don’t have plans, I was headed to the bakery to do some taste testing of a few of the autumn treats we’ll launch at Fall Fest. We could use some free focus group people. Otherwise, it will just be Todd and me.”
Summer and Nat’s gazes darted back and forth in their own visual morse code. In the quick exchange, Summer’s chocolate eyes seemed to ask if Nat was okay or if an excuse was needed.
She could do this. “Yeah. That’d be great,” Nat verbalized what her eyes had communicated to Summer.
The foursome walked down the street to the Farmer’s Wife. The Main Street bakery had been in the village for forty years. Five years ago, Noah bought it from the previous owner who wanted to retire. It was his first venture into the business world, and soon the budding mogul expanded with the wine bar and brewery.
The bell above the door chimed as Noah opened and held the door. Liam scampered into the half-filled bakery, claiming a large round table near the front windows.
“Nat!” Liam shouted.
“Inside voice, baby,” Summer corrected with a warm smile before looking at Nat.
“Like mother, like son.” Nat elbowed her friend.
Summer poked Nat’s ribs.
“Nat,” Liam said with his indoor voice. “They’re the color of your Jeep.” He pointed to the sunshine-yellow painted walls, dotted with framed pictures of old-timey country kitchens.
They are . Nat’s mouth dropped open. She’d never noticed that before. Until Noah bought and renovated the bakery, the walls had been off-white. In fact, Noah teased her when she’d posted a picture of her obnoxious bright-yellow Jeep on Instagram after she’d bought it five years ago.
Summer placed her right hand beneath Nat’s chin and pushed up. “You’ll catch flies.”
“Well, well, look at what the tomcat dragged in.” Todd sauntered through the swinging white kitchen door. His muscular arms and cut torso on full display in a form-hugging sky-blue T-shirt.
Summer’s mouth dropped open. Nat placed her hand below Summer’s chin and repeated the same action. Both women giggled as Summer batted her hand away.
“Mom, what are you and Nat doing?” Liam asked, face pinched.
“Nothing,” they replied in unison.
“Girls are weird,” he groaned, turning to Noah.
“One day you’ll like weird,” Noah said, his eyes anchored on Nat.
Is he… No. Her throat grew dry.
“I love weird.” Todd’s focus settled on Summer like she was a tray of pastries and he was starving.
Nat squeezed Summer’s upper thigh from below the table. Summer kicked her with her flip-flopped foot. They were both acting like twelve-year-olds. One with a self-admitted crush and one refusing to own up to hers.
“We created a few new treats for the fall,” Todd explained, pointing to the different goodies. “This is a cinnamon vanilla chai-inspired scone.” He picked up a knife from the tray, cutting the pastry into four pieces.
“You’re doing it wrong.” Liam frowned.
Todd winked, silencing Summer’s readied correction. “I’m always open to feedback. How should I do it?”
“Five pieces. There are five of us. You need a piece too.”
Todd’s lips lifted in an appreciative smile. “You got it, little dude.”
The five of them laughed, trying the different pastries. Liam copied Todd taking thoughtful bites, followed by a nod of his head, and a thorough assessment of the consumed baked good while tapping on his chin.
The smile Summer beamed was unguarded. It wasn’t like she never smiled, but they were tight or cautious, as if she didn’t deserve to smile or was scared each smile would be her last.
“Have you noticed Todd doesn’t give me shit when Summer and Liam are around?” Noah bent, whispering in Nat’s ear.
The low vibration of his voice ignited a crackling heat inside her. “He’s on his best behavior,” she whispered back.
Their joint gazes dropped on Todd, who had a light blush on his cheeks as Summer giggled about something he’d said.
Nat looked back to Noah. “He’s a good guy.” It was a quiet statement laced with inquiry.
“He’s the best,” Noah reassured her with a pat on her upper thigh.
The former chemist had a good reputation in town. Nat knew that, but she needed the confirmation. Todd and Noah had become closer after they both moved back to Perry around the same time. A few years ago, Todd had left his job at a lab in Rochester to work with Noah.
Like most people in the village, there were six degrees of separation from either one of the Owens siblings or their parents. Todd had been in Evan’s class, but they weren’t close. Evan was the Noah Wilson of his class. The good-looking, popular jock who was nice to everyone. Even the scrawny band geek that Todd had been in school.
Just like Summer, Todd wasn’t the same person he’d been in high school.
“We’re going to need all the broccoli tonight. Too many sweets,” Summer laughed, leaning back in her chair.
“I make a mean broccoli casserole,” Todd offered with a waggle of his eyebrows.
“I’m not a fan of casseroles.” Summer flipped her chestnut hair as if flicking the veiled date request away.
Noah and Nat’s eyes met. Both smirked as Noah squeezed her shoulder.
This is why she couldn’t stay away from him. Despite the crush that left her feeling—well, crushed—an easiness always remained between them. An ability to fall into step with one another. To know what the other was thinking just by reading each other’s glances. That’s how she knew that day he held her after Evan’s funeral, his blue eyes burdened with regret…that he didn’t want her. It was a moment clouded with mutual grief and sadness.
Nat understood regret. It flooded her after having sex with Duncan. The same regret that had dulled Noah’s eyes glistened in the remorse filling her eyes with tears as she’d looked in the mirror two days after having sex with Duncan, knowing she’d made a huge mistake.
“Natalie.” Duncan’s voice pierced their little group and her thoughts.
Nat raised her head. Had she conjured another man? Maybe she should start thinking about Henry Cavill to see if the man of steel would walk through the bakery door. Her gaze darted to the door, but a stocky man in his sixties shuffled in. No Henry Cavill.
She stood up. “Duncan.”
Duncan dipped his head, giving her a kiss. “I thought I saw you when I walked by.” His palm settled on her lower back as he turned with a charming smile. “I’m Natalie’s boyfriend, Duncan.”
Boyfriend? Nat gaped.
Todd stood, a tight smile on his face, and held his hand out. “Todd Krueger.”
“Sheriff Krueger’s son.” Duncan’s eyes widened, shaking Todd’s hand.
“Yep,” Todd grunted.
Nat’s eyebrow ticked up at the chilliness from Todd. None of his trademark playful sass had filtered into the greeting.
“Hello, Duncan. I am Liam. Nice to meet you.” Liam looked to his mom as he held out his hand toward Duncan.
“Nice to meet you.” Duncan formed a fist with his left hand, reaching across the table to fist-bump Liam.
A scrunched-faced Liam stared at the fist. The wrongness of the gesture danced in his frustrated eyes. Liam had a particular way of doing things. A script to follow.
Duncan didn’t know the script. Didn’t know Liam. But when someone reaches their hand out, the polite thing to do is to take it. Nat bristled at the portrait of a boy offering his hand and a man’s outstretched fist, almost saying, “No…No that’s not good enough.”
Summer swiveled in her seat, facing Duncan with a firm line and narrowed eyes. “He was trying to shake your hand, not fist bump it.” Her tone was clipped.
“Sorry.” He shrugged. “Anyway, I don’t want to disturb you all, but Natalie, can I borrow you for a minute?”
“Sure,” Nat said, ignoring Summer’s chilly expression. “Be right back.”
She needed to talk to him about the boyfriend label. Kiss aside, the last time she checked, she’d not signed up to play the role of girlfriend.
They headed outside and his hand found the small of her back. Its heat almost burned, guiding her down the street. Rather than stopping at the empty sidewalk, he ushered them around the corner.
“Umm…what is going?—”
Duncan’s lips crashed against hers. The kiss not only stopped but stole her words. The force of his body propelled her against the firm brick wall of the building.
Finding purchase against his chest, she shoved him off. “What the hell, Duncan?”
“I’m sorry.” His fingers raked into his hair. “I saw you with Noah, and I got jealous.”
“We were sitting at a bakery with friends. It wasn’t like he had me bent over the table.”
“I know. It was just the way he was looking at you and kept touching you.” Worried lines creased his face. “How can I compete with him?”
“This isn’t a competition,” she said through gritted teeth.
The truth in that statement sunk in. Even if she were a prize to win, Noah would never compete for her.
“I’m trying to play this whole thing cool, but I’m failing.” Those bourbon eyes beseeched hers. “I never stopped loving you.”
“What?”