“Amazing.”
“Good to know.” She cocks her head to the side. “Is this a manipulation on your part because of that hedge?”
“What? No,” I declare, standing back and pretending I’m offended she’d even suggest it. “I hadn’t thought of that, but it’s a good idea. No, the kiss was great. Austin is complicated, but what happened after that confused me.”
“What happened?”
“He just left.”
“Left. Like left and didn’t say anything?”
“No, he said, ‘I’ve got to go,’ and then left.”
“So there was a goodbye.”
“Yes. But, the kiss part was left dangling.”
“Was it a first kiss?”
“It was a forced one.” I fill Georgie in on what happened with Amy and she listens as only a good friend can.
“Okay,” she says, clapping her hands together and rubbing them when I’m done. “So he used you to get Amy to back off.” She eyes me and then simply shrugs. “C’est la vie.”
“What? You’re quite casual about where my lips have been.”
“Your lips, sunshine, not mine. Seriously, Amy had it coming. I know her boss and she was going to remove her from Austin’s job anyway. Apparently, she did the same thing to another single guy in town and it’s getting tricky. She’s a hazard, so just know that. That and the fact he is not interested in her.”
“How do you know?”
“Did you walk in on him kissingher?”
She has a point. One I’ll ignore for now because I’m here looking for evidence. “That’s not my only issue, you know.”
The sound of the bell from behind signals a new customer at the door. I turn around to find a pretty dark-haired woman standing with a huge grin on her face.
“Ets!” Georgie exclaims, waving her over to us. “Bex, this is Etta, or Ets as I like to call her. One of the first friends I made when I moved here. Etta, this is Bex. She knows Spencer and Amelia.”
Etta smiles my way, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. “I’ve heard about you. You’re Spencer’s former assistant, you lived in California right?”
“I did,” I say. “You know the Stolls?”
Etta nods. “I have a wine bar over at the campgrounds. Amelia helped me get on my feet and get that shop opened, and I’m glad I did. This past summer was amazing.” She gives me the most genuine and warm smile I’ve seen in ages. “Welcome to Sweetkiss Creek, Bex.”
“We’re talking about boys,” Georgie prompts her and Etta’s eyes widen.
“Anyone I know?”
“Austin,” Georgie whispers as Etta gasps like any new-to-me-girlfriend should. It’s kind of amazing, the immediate bonding that can happen with women when we let our guards down.
“Ahhhh. My grumpy-pants McGillicuddy himself. How is old man crankerson these days?” Etta muses while Georgie shakes with laughter.
“He’s got a new neighbor and he kissed her,” Georgie says, nodding her head in my direction. I’m not sure I like this “let’s talk about you like you’re not right in front of us” scenario.
“Hello. I’m right here.”
Etta stares at me. “Are you prepared for someone like Austin?”
My head tilts to the side on its own. “What do you mean?”
