Ignite (Cloverleigh Farms #6)(94)

But just then, Naomi walked up. “Hello. You must be Winnie?”

“Yes.” Nervous, I offered a hand. “It’s nice to meet you. You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” She shook my hand with a cool, firm grip. “I’m Naomi. Nice to meet you too. The girls talk about you all the time.”

I smiled at them. “They’re such great girls.”

“How was your move?”

“Oh, you know. It was a move,” I said, wondering what else she knew about me. “But I like my new job and I’m settling in.”

“Good.” Her smile seemed genuine, and I returned it.

“You look gorgeous, Naomi,” my mother said. “I can’t wait to see pictures.”

“Thanks, Frannie.” Naomi smiled warmly at my mom. “How are you?”

“I’m wonderful this weekend since I have my Winifred home.” My mom put an arm around me and squeezed. “I’m not going to want to let her go again.”

“It’s hard being away from your kids.” She looked down at her daughters. “What do you say, girls? Should we head out?”

“Bye, girls,” I said, giving each of them a hug. “It was so good to see you.”

“Bye, Winnie. We’ll still see you tomorrow, right?” Hallie looked up at me imploringly. “Daddy said we will.”

I nodded, although the thought of facing Dex made my chest feel hollow. “Yes, I’ll see you in the morning.”

They filed out, and I waved through the glass as they passed in front of the salon. Then I put my hand on my stomach and took a breath.

“You okay?” my mom asked, concerned.

“I’m fine,” I said. “It’s just a big day, and my nerves are a little jittery.”

“It’s going to be great.” She put an arm around my shoulder as we walked back to the nail stations. “Have some faith.”





Later that night, Ellie and I sat at the bar at Cloverleigh Farms, toasting our success. The event we’d planned had sold out and gone off without a hitch. The guests had raved about everything from the setting to the food to the service, we’d sold a ton of wine at the end of the night, and both Henry DeSantis and Mr. Fournier, who’d been on the premises but stayed out of sight, were thoroughly impressed. As an added bonus, Ellie and I’d had a ball together—it had hardly felt like work.

“Cheers.” Ellie tapped her whiskey glass to mine. “Here’s to the first of hopefully many ventures together.”

“Definitely.” I drank with her. “That was so much fun.”

“I wish you didn’t live so far away,” she said with a pout.

“Me too.” I stared at the whiskey in my glass. “I love my new job, but . . . I don’t know. Something just doesn’t feel right. I don’t feel right in my skin.”

She sat up straighter and rubbed my back. “I’m sorry. That was selfish of me to say. Give yourself some time to get used to things there, Win. It’s only been a couple weeks, and you’re coming off a shitty breakup. I’m not sure you’d feel right in your skin anywhere, even here.”

“That’s true.” I took another sip. “Seeing him yesterday sucked.” I’d told Ellie all about my run-in with him on the porch. “I can’t imagine still living next door to him.”

She tipped her head onto my shoulder. “Yeah.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “I don’t want to see him tomorrow.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“Can I cancel?”

Ellie sighed. “I don’t know. That would disappoint the kids, wouldn’t it?”

“Yeah. But I saw them this morning, right?” I shook my head. “And I just can’t face him and pretend my heart isn’t breaking.”

She sighed. “See? This is why love sucks. I don’t know why everyone thinks it’s so great.”

For once, I didn’t argue with her.





Just before Ellie and I left Cloverleigh Farms, I sent Dex a text.

Sorry to cancel on you, but I can’t make it tomorrow morning. I’ll email the girls. Take care.

I felt awful—like a coward—but told myself there was no other way.

Someone had to protect my heart.





Twenty-Nine





Dex





On the way home from the reception, the girls talked a mile a minute about everything—getting their hair done, seeing Winnie at the salon, their fancy dresses, the music and dancing, the cake . . . I was exhausted just hearing about it, but they were hopped up on so much sugar and excitement I worried they’d never fall asleep tonight. It was already after eleven, and they showed no signs of slowing down.

We’d just gotten in the house when my phone vibrated with an incoming text. I glanced at the screen and saw it was from Winnie. At first the name made me smile.

Then I read her message and panicked. “Shit!”

The girls finally stopped talking and twirling around in their dresses and looked at me. “What’s wrong?” Hallie said.

I made a split-second decision. “Come on, girls. We have to go somewhere.”