“Now if this isn’t the picture of love,” she coos.
Griffin’s hold on my hand tightens, looking down at me and smiling from ear to ear. I don’t think I will ever get used tothateither.
“How long have you been here?” I ask her.
“Long enough to hear both of you screaming at each other before that twatwaffle started screaming at you,” she scoffs.
“Huh?”
She rolls her eyes and groans. “Don’t make me repeat what I heard, Blair. I thought those things were just stuff I’ve read in my romance novels, but Griffin here…” She points a finger in his direction. “Have you been reading my books?”
He holds a hand up in defense. “Not me.”
Then it dawns on me…she’s talking about hearing us in the barn before everything just happened. I feel my cheeks burn, no doubt turning crimson red with embarrassment. Bringing my lips between my teeth, I hide behind Griffin’s shoulder to avoid eye contact with Nan altogether.
“Nan,” he warns.
“All in good fun, kids.” She laughs. “But in all seriousness, the two of you standing in front of me has never made me happier.” I emerge from behind him, letting myself look at the woman who first greeted me when I moved here. She makes her way to stand in front of me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I knew from the moment I met you that this place would change your life. You had this hesitation about you, but I knew you would open up here. I knew that tiny home on Barlow Drive would be the key to do so.”
“Did you plan all of this?” I ask.
She shakes her head, her smile only growing. “Never in lifewould I do that.” She winks. “But I know this grumpy man enough to know that he needed a twist in his quiet life. He needed someone like you to shake it up a bit.”
“You’re an evil woman,” Griffin draws out, shaking his head in disbelief.
Nan simply shrugs. “I’m not evil, I’m just smart.”
Facing Griffin, I look up at him with literal hearts in my eyes. If that’s even a thing. The man who’s flipped my world upside down. I wrap my arms around his waist, and his hands find mine on his stomach.
He leans down and kisses me again.
Out in the open in front of other people. Well, in front of Nan.
I want nothing more than his lips to be the first thing I feel when I wake up and the last thing before I fall asleep at night.
“Let’s go home,” he says against my lips before pressing one more quick kiss to the corner of my mouth.
I nod, locking my hands in his as he guides me out of the barn.
“Anyone want to drive me back?” Nan asks behind us.
I reach into the pocket of my jeans, pulling out my slim key fob for the Mercedes-Benz, and tossing it to her. She catches them even though she’s caught off guard.
“You can borrow that,” I say. “But take care of her.”
“Oh, it’s time for some donuts.” She beams, fist in the air.
“Whoa, whoa,” I say, trying to stop her.
“Relax, Bubbly Blair. I’m talking about the kind you eat.” She winks and scurries past us, jogging as fast as her legs can take her to my car. Opening the door, giving us an exaggerated wave before she peels off toward town.
“She will always be the most interesting character in Bluestone Lakes,” Griffin says, dumbfounded, as he guides me toward his truck.
“I was thinking the same thing,” I say as I jump into his passenger seat while he gets into the driver's seat.
With one more glance in my direction, he looks over at me.My chest warms and I feel like I can breathe again. There’s a comfort in his stare that tells me moving here was the best decision of my life.
“Take me home, Griffin.”
