Sprinkled with Love

“Yes. But listen, I understand that you don’t have time. It’s okay—”

“If I didn’t have time, I’d have said so.” It was true. She wasn’t afraid to speak up. The problem was when she was torn in two different directions. And that happened frequently where Avery was concerned. “So what about this evening?”

There was a pause as though he was considering it. “I have plans.”

“Oh. Well, we can do it another time.”

“I don’t think so. Sorry I bothered you. Goodbye.”

The line went dead. She stared at the phone wondering what had just happened. He was the one who had just asked her a couple of days ago to help him out. And now he was dismissing her without any explanation.

“Whatever,” she muttered to herself as she pulled open the door to Tangled Charms. She obviously did not understand men at all.

When she stepped in the shop, she was pleased to find a few people making their way around the various display cases. And these people were not friends of her mother. They were passersby and hopefully future customers. At least this part of her life was looking up.

Jillian rushed to the office to deposit her coat. She told herself she should be relieved. This way there was no possibility that she’d get sucked back into Avery’s world. Not that she was vulnerable to his charming smile. Once upon a time, she may have had the craziest crush on him, but that was long over. She’d learned how to stand her ground.

Still, she found it odd that Avery would back out of such a good cause. After all, it was in memory of a friend. And it would benefit the community. And then she realized that she must have waited too long to give him an answer. He’d no doubt found someone else to help him.

She’d just hung up her coat and turned around to find Suzanna standing in the doorway of the office. Startled, Jillian said, “I didn’t hear you follow me.”

With a serious expression, Suzanna arched a brow. “So? Did you really sink low enough to accept his too-little-too-late apology?”

“Wait. You thought I was going to get back together with Glenn?”

Suzanna shrugged, looking a bit worried. “Please say you’re not taking him back.”

“I’m not. Definitely not. I was considering asking him to be my escort to the wedding, but I just couldn’t do it.” She shook her head as she headed back to the showroom. “There’s not a chance. I don’t know what I ever saw in him.”

Suzanna trailed behind her. “What a relief.” Suzanna audibly sighed as she sunk down on a stool behind the jewelry counter. “What are you going to do about

the wedding?”

Just then Dan walked in the door. He was their handyman, who’d helped turn their dream into reality. He knew a little bit of everything from electrical work to carpentry and plumbing. His father was a handyman and had taught him the tricks of the trade.

“Hi, ladies.” When Dan smiled, the dimples in his cheeks showed.

“Hi.” Both Jillian and Suzanna said in unison.

He brushed his blond hair back off his face. “I have the new light fixture for the office. If you don’t mind, I can put it up now.”

“No problem,” Suzanna said. “My eyes will be so grateful for the brighter lighting.”

With his toolbox in one hand and the cardboard box with the new light fixture under the other arm, he made his way back to the office. Jillian moved to the worktable she’d set up behind the jewelry counter so she could work and keep an eye on the store.

Suzanna rushed over to her. “What about him?”

“What about who?”

“Dan. You know.” She waggled her brows like Jillian was supposed to follow her train of thought.

“Suzanna, whatever it is just say it—”

“Shh…” Suzanna glanced over her shoulder as though to make sure they weren’t overheard. “What about asking Dan to the wedding?”

“Seriously?” The thought never even crossed her mind. He was a few years younger than her and they had nothing in common. And it would just be weird since he was their handyman. “I can’t.”

“Sure you can.”