Just then the server showed up to take their order of two stews and two hot coffees.He looked across at Abby and noticed her cheeks were still pink.She had such a natural beauty about her.
The more time he spent with her, the more he was starting to like her.As a friend.Period.They may have gotten off to a bumpy start, but he admired the way she kept her word to Sadie and gave him a tour of Bayberry, which included a tour of the candle company and a stop at the chocolate shop.He had a small bag of chocolates in his pocket for later.
And even though it was literally freezing outside, Abby didn’t complain.Granted, it was an abbreviated tour, but it was long enough for him to get the general impression of the town.
As though she could read his thoughts, Abby asked, “What do you think of Bayberry?It’s a great little town, right?”
He could see the twinkle in her warm brown eyes and hear the pride in her voice.He weighed his words.“It’s not so bad.”
Her brows rose.“Not so bad?That’s all you’ve got?”
He shrugged.A small town was a small town.It didn’t matter if it was in the heartland or in New England, they all had their drawbacks.
Her gaze narrowed.“Let me guess.You’re a big city guy.You think all small towns are boring.”
He shrugged again.He wasn’t going to get into this with her.“Something like that.”
“Give Bayberry a chance.It might surprise you.”
He shook his head.“I won’t be around long enough.”
“When are you leaving?”
He had a feeling she wouldn’t be disappointed to see him go.“Tomorrow.I have a morning flight to New York City and from there to Chicago.”
“But you’ll be back for the wedding.Maybe you’ll have more time then.”
“Perhaps.”Though he didn’t anticipate being in town long enough for it to change his opinion of small towns.
Just then the door to the diner opened.Even though his back was to the door, he could hear the sounds of passing vehicles and feel the cold breeze on the back of his neck.And when he noticed the bright smile on Abby’s face, he assumed that someone she knew had entered the diner.
The next thing he knew, Sadie and Reed were standing at the end of their table.The smile on Sadie’s face lit up her eyes.
Abby arched a brow.“Don’t you two have a lunch to attend?”
“We do.”Sadie continued to smile.
Reed gently elbowed Sadie.“But someone was so excited about the engagement that she forgot she’d insisted that she was bringing dessert.And so we stopped by to pick up a pie.”
“It looks like you two are having a good time.”Sadie beamed at them.
Brad couldn’t help but wonder if Sadie was always this perky or if it was due to the engagement.He also noticed that Abby didn’t leap in to deny Sadie’s assumption.Instead, Abby leaned back and gave a little shrug.
He wasn’t used to that sort of ambivalent reaction from the women he’d spent time with.Usually they enjoyed his company, but he hadn’t exactly gotten off to a good start with Abby.But he was starting to see that she was a lot nicer than he’d first given her credit.
“She is a good tour guide,” he said, hoping to smooth over things—at least a little.
Sadie gestured for Abby to move over.Abby’s eyes widened, but she moved over.Sadie sat down with a grin on her face.
“How about I go get the pie?”Reed asked.
“Oh, would you?”Sadie smiled at him.“I just want a couple of minutes to speak to Abby.”
Reed sent Sadie a look, as though it were some non-verbal conversation.Then he walked toward the counter.
This sounded like the perfect moment for Brad to excuse himself.He cleared his throat.“I’ll, uh, just go help Reed with that pie.”
When he went to stand, Sadie said, “No.Stay.Please.”
