The Story Of Us - Teri Wilson Page 0,6

utilities and Eliot’s premium cat food. Only the best for her favorite ginger! No offense to Prince Harry, always a close second.

“Come on.” Lucy took her by the wrist and began dragging her away from her Valentine’s display.

Jamie lost her grip on the blue flier, and it floated toward the floor. Eliot, ever vigilant, did a little butt wiggle and then pounced on it.

Jamie groaned in protest, but Lucy was relentless. She grabbed Jamie’s red coat and flung it at her, all the while maintaining a firm grip on her arm. “I know something that’s going to make you feel better.”

Doubtful…highly doubtful.

But she didn’t have much of a choice, and honestly, Jamie was up for anything that might get her mind off of real estate developers, even if only for a minute or two. So she shrugged into her coat and let Lucy steer her toward the set of French doors at the back of the store that led to the courtyard behind True Love Books.

She breathed a little easier once they were outside. The courtyard was one of Jamie’s favorite places in all of Waterford, not only because it had been her own creation, but because at its center stood the oldest tree in the business district. The Oregon ash was over two hundred years old, with a trunk so thick that Jamie couldn’t even wrap her arms all the way around it. She’d been reading books beneath the shade of its branches since she’d first learned how to decipher words on a page—for so long that the tree had become a loving symbol. Not just of Waterford’s past, but of the promise of its future, as well.

That tree was timeless.

Jamie’s first order of business after she’d taken over True Love Books was to clear out the area around the old ash tree and make it into a wonderland of twinkle lights, lush potted ferns and cozy café tables. Ballet-pink roses from Anita’s Flowers decorated every surface, floating in glass bowls. The overall effect was like something out of a fairytale—just what Jamie had been hoping for.

“Is that Jason?” She peered through a cluster of greenery at an Asian man in his late twenties, sitting at one of the tables opposite a pretty young woman whose dark hair was twisted into stylish updo.

They were holding hands, and something about Jason’s dapper coat and tie, coupled with the way he was reaching into his jacket pocket with his free hand, made Jamie think something special was about to go down.

“Uh-huh. He met Lisa in the travel section last year,” Lucy whispered. “And I think he’s going to propose!”

She pulled Jamie closer to her side and they crouched further out of view.

“I think you’re right.” Jamie held her breath as Jason rose from his chair and then bent down on one knee.

Should they be watching this? Maybe not. But Jamie couldn’t resist a True Love proposal. Lucy knew her so well. This was indeed the one thing that was sure to lift her spirits. Her eyes filled with unshed, happy tears—

Until someone spoke directly into her ear, completely spoiling the ambiance. “What are we looking at?”

Jamie and Lucy both flinched.

Busted.

Jamie glanced over her shoulder, heart pounding a mile a minute. Rick Turner—friend, local chef and fellow busybody—was crouched right behind them, grinning.

“Rick!” Jamie whisper-screamed at him.

He laughed. “What?”

“Shhhh!” Lucy give his shoulder a playful swat, which was completely useless since Rick had been a defensive lineman in college and still somehow maintained his football player physique, despite his penchant for rich Italian cuisine.

“There’s a proposal,” Jamie explained under her breath, turning her attention back to the courtyard so she wouldn’t miss the good part.

Just in time! Jason opened a red velvet ring box to reveal a glittering diamond solitaire, and Lisa gasped, pressing her hands to her heart. The look on Jason’s face was so tender, so full of hope and promise, that for a second, Jamie was tempted to re-think her recent decision to stop dating.

But not quite. She was perfectly content with just Eliot and her books, thank you very much. If that made her sound like a spinster from a Jane Austen novel, then so be it.

Lisa, on the other hand, seemed ready to sprint down the aisle. She beamed at Jason and broke down in tears as she gave him her answer. “Yes.”

“Awwww,” the eavesdroppers all said in unison.

Seriously, though. They should probably make themselves scarce so Jason and Lisa could celebrate in private. Jamie tugged on