The Story Of Us - Teri Wilson Page 0,7

Lucy’s sleeve and they tiptoed back through the French doors into the bookstore, with Rick following on their heels.

Jamie wasn’t sure why Rick had stopped by, but she had a definite feeling it didn’t have anything to do with re-stocking the baked goods in True Love’s café.

“How many proposals does that make?” Lucy said as they passed the wall near the back of the store that was thoroughly covered with pink roses. It was the shop’s most Instagrammed spot.

“Four since I bought this place.” Warmth filled Jamie’s chest. Moments like this reminded her just how special True Love was, not just to her, but to the entire community of Waterford.

“This shop really is a lucky charm for love.” Rick cast a quick glance at Lucy and then looked away before she noticed. Poor guy.

“Ooh, I’m going to use that.” Jamie pointed at him. Not a bad catchphrase, although the fact that Rick had been harboring a secret crush on Lucy for nearly a year without making any visible progress didn’t exactly bode well for the whole good luck charm theory. It would help if he would simply tell Lucy how he felt.

Obviously.

“Which brings me to…” Rick pulled a red card from behind his back and held it up for them to see.

Jamie read the white cursive letters swirling just below a rendering of a heart-shaped dinner plate. “‘Recipe for Love?’ It’s…a cooking class? For Valentine’s Day?”

Lucy plucked the card from Rick’s hand and studied it. “Not all of us are on a romantic time out.”

“Hiatus,” Jamie corrected.

Hiatus just had a better ring to it than time out, like it was a voluntary thing and not some kind of punishment. Which it totally wasn’t. Her dating hiatus was working out quite well. She should’ve tried it years ago after her breakup with Sawyer O’Dell.

Lucy rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed either way. “My boss, the incurable romantic who owns a romantic bookstore while actively avoiding romance. Do you see the irony here?”

Rick laughed, and Jamie glared at him. Seriously? He was mocking her when she knew his deepest, darkest secret?

“Is this for couples only?” Lucy pulled a face. She definitely wasn’t part of a couple, which made it even more frustrating that Rick couldn’t bring himself to confess his feelings for her.

Jamie had come close to telling her about a million times, but Rick had sworn her to secrecy. Besides, she generally liked to limit her meddling to eavesdropping on couples getting engaged in her courtyard.

Still, it was just so obvious. How Lucy had gone this long without figuring it out was a complete and total mystery. Maybe if Lucy read more Agatha Christie and less H. G. Wells, she would’ve picked up on a clue and realized that Rick worshipped the ground she walked on.

“No, no, no. All sorts of singles will be there.” Rick spread his arms open wide. “Including yours truly.”

Okay, maybe they were finally getting somewhere.

“Yeah, but you’re teaching, so you don’t count,” Lucy said, handing the invitation back to him.

Then again, maybe not.

“He counts,” Jamie blurted out.

But it was too late. Lucy was already darting toward the café counter to help a customer eyeballing the cupcakes. Darn her and her excellent work ethic.

“Thanks,” Rick muttered with a sigh.

“Cooking class?” Jamie shook her head.

She was trying her best to be supportive, she really was, but things were getting ridiculous. This new Valentine’s cooking class was just the latest in a long string of restaurant events he’d manufactured for the sole purpose of spending more time with Lucy. Last month, it had been a New Year’s Eve champagne tasting. The month before, he’d taught a gingerbread workshop. At the rate things were going, Waterford would soon become an entire town of cooking and lifestyle influencers.

“Just ask her out directly,” Jamie said in the same voice she used when reprimanding Eliot.

Rick was an incredibly talented chef and a good-looking guy—literally tall, dark and handsome. More importantly, he was kind and thoughtful, with a great sense of humor. All of which made his staggering lack of confidence in the dating department wholly baffling.

He cast a longing glance at Lucy as she prepared a flavored latte, executing a perfect heart in the foam. “What if she says no?”

What if she says yes?

“Then you’ll know,” Jamie said. “Finally.”

Rick let out another deep, weighty sigh. “I’ve got to go make some risotto.”

Ah, the risotto excuse. Jamie knew it well.

She watched him march toward the exit, studiously avoiding meeting Lucy’s gaze as he went. How