“What was the perfect location?”
“Downtown, where that overpriced boutique is now.”
“Pies would sell better than expensive clothes. This is Eastwood, not Newport. We’re not sophisticated enough to follow trends. I mean, if it’s plaid and pairs well with John Deer green, you’ve hit most of your market in this town.”
Danielle laughs again, and it hits me then how far I’d go to make her smile and hear her laugh. It hurts me to know she’s hurting.
Motherfucker. I’m so screwed. Because no matter how I go about this, there is no possible way I can deny that I am crazy in love with this woman.Chapter 10Danielle“I made that lasagna you like and put it in the freezer. And the award-winning pie is in the cake stand on the counter.” I go over to the fridge, making sure it’s well stocked before I leave for the airport.
“Kiddo,” Grandpa says, limping a bit as he walks through the kitchen. “I know where the grocery store is. And even better, I know how to order a pizza.”
“But they don’t deliver out here,” I counter.
“I have the truck.”
I put one hand on my hip. “I know. I just…I feel bad leaving.”
Grandpa laughs. “I have enjoyed having you here. It’s nice having the company, and it was high time someone got out Grandma’s cookbook.” He eyes the pie on the counter.
“Don’t eat it all in one day,” I say with a laugh.
Grandpa gives me a wink. “I’ll try my best.”
Black Cat jumps up on the counter and sniffs at the glass cake stand. Good thing I covered the pie. The porch creaks, and a second later, someone knocks on the door. My heart swells in my chest—just a tiny bit—knowing that Logan is here.
“I’ll miss you,” I tell Grandpa before I go to answer the door. “Take care while I’m gone, okay?”
“I’ve gotten along this far and have been just fine. Now you take care. Let me know when you land. And watch out for sharks,” he adds, knowing I have a very real fear of wildlife in the ocean.
I shudder. “I’ll be staying in knee-deep water.”
“The shallow end is no place to live, kiddo. Go out there. Get your hair wet.”
“You’re not just talking about the ocean anymore, are you?”
Grandpa just shrugs and limps past me to let Logan and Dean—who’s driving us to the airport—into the house. I’m surprised to see Kara there with them. She smiles when she sees me, and I have to give her credit for trying. She’s the odd one out with the Dawsons, and her little stint where she was mad at Quinn for being pregnant at her wedding left a sour taste in their mouths.
The Dawson guys are very protective of their little sister, and anyone—even Dean’s wife—being mean to her puts you on their shit list. Add in that her anger was directed toward Quinn and Archer, who’s just as much of a Dawson as the rest of them, and Logan and Owen were not her biggest fan.
“Hey, you’re coming with?” I ask, hoping I don’t come off as rude.
“Yeah, we figured since we’re dropping you off at the airport around dinner time, we might as well take advantage of it and have dinner in the city,” she explains.
“Ohhh, that sounds fun.” I look at Logan, and this time there’s no denying the beat my heart skipped. “My suitcase is over there. It’s heavy.”
Logan raises an eyebrow. “Bummer, you’re going to have to deal with a heavy suitcase.”
I laugh right as he steps forward to get it for me. I double-check I have our boarding passes and then the other stuff I need before leaving for a few days.
“Take care of my granddaughter,” Grandpa tells Logan, clapping him on the back. “Have fun, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Logan gives me a look, and I narrow my eyes, shaking my head in a silent warning not to make a comment about church ladies again.
“We’ll have fun,” I say. “And then we’ll suffer through Diana’s wedding.”
“Have a drink or two first.” Grandpa winks, and Dean laughs. The day after Diana and Peter left Eastwood, she’s become an insufferable Bridezilla and went so far as “advising” me I should cut my hair before the wedding since Hawaii is so hot. Turns out, she wants to have the longest hair out of everyone in the bridal party. I did go get a haircut but got exactly one inch taken off only to clean up my split ends.
I’m not allowed to wear my hair down during the ceremony or have on dangly earrings. We also can’t have red lipstick, because that’s Diana’s “signature” color. She also wants us all to fast the day before the wedding to make sure we “look our best” and not bloated in the wedding photos.
I’m starting to think she and Peter deserve each other.