Unfortunately, I do like tacos now, but it’s annoying.
Amelia laughs, and I’m afraid that if we stand here much longer, they’re going to hear her evil cackle and notice us.
I open my eyes and put my hands on Amelia’s shoulders, steering her in the direction of the car—opposite to the way of Annie and James. “All right. Time to go.”
“Because you’re raging with jealousy and about to throw your fist in James’s face?”
“Because you’re clearly having a heatstroke and growing delirious. I’m not into Annie.” I’m not, I’m not, I’m not. Or if I am, it’s purely lust. Lust that I will not act on because that feels like an awkward situation waiting to happen. You can’t have a one-night stand with someone in a town of this size. Not to mention the situation that Amelia just inserted me into as Annie’s dating coach. All signs point toward don’t!
Amelia is relentless, though. “You know what? Now that I think of it, Annie and James do make a cute couple. I should ask him to help her with her practice dates instead.”
I leave her in my dust, eating up the ground to get to the truck faster. “It’s a good thing you found Noah,” I call over my shoulder.
“Don’t you want to get one more look at her before you leave?” Amelia taunts cheerfully.
“Nope. I’m good.”
“Oh my gosh, Will, they just kissed! So much tongue I can see it from here.”
I roll my eyes and keep walking. But when I get to Amelia’s truck （she refuses to ride in the company-provided SUV）， I glance briefly over my shoulder.
Annie is by herself again among the flowers, and for some reason, that makes me breathe a sigh of relief.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Annie
Jeanine sets down the plate of French toast I ordered right next to the plate of pancakes. I have to scoot the omelet with a side of bacon a little to the left to make room. The bowl of fruit balances off the opposite edge of the table, but I reach my foot under and use the toe of my shoe to scooch it back on.
“Hun, this is a lot even for you,” says Jeanine, pushing her gorgeous red ponytail back over her shoulder. Jeanine is one of those women I’d like to shadow for a day and take notes on how she does…everything. She has that natural sway to her hips when she walks that screams confidence. A smile that is innately flirtatious. And she once went with me and my sisters to a bar in the city where the woman came away with ten phone numbers! Ridiculous. Inspiring.
“They’re not all for me. I’m meeting someone.”
If there was a record playing, it would have screeched to a stop. Jeanine’s sharp blue eyes whip to me. Phil and Todd, sitting two booths down, angle their faces in my direction. Greg, behind the breakfast bar, nearly spills the coffee he was pouring.
Jeanine smiles then. “One of your sisters?”
“Nope.” I shift the plates around, needing something to do with my hands. “Someone else.” My knee bounces under the table and I’m sweating. Because today, I am meeting Will for a practice date.
He swung by the shop earlier this morning and asked if I’d like to meet him for a low-key practice date. And despite the fact that we’re meeting at the local diner, I’m still buzzing with nervous energy like I’m meeting him at a three-star Michelin restaurant, and it’s going to be filmed for live TV. I couldn’t focus on my work at all. I spilled my coffee from how much my hand was shaking on the way into work. I’ve had a constant buzzing sensation in my stomach that makes me feel as if I’m about to take flight.
“Someone else, you say?” Jeanine prompts, clearly wanting me to dish all the gossip so she doesn’t have to dig it up on her own.
In that moment, the Someone Else in question walks through the door. His presence fills the place like a sudden gust of summer wind. Will steps into the diner, removes his sunglasses in slow motion （okay fine, it’s regular speed but a girl can imagine）， his biceps flexing under his black short-sleeved shirt as he does. He turns his head, scouring the diner until his blue-gray eyes find me. A smile tugs the corner of his mouth as he hangs his glasses on the collar of his shirt.
I have melted into a puddle in the booth. I am no longer human—just a blob of desire.
And now he’s walking toward me, and Jeanine’s face is a study in shock and awe. Everyone—and I do mean everyone—watches Will Griffin and his inked body walk to my table. Clearly, they thought it was okay when he was silently guarding Amelia, but meeting me for a solo lunch is too much to stomach. Angel Annie and bodyguard Will? It’s a big concept. Even I’m struggling a little at how we ended up here.