Playing with Words (Boggy Creek Valley 2)

Minutes later, I was still staring at my phone when it vibrated on the desk. I grabbed it.

It was a text from my father.

Dad: Looks like we’ll be there around noon on Friday. Does that work for you? Your mother has a hankering for some dancing. Is there a local bar we could go to on Friday night?

Laughing, I replied that there was indeed a local bar, and from what I’d seen in the paper, there would be a band playing this Friday night.

Dad: Wonderful! Why don’t you ask Greer to come out to dinner with us, then we can go grab a drink and a few dances.

Me: I’ll ask if she’s free. I know she’s excited to meet you guys.

Dad: So are we. Talk soon, son. Hope you’re getting in a lot of words.

Me: I am. See you Friday.

I stared at my phone and frowned. Why wasn’t Greer responding? I wasn’t about to text her again, so I hit her number. After it rang about ten times, her voicemail picked up.

I hung up, stood, and started to pace. Something wasn’t right. Yes, this whole thing between us was new, and I didn’t expect Greer to drop everything when I sent her a text or called, but it was strange to not hear from her all day. Was she mad I didn’t make it into the store earlier?

No way, that wasn’t Greer at all.

After pacing the small room for about fifteen minutes, I grabbed my keys and wallet and headed to the door—just as a knock stopped me.

I opened the front door to see Greer standing there.

“Hey, I was just about to head into town,” I said. “I was worried when I didn’t hear back from you.”

Her wide smile faltered a bit. “I’m so sorry—I didn’t mean to make you worry. It was crazy busy at the bookstore, and I wanted to surprise you with dinner.”

I glanced down to see a basket of food in her hands, and my chest fluttered.

“This is the best surprise ever.” I leaned down and kissed her as I took the basket and then motioned for her to come in.

“Plus, I have some news I wanted to share with you.”

I walked into the kitchen and set the basket on the table. “Share away.”

She drew in a deep breath and smiled. “I managed to get my building registered in the National Register of Historic Places!”

I pulled her into my arms and spun her around. “Greer, that’s the best news!”

“I know! I’m so excited. I went and told Mr. Brooks first. He was over-the-moon happy about it.”

Gently placing her back on the floor, I asked, “This doesn’t change anything with the remodel, does it?”

She shook her head. “No, I’ve been keeping in touch with the city preservation office about everything I’m doing. Technically they can’t tell us we aren’t allowed to do something, but they do ask that we keep the buildings as close to original as possible. Especially the ones on Main Street.”

“This calls for a celebration,” I said.

“I agree—that’s why I brought champagne to pop open!”

We spent the evening toasting her good news, eating the sandwiches Greer picked up from The Coffee Pot, and talking about all the plans she had for Turning Pages.

When she fell asleep on the sofa in my arms, I didn’t want to wake her up. I knew the moment she woke she’d say she had to leave, and all I wanted to do was keep her wrapped in my arms.

Finally, I gently kissed her on the temple and shook her awake. “Sleeping Beauty, it’s almost ten.”

Greer stretched as she opened her eyes, her gaze locking with mine. “I guess I should get home.”

“Do you want me to follow you back to town?”

She laughed and pushed away from me in order to stand up. “No, don’t be silly.”

“Will you call me when you get home?”

Reaching up onto her toes, she brushed her lips against mine. “I promise.”

She went to get the basket and I grabbed her hand. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll get it all cleaned up.”

“Um, will I see you tomorrow, since I hijacked your evening and you got no writing done?” she asked.

I frowned. “I really need to buckle down and get some serious words in. I’d like to spend some time with my folks and you this weekend without worrying about it.”

Her brows lifted. “You want to hang out with me too, huh?”

Wrapping my arms around her, I drew her body to mine. “Yes. I know you took your birthday off, or at least part of it, but I was hoping I might be able to talk you into taking Saturday off as well. I’d love to do something with both you and my folks.”

“Willa and Aiden are having a fall festival celebration at Boggy Creek Orchard. I bet your folks would like that.”