Chapter 1
Carter
Wyatt sailedthrough the door of Hidden Treasures, almost dancing while saying, “I heardfrom a little birdie you had a date tonight.”
Carter fought to keephimself from rolling his eyes at Mrs. Jenkins as he handed her back her creditcard. Hoping she would ignore Wyatt, he smiled and tried to keep thingsprofessional. “I’ll let you know if I can find those chairs you wanted. I’vegot some good contacts, so it shouldn’t be difficult.”
Her eyes twinkledas she took back her card. “A date? You didn’t mention anything like that.”Then she turned to Wyatt. “Hello, dear.”
He blushed alittle. “Hello, Mrs. Jenkins.” Then, glancing back to Carter, he mouthed, “Sorry.”
She wasn’t goingto give up on good gossip, so she turned to look at Carter. “Who is yourmysterious suitor? I can’t remember hearing you mention anyone.”
Carter wasn’t surewhat to say, because he still wasn’t sure if it was a real date. Grant hadasked him out for dinner and it sounded like a date, but Carter had been inthis position before. Pushing aside his worries, he shrugged. “He’s a friend.We’re just having dinner.”
Not believingCarter for a minute, the little old lady looked at Wyatt and tilted her headquestioningly. He gave Carter a shrug and then looked back to Mrs. Jenkins andshook his head, whispering conspiratorially, “He’s lying. The way Grant looksat him, there’s no way that man thinks they’re friends.”
She laughed likeit was the best thing she’d heard all day. Ignoring Carter’s risingembarrassment, she kept her focus on Wyatt. “Is he handsome?”
Wyatt leaned towardher and nodded. “He’s one of my boyfriend’s brothers. He’s built like a tankbut is very nice.”
Her eyes lit up. “Likeone of those body builders on TV?”
Wyatt shook hishead. “He looks more like a bouncer at a motorcycle bar, but he’s smart andworks in insurance.”
“Oh, the best ofboth worlds.” Carter swore the older woman almost swooned.
Wyatt noddedenergetically. “I’m completely gone over Garrett but—Oh, you’re going to lovehim, Mrs. Jenkins.”
She turned back toCarter. “Is your young man picking you up from work?”
Carter knew if heanswered yes, she was going to find another dozen things she had to askquestions about. He smiled. “No. I’m meeting him at my house after work.”
“They’re going todinner and I’ve heard Grant has a surprise.” Wyatt was almost skipping around thestore and Mrs. Jenkins was eating it up. She was the perfect audience forWyatt’s enthusiasm.
“You can’t keep ita secret from me.” She stepped closer. “We won’t tell doubting Thomas overthere.”
Wyatt giggled andwhispered low in her ear. She smiled and brought her hands together near herchest. “Oh, that’s perfect. He’s going to love it.” Then she leaned close againand whispered something low to Wyatt. He nodded like she’d given him some sageadvice, then they both looked over at Carter.
He was nervousenough about the date. He didn’t need them adding anything else. He wasn’tgoing to play the guess-the-secret game, so he ignored it. Wyatt was probablyoverreacting, anyway.Please, God, let him be overreacting.
Mrs. Jenkinssmiled and gave Wyatt a conspiratorial look before turning back to Carter.“I’ll come back and check on those chairs later in the week.”
Carter knew he wasgoing to get politely grilled about his date, but he wasn’t sure if there wouldbe anything to tell her. Most of his dates went terribly—and that was when hewas sure it was a date. He and Grant had been talking and texting for almosttwo weeks, but when Grant mentioned dinner during one of their conversations,Carter had been too shocked to do anything but agree.
How much textingmeant friendship, and how much meant something more?
His friendshipwith Wyatt might not be the best indicator, because they talked constantly. Hedidn’t do that with many people, but maybe most friends didn’t talk much. Hadthat been Grant’s way of hinting he wanted more than just friendship?
Carter wasstarting to wish he’d asked a few more questions, like “Is this a date?” andpossibly “Where are we going?” From the look on Wyatt’s face, it might havebeen a good idea. Mrs. Jenkins hadn’t been shocked, so it couldn’t be tooweird. Who was he kidding? That outrageous little old lady wouldn’t haveblinked no matter how strange the date might be.
As she made hergoodbyes and left the antique shop, Carter turned to Wyatt. “What did wediscuss last week?”
Wyatt sighed andflopped down on a chair. “Not to come in talking about personal things withoutmaking sure the store is empty first.”
“And why did wehave this discussion?”
Wyatt closed hiseyes and tilted his head back, sighing even more dramatically. “Because Mrs.Jenkins doesn’t need to know that Garrett likes to do fun things to me in bed.”
