They passed out of Emerald Hollow, and Isaiah noticed that the vibrant tulips that had been bursting along the roadways all throughout town became sparse then completely vanished as they headed away from the city limits.That’s odd,he thought.
Sofia gave voice to his thoughts. “Huh, the tulips just disappeared. I wonder why Emerald Hollow is having such a powerful regional bloom.”
“You mean it isn’t typical for Emerald Hollow to have tulips bursting out of every ounce of soil like a Monet painting?” Isaiah was mildly interested in the tulips, but he was much more intrigued by the woman sitting next him. He had a chance to get to know her even better, and he didn’t want to waste it.
Turning the subject back to her, he said, “Okay, karaoke is off limits—for now.”
She shot him a skeptical look, and he grinned.
“So, whatcanyou tell me about? Your time in the military? Your family?”
Sofia shook her head. “It’s not fair. You can’t tell me anything in return.”
“That’s exactly why it is fair. I don’t have any memories, so you can help me fill my brain with some of yours.”
Sofia turned her head slightly and seemed to study him for a moment before looking back at the road. “There’s not much to say that you don’t already know. Out of high school, I joined the military. Worked as a dog handler for most of the six years. My mom was diagnosed with cancer. I separated from the military and moved back here. I lived with her for a while then eventually got my own place, where I live now. I started working at the Emerald House and doing my jewelry on the side.”
“What’s next for your business? You’ve been putting in plenty of research at the library.”
Sofia seemed startled by the question, but to his surprise, she didn’t respond with a snarky retort. “I’m taking things one day at a time. I’ve started to create an actual business plan. I do pretty decent sales when we have local festivals, but my real goal is to scale my online presence. I can reach so many more people that way. Right now, I just do work within my themed lines, like Christmas or Valentine’s Day or other themes. Eventually, I’d like to open up for custom orders as well.”
“If you made a custom order for me, what would it be?” Isaiah loved the sound of her voice when she spoke about her business. All attitude faded away, and the underlying passion that he suspected fueled it all came through.
Sofia cast him a withering look. “You know I make jewelry, right?”
Attitude back,he thought with a grin.
“Maybe I want a custom belt buckle. If I had a belt, that is.”
“We’ll remedy the belt situation today. See? I told you you needed new things.”
“You still didn’t answer the question.”
Sofia accelerated to pass a slow vehicle. “Usually, I try to make customs—gifts—that I feel fit the person. I’ve made customearrings for Holly before. I don’t think she’s that into jewelry, but I always catch her wearing the earrings I’ve made her. Now that I think about it… I wonder why she’s still wearing the Mrs. Claus hat earrings I made her at Christmas. Doesn’t she know it’s February?”
“You’re sidetracking,” Isaiah said, thoroughly enjoying listening to her talk.
Sofia huffed a deep breath. “Fiiine. Do you want morbid or fun?”
Isaiah raised his eyebrows, but she wasn’t looking at him. “Morbid.”
“Okay. I would make you a belt buckle displaying the woods and the trail where you were found.”
Isaiah barked out a laugh. “You got me there.”
She gave him a wicked grin, then a shadow passed over her face, and he wondered what she was thinking. He realized they’d driven for miles and managed to avoid any mention of the spectacular kiss they’d shared the night before. He wondered if it had been on her mind as much as it had been on his.
“Here we are,” she said a minute later, pointing at the sign for Ashland, Oregon. “I told you it was a quick drive.” She briskly navigated into the town and squeezed into the single open parking space in the central downtown area.
“Should I be scared?” Isaiah asked as they climbed out of the car and Sofia scanned the businesses for their first target. Her eyes seemed to glow as she surveyed the shops.
“Let’s just say I’ve always wanted to have my own personal Ken doll to dress up.” She winked.
He groaned, but his heart rate accelerated as he watched her walk, and he didn’t think it was entirely because of the impending shopping spree.
Chapter Thirty-Three
SOFIA
