Sweet Heart (The Hearts of Sawyers Bend #2) - Ivy Layne Page 0,40
to keep me busy.
I'd managed to put Grams off on the expansion, and while I hadn't come close to replacing the money, I was making progress. I tried not to look at each entry in my spreadsheet and think about what it was costing me in time and sleep and worry.
I tried not to think about how far I was from my goal and that eventually, I was going to have to explain to Grams and J.T. why our pretty little deck wasn't going to happen this year. So far, I'd added another regular account with the gift shop on the other end of Main Street, and the pop-up grilled cheese stand I'd done for lunch on Tuesday had been a hit.
I was exhausted, tired all the way to the marrow of my bones, and still, all I could think about was Royal.
I couldn't get my head around the idea that he liked me. More than liked me.
He was Royal Sawyer. He was smart, and funny, and successful on top of just being a Sawyer. And handsome. So freaking handsome. Just looking at him—hell, just thinking about him—made my knees weak. It was everything. Those blue eyes. His smile. That body.
I'd barely gotten a good look at it the other night under the tree, but what I'd seen—wow.
I wanted to see more. A lot more.
I had to face the truth. I wanted Royal Sawyer.
It would be easier if I could tell myself I just wanted to sleep with him. J.T. had been right, it had been a long time for me. Whether I wanted a relationship or not, I could do for some physical contact of the sexual variety.
If I was going to face the truth, I had to admit that I wanted a lot more than that from Royal. He was so easy to talk to. To be with. He didn't judge. I'd wondered if he would look down on me for not having gone to college like he had or for not going after culinary school like J.T. was, but it felt like he completely understood.
He listened, really listened instead of waiting until I was done so he could talk. When I was with him, I felt like I could tell him anything. It wasn't until I was alone that the doubts crept in.
“Daisy? Do you want to talk about this now?” Grams' voice cut through my fog of distraction. My cheeks went hot as I thought she wanted to talk to me about Royal. No way I was discussing him with Grams.
I already knew what she thought on the subject. If I asked her, she'd probably drop me off at his door in lingerie with a fistful of condoms. Grams did not approve of my date-free lifestyle.
“Huh?” I set down the pan I'd been drying for at least three minutes too long and turned around. Grams stood in front of me, concern in her eyes.
“You look tired, baby.” She ran her fingertip beneath one eye, stroking the puffy circle I knew was there.
“Just not sleeping well,” I lied. Not sleeping enough was more like it. “I can't get used to J.T. being gone during the week.”
Grams raised an eyebrow at me, not buying my bullshit. “It's been over four months since he started at Tech, and he's been staying in town during the week for half of that at least. You should be used to it by now. I'll give you an herbal tea blend. You need your sleep.” A grin spread across her face that I knew meant trouble. “Maybe you should ask Royal Sawyer to tuck you in.”
“Grams, butt out.”
“I'm your grandmother. I'm not going to butt out. It's my God-given right to be nosy about my granddaughter.”
“Not about my sex life,” I protested, busying myself with cleaning up the kitchen and prepping for the next day.
Grams propped a hip against one of the worktables and crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, the day you get a sex life, let me know and then I'll proceed with being nosy.”
“Smart-ass,” I muttered under my breath.
“Who's a smart-ass?” my mother asked from the doorway to the shop.
“Daisy says I am because I'm teasing her about Royal Sawyer,” Grams said. “Shop all closed up?”
“Everything's done up front,” my mom said, adding, “I think she's a smart girl if she's being cautious about Royal. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, you know.”
I bit my tongue before I could demand to know what she meant. Grams got