Page 31 of A Sudden Romance

CHAPTER 8

Midmorning on Saturday, Iris met with her friends at their favorite local diner, and with the place only half full, they’d even managed to claim the best table under the picture window. Now she sank back against the country-style booth and breathed in deeply. Savory whiffs of bacon, syrup, and all things breakfast drifted through the restaurant. The hidden gem had become a favorite with its cozy atmosphere that attracted more locals than tourists.

“We should get out more often,” her sister-in-law, Joy, said as she set her chai tea down on the table. “It’s been a while since I had breakfast in peace.”

“You always turn down our invitations in favor of hanging out with the kids.” Liberty’s dimples deepened as she wiggled her fork toward Joy across the table. Liberty owned a home care business and managed to keep her schedule flexible. “See what you’ve been missing out on?”

“Let’s see how the guys do today on kid duty.” Joy mixed a fork through her breakfast skillet.

“I think Chad went to rescue your husbands.” Tessa, who’d mostly given up her profession as a physical therapist to take on a role as a physical trainer, scooped some yogurt. “Ooh, they make this granola topping so good. I’ll have to ask what their secret is.”

Iris shifted on the padded wooden bench. “I doubt they’ll tell their secrets—especially to you since you’re mostly asking to pass along healthy yummy food tips to your clients. But back to the subject. You put three friends together, and you know the guys won’t be tending to the kids.”

Liberty’s husband, Bryce, and Tessa’s husband, Chad, were Eric’s good friends.

“Uh-oh.” Joy’s curls danced against her cheek with her quick head shake before she scrambled for her purse, one of her doodles flashing on her palm.

“No phone today.” Tessa snatched Joy’s purse and set it on her lap under the table.

Iris’s chest warmed as the girls teased Joy about not trusting Eric, the most trustworthy of the bunch, with their kids. How fun to catch up with her friends while Mom got her hair done.

They each talked about their lives in their small town, and most conversations included their families, spouses, and kids.

Iris’s chest squeezed over all the cute sayings and doings of her friends’ kids. Even Tessa, who didn’t have a child yet, talked about the possibility of starting a family soon.

“We’re hoping to start trying in the New Year.” Tessa winced, then crossed her fingers. “I hope I’m ready to be a mom.”

Iris sipped her steamer. The drink didn’t taste as good as the one Sabastian brought her when he picked her up from the airport. Nor like the ones he made.

Sabastian... His image spun through her mind once again. What was he doing right now? Why did she long to know, to be there with him? She’d told him yesterday not to count her in for breakfast. While she wanted to help him prepare for the food tasters’ visit, she didn’t trust herself to spend another second with him.

At least he’d had the decency not to kiss her while he had the chance. When they’d fallen off the sled and rolled on the hill, she’d felt the urge to lean into him and connect her lips with his. Instead, they’d built the snowman and then another snowball fight had ended things on a lighter note. Sabastian had a calming presence she could enjoy after the talkative company she usually favored.

What was it? It was as if... as if she’d experienced a bone-deep awareness of him, an awareness something monumental had changed—shifted like the very particles in the air until she had to think about how to breathe against an inexplicable panic.

She must’ve been spending too much time with him, further reason she needed to hang out with her friends instead.

“Something’s eating you up.” Tessa, sitting across from Iris, lifted another scoop of granola-dusted yogurt. “What’s up?”

“I thought you had your current work project under control.” Liberty shook her glossy hair back over her shoulders, her eyes narrowing.

“Work’s fine.” Work was far from Iris’s problems. She’d barely had time to think about work, besides her daily site check on the computer. Her assistant updated everything for her yesterday.

“Does it have anything to do with your blushing?”

Blushing? At Joy’s singsongy question, Iris’s hands flew to her cheeks. Uh-oh. They were warmer than she’d thought. “I’m not blushing.”

“Ha! You’re defensive.” Liberty nodded, then tilted her head to one side. A knowing grin deepened her dimples. “Who is he?”

“You know me.” Iris waved, her voice a squeak. “Still waiting for those sparks.”

“And chemistry, so you’ve said.” Tessa scooped her last bit of yogurt, then pointed the laden spoon at Iris. “Any man who makes you blush while you’re thinking about him when you’re with your friends—”

Liberty clapped. “Means you have chemistry!”

These ladies were Iris’s friends. They always had her back and confided in her. Joy had become a great addition to their group after she and Eric moved back to Pleasant View. But Iris wanted to make sure her sister-in-law wouldn’t share anything with Eric—or worse, accidentally disclose something to Sabastian since she was at the house all the time.

Iris lifted her cup toward Joy. “Don’t tell my brother anything.”

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