“I came to see my best friend,” she countered. “Why areyouhere?”
“I need a gift,” he said simply.
“For Sara?” Quinley pressed.
“Not for Sara.” He watched the best friends exchange a glance. “Could you wrap this up for me, Ana?” He pointed at the miniature tree with its sparkling adornments.
“Of course. Which one do you want?”
He smiled, knowing his response would pique their interest even more. “All of them. And the tree.”
The display had immediately drawn his attention as he’d walked by because dangling from the limbs were tiny, glittery gemmed trinket boxes. No two were alike, but there was a tree, Santa and Mrs. Claus, a porcupine, a fairy, a dark-haired elf and his favorite—a raccoon with a red bow at its neck.
Sara had mentioned her mother wearing her colorful costumes on the farm, and the customers not knowing if they’d be greeted by a fairy or animal. And since her mother’s hospital had also been listed in the background report he’d had done on Sara, and the figurines might brighten her mother’s day… “Can you ship them as well? I’ll text you the address. All but this one. I want to take it with me.”
“Sure. I’ll wrap it separately and send an invoice once I get the shipping cost,” Ana said as she took the raccoon from him and quickly moved to the checkout.
Quinley hadn’t stopped staring at him, and he shoved his hands into his pockets as he waited for her interrogation.
He didn’t have to wait long.
“It looks good on you.”
“What does?” he asked, unsure of what she meant since it wasn’t what he’d expected her to say.
“Sara-dust. I don’t remember you ever looking so…happy.”
“Quinley…”
“Imeanit. You’ve found the missing something, haven’t you?”
In their first face-to-face conversation after she’d left him at the altar, they’d both admitted to something missing from their relationship. Something important.
Had he found it with Sara? It certainly felt that way. He might not have known her long, but he’d never felt as relaxed or intrigued orin wantof a woman in his entire life, not even for the one in front of him who’d done them both a favor by balcony diving to get away from him the day of their almost wedding. “I’ve only just met her.”
“When it’s real, you know it. I knew with Elias. Maybe not immediately, but…I knew. There was thatsomethingthat made him different.”
“Elias-dust?” he asked with a smirk and lift of his eyebrow.
Quinley laughed and nodded. “Elias-dust, yes. Make fun if you like, but I see you, Rhys Lachlan. You’ve got a sparkle in your eye.” She smiled again. “It looks good on you.”
He held her gaze, thinking she was right considering he’d spent the entire night dreaming of a certain windblown, dark-haired beauty.
He’d had so much fun doing nothing but strolling the beach with her, picking up shells. Sneaking kisses and loving her triumphant grins when she’d one-up him in their shell competition.
He’d struggled to take her home, wanting, praying, she’d invite him into the tiny camper to stay even if it meant keeping his hands to himself.
He hated the thought of not sleeping beside her, waking up beside her every day, and he wanted to do all he could to give her the life she deserved.
But the suddenness of it? He wasn’t a man who made impulsive decisions, though in this he felt like his mind was already made up. He knew it was crazy. But that’s how he felt.
“Here you go,” Ana said, bringing him a beautifully wrapped package.
He blinked, so distracted by his thoughts he’d nearly forgotten about the gift. “Thanks.”
“I’ll get everything ready to send out as soon as you text the shipping address. Do you need help with anything else?”
Last night, he’d reminded himself of the endgame and escorted Sara to the camper, backing her up against the side and kissing her senseless until they were both breathing heavily. When she’d finally pulled away, it seemed like she struggled just as much as he did with the chemistry and feelings overtaking them.
