Her body tensed, and he realized what he’d said. He’d all but etched an end date on their time together.
“But until then, I’d like to spend every minute I can with you. If you’ll let me.”
She nodded, but he knew he’d already put his foot in his mouth.
Worse, he realized he wasn’t looking forward to leaving, and he knew it had nothing to do with a story and everything to do with the woman he was falling in love with because, for him, it wasn’t a maybe. It was a done deal.
Chapter Sixteen
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
“Okay, Vi. I’ve waited long enough. Tellme about him,” Honor demanded when she strolled into the bookstore on Wednesday afternoon. “Who is he? Where’s he from? How long’s he stickin’ around? Oh, and why weren’t you at church last Sunday?”
“Hello to you, too.”
Honor waved her off as she approached. “Don’t change the subject. How old is he? Has he ever been married before? Kids? Pets? Brothers? Sisters?”
Violet had been waiting for her sister to bombard her with questions about Simon. Whenever word got out that one of them was dating someone, Honor was the first to inquire at length. Everyone else relied on gossip to fuel their curiosity.
“Is there anyone else here?” Honor whispered when she reached the counter in the center of the store.
Not that she’d cared when she first walked in or anything.
“No.”
“Good.” She hopped up on the counter, giving Violet her full attention. “What’s his name?”
“Simon Jennings.”
“No middle name?”
“I don’t know.”
Honor narrowed her eyes, her brain clearly working to place the name. When she couldn’t, she shook her head. “He’s not from here.”
“No. Definitely not.”
“How old is he? Is he close to his parents?”
“What’s with the third degree?” Violet asked, stacking the little coloring books she stocked for kids to take when they came in.
“It’s no less thanIget wheneverI’mdatin’ someone.”
“I don’t recall givin’ you the third degree about Luca,” Violet retorted.
“Maybe you should have.”
“Uh-oh. Trouble in paradise?”
Honor frowned. “No comment. Plus, I’m not here to talk about me.”
She never was.
“I can’t answer all your questions. I don’t know the answers.”
“Have you slept with him yet?”
“Yes,” she said honestly because if she didn’t, her sister would harp on it until she caved. This saved time.
