A clean freak. No surprise there.
“So, Bryn,” he said finally, glancing up. “What’s the best way to kill time around here? I’m a New York native, but I’ll be calling this place home for a few months. Business stuff.”
A city boy from New York, huh? What kind ofbusiness stuffcould he possibly have in a small town like ours?
I took a moment, trying to find the least depressing way to put it. He couldn’t seriously think this town offered more than backroads and bad decisions.
“Depends on what you’re into. If you like hiking and hunting, you’ll be in heaven. But if you’re looking for a more…” I trailed off, weighing the words, “vibrant nightlife, you’re out of luck. We’ve got a few bars in town, but I’m certain they’re a far cry from what you’re used to in the city.”
A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips. His voice, smooth and effortless, had a magnetic pull. “I’ve always been more of a nature lover,” he said, stirring his coffee with a calm, unhurried motion. “The whole party scene? Never really been my thing.”
I shot him a skeptical look, my mind spinning with questions I didn’t quite have the guts to ask. In what world didhenot belong in the party scene? He looked like he’d stepped off a red carpet, not wandered into a sleepy mountain town.
I reeled it in. “Well, in that case, you’ve come to the right place. Our hiking trails are top-notch.” My eyes followed the cup in his hand as he brought it to his lips, an ordinary motion, but somehow it caught me. Held me, even.
I cleared my throat. “If you’re into coffee, you should check out Deano’s. It’s a great family-run spot just down the street. I’m a regular there. Daily, pretty much.”
He set the mug down slowly, his focus never leaving mine. The warmth from it seemed to radiate across the table, anchoring me in place. “Deano’s, huh? I’ll definitely check it out.”
Then his gaze dropped to my outfit. His lips parted like he was about to say something, then hesitated.
“I hope I’m not being too forward,” he said with a slight nod. “But I’ve got to say…your dress is incredible. The design, the colors...it’s really something special.”
I glanced down, smoothing my hands over the fabric as warmth crept into my cheeks.
“My dress? Oh…thanks,” I said, my voice catching just a little. “I actually made it. Well, more like gave it a makeover.”
I wasn’t sure how to read his tone—sarcastic or sincere? Coming from a New Yorker, I half-expected him to find my handiwork quaint, maybe even laughable next to the fashion he was used to. But there was something genuine in his expression, and it threw me.
He blinked, like he hadn’t expected that.
“Wait…you made that? That’s insane.” There was a hint of awe in his voice. “You ever think about designing full-time?”
I forced a smile, but it faded almost instantly. “Unfortunately, there’s not much demand for custom dresses around here. And the people who can afford them usually stick with the big-name designers.”
I had considered it before, but our small town wasn’t exactly a fashion hotspot. Pursuing it full-time felt like a colossal risk, especially since it would mean leaving the diner behind. And Reggie wouldn’t take that well. He’d always dismissed my work, called my creations subpar, a waste of time. And honestly, it wasn’t like I had any real savings to fall back on.
His gaze softened, something shifting in his voice. Curiosity, maybe, or quiet encouragement. “That’s too bad. Maybe someday…”
I nodded at the hope in his words, even though I knew how unlikely it really was.
“Yeah…maybe.”
Then a thought popped into my head, and I couldn’t stop myself.
“But hey, if you ever need a one-of-a-kind dress, I’m your girl.” I lifted my hands, palms up, sketching the scene in the air. “Just picture it. You walk into a meeting, ten minutes late, and everyone’s too busy picking their jaws up off the floor to notice. You toss out a ‘Sorry I’m late,’ with a wink and a hair flip, of course.”
A broad smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he leaned in, propping his chin on his hand.
“Oh, really? Do you make dresses in my size?” he asked, one brow quirked in teasing challenge.
I couldn’t help but be tickled by the thought of him in a dress—especiallyone of mine. I even found myself wondering what color he’d pick. Probably blue. It’d bring out his eyes.
“I can’t say I have much experience designing for giants,” I said, “but I’m sure I could whip something up that’d have you turning heads wherever you go.”
I gave him a quick once-over, then added, “It’ll cost you more, though. You know…extra fabric.”
He threw his head back, laughter spilling out, warm and easy. “That’s fair,” he said, adjusting his tie. “And totally worth it. I’d pay big bucks just toseethat.”
