Page 119 of Three Grumpy Groomsmen

Sam nods. “He is. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t do and say stupid things sometimes.”

I outright laugh at that. “You know him pretty well?”

“Very well.”

Honeysuckle Harbor is very small, and Harrison grew up here. I’ll bet these guys have some great stories about him, as a matter of fact.

Now I want to hear them all.

“Harrison is making things complicated,” I confess. “But only because he’s great and I…like him…so much.”

Ed snorts and Sam and Walt exchange eye rolls.

“What?”

“You’re in love with him,” Walt says. “You can say that here. We think it’s great.”

I like that. I blow out a breath. “Fine. I’m in love with him.”

“So what’s the problem?” Ed asks. He frowns. “Does henotlove you?”

Sam sits forward. “I’ll talk to him.”

That amuses me. And warms me. These three men don’t know me that well. They have to know Harrison better than they know me, regardless. But they seem truly offended by the idea that Harrison might not have feelings for me.

“You’ll talk to Harrison for me?” I ask Sam. “And what? Demand he fall in love with me?”

Sam nods. “Damn right. Sometimes a boy needs advice from his grandfather. Nothing wrong with that.”

I smile. Then frown. Then sit up straighter. Then lean in. I narrow my eyes at Sam. “Excuse me?”

“What?”

“Hisgrandfather?”

Sam nods. “Yes, his grandfather. His parents do a pretty good job. God knows Ford is his voice of reason more often than not. But it’s not as if I havenothingto contribute.”

I stare at the man across the table from me. The nice old man I’ve been playing chess with. The nice old man I’ve been assuming is just…a nice old man. Who probably used to be a fisherman. Who just happens to know Harrison because it’s a small town.

I’m an idiot.

“Sam?” I ask.

“Yes?”

“What’s your last name?”

“Reed.”

I run a hand over my face. “Your Harrison’s grandfather?”

“One of them, yes.”

“You were never a fisherman, were you?” I ask.

He chuckles and looks at Walt and Ed. “I’ve fished plenty.”

“But…not for a living.”

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