“I don’t really remember seeing him around town all that often when we were kids,” Colt continued. “He must have worked long hours.” Truthfully, Timothy Heart was known as quite the odd duck, but he wasn’t about to point that out.
“He loved this store. Why would he go anywhere else?”
Her voice carried a faint, defensive quality, so Colt softened his tone. “I can see why. If I were him, I’d have a hard time leaving, too.” Now that they were on the subject, Colt realized he’d never heard how her father passed away. “If you don’t mind me asking…” he said gently. “What happened to him?”
Her face immediately paled, and Colt could’ve kicked himself. He, of all people, knew the discomfort caused by supposedly well-meaning questions.
For months after his father’s death, barely two seconds went by without someone asking him how he was doing, offering their condolences, or extolling his dad’s many virtues.
Leonard Davis had been the town’s everyman—always there to lend a hand, no matter what. They’d even begged him to run for mayor, except the position had been held by the Burns men for generations. And Leonard Davis wasn’t one to buck tradition. Oh, no. He was as straight as an arrow. Straighter, even. And Luke had turned out just like him. Not that Leonard could say the same for his other son.
Forcing the bitter memories aside, he focused his attention back on Penny. “Hey,” he said with a kind smile. “Forget I asked.”
Relief flooded her eyes, relaxing the creases around the edges.
“How about we get started on that list?” he offered.
She nodded gratefully, waving for him to follow. “The garden’s this way.”
Colt kept his gaze trained on her back, observing the gentle swish of her long auburn hair.
He’d always known she was a bit of an enigma.
But now he knew it was more than that.
Penny Heart had a secret.
And probably more than one.
Chapter 7
Penny flinched as they stepped from the dimly lit storage room into the brilliant afternoon sunlight. She surreptitiously stole a glance at Colt, gauging his reaction as he took in the intimate garden terrace for the first time.
One half English garden, the other half herbs, fragrant lavender and rosemary stems mingled with delphinium, hollyhocks, and foxglove in a myriad of vibrant colors. Bird baths and feeders dotted the dense foliage, inviting lyrical robins and blue jays to her tiny oasis that abutted the nature trail behind Main Street.
Since she spent almost as much time outside soaking up the tranquil atmosphere, the cozy space felt like an extension of her home. A realization that made her acutely aware of Colt’s presence.
He released a low whistle. “Not too shabby.” His gaze fell on the white wrought iron bistro table and the rolling beverage cart beside it.
Twenty minutes earlier, she’d set out a pitcher of sweetened jasmine-infused green tea and a covered basket of Eliza’s jumbo-size cranberry praline muffins. A tingling warmth crept up her neck.
Was it too much? Did it look like she was trying to impress him? Because she definitelywasn’t. Setting out snacks was merely the hospitable thing to do.
“Thanks. It’s small, but homey.” Her sling-back sandals clacked across the stone tiles as she hurried to the table, choosing the chair that faced the back door to keep an eye out for Bree in case she needed something.
Colt plopped onto the chair opposite her, a lazy smile softening his features as he studied the melodic wind chime crafted from an assortment of seashells. “It’s so peaceful out here. I could take a nap inthatfor hours.” He nodded toward the crocheted hammock swinging invitingly between two dogwood trees, the lush branches creating a shaded canopy overhead.
A vision of his muscular, athletic frame reposed in her favorite reading spot flashed through her mind and she quickly pushed the unwanted—though not entirely unappealing—image aside.
“So, I’ve already made a list of all five activities.” After pouring them each a tall glass of iced tea, she returned the pitcher to the cart and snatched the small leather notebook she’d left there earlier, flipping it open a few pages.
“Let’s hear ‘em.” Colt took a generous sip of iced tea before digging into the basket of muffins.
“First, I have the nature trail.”
Colt snorted with laughter before his smile faltered. “Wait. You’re serious?”
“Tourists love the nature trail,” Penny argued, annoyed she hadn’t even made it past the first activity before he uttered his objection.
