After an impressive dinner of roasted garlic chicken and sweet potatoes last night, I made Sullivan promise to take me to some of his favorite spots in Hope Mountain today. Neither one of us mentioned that today is likely my last day here. I selfishly wanted Sullivan to tell me to stay, but instead, he simply smiled and said he knew exactly where to take me.
Of course, it’s all a silly fantasy. I was naive to think otherwise. Sullivan said he wanted to make it clear how he felt about me… and then his phone rang and we never had that conversation. It’s just as well. I’m sure it would have been awkward to have me stick around for another night after breaking up with me. Not that we were ever official or anything.
“Take a look for yourself,” he answers as he puts the truck in park.
“Between the Pages,” I read out loud. The bookstore is absolutely adorable, much like the bakery.
“I think you’ll be surprised at the selection they have. I’ll take you out to lunch after.”
“Or I can take you out to lunch. You paid for coffee yesterday,” I remind him.
Sullivan reaches across the console and wraps his hand around mine. He surprises me by lifting my hand to his lips and pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “Not everything is transactional, princess,” he says softly. “What if I like providing for you? What if I just want you to have good things? Is that so hard to believe?”
I blink at him, still processing his questions. Is it hard to believe this man has been kinder to me than my own family? Yes. Is it nearly impossible to comprehend that he could be as obsessed with me as I am with him? Another resounding yes.
“On second thought, don’t answer that,” Sullivan says. “I’ll just have to show you that not everyone keeps score. Starting with lunch.”
I nod and give him my best smile, though my heart aches. I can almost picture our lives together, visiting Deidra and her friends at the retirement home, browsing through books at Between the Pages, and then grabbing a quick lunch at the diner before going home.
Home.That’s what this feels like. Not just the peaceful small town with its quirks and cute shops, but Sullivan. He’s been my anchor during the last few days of turmoil. At every turn, he’s been there for me, meeting my coldness with an all-encompassing warmth.
“Hey, everything okay?” Sullivan asks as he opens my door for me. I was so lost in thought, I didn’t realize he had gotten out of the truck.
“Of course,” comes my automatic response. Sullivan furrows his brow, not quite believing me. Thankfully, he doesn’t pry. I might just break down and tell him I’m pathetic and clingy and want to know if I was a fling or if he could see a future with me.
We walk into the bookstore, hand in hand, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. With Sullivan, it is.
“Welcome to Between the Pages,” a gorgeous red-headed woman says with a smile. “Oh! A new face!”
Sullivan chuckles and waves at the woman. “This is my…” he pauses, and I hold my breath. “This is Gabby,” he finishes. “She’s a guest at Willow Tree Inn.”Ouch.
“Hi! I’m Lily. Oh my gosh, I didn’t mean to embarrass you. We never get new people here, especially people my age,” she says, holding out her hand for me to shake.
I take it in mine and return her smile. It’s not as genuine as Lily’s, but I’m doing my best. “I’ve heard great things about this place. Are you the owner?”
Her smile drops, and she looks between me and Sullivan a few times. “Why do you want to know?” she asks, her tone full of suspicion. “Do you work for Top Spot Realty?”
Her question feels like a slap to the face. Talk about a mood killer. I feel like I’ve been living in a surreal dream land the last several days, but reality is waiting just a few hours away in Denver. “Ah. Um, I do, but I’m not…”
“Can you please stop sending me letters? I’ve already said I’m not going to sell. I just need to find the contract with the previous owner, but he’s been hard to get hold of since he retired. I promise I’ll get everything legitimized. You don’t have to threaten to report me to the IRS. Everything is on file. I’m up to date on everything. I checked. I…”
“It’s okay, Lily,” Sullivan says, thankfully stepping in. Lily is getting spun up, and as much as I wish I could help, I have no idea what she’s talking about. Threatening letters? That seems… extreme. “Gabby isn’t here on business.”
“Just waiting for my car to get fixed,” I add.
Sullivan stares at me for a second with an unreadable look on his face. Was that the wrong thing to say? Obviously, my stay in Hope Mountain has become so much more than an annoying pit stop to get my car worked on. I was just following his lead whenhe stumbled in his introduction. I thought he was going to tell Lily I was his girlfriend or at least friend. Instead, I was simply a guest at his inn.
“Oh,” Lily says, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
She blushes and turns away from me, shuffling some papers behind the counter. I recognize the Top Spot Realty logo on several envelopes, and my stomach sinks.
I don’t want to work for them anymore. I don’t want any of that life anymore. I can’t picture myself waking up tomorrow morning, putting on a pantsuit, and doing whatever is asked of me.
“It’s okay. I’ll… um, I’ll talk with my boss when I…” I swallow thickly before continuing. “When I get back to work.” The words taste bitter on my tongue.
She nods and pastes on a smile.
Sullivan clears his throat and takes my hand, guiding me down one of the aisles.
