Page 41 of Wood You Knot

“That’s so corny,” she said, but I caught a smile before she turned her head.

“Huh, your daughter thinks my jokes are lame too,” I remarked as we reached the aisle with all the nails.

“Well, she’s not wrong. They are kind of lame.” Sage reached for the framing nail boxes and handed them to me. When our fingers brushed, she looked down at the contact as if surprised.

She withdrew her hand quickly, tucking her blond hair behind her ear.

“I’ve got another one for you…” I started.

“What is it?” She arched her brow.

“Are you a cat? Because I’m totally fe-line this connection between us.” I waggled my eyebrows at her, and although she fought it, the smile betrayed her amusement.

“You’re ridiculous.” She laughed lightly, shaking her head at my antics. She looked back down at the list, reading the next item. Moving on to bracings, she grabbed several before thrusting them in my arms.

She referred to the list again, and her brow furrowed a little as if she was having trouble deciphering an item.

“For real, though…I really would like to take you out on a date sometime. Maybe Saturday night?”

Chapter Fourteen

Sage

I looked up from the list, unsure if I’d heard him correctly. “Pardon?”

“I said,” he repeated, his smile growing a touch nervous, the playful banter gone and replaced with something genuine and meaningful. “I’d like to take you out on a date sometime…maybe this Saturday?”

For a moment, all I could do was stare at him—at those expressive brown eyes that seemed to see straight into my soul, stirring desires in me I thought I didn’t have time for…and yet…

My eyes dropped to the list, at the last thing on it. Say yes. Trust me. You won’t regret it.

Looking back up at him, I bit my bottom lip, trying to remember all the reasons it was a bad idea. He waited, letting me mull it over, and I got the sense he’d wait for as long as I needed.

“I…” I trailed off, my head buzzing with conflicting thoughts and feelings. The exhilaration I’d felt zinging through my fingertips when our hands touched resurfaced, and I swallowed, finding a shy smile for him. “I think…I’d like that.”

He seemed almost as surprised by my answer as I was, but the nervousness slipped away, replaced with an enamoured grin that made the butterflies take flight in my belly.

“Great, I’ll pick you up at six thirty?”

“Sounds good.” I smiled. We stared at each other for a few minutes, both of us smiling like fools before I laughed awkwardly and looked away. “Well, let’s get you rung up. I’m sure you need to get back to the site.”

“Yeah.” He laughed, and we made our way back to the cash register.

I rang his purchases through, trying not to grin like an idiot the whole time. When he left, I picked up the coffee he’d brought me and took a distracted sip, my thoughts on the hope budding in my chest.

* * *

After Nix left the hardware store, my mind wouldn’t quit whirling with its insecurities and reservations. I went from hopeful to anxious about the whole thing. It wasn’t I regretted saying yes to Nix’s date. It was I regretted saying yes so soon.

Maybe I should have waited a little longer. I hadn’t even been in town for a whole month, and I’d already said yes to a date. So much for getting on my own two feet again and forging a new life for my daughter and myself that didn’t involve a man.

I couldn’t help but fret about what my aunt might say if I asked her to watch Daphne so I could go on a date. I knew she’d probably be supportive and receptive to the idea since she seemed to really believe in love and magic and all those fuzzy feelings, but a small part of me still worried she’d also think it was too soon.

When I pulled into Tabitha and Parker’s driveway later that evening to pick up Daphne, I was somewhat disappointed Nix’s truck wasn’t there. But I was also a little relieved.

I walked up to the front porch and knocked on the beautiful hardwood door, waiting until Tabitha opened it. She had Bryson on her hip and smiled when she saw me.

“Hey,” she greeted, stepping aside to let me in. She moved to the bottom of the classic Victorian staircase. “Daphne! Your mom’s here,” she hollered before turning back to me.

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