moment I had pouring over the books, dreaming of one day going to live with Matthew and Marilla on Prince Edward Island. Wishing Well reminded me of what I’d imagined Prince Edward Island to be. In my mind, it was the perfect place to grow up.
But I supposed the grass was always greener. From what Jackson had said last night, he would’ve most likely loved growing up in the jet-set lifestyle that I’d always felt was cold, impersonal, and lonely.
Last night, after our walk, I’d spent more hours than I’d like to admit tossing and turning in bed trying not to think about how tempted I’d been to kiss him. There was just something so magical, so romantic about the moonlight, the crickets, the crisp summer air.
It also didn’t hurt that Jackson Briggs was the sort of sexy that was universal. He had that something special that appealed to everyone. It wasn’t just his masculine frame, or his drool-worthy dimples, or his dreamy aqua blue eyes. It was the way he carried himself with the confidence and self-assurance of a man who knew who he was and what he wanted.
I was beginning to think that the text I’d sent him was really just a psychic prediction, because I’d definitely been in a constant state of arousal since I met him. I still couldn’t believe that I’d done that.
He’d offered to drive me to my meeting today with Mia, but I’d insisted on walking. I was a city girl and when I’d seen that the diner was only two miles from the farm, I’d been excited that I could get there on foot. Jackson and his parents had done enough for me.
Also, I wasn’t sure I trusted myself to be alone in the cab of the truck with him and not embarrass myself. It had been a long time since I’d been as attracted to someone as I was to him. Who was I kidding, I’d never been as attracted to anyone as I was to him.
Hoping this meeting would get my mind back on track, I pushed open the glass door and a tiny bell rang over my head as I walked in. I was immediately greeted by a woman that reminded me of Flo from the TV show Alice. A beehive hairdo sat upon her head and her fire-engine red lipstick matched her long, acrylic nails. I half expected her to smack chewing gum and tell someone to, “Kiss my grits.”
“Hello, there! You must be Josie.”
“Yes, I am.” I had no clue how she knew that.
“Tami Lynn, nice to meet ya.”
“Nice to meet you.” I smiled.
“Mia’s runnin’ a little late,” Tami Lynn explained as she grabbed a trifold menu from the wooden holder next to the register.
She knew who I was and that I was meeting Mia. I assumed that it was a small-town thing as I followed behind a woman my grandmother would’ve loved to study. She loved people who were real-life characters. The quirkier the better.
“Never be boring, darling. Whatever you are, don’t be that.”
She’d given me that advice since before I understood what it meant. Sadly, I didn’t think I’d lived up to it. Except for the small blip of my scandal, my life had been the textbook definition of boring.
The diner was packed. I assumed that it had something to do with the convention since most of the diners were wearing tiny homecoming mum name badges.
We arrived at a corner booth that sat against the window overlooking the town square and the wishing well that sat in the center of it. As soon as the meeting was over, I planned on going over to see it close up.
“Can I get you a sweet tea or pop?”
“Sweet tea sounds lovely.”
“Comin’ right up.”
Tami Lynn had no sooner returned to the booth and set down two glasses of sweet tea than the bell chimed above the door and Mia rushed in. Her phone was in her hand and she was clearly speaking to someone.
“Okay, thanks for letting me know. Yes. Okay.”
I heard the stress in her voice and saw evidence of strain in her expression. My immediate thought was that she was on the phone with her doctor and there was an issue with the pregnancy or the baby.
“I’m meeting with Josie now.” She turned the phone and I saw Randy, the agent that had sold the show, on her screen. A wave of relief swept through me, realizing Mia’s stress had nothing to do with anything medical.