Just One Look (Castleton Hearts)

“Maybe later,” he said.

“Okay,” Piper said, sharing a look with McKenna. Preston was young enough that he probably would forget all about his request in a few hours.

I thanked them both for inviting me over and feeding me and headed home.

Just as I was heading back into the cottage, I got a new message from a number I didn’t recognize. Fully prepared to open it up and find a dick pic that was for someone else, I was surprised to see a picture of a bed.

My bed.

Thought you might want an update

There was no mistaking the dog in the background of the picture. The message was from Theo and that made my stomach flutter.

It’s not finished yet, but it’s getting there, she sent. I could feel her gruffness even through the message.

Thanks so much. It looks amazing, I responded.

Didn’t want you to think I took your money and ran. There was that gruffness.

No way. I have enough money to hire people to hunt you down if I have to, I sent, and then realized it sounded kind of flirty. Why couldn’t I help myself with her? I couldn’t remember the last time I’d even had a crush on anyone. But every time I thought about Theo, all I could think about were her arms and her green eyes and her grumpy attitude. Normally, I didn’t have patience for that kind of thing, but there was something about Theo.

Well, I’d better watch my back around you then, she replied, and a shiver went down my spine. Was I just imagining a flirty tone back? Or was that all in my head? I probably was. She was just making a customer happy. I mean, she already had half the money, but still. My order was huge, and it was in her best interest to make me happy.

Not sure what else to say, I didn’t respond.

A few minutes later, I got another message. It was a video of Theo and Scout, and Theo asking Scout to perform various tricks, including putting a paw over his face to look ashamed.

So he is smart, I sent.

Only when treats are involved, she responded.

I wanted to ask her so many questions. I wanted to ask her what brought her back to Castleton, other than her uncle’s business. I wanted to ask if she was single, if she liked girls, if she liked girls who bought furniture from her. If she ever took Scout for walks on the beach. If she liked kissing.

Instead, I sat there and stared at my phone, trying to come up with something to say that would keep the conversation going but wouldn’t freak her out. It was such a fine line to walk, and I was wobbling all over the place.

I’d never been good at this part. The beginning part. The part where you’re wondering do you like me? How much? Enough to go out with me?

In the past, I’d taken a backseat and had let someone else make the first move, but I didn’t even know if I should make a move with Theo. Was it morally wrong to try and date the woman making all your furniture?

I growled at my phone in frustration and waited for Theo to send me another message, but she didn’t. I headed to the shower and there was nothing new when I got back.

Sighing, I gave up and pulled up my ereading app and threw myself into someone else’s romance.

On Thursday I actually had to be at the house for several hours to supervise and give my opinion on some of the kitchen details. Everyone was so nice, but it was still a lot and I needed a drink afterwards.

Something that this process had laid absolutely bare for me was that sometimes I wasn’t a decisive person. Not about what I wanted to order in the drive-thru, not when it came to what I wanted to do as a career. I was so scared of making the wrong choice that I often didn’t make any choice. That wasn’t an option when you were remodeling a house. You had to pick this cabinet finish or that one. The whole thing left me drained and exhausted, so I headed to get a drink from Esme at the Grille.

When I walked in, I was shocked by the offkey singing that greeted me. Esme greeted me and then cringed as I took a seat at the end of the bar.

“I told you Thursday was karaoke night,” she said over the singing. Honestly, it was more like screeching at this point.

“As long as it’s not all like this, I’m fine,” I yelled back.

“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” Esme said, and the singer finally finished on a note that I was surprised didn’t shatter all the glasses in the place.