Darlene walked up the driveway of the B&B, still mulling over Eleanor’s words at the cafe. She glanced at the wraparound porch and spotted Felicity chatting with Mark. Her granddaughter’s animated gestures made her pause. She knew that look.
Felicity was up to something.
“Gran!” Felicity called out as Darlene walked up. “Perfect timing. I was just telling Mark about the theater opening their new show this weekend.”
Mark turned in his chair, offering a warm smile that made her heart skip.
No. No, it didn’t. She was just a bit out of breath from her quick walk back from the cafe.
“Your granddaughter speaks highly of their productions.”
“Oh, they do wonderful work,” Darlene said, climbing the porch steps. She noticed the manuscript pages spread across the small table beside Mark’s chair. “I see you’ve been writing.”
“Finally making progress,” he admitted. “The words are coming easier now.”
Felicity nodded her head emphatically. “Which is exactly why you should celebrate by going to opening night. Both of you.”
Darlene shot her granddaughter a warning look that clearly said stop meddling, but Felicity just grinned, completely undeterred.
“They’re doing that new comedy,” Felicity continued. “What was it called? ‘The Late Bloomer’ or something like that? I heard it’s supposed to be hilarious.”
“Felicity.” Darlene’s tone carried a warning.
“What? The theater needs support, and you both could use a night out.” Felicity smiled innocently. “Besides, I already mentioned to Mark how much you love live theater, Gran.”
She felt her cheeks warm as she gave Felicity another pointed look. Her granddaughter simply smiled, completely immune to the silent reprimand.
Mark cleared his throat. “It does sound interesting.”
“See? I told you it was a good idea. Anyway, I should head out. Brent’s waiting.” Felicity moved toward the steps, then paused. “Oh, and the show starts at eight on Friday. Just in case anyone’s interested.” She practically skipped down the stairs, leaving Darlene shaking her head at her granddaughter’s less-than-subtle matchmaking attempt.
Darlene turned to Mark, an apologetic smile on her face. “You’ll have to excuse my granddaughter. She… ah… meddles. We don’t have to go.”
He paused, his expression thoughtful. “Actually, I think it sounds like a nice idea. Would you like to accompany me?”
She blinked, surprised by his invitation. “Oh, well, I suppose it could be fun.” She hesitated, searching his face. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel pressured into it.”
He chuckled softly. “Not at all. I think a night out would be good for both of us. Unless you’d rather not?”
“No, no, I’d love to go,” she assured him, feeling a flutter of excitement in her chest. “It’s been a while since I’ve been to the theater.”
He smiled, his brown eyes warming. “Then it’s settled. We’ll go together.”
She nodded, returning his smile. “All right then. I’ll let you get back to your writing. Just let me know if you need anything.”
“I will. Thank you.”
She turned and headed inside, her mind racing. As she stepped into the foyer, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. It’s not a date, she told herself firmly. He just asked her toaccompanyhim, that was all.
But as she walked into the kitchen, she felt a spark of anticipation. It had been so long since she’d gone out with anyone, let alone a man as charming and handsome as Mark. She shook her head, chiding herself for getting carried away.
“Get a hold of yourself, Darlene,” she muttered, busying herself with the dishes in the sink. “You’re just two friends going to see a play. Nothing more.”
Yet even as she said the words, she wondered if there was something more between them. The way he looked at her, the easy conversation they shared—it felt different from just a friendship. But she couldn’t let herself get swept up in romantic notions. He was still grieving, and she had her own baggage to deal with.
No, it was better to keep things simple. They would go to the theater, enjoy the show, and come back to the B&B as friends. That was all it could be.
She sighed, drying her hands on a dish towel. She glanced out the window, catching a glimpse of Mark on the porch, his head bent over his manuscript, jotting notes with a red pen. A small smile tugged at her lips. Even if they were just friends, she was grateful for his presence in her life. He brought a sense of warmth and companionship. Something she hadn’t realized she was missing.
