Page 68 of Tempting the Heart

Tyler smiled. “Wow. That’s really great. How’d they meet?”

“Oh, just the usual Evans thing.”

“What’s that? A dating app?”

I chuckled. “No. You know how Amelia always thought objects spoke to her?”

“Uh. I thought that was just a thing from when she was a kid.”

I shook my head and grinned. “Oh, no. It’s carried forward. Anyway, she found a vase in a big shipment we’d bought, and there were letters inside. She tracked down the owner, and it was James.”

“Really? That simple?”

I snickered. “No. Nothing is ever that simple when it comes to Amelia. There were some ups and downs, but it all worked out. Anyway, I don’t even remember where I was going with that.”

He laughed and looked across the lavender field.

“Oh, right. It’s awesome because now the Edwards have opened up the orchards again, so there really is a ton to do around Marigold. It’s unfortunate that your parents don’t enjoy getting out a little bit.”

I wanted to kick myself. Why would I bring them up when I was trying to show James he could enjoy the island without them?

Tyler nodded and slowed, taking in the beauty surrounding us. “It is a shame, and I wish I knew why.” He shrugged. “Unless my dad can go to the horse track, he has no interest in leaving.”

“Has it always been that way?”

“Pretty much. I vaguely remember our parents doing stuff with us when we were small, like going to the beach and collecting beach wood.”

“Which is a no-no now.” I chuckled.

He grinned. “But I almost wonder if I imagined those times.”

I clutched his hand in mine and squeezed it. My childhood was full of happy memories of my parents taking us to the parks, the beaches, and festivals in Seattle. Or when my dad helped build the treehouse or took us girls shopping to find the perfect holiday dresses. I just couldn’t imagine not having that stability.

The faint sound of sirens in the distance broke the quietness as we walked up to the small farm store the size of a large shed painted a vivid red. Small potted lavender plants to purchase lined the walkway. The fragrance of lavender drifted through the air as we walked inside, and I promised myself to quit bringing up his parents. The entire point of this week was to let Tyler see another side of the island.

Tomorrow, Brad had promised to take his dad to the appointment, and I wanted to make this Sunday as relaxing for him as possible.

Tyler reached for a book and held it up. “What about this?”

I squinted to see the title and laughed.

“Growing Lavender for Dummies. Nice.” I chuckled, taking it away from him. “I just might get that.”

I watched him carefully as we wandered through the store, wishing for something more, some magical revelation that would make him stay.

I’d always been practical and resourceful, often rolling my eyes at all the mysteries and unknowns the rest of my family loved to embrace. I wouldn’t call them mystics, but some days it felt that way.

My personality had always been grounded in reality and aiming for the goals I set for myself.

Except when it came to Tyler.

That was when I let myself get lost in romantic notions that would never come to fruition.

Yet as he roamed the small aisle in front of me, sniffing sachets and soaps, I wondered if maybe all my hoping and wishing had brought him here.

I hid a chuckle. My mom would be thrilled if a thought like that popped into my head. She always wanted me to embrace what fate had in store for me, but how could fate know what I needed if I didn’t at least plan for it?

It’s not like fate built my coffee shop for me. I had to set a goal and get things rolling.

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