Page 73 of To Have and to Scold

And it’s more than that. Beck giving me permission to let loose and abandon the heels sometimes has helped.

I catch a glimpse of Beck looking at me, taking in my bare legs, meeting my gaze with a blip of communication. That’s all I need right now. There’s no time for a deep dive on him and me. But that look? It can sustain me for a little while longer.

*****

Only an hour into the staging and I get a call from Kaia. Her first question is a very loud, “How’s Beck?”

Thankfully, I’m out at my car, getting some more wickless candles out of my trunk. “Shh!” I glance around to make sure the Billingsley brothers aren’t lurking nearby. When I see that it’s safe, I smile. “He’s very well.”

“Has he kissed your face off yet?”

“Well—”

She screams through the phone, causing static that kills my ear. I pull the phone away from me, but I can still hear her loud and clear. “Dallas, I am so happy you’ve progressed to another level with him. This is a temporary fling, though, right? I swear if you marry him and leave me high and dry with GiGi, I’ll never forgive you!”

An undercurrent of unease slides through me. “Marry him? You’ve skipped a few steps there. And are you forgettingThePlan? I’m not letting that go, Kaia.” I cradle the phone between my ear and shoulder and heft a large box out of the trunk.

“I can tell you really like him.” Kaia’s voice falters.

“I do,” I answer. “That doesn’t mean I’m staying in Willow Cove.”

I’m not ready to say this to Kaia or anyone else yet, but I love it here. I’m invested in Leo and his friends and wouldn’t mind going to his beach volleyball games for years to come. I want to see how the new wing for the YMCA turns out. Plus, the brides I’ve been working with here are down-to-Earth, enjoyable to work with.

And of course, Beck’s in Willow Cove.

I’ve reached the double doors to the mansion and my big box of candles has to shift to my hip so I can open them.

Right now, Mayor Dobbs’s good word to Shoshana feels secondary—less important than it was. All I can think about is Beck.

He and Elliott are in the kitchen, and I set the box on the island. “I gotta go,” I tell her.

Kaia sighs. “Well, you haven’t given me graphic details of your sordid night with Beck yet, but if you must go, you must.”

“Sor—” I stop myself. Beck and Elliott do not need to hear me say the word “sordid.” “You have a very active imagination.” I bite down on my bottom lip. “Okay, bye.”

The rest of the night, the responsible part of me is glad Elliott stays and helps. The part of me that wants to kiss Beck again? Downright frustrated.

It’s nearly ten when I’ve finished categorizing all the bins with the things I can’t set up yet because they’ll be outside. Doesn’t mean I haven’t labeled and color coordinated them within an inch of their lives.

Beck and Elliott come back into the living room. “We finished the towel rack in the bathroom. I think it’s safe to say that roomis a hundred percent done,” Beck says, his eyes lined with dark smudges.

“You look worn out,” I say.

“I would say the same to you, but in reality, you look as pretty as you always do.”

Elliott is holding back a smile, his gaze on the floor.Awkward!The tips of his ears even turn red.

“How’s Leo?” I ask Beck, hoping for a shift in the attention.

“He’s got another date to Prom. You still able to be my partner for the Prom dinner here tomorrow night?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Uh. I’ll leave you guys to it.” And before we can respond, Elliott grabs his keys off the counter and carries his toolbox with him out the door.

“He sure beelined it out of here,” I say.

“He said earlier he was going to meet up with Portia.”

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