Chapter 28 Gwendolyn
Gwendolyn
Imake my way back inside, joining my grandmother behind the counter as she rings up a customer’s order and slides over a bakery box filled with treats.
I share a smile with the woman, who thanks Ophelia again for helping her pick out the perfect items to take back to her family but also for the tips on which trails to take.
“Don’t forget, you cannot miss the sunset from Harper’s Peak,” my grandmother offers.
The woman’s expression brightens. “Going to the bed and breakfast now to grab the family. I will not go another night without seeing it if it’s half as gorgeous as you say it will be.”
Grabbing the box off the counter, she waved and practically skipped out of the store.
“Another happy customer,” I muse.
Ophelia leans a hip on the counter, appraising me quietly.
I raise my hand to my face, patting at my cheeks. “Do I have something on me? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Maybe I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on with my granddaughter and the Mayor’s son, seeing as last time we spoke, you were upset he was helping you. But from where I was standing just now, I think something has changed.”
I open my mouth in preparation to deny everything, but this is my grandmother and I can’t lie to her. Instead, I drop my shoulders and admit the truth.
“I think everything has changed.”
“What do you mean, my darling?” She reaches out to brush a rogue piece of hair that fell in front of my face when I dropped my head. My eyes linger on my fingers that are attempting to knot themselves together.
“I think I’m developing feelings for him."
I’m still staring intently at my hands, which means I can’t see her face. So when she barks out a laugh, I jerk my head to look at her in question.
She covers her mouth with her hand as she shoots an apologetic look into the dining room. Only a few customers are hanging out, mostly locals catching up with each other.
“Why are you laughing at that?”
“You could have sounded a little happier at the admission, I have to admit.”
I huff, tossing my arms out beside me. “I can’t have feelings for the man!”
“And why not?” One of her eyebrows quirks at me. “Does he not like you?”
“I think he does. He seems like he does.”
“Then please explain to me what the problem is?”
“He’s—He’s Logan Spencer! And I’m just me.”
“Just you?” Ophelia scoffs. “He might be Logan Spencer—whatever that means. But you are Gwendolyn Prescott. You built this place.” She glances around the cafe before looking back at me.
“From the ground up. And I don’t want to hear you say that I helped.
I might have helped financially at first, but this is all you, sweet girl.
Ask anyone in this town. You are kind and smart, and you have the biggest heart I have ever encountered. Not to mention so beautiful.”
I feel tears prick in my eyes. “You are obligated to say these things.”
“Maybe, but I would still say them, anyway. Because every word is true. That boy would be damn lucky to get an ounce of your love.”
I furrow my brow. “I didn’t say anything about love, Grandma.”
She chuckles. Her finger bops me lightly on the nose. “You didn’t have to.”
“It’s a little too soon to be saying that. I mean, we have only been working together a few weeks, and we just kissed the other day–-”
“Aha! I knew it!”
I gape at my grandmother. “How did you know?”
“I’ve been around a lot longer than you.
I can tell these things. Plus, I know you like the back of my hand.
You’ve been floating around the last few days.
Not to mention yesterday you seemed a little mopey that Logan had to go out of town and couldn’t meet up to ‘talk’ about festival planning.
” She air-quotes the word talk and exaggerates it with an unnecessary wink.
I roll my eyes. “I really did want to talk about festival plans,” I grumble. “Anything else would just be a nice little extra something.”
“All that evidence aside, all I had to do was watch the two of you right outside these windows a few minutes ago.”
My eyes widen. “Was it that obvious?”
Ophelia tucks her lips in her teeth, obviously fighting a smile.
Groaning, I fold my arms on the edge of the bakery case and drop my forehead down. God, I hope no one else saw that. Especially Camila. I don’t need to deal with anymore attitude from her.
Ophelia rubs a hand along my back. “Maybe it was obvious to me because I know what my grandchild looks like when she’s happy.”
I peek up from the corner of my arm. “I looked happy?”
She nods with a small grin. “Now, tell me what had that giddy, yet constipated look on your face when you came in.”
I stand straight up so fast I fear I might lose my balance while glaring at my grandmother.
“I did not look constipated.” Then something dawns on me—the sense of worry that was weighing heavily in my gut at the proposition Logan had presented me with. “Did I?”
Ophelia chuckles, but doesn’t say anything, waiting for me to tell her what had me simultaneously giddy and worried.
“He asked me to go to Asheville with him Saturday night.”
I always thought my grandmother had expressive eyes, but nothing could top the glittering excitement in them right now. “A date with Logan?”
“His mom got us a connection with Frederick Jacobs–-”
“The singer?” Ophelia’s eyes widen. “How does Margot know him?”
I shrug. “Something about college. Anyway, he is going to donate some merch and tickets for his upcoming tour and instead of shipping everything, leaving us at the mercy of the shipping gods, his band invited us to come see them play. That way we can make sure the items get here in time.”
My grandmother purses her lip and hums. “Sounds like a fun date to me.”
My body warms at the thought. Because, yeah, this was totally going to be a date no matter which way I wrap it up. “He offered to get us a room to stay the night. Since the show isn’t until late.”
She nods slowly, her brow pinched in thought. “That sounds completely reasonable to me.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re thinking of the one bed trope, aren’t you?”
Finally, her grin splits open on her face. “Absolutely, my girl.”
“What about a stern warning that I shouldn’t go on overnight dates with boys?”
“Is that what you want me to do? Because I can muster up something if you want.”
I groan, tossing my head back. “No, I don’t want that. It’ll make me want to do it even more.”
She giggles, her arm going over my shoulder as the front door opens to an older couple. We greet them with wide smiles, and I hope mine doesn’t look too manic as the thoughts swirl in my head. While they peruse the menu, Ophelia twists me to face her. Her warm hands went to my cheeks.
“Gwen, you are a grown woman with a good head on your shoulders. You can follow whatever path you want. But if you want my advice…” She trails off, waiting for my consent to continue, which I give in a small nod of my head.
“Go for it, my sweet girl. I see the way you two look at each other. The way you sigh wistfully at the mere mention of him. Something is there. And if everything has indeed changed, so be it. That’s part of life.
Though I definitely think these changes could do you some good.
You’ve been living for everyone else. Be a little selfish and have some fun while you still can. ”
There’s a bit of pain tightening my grandmother’s eyes at those final words. Something niggles at my mind as I try to place why. I take a quick stock of her face, beautiful still, but layered with a tiredness I can’t place.
“Are you okay, Grandma?”
A sheen layers over her eyes, but she blinks them away quickly while placing a smile on her mouth.
“I’m fine, Gwenny. Just having a bit of a flashback of when your father was courting your mother.
” She swipes a thumb under my eye, grabbing the tear I had not realized was beginning to fall.
“Think about going. You never know what could happen.”
With her final piece of advice, she lightly nudges me over to the register where the couple stands pointing to the specials of the day. There’s a playful banter between them over which treat they would split today.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Ophelia?” I ask as she takes a couple hurried steps toward the kitchen. She glances back at me, a watery smile on her face as she blows me a kiss and a wink to say she’s fine.
I can’t help the feeling that’s rooted in my chest.
***
The knock on my front door sends my heart into a rapid beat.
Not that it wasn’t already, because it definitely has been working overtime since I woke up this morning.
Actually, ever since Logan invited me on this mini-trip, if I’m being honest. But up until today, I was able to dive headfirst into work and spend time with Rowan in the evenings since Jackson had the late shift at the clinic, which kept my focus elsewhere.
Today was a different story.
Ophelia and Stacy ran the show at the cafe while I headed to the warehouse converted from an old barn that housed the town’s many-years-old seasonal decorations and random furniture.
It was on the outskirts of town, leftover from when Masterson Grocers moved to their new location.
The festival booths were located there, and it gave me the perfect excuse to get away from people for a little while to make sure they were still in good condition.
If I were going to have a minor (read: major) freak out about going on an overnight date with Logan, I was going to do it away from watchful eyes.
A couple of deep breaths with my hand on the door, I mentally give myself a pep talk that it’s going to be fine.
I remind myself that if Logan didn’t actually like me, he wouldn’t have invited me.
Though the voice in the back of my head keeps whispering about the time a few years ago that I let my guard down for this man.
Feeling like I have wasted too much time now, I whip open the door and immediately feel at ease when I come face to face with Logan’s wide smile.
“Hello, gorgeous,” his smooth voice slides over me. I can practically feel his eyes as they roam down to my knee-high black boots and trace up to my black dress with a mini skater skirt. He releases a low whistle. “Ready to head out?”
“Let’s do it.” I lean down to grab my dufflebag, only holding it for a split second before Logan takes it from me. Tossing it over his shoulder with ease, he holds out his spare hand for me to take.
I accept it instantly, welcoming the warmth that spreads from his touch directly to my heart.
I’m in so much trouble, I think to myself. But instead of the usual weariness that comes with that line of thinking, I grin inwardly as I watch his fingers lock into mine.
We don’t make it to the staircase at the end of the hall before he’s pulling me to a stop. Dropping my duffle bag softly to the ground, he approaches slowly with his hand on my waist, pushing me into the wall behind me.
I look up into his eyes. The hazel swirls highlighted in the yellow and gold, tipping me off to his thoughts. My teeth set into my lower lip, and a sense of power stirs inside me, shooting straight to my core as his eyes tighten and he releases a small groan.
“You know what that does to me, baby.” His husky voice whispers.
With a small shake of my head to tease him, I reply. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m in so much trouble,” he unknowingly repeats the words from my head before dipping his lips to capture mine.
It’s soft at first, as if we are testing the waters again after a few days of not seeing each other. As if we want to make sure those feelings are still there.
And, my God, yes, they are. I wrap my arms around his neck, my hands going straight for the back of his head so I can angle him exactly where I want him. He deepens the kiss, parting my lips easily to trace his tongue along my lower lip, right where my teeth were previously.
It could have been ten minutes or ten hours; I’m not sure how long we stay locked in our embrace before he pulls back. Though he doesn’t get far when he leans his forehead against mine.
I giggle and reach out to swipe my thumb along his lower lip, which is glistening from our kiss. I wonder what it would be like to have him glistening from other parts of me. My thighs clench together from the intense feelings the image brings me, and I release a stuttering sigh.
“I want more than anything to know what’s going on in that pretty head of yours, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop if I continue, and we are kind of on a time crunch.”
My hands brush over his chest, coming to a stop and pushing lightly, forcing him to take a couple steps back.
“I hate being late,” I cringe, but it turns into a sheepish grin when he chuckles, bending down to grab my bag and my hand once again.
And once again I give it to him. The gesture comes naturally, as if we are two magnets always reaching out for each other.
“I know.” A quick look over his shoulder with his sexy smirk has me ready to push him against the stairwell wall to continue what we started earlier.
He must read the look on my face because he pushes the outside door open, holding it for me to step under his arm, and adds, “But if you keep looking at me like that, there’s no way we can get there on time.
So be a good girl and get in the car and keep those siren eyes to yourself for the next few hours. ”
I smirk back at him as I step up to the passenger door of his SUV. He reaches out to open the door before I can grab the handle, and I shoot him what I hope is a saucy grin of my own as I take my seat.
“Yes, sir,” I practically purr at the man, causing his eyes to darken.
“I was right,” he mutters to himself. “Trouble.”