Haley wraps her arm around my shoulders. “Nope! I came to say hi to Willow. Maybe shop for Dad, and Willow can help me with that,” she says, pointing to the display I just put together.
Noah’s gaze falls on me and… is thattenderness? He smiles and says, “You’re in good hands with her. I’ll leave you to it.” He walks away, and I can’t help but admire his broad shoulders, and the way his khakis mold his butt. He turns around and catches me staring. “Babe?”
Babe?Did he call me Babe? How does that make me all hot and bothered?
“Yep?” I quip. This is totally off script. We only talked about PDA in a general fashion. I don’t know how to act right now.
“Lemme know if you need anything, 'kay, sweetheart?”
Sweetheart?I give him a thumbs up, unable to say anything.
“Ohmygod you two are soooo sweet together. Like, Inever, ever, saw it coming.” Haley squeezes my arm. “Okay, show me your Father’s Day stuff.”
I take her to the different areas of the store—the wine cellar with its rare vintages and select whiskeys, as well as some of Haley’s own production, then to the clothing with super comfortable outdoor gear, the back area with gardening, animal feed, barbecue paraphernalia, and heavy equipment. Finally, I take her upstairs to show her the larger furniture pieces that her dad, Craig, would enjoy.
“Let me recap,” she says, opening the notes app on her phone. “Leather gloves and matching tool belt.”
I nod. “Made in Vermont, and we can have them custom engraved.”
“Rocking chair.”
“Same. Local makers, and you could have the family name engraved. Top it with a nice wool blanket.”
“'Kay,” she says, focusing on her screen. “Timberland American Craft boots. A smoker—I think his is getting pretty old. A fishing rod. A heating wool jacket. Um… wow. Okay. Lemme text the gang, and I’ll let you know what we settle for.”
I walk her back to the entrance. “Cards and wrapping paper will be on us,” I say, pointing to our gift-wrapping display.
She pulls me close to her as we walk back in front of the Father’s Day display. “Selfie!” she says! “Remember Alex’s lessons!” Alex was, and still is, all over the small businesses in town using social media to promote themselves and Emerald Creek for free.
She taps her screen, possibly posting the photo already, then says, “I’ll tag you, Noah, and the store. And I’ll text you about Dad’s gift.”
“You do that,” I say, smiling at her.
Right after she leaves, Lane comes in. “Oh, I’m happy to see you,” she says. “I saw Chris is hiring… I didn’t know… Noah didn’t say…” She takes me in a hug without a warning. “I’m glad you’re here,” she says, rubbing my back.
Her support is unexpected but also so genuine, I wish I could have this bond with her for real and forever. “I’m good. Your brother is going to have to put up with me.”
She tilts her head back dramatically. “Ohmygod, yessss.” Letting go of me, she motions toward the display window and checks to make sure Dean is out of earshot. “I sort of figured you were here, when I saw that. It’s the little things, you know? It matters to people. Noah is always locked up in his office.” Sherolls her eyes. “You gotta be on the floor, selling. You’ll be great, and you make him so happy.”
Surely what she’s seeing is Noah’s peace of mind now that he’s met the condition of the trust, yet I can’t help the strange warmth spreading through me at her words.
I’m saved from my spiraling thoughts by an incoming text message.
Haley: Rocking chair, blanket, and smoker. Rocking chair should be engraved,The King.
I answer with a thumbs up and raise my eyebrows. “Looks like I just sold a few hundred dollars' worth of Father’s Day gifts to the King family,” I announce rather proudly.
“Look at you!”
“By the way, how do we get the rocking chairs engraved?” I ask Dean, who’s now settling at the register.
He raises a bushy eyebrow. “Gotta ask the boss.”
“Oh, so he is sometimes useful,” I say, smiling.
“Eh, every now and then. That’s why we keep him around,” he answers with a wink.
Lane links our arms. “Gives you an excuse to go into his office. Not that you need one.” She blushes slightly and adds under her breath, “By the way, I moved my stuff to the tower. Give you your privacy and all that.”
