Page 28 of Wood You Knot

“Well, that’s not entirely true,” Parker teased from across the table. Of course he’d zero in on that question. I shot him a look.

“Is this about Sage Whitaker moving to town?” Mom demanded, her eyes brightening with excitement. She was just as bad as Gran, if not worse. If Mom had it her way, we’d all be married off with kids by now. Even the twins.

“Who?” Gran looked notably confused.

“You remember Ed and Emelia’s niece who would come out for the summers?” Mom reminded her. “The little blonde Nix had a crush on for years.”

“Oh yes, I remember now. So when are you going to make your move?” Gran sent me a knowing look.

My cheeks heated with embarrassment. Yeah, my entire family knew about the massive crush I’d harboured on Sage as a kid and teen. I wasn’t exactly the greatest liar, and I’d never been able to mask my feelings. Generally, I’m a happy, charismatic, easygoing guy, but I always acted like such an awkward doofus around her, so it’d been obvious to them all back then.

“Hey! Why aren’t we grilling the twins about their love life?” I demanded, shooting a look at my younger brothers.

Preston and Paxton both raised their hands at the same time. “Hey now, we’re not pushing thirty,” Preston, the traitor, said.

“Yeah, we still have plenty of time to settle down. You, on the other hand…” Paxton sent me a judgmental look. “You better get thinking about your next move. That receding hairline of yours is going to do you no favours.”

I scowled. “I do not have a receding hairline.”

“Yet. It’s genetic,” Paxton pointed out, gesturing to our father’s lack of hair. It was Dad’s turn to frown.

“He’s letting her get settled first, which I think is sweet,” Tabitha cut in, coming to the rescue. “She just got out of a relationship, so I’m sure she’s not even thinking about that yet.”

“Well, she won’t stay single long in Hartwood Creek. The Hartley sisters will get to her,” Gran predicted.

“Oh, there’s your answer,” Preston declared with a shit-eating grin. “Give her the love latte, and she’ll be unable to resist your nonexistent charm.”

Bella and Brielle exchanged scheming looks with one another—looks I trusted about as much as I trusted my twin brothers.

“I’m not going to give her the love latte.” I shook my head. “And I really don’t need dating advice from the likes of you two. You wouldn’t know how to date a woman if you got slapped with an instruction manual.”

“Is that a challenge?” Paxton arched a brow, exchanging a cunning look with Preston. “Because that sounds like a challenge.”

“It sure did sound like a challenge.” Preston nodded in agreement. “I bet we could find dates before you even work up the courage to ask Sage out.”

I exhaled, trying not to let the irritation and frustration at my brothers’ antics sour my mood. Easier said than done—they knew exactly how to pick at me.

“Boys, you do not date women just to win a challenge with your brother, and you don’t place bets on love,” Mom lectured sternly, eyeing both Preston and Paxton with her no-bullshit stare to convey how serious she was about this.

Preston and Parker had the sense to look chided, but I could still see their brains whirling with the prospect of a challenge.

Chapter Ten

Sage

The next week seemed to fly by. I was so absorbed with learning the ropes at the hardware store and getting Daphne adjusted to our new routine that I’d had little time to mentally prepare for the Fall Fun Fundraiser planning committee meeting.

I’d forgotten all about it until Tabitha asked me Friday when I went to pick Daphne up if I’d be attending the planning committee meeting at the school later that evening.

“Um…I don’t know. I forgot all about it…” I trailed off.

“Oh, that’s okay.” Was it just my imagination, or did Tabitha seem a little disappointed? “It’s a quick meeting, won’t be longer than an hour, and they always have snacks and coffee.”

“I’ll see if Daphne can hang with Auntie Em and Uncle Ed for a bit tonight. If they’re okay with it, then I can come.”

Tabitha’s smile brightened. “Okay, text me and let me know what they say. Maybe we’ll go out for drinks after.”

I warred with myself the entire drive home. Part of me was super exhausted from my workweek, but another part of me didn’t want to let Tabitha down. Plus, I felt wildly unprepared for the role I’d agree to take on. Maybe going to one of the planning committee meetings would help me get more comfortable with what was expected of me.

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