Chapter 10
Daylight filtered through tall stained glass windows, diffusing muted colors throughout the cluttered room. Squinting, Eliza did her best to focus on the dusty shelves overflowing with a random assortment of trinkets and collectibles. While she rarely ventured into the back storage room of Thistle & Thorn for fear she’d never come out, today the chaos served as a welcome distraction from the horror plastered across Penny’s face.
“Why on earth did you agree to a date with Colt?” Penny gaped at her from behind a stack of multicolored depression-era glassware.
“He caught me off guard.” Eliza squirmed, deciding not to mention her state of panic over the surge of unwanted chemistry between her and Grant.
“Can you tell him you’ve changed your mind?”
“I don’t know….” Eliza caressed a delicate rose-colored vase, drawn to the subtle pink hue. “Wouldn’t that seem kind of mean on such short notice? Besides, it’s only one date. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“We could be picking out centerpieces for your wedding with Colt,” Penny said with a derisive snort.
Eliza laughed. “Not likely. He’s not the marrying type.” She set down the vase and lifted an amber apothecary jar. “Speaking of centerpieces, let’s go with the amber-colored glass. It’s more Cassie. And I think it’ll look beautiful with the flowers Reed picked out for the floral arrangements.”
“Good point,” Penny agreed. “I can’t wait until Cassie sees the surprise he’s been working on!”
“Me, too! Did you notice the way he guarded his greenhouse the last time we stopped by? I thought for sure she’d be suspicious.”
“She’s in love. Love makes you oblivious. Or so I’m told,” Penny added with a shrug.
Eliza studied her friend over the rim of a crystal candy dish. To her knowledge, Penny had never been in love. Although she’d had her fair share of interested suitors, no one seemed to tempt her away from her collection of treasured novels. But maybe Penny had the right idea. Book boyfriends were far less likely to break your heart than real ones.
“Okay,” Eliza sighed. “I’ll call Colt and tell him the date is off.”
“I think you’re dodging a bullet.”
Digging her phone out of her back pocket, Eliza pulled up Colt’s number. As it rang, she sidestepped a leather steamer trunk and ducked behind a Tudor-style armoire, out of Penny’s earshot.
“Hey!” Colt’s delight reverberated through the speakers.
“Hi.” Eliza sucked in a breath, nervously fidgeting with the fringed tassel of a vintage lampshade that still carried the faint aroma of moth balls and pipe tobacco. “Listen. About tonight…”
“Don’t tell me you can’t make it,” Colt groaned.
“It’s just that Ben has this project due tomorrow and—”
“Then we’ll postpone.”
Gathering her courage, Eliza inhaled the musty scent permeating the room, then slowly released it. “The truth is, I’m not sure going on a date is such a good idea.”
A long pause filled the silence, and Eliza’s stomach tumbled with nerves.
“Okay, I can respect that,” Colt said at last, surprising Eliza with his sincerity. “Let’s not think of it as a date, then. Just two friends hanging out. We’ll get a bite to eat. Maybe some ice cream afterward.”
A small smile tugged at her lips. “Sounds an awful lot like a date to me.”
“I’ll only let you get one scoop. Plain cone, not waffle. And definitely no sprinkles.”
Eliza giggled. “Gee, you’re a stingy friend, aren’t you?”
Colt’s deep, rich laugh rumbled through the phone, causing her heart to flutter. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow night. Same time.”
“See you then.”
After exchanging goodbyes, Eliza ended the call slightly breathless.
What had just happened?
