For a beat I’m unsure what she’s talking about, but the deepening crimson of her cheeks clues me in. Last night she heard me laugh loudly in Noah’s bedroom and drew her own conclusions.
Having nothing to say to that, I turn around and dash to Noah’s office as Lane goes to the prep room to chat with Elaine. “Hey so, how do we go about engraving a rocking chair?”
“What for?” he asks, not even looking up from his computer.
“Haley, and I guess Hunter and Logan—and maybe Justin and Ethan—are getting that for Craig for Father’s Day. They want the chair to be engravedThe King.”
He takes his glasses off and narrows his eyes on me. “They’re buying a rocking chair?”
What’s the big deal? “Yeah. And a blanket and a smoker.”
He looks stunned and mutters, “I don’t think they ever bought anything here for Father’s Day other than a stupid plastic mug years ago.” Then he shakes himself up and says, “Uh, lemme call the maker. They’re in Middlebury.”
I plop into the seat in front of him while he places the custom order. “Well that was nice and easy,” I say.
He quirks an eyebrow at me. “Not even ten o’clock and my wife has sold more than we sometimes do in a whole day. Very impressive… Mrs. Callaway.” He adds the last part after a beat, giving me a half smile that twists my solar plexus.
This is exactly what I shouldn’t want.
I stand from my chair. “Surprised Ms. Angela isn’t here to check out the attraction,” I drop. I might feel great about what I’m doing, but I know everyone in Emerald Creek has their own opinion and will be sharing it. “Oh,” I say, realizing, “they’re all at Millie’s, aren’t they?” Millie owns the best coffee shop in town, aptly called Easy Monday. A stop there just sets the day right. It comes with free romance books and more gossip than you will ever need.
“That would be my guess, yes. Does that bother you?” His gaze unsettles me in the best way possible.
I shrug. “Nah.”
“Let’s go out to dinner tonight,” he blurts. “Just me and you…” His gaze drifts away then narrows sharply back on me as if he’s made a decision. “At Chloe’s Nook, not Lazy’s. Make it look special, you know. Holding hands and stuff. Shut them up and be done with it.”
That sounds terribly like a date. I shouldn’t think about it this way, because Noah is my husband, but the fact that I do tells me one thing: I’m still seeing him as my crush. That little flutter in my stomach? My hands clamming up? That’s not from going to dinner with my fake husband.
That’s from going on a date with Noah.
Kiara is right: I’m screwed.
“We can’t,” I blurt.
He pushes his glasses up his nose, a question painted on his face. “Willow…” he starts, his words trailing as if he’s trying to break some hard news.
“We’re having dinner at my mom’s,” I remind him.
“So—tomorrow.”
I massage the kink building in my neck. I can’t picture myself on a date with Noah. I’m going to start getting ideas, and if I drink a little too much, I might forget all this is fake. “It’s community dinner at Lazy’s,” I conveniently remember. No one would want to miss that. The whole town gets together for a potluck dinner, and the less fortunate leave with food, cash if they need it, and more importantly, a sense of belonging.
“Shit, I forgot about that.”
I raise a finger, trying to make a point. “Opportunity for PDA,” I whisper. We’ll be among our friends, which, as far as I’m concerned, is way safer than face-to-face in a romantic setting. “Everyone will see us. More bang for our buck than just the two of us at a restaurant.”
His cheekbones color adorably and he clears his throat. “What did you have in mind? Feels like we should discuss this.”
My gaze drifts over his chest to his rolled-up sleeves, my brain giving me an endless supply of ideas. “Let’s just wing it,” I whisper, frowning like this is nothing. Nothing at all. “Anything feels uncomfortable to you, just let me know…”
He pretends to clean his glasses. “Should we choose a safe word?”
Right then, Lane barges into the office and turns crimson as she hears Noah’s last words. Her mouth drops open. “Oopsie, I did not hear that,” she mumbles as she retreats.
“Might wanna knock next time!” Noah bellows.
seventeen
