were both single. Dating her should be a no-brainer for a bachelor like him. “You want to go on the trails today?”
“Oh no.” She waved a hand. “Not today. Not in my good clothes.” She gestured at her outfit, which included a T-shirt and a long flowing skirt.
“Well, there’s really no need for lessons. I have brochures on the wall that help identify the birds around here. And the trails are labeled. Just wear good shoes, bring water, and stick to the paths. I can give you a map too if you want.” He grabbed one from the rack on the wall. “Here you go.”
“So you don’t give…private lessons?”
He cocked his head. “Bird-watching lessons? No.” He scratched the new growth of hair on the side of his jaw. He’d never had this request before. “Or at least, I don’t usually.”
“Maybe you’d make an exception for me?” she asked, a hopeful lilt in her Southern accent.
She was a nice woman, but she didn’t light him up on the inside the way that Emma did. “Well, I guess you could let me know when you’re ready. I might be able to go out with you.”
One corner of her mouth curled. “Great. Then it’s a date.”
The D-word got his attention. Had he really just agreed to a date? No, he was out of practice, but he’d know if he’d just asked a woman out on a date. That usually warranted nervousness on his part, complete with sweaty palms and a racing heart. He didn’t even give her a Hershey’s Kiss, which was his go-to dating move. “It’s a plan,” he corrected, just to clear that D-word off the table.
“Definitely. Okay, well, I’m off to go finish errands and then get back to the boutique,” Sophie said. “My mom is watching the shop right now. I can’t leave her too long. She likes to give discounts to everyone she knows.” Sophie’s smile fell a notch. “And she knows everyone in town.”
This made Jack chuckle. “You’ll go out of business if you keep her behind the register.”
“That’s true.” Sophie waved. “Next time I come, I’ll have good shoes and athletic clothes.” She rubbed her hands together. “I’ll text you to make sure you’re available. I have your number.”
Jack wasn’t sure what to say so he just nodded and gave a small wave, watching her leave. He did another internal check. Nope, he didn’t feel anything. When Emma was around, on the other hand, he felt the spark between them ignite, turning into a hungry blaze inside his belly. When Emma was around, his world was brighter, sharper, kinder. With her, he felt everything.
Unable to help himself, he grabbed his cell phone and tapped in a text: I haven’t checked on my girlfriend yet today. How are you?
* * *
When Emma finally got a chance to take a break from serving customers, she grabbed her phone and smiled down at the text from Jack. She was tempted to tap back a reply text, but she didn’t want to look overeager. Instead, she shoved her phone back into her purse and looked out on the café. Despite being new on the job, Sam had carried a lot of the workload today. She’d hired him on a whim, but he was already working out perfectly. In fact, over the last hour, she’d noticed an influx of teenaged girls coming into the café.
Sam was just as cute as his uncle had been at that age. And Emma had been just as smitten with Jack as the girls currently sitting at the corner table were with Sam. Not that she’d ever let on. When Emma’s friends had drooled over him, Emma had insisted that Jack was just her guy pal. Then she’d seethed when her friends had proceeded to flirt with him shamelessly.
Then again, the extra customers could be due to the fact that it was the Fourth of July. The holiday brought in an influx of family to the town, which increased business.
The door to the café opened, and Sophie Daniels walked in. Sophie had been one of Emma’s friends who’d gone gaga over Jack back in the day. At least before she’d fallen head over heels with Chase Lewis, the town’s veterinarian. Sophie was a bit of a flirt, but she was classy about it. She was beautiful, and most of the time the object of her attention returned her affection. And yet, she was still single. Emma had always wondered if it was because she’d never fully