How to Love Your Neighbour(67)

She nodded. That wasn’t the problem. It was herself she didn’t trust.





30


Grace pushed the coffee toward the customer, biting back a grin because she knew Rosie was staring at her, just waiting to pounce. Her friend had shown up almost at the same time Grace had for her shift. She’d cut back her hours but promised Ellie she’d stay on until she hired someone new. Her date with Noah was tonight. He was at work—buying some new building or something—she was at work. Life was completely normal.

“Have a good day,” Grace said, smiling at the elderly gentleman.

“You too, dear.” When he walked away, Grace kept her body turned, pretending to wipe down the counter, keeping Rosie waiting.

“Excuse me? Barista? Can I get a refill please?” Rosie asked loudly from the end of the counter where there were a few stools.

Grace laughed, her eyes meeting Rosie’s. She “shh” ed her as she walked over. “I just got you that. No way you’re empty.”

Rosie leaned in, pressing her forearms on the counter. “Nope. I need a refill of details. Explicit details.”

Grace glanced around. The coffee shop was quiet. She had a quick, four-hour shift. But she didn’t want anyone listening in. “There’s nothing to tell. We’re going out on a date tonight. It’s . . . new. For both of us.” That was an understatement.

“I thought he was going to set fire to your clothes with just his gaze the other night. What did he say he wanted for winning the bet?”

“He didn’t. Not yet.” She couldn’t think of what he could possibly want. That she wouldn’t give him.

“Where are you going tonight?” Rosie picked up her cup.

“Don’t know.”

She eyed her skeptically over the rim. “You didn’t ask?”

Grace shrugged. “It’s been so long since I went on a date, I’m just excited to get dressed up and go out. Speaking of, how’s Josh?”

Rosie’s eyes immediately darted away. Grace’s heart tensed like her shoulders. She really didn’t want to have to kick Noah’s assistant’s ass. “What’s going on?”

Her friend looked at her through lowered lashes. “No judgment, okay?”

Guilt coated Grace’s feelings. Was she judgmental? Did Rosie feel like she was hard to talk to? “Of course not.”

Rosie’s face lit up. “We’re moving in together.”

“What?” Grace practically yelled the word, drawing attention from the few customers.

Frowning, her friend set her cup down. “Shhh. Look, before you say anything, I know this is something Miss Cautious would never do but we’re in love. This is it for me. I’m there and so is he. Why waste time?”

Grace could think of about three dozen reasons without any effort. Instead, she focused on the important piece, pushing down her multiple concerns. “You’re happy?”

The look of elation that passed over her friend’s face was jealousy-inducing. It was pure, unadulterated contentment. Grace wondered what it was like to be that sure about anything.

“I’m so happy, Grace. I didn’t know this kind of happy was out there.”

She covered one of Rosie’s hands with her own. “Then that’s all that matters.”

The rest of the shift flew by, a midmorning rush, along with Rosie’s news, keeping her too distracted to worry. When she got home, she saw a package on her doorstep. It was wrapped in light brown paper with pink polka dots. As she picked it up, curiosity swirled along with excitement. There were two tags, one with a company logo, BROWNIES TO GO, and the other with a message: Looks like the rumor about brownies was true. Enjoy. See you tonight. Dress comfortably in something you don’t mind getting messy. N.

Letting herself into the house, she opened the brownies immediately. She was taking her first bite before she entered the kitchen.

“Oh my God,” she murmured. The delicious taste of mouth-watering chocolate on her tongue overrode her slight disappointment that she wouldn’t be dressing up. She was very curious about Noah’s ideas of a date. She sort of thought he’d go all fancy. He was the kind of man who enjoyed his money without flaunting it, but she assumed he’d try to impress her with a swanky restaurant or something. Was that what he did with his other dates?

She picked up another brownie. “Doesn’t matter. Those dates don’t matter. You do. You get more than one.” He’d promised she’d enjoy herself, and she might be a fool, but she trusted him. If Rosie could move in with Josh after knowing him three weeks, Grace could take this little leap of faith. After all, he’d had brownies delivered to her door. That was a man who knew his way into a woman’s heart.

When Noah showed up on her doorstep, the nerves kicked into high gear. Taking a deep breath, she pulled the door open, a confident smile pasted on her face. He wore slightly faded jeans that looked made for his body, a light gray T-shirt, and a pair of aviators were perched in his styled hair.

“Hey. You look great,” he said, taking in her pink tank top and jeans. She’d braided her hair so it wasn’t in her face. Noah reached out, stroked a hand over it. “This is pretty.”

Cue full-out fluttering. Damn. She could lie to herself all she wanted, saying she was breezy about this, but her heart revved like an engine. She grabbed her purse from the entryway table and slung it over her shoulder, closing the door behind her.