“I am being civil.”
“No, you’re not. You’re being a jerk.”
I force a smile. “I’m not. I’m just not giving you what you want.”
Her eyes narrow. “And what is that?”
I roll my eyes—as if she doesn’t know—and study the bushes beside us, wishing I were anywhere but here with anyone but Naomi. I’d take the outback during a heatwave with a cannibal bush guide…for example.
“I’m serious.” She tugs at the sleeve of my shirt. “What do you think I want?”
I glance down at her, willing myself not to notice how pretty she looks with the evening breeze blowing her hair around her shoulders and the winter chill flushing her cheeks pink.
“You want to write the script,” I murmur. “Like always.”
She shakes her head, her brow furrowing. “That’s not true, Jake. All I want is to—”
“All you want is to breeze back into town and be charming and determined and spunky until you convince me to be your friend,” I cut in, taking satisfaction in the little “o” of surprise her mouth forms in response. “And you’re using these dates to force me to stick around and put up with it until you wear me down and get your way.”
Naomi’s shoulders slump. “Faith ratted me out.”
“Of course, she did. But I didn’t need Faith to tell me that you wouldn’t be satisfied with making peace between us, Naomi. You’re a people-pleaser. You always have been. You want everyone to like you and be your friend and think you’re fabulous and fun and a fucking joy to be around.”
She throws up her hands. “So? What’s wrong with that? I try hard to be fun and joy-inspiring. I’m not expecting something for nothing. And why can’t we be friends? I’m a good friend, Jake, I promise.” She lifts a hand and starts ticking off her fingers. “I’m an amazing pet sitter or house sitter. I eagerly help out with landscaping and kitchen remodeling and I deliver homemade casseroles on all sad or semi-sad occasions. If you twist your ankle—boom, you get a casserole. Have a hangover—casserole. Are bummed your favorite television show got canceled—not only will I casserole you, but I’ll bring over a list of twenty binge-worthy shows to help you through your time of trial.” She props her hands on her hips. “See? Not to toot my own horn, but there’s a lot of value here.”
“I’m not the same person I used to be,” I say, standing firm against her charm and ignoring how cute it is that she uses “casserole” as a verb. “And I don’t need any more friends. Or casseroles.”
“Well, I’m not the same person I used to be either,” she says, her volume rising, making me hope no one’s listening on the other side of the bushes. We’re far enough from the food tents not to be overheard, but some of the picnic tables are only a few dozen feet away.
“Did you ever think of that?” she continues. “Did you ever think that maybe I’ve changed, too?”
My lip curls. “From what I can see, you’re exactly the same—impressed with yourself and expecting everyone else to agree with you.”
“Wow.” Her head rears back and she blinks hard. Then blinks again. “I don’t remember you being so…mean.”
“And I don’t remember you being interested in small town living.”
Or small town guys, I think, but refuse to say aloud.
Not that it matters. Naomi isn’t stupid. I’m sure she hears everything I’ve left unsaid—loud and clear. I’m making a fool of myself, letting her know that she hurt me so much that I’m still pissed about it, but I can’t seem to help myself.
She gets to me, no matter how hard I try to hold her at a distance.
“I just wanted to see the world, Jake,” she says, wrapping her coat more tightly across her chest. “I was an eighteen-year-old kid with big dreams. And then I was a grown woman too busy running a corporation to see that my life was slowly…killing me. But when everything fell apart earlier this year, I realized there was only one place I wanted to be, one place that felt safe and right.” She pulls in a breath and lifts her chin. “And that’s here in Bliss River. With my family, friends I love, and new dreams that fit the person I am now. This is my home and I’m not leaving, so you might as well get used to it.”
My jaw clenches. “Why? Why now, after all these years?”
“Because this is a good town,” she says, a pleading note creeping into her voice. “A good town full of good people, and there aren’t as many of those in the world as you might think. This is a special place, and…it’s where I want to start my family.”
My brows shoot up my forehead.
A family…
Is Naomi with someone? Is this mystery guy planning to move to Bliss River, too? Are they hoping to get pregnant? Is she already pregnant with some Hollywood pretty boy’s baby?