Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83343 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83343 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
The stranger glances up from his phone and our gazes lock. He doesn’t look away and neither do I.
TWO
Vincent
Jacob and Sutton aren’t late. I’m early. I wanted to take in the place before I got distracted by anything—the tea shop, the pink gingham tablecloths, the show tunes being belted out by the two women behind the counter. I want to look around, get a feel for the gardens, the way the house looks when it’s not swarmed by tourists. I need to be able to hear what my gut is telling me. I’m a fan of data, but even if the numbers look good, when I’m making an investment, my gut has to give its approval too.
“Okay by me in America . . .” The older lady behind the counter starts to sing along to the next song coming through the speaker. I smile. She sure is happy.
The sound of approaching footsteps makes me look up. “Your coffee,” says the younger employee.
“Thanks,” I say, twisting the mug around so the handle is the opposite way.
“Oh, another leftie,” she says, beaming. She’s wearing a pink striped uniform with a frilled collar and white apron. It really shouldn’t be as alluring as it is. It just looks so damn innocent.
“Your friend likes to sing,” I say.
“We both do,” she replies. “I wouldn’t be able to work anywhere you couldn’t sing.” She says it deadpan, and I’m not sure if she’s being serious until her face cracks into a wide smile.
She’s dazzling.
Her blue eyes almost sparkle and her hair is swept up in a ponytail that bounces as she walks … and I imagine when she’s doing other things as well.
“Can I get you anything else?”
I narrow my eyes. “Nothing on the menu.”
She blushes, and I mentally chastise myself for not being more of a gentleman. “I’m good, thank you.”
The bell over the door chimes and in walks Sutton. And Parker—I wasn’t expecting her. Closely followed by Jacob and Tristan, Parker’s fiancé.
I push away from the table and stand.
“We’ve come as a foursome,” Sutton says. “I need to see as many friends as possible on my days off.”
“The more the merrier,” I say, pulling Sutton into a hug. The bigger the crowd, the more it looks like a typical family day out, which is exactly how I want it to look. My family are unwitting players in my game today.
Everyone is pulling out chairs and peeling off sweaters and I glance over to the counter and catch the younger woman’s eye. Without me saying anything, she picks up a pad and comes over to the group.
“Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Crompton. Can I get you anything?”
I watch as she studiously writes down each order, recapping to everyone what they just said. In between each order, her eyes slide to mine, as if she’s checking I’m still here.
Then the bell tinkles again and my aunt and uncle burst in.
“I’m bloody freezing, Carole. That’s why I’m wearing two jumpers and a coat.”
My aunt ignores my uncle’s complaining—she’s used to it—and gets engulfed in hugs from her son and his soon-to-be wife and their friends.
I glance up at the counter and my friend is headed over here again.
“Two cups of tea and a carrot cake for John,” I say.
“He’s getting two cups of tea?” she asks. Then she shakes her head and realizes what I meant. She stares at my aunt and uncle as they twist out of their layers. A small smile curls at the edges of her lips. She flips her pen toward Carole and John in a movement no one but me would have caught. “Your parents?”
I smile. It’s not just the older lady who’s full of questions.
I move a couple of steps to the edge of our crowd and she follows me.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“Kate.”
I take in her face—the dark waves that escape her ponytail, the three freckles she has on her left cheekbone, and I enjoy the blush crawling up her neck. I don’t mean to embarrass her. “They’re my aunt and uncle,” I explain. “Jacob’s my cousin—Carole and John’s eldest. Sutton’s his soon-to-be-wife.”
“Fiancée,” she corrects me.
I grin and push my hands into my pockets to stop myself from doing anything else with them. “Then Parker is Sutton’s best friend and Tristan is her fiancé.”
She nods as if she’s satisfied with my answer. “Big family vibe. Lots of fiancés.”
I chuckle. “Not for me.” I meet her eye. I don’t know why I’m flirting so hard. It’s not like I’m going to get her number or take her to dinner. But there’s a pull to her I can’t quite explain.
“We’re expecting Nathan too. Another cousin. I have five. Nathan’s wife is tied up at work, so won’t be joining us.”
She sighs, turns to me and puts her hand on my arm. The gesture is entirely too familiar, but feels completely right. “Have a wonderful day.” She says it with such sincerity, it takes me by surprise. Then she turns and heads back to the counter.