“Yes?” She turned toward the door where he stood, jacket over his arm, his Stetson pulled low over his eyes. HisI mean businesslook.
“Whatever your answer is, please let me know as soon as you decide. You can get in touch with me anytime, day or night.”
“Okay.”
He muttered a soft swear word and crossed the room, nudging back his hat on the way. His soft kiss tore her up. His murmuredI love youbroke her heart.
Then he was gone.
She made it through both her client appointments and even drove over to the Victorian to watch Jodi pound some nails. She thought she’d pulled it off until Angie got her aside.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Sorry, but I don’t believe that. You have the same haunted look in your eyes that Adam had when he came by earlier.”
She took a shaky breath. “We have… issues.”
“Clearly. Which is too bad, because I’ve never seen two people more in love.”
“Oh, we’re not?—”
“Tell that to someone who’s not a certified expert.”
“Huh?”
“In the past three years the McLintocks have had twelve weddings, including mine. If that doesn’t qualify me to recognize the signs, I don’t know what does.”
Tracy lowered her voice. “How do you know it’s not just sexual attraction?”
“Excellent question. When I first saw you together, I picked up on that. But at lunch yesterday, I saw something much deeper. You two were working on some plan, and it wasn’t about the lynx.”
“That’s a real thing, but you’re right, that wasn’t what that conversation was about.”
“You were so in tune with each other it gave me goosebumps. You’ve been friends since grade school. That’s special.”
“It’s part of the problem.”
“Sounds like my brother Marsh and Ella. Friends since they were five. Couldn’t risk the friendship.”
“And?”
Angie smiled. “They’re happily married and have a baby boy.”
“I’ll bet she hadn’t just ended a relationship.”
“Wanna bet? They got together days after she cancelled herwedding.”
“Wow.”
“Like I said, I’ve become something of an expert on true love. For what it’s worth, you and Adam have it sticking out all over you.”
She sighed. “I just wish so much wasn’t at stake.”
“It always is.”
That startled her. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
