Page 75 of The One You Want

Chapter 18

So you’ve basically disappeared for the past week,” Riley said, staring at me over her coffee cup. We had met up at the Lilac Cafe for a quick cup of coffee before she had to head to the mainland for work. I also was going to work that morning, but I was pretty sure my experience was going to be nothing like hers. Riley would be working at an exciting, fast paced television studio. I was going to be doing God only knew what at Jerry Brooks’ chickenfarm.

“How would you know if I’ve disappeared?” I asked her, stirring sugar into my coffee. “You’re always either working or hiding away somewhere with Andrew.” I waggled my eyebrows. “How’s that going, by the way? Think you might get a shiny ring forChristmas?”

She glared at me. “Don’t change the subject. I only have twenty minutes and I want to hear about yourman.”

“He’s not my—” I began, but she held up herhand.

“Kia told Mike who told Becca who told Cora she saw the two of you making out behind the flower shop on Tuesday. So don’t try to pull that crap withme.”

I rolled my eyes, unwilling to even try to follow that train ofgossip.

“Yes, yes, our neighbors are annoying,” Riley said. “We already know this. Nowspill.”

“It’s not…I don’t know what it is. We’ve been hangingout.”

“You’ve beenmakingout,” she corrected, grinning. “And I wantdetails.”

“I’m not telling you details about our makingout.”

She pouted. “Why not? I’ve never made out with a guy who spends his days toiling away on a farm. What’s it like? I bet he has work-roughened hands. I bet he’sgoodwiththem.”

I threw a napkin at her face. “You’re ridiculous, you knowthat?”

She grinned at me. “It’s not just the making out I want to hear about,” she pressed. “Cora told me you’ve had flowers waiting in the lobby all three of the mornings she spent the night at Owen’s thisweek.”

I pressed my fingers to my suddenly hot cheeks. “Well, yeah. That’s true.” I supposed it wasn’t actually a surprise, that Grant, of all people, would leave me flowers. But something about those daily bouquets made me feel like a gigglyteenager.

“Jenny!” Riley’s voice was high-pitched, excited, and she leaned across the table to grab my hand. “You should see your face! You really like thisguy.”

“I do,” I admitted, blushing even more. “He’s…” Funny, sweet, sexy, kind. Passionate about his work. Passionate about me. “He’samazing.”

To my surprise, Riley’s eyes grew wet andred.

“Are you crying?” I gasped. Riley James was not a crier. She was a tough-as-nails chick who didn’t take crap from anyone. “Oh my God, are youpregnant?”

It was her turn to throw a napkin at me. “Shut up,” she hissed, looking around the cafe. “Someone will hear you.” She turned her attention back to me, any hint of tears long gone. “Of course I’m not pregnant. I’m just happy foryou.”

I shrugged, feeling shy. “It’s really not that bigof—”

“Shut up with that,” she said firmly. “Itisa big deal. I know it isn’t easy for you to open yourself up topeople.”

I nodded, throat suddenly a little tight. “Yeah.”

Across the table, Riley grinned. “The lioness book is really having an effect on you, isn’tit?”

I rolled my eyes and we both laughed. Then Riley looked at her phone and winced. “I need to catch theferry.”

I let out a long sigh. “And I need to get up to the chickenfarm.”

My friend smirked as we gathered up our things. “While I applaud your efforts at searching for a passion, I’m not so sure Jerry Brooks is going to helpyou.”

“You and me both,” Imuttered.

“See you at the Libbiestonight?”

“I’ll be there. Have fun makingtelevision.”