The air in her chest stalled.
Oh.
Well, she’d wanted honesty...
“So... what caused the change of mind?”
He tipped closer, those caramel eyes searching hers, his vanilla-spice scent enveloping her.
“More of a change ofheart,” he said, his voice a husky murmur. “I started seeing you more clearly and”—his lips quirked—“to be perfectly honest, I’ve been smitten ever since.”
Smitten.
That did not sound temporary.
“But,” he continued, “I’ve blundered rather fantastically. So I understand if you have doubts.”
She hadn’t expected this. Not the repentant pull in his voice. That earnest, almost boyish regret flashing across his usually confident face. All of it pounding against her fear.
So in a trembling leap of faith—with hope that whatever this was between them might just lean toward theforeverside of happily ever after—she swallowed through the knot in her throat. “I... I don’t think you’ve blundered beyond repair.”
His jaw slackened, surprise flickering across his face, followed by a soft, almost reverent smile. “I’ll take that.”
She exhaled, a slow unspooling breath, something uncoiling in her chest. Something that might have been trust. Or maybe just the first fragile whisper of it.
And a little hope? It snuck in through all the little cracks she’d tried to patch over with suspicion and self-protection.
Warmth pricked her eyes, right before the music came to an abrupt, screeching halt.
A collective murmur spread through the crowd, followed by the unmistakable squeal of a microphone.
“Sorry to interrupt all the boot scootin’ and sweet talkin’,” Mayor Wilson’s voice boomed, “but we’ve got a very special announcement we know y’all’ve been waiting for!”
Daphne’s stomach dropped.
Oh dear...
How many emotional roller coasters could one woman survive in a single evening?
The crowd whooped and clapped. Daphne’s cheeks caught fire.
This shouldn’t be a big deal. It was just a friendly competition.
Except... in this moment, with Finn’s hand warm against herback and the weight of his words still stirring in her chest—it didn’tfeelfriendly anymore.
It felt personal.
Too much like a popularity contest.
Her gaze snagged on Finn again.
He was so much more charismatic than she was. And his food was delicious. And he even had a cute daughter as a trump card in this game.
How was she supposed to compete with that?
Finn stood beside her, all strong and present. She nearly leaned into him. Absorb some of that steady confidence. Breathe in another hit of his intoxicating scent.
But no.
