“She will?” His voice drips with so much longing and hope that it nearly makes me cry. This poor man is so far gone for her it hurts.
“Yeah, you should come. Bring your parents, it’ll be fun.”
He bites his lower lip before nodding. “Yeah, okay. I’ll talk to them about it and let you know. Thanks Noelle, it’s really nice of you to invite us.”
I smile at him. “Of course. Please, we’d love to have you. Eve too,” I add.
This gets him to smile before dipping out the back door and leaving for good. Right as the door closes, Eve comes out from the pantry carrying arm loads of dry ingredients. Whenshe feels my eyes burning into her, she finally looks in my direction.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Why do you do that to him?”
“Do what? We were having a pleasant conversation,” she argues, tearing open the bag of sugar and dumping it into a mixing bowl.
“No, you were flirting with him and you know it.”
She laughs before grabbing butter and milk out of the fridge, setting it on the metal table with a force.
“I was not flirting with him. You can’t flirt with someone while talking about the growth rate of cucumbers,” she scoffs.
“That one feels way too easy,” I lament, shaking my head at her. “You know he likes you, Eve. I know you know he likes you.”
“Jack does not like me. You and Belle are ridiculous for thinking so in the first place. Don’t try to pull me into your delusions.”
“That man,” I say, leaning into my words and pointing at the back door where he once stood, “would eat the dirt off your shoes if you asked him to. I’ve never seen a man adore someone as much as he adores you.”
“That’s funny coming from you. When was the last time you actually paid attention to how Nick looks at you?” she asks, tipping her head to one side. “How is that dear husband of yours, by the way? Things working out okay between the two of you?”
“I’m not talking about him with you.”
“Fine, then I’m not talking about Jack with you.” She shrugs with pursed lips.
“That’s fine. But so you know, I invited him to Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.”
“What do I care if he’s coming? We’refriends, Noey, only friends.” She shakes her head at me as if the insinuation ofthem being more friends is crazier than me marrying Nick for the sake of inheriting Holly House.
“You mark my words, Eve Barns. There will come a day when you realize you’re in love with Jack as much as he’s in love with you and I’ll be standing here ready to say ‘I told you so.’”
“You’re going to be standing there until you return to the Earth because that’s never gonna happen,” she snarks.
I sigh and shake my head at her. “I came in here in the first place to make sure you have everything for dinner on Thursday. You’re good, right? ‘Cause if not, our produce guy is probably just down the street if you need him.”
“I’ve got everything I need and dinner is going to be delicious. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about meormy dinner.”
“Fine, let me know if you need anything.” I cross my arms over my chest and smile at her before leaving. Making my way down the hallway, I find Grams standing at the end of it looking around the inn. It’s rare for her to come in these days and the sight of her here makes me smile.
“Grams, hi. Did I know you were coming in today?” I loop my arm around hers when I reach her. She pats my hand like she likes to do.
“Ohh, no, this is a surprise inspection. I wanted to make sure the place was all set and decorated before the holiday on Thursday.” Her eyes circle the front desk area and library which have been decorated to the nines with garland, ribbon, and small bunches of holly leaves. “It looks beautiful like always.”
“I’m so glad you think so. We’re putting the wreaths up tomorrow on the windows then we should be all set for Thursday.”
She’s moving us towards the library. Reaching it, I help her down into one of the chairs and sit in the one next to her.
“There’s something else I came here to discuss with you. Another surprise, if you would,” she starts. The corners of her eyes wrinkle as she looks at me.
“Oh? What kind of surprise?”
