Healing Hearts (Hope River #3) - Margaret McHeyzer Page 0,75

shake my head, embarrassed to admit it. “Because if they were treated better, I would’ve resented them for it.” I sigh. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

“You need to learn that when you’re around me, you don’t need to wear your armor, Tabitha. You don’t have to apologize for saying what you feel.”

I look down at my crossed ankles and slightly nod. “What about you? Have you ever been in a serious relationship?”

“Once, a long time ago. I thought I was in love. But in hindsight, I was merely infatuated with her. It ended badly before it really could begin. I was so young.” Charlie shrugs. “She made me bitter, though, because I was ready to get down on one knee, and she told me she was seeing someone else and had been for some time while she was seeing me.”

“I see. That’s why when you and I first met, you were fine with the friends with benefits arrangement.”

“Yep,” Charlie nods as he clicks his tongue.

“You have your own barriers to deal with.”

“Not anymore.” He looks over at me, his amazing steel gray eyes piercing my very soul. Jesus, he’s so damned sexy. The stubble on his ordinarily clean-shaven face makes me want to run my hand over it. “You’re looking at me like you want to jump me.”

“I do,” I shamelessly admit.

“Well, I’m available for your pleasure. All you have to do is kiss me.”

My skin erupts with goosebumps, because that’s the one thing I can’t do. Not yet. “I know,” I reply. “Hungry?” I ask as I start lifting the containers out of the picnic basket trying to change the direction in which this is heading.

“I sure am,” he says and I breathe a silent sigh of relief. He knows that by me kissing him, it will cement to me that we’re a couple. And I’m still not sure I’m ready for such commitment. Not because of Charlie; he’s been wonderful. Because of me. I’m scared I’ll screw it all up. “So, what’s the deal with all these festivals Hope River keeps putting on? Where did that tradition start from?”

“Aunt May said it started from before she was a child. The entire town would get together once a week as a way to swap vegetables and fruit. Apparently, there were no more than fifty families in Hope River then. Each would grow certain fruit or vegetables. Then the town would come together, at the town square with a meal prepared from what they grew or raised, and they’d bring enough to swap with the other families.”

“Wow, that’s actually pretty cool.”

“And it kind of changed with the times, so now, once every six weeks or so, the town comes together with each family bringing a dish or two and sharing it. It keeps everyone in contact with each other. Mostly, I think people come to speak or see my aunt.”

“She’s like the matriarch of Hope River,” Charlie says, laughing. “I think May rules Hope River.”

“She’s very well respected, and adored. People eagerly listen when she has something to say.”

“May’s a good person. And I particularly like how she says whatever she thinks. Hope doesn’t have a filter most times, either.”

“Really? I haven’t much noticed,” I joke.

“The more comfortable she is with someone, the more she’ll say whatever she thinks.” He chews on some of the food he dished himself up. “I think she’s really stressed about the wedding though. She’s not actually admitting it; she’s disguising it. I think that’s because she doesn’t want River to see how stressed she is. You know, out of all the years we’ve been flipping houses, I’ve never really seen her so bothered about something like she is their wedding.”

“You think she’s bothered by it?”

“Sorry, wrong word. I mean nothing fazes Hope. She keeps her head straight when things go wrong on flips. She’s so articulate and precise when it comes to the houses, but this, I think this has rattled her.”

“Why would you think that?” I pop a grape into my mouth as I wait for Charlie to respond.

“I don’t know. Call it brotherly intuition. She’s not her normal self.”

“Do you think Elle and I can do anything to help her?”

“I think the thing that’s bothering Hope the most is intentionally being the center of attention. She’s not a fan of that.”

“You did say that. So, there’s a festival on next Saturday, and then their wedding is two weeks after that. I’ve got all the food under control, because apparently, she