Page 47 of Almost True
“If you weren’t secretly a bridge troll on holiday, I’d be more likely to ask you.” Dahlia’s words whipped through the air, and we both turned toward the sound.
“Bridge troll? Yeah? What bridge is mine? And how do you know about my secret profession?”
John’s voice came through clearly enough that I’d bet they were standing on the other side of hedge a few feet away.
“Probably a little irrigation ditch,” Dahlia said, irritation lacing her words.
John laughed, a sharp shot through the space. “What did I do to deserve your ire, Price? Seriously, how have I wronged you so thoroughly?”
Aidan heaved a silent sigh, but the movement drew my eye. He gave me a look that fell somewhere between frustrated and disappointed before saying, “John, can I have your help with something?”
In seconds, John and Dahlia came wandering out from wherever they’d been, and John shot Aidan an exasperated look that had me stifling a chuckle.
“You rang?” John said, all evidence of disgruntlement gone.
Aidan handed him his bag of tools and other stuff. “Can you run this to the truck?”
“You got it.” He turned to me with a nod. “Maddie, good to see you again.” Then he tossed over his shoulder as he walked away. “Price.”
Dahlia watched him go with a hard expression before turning to me. “Hi. How are you? Is your mom here?”
“No. Thankfully. I escaped, and we’re T-minus twenty-four hours until she’s heading back to the city.” Gratitude and relief swelled in me at the reminder that I’d have my space back and wouldn’t need to keep avoiding her for much longer.
Dahlia grinned. “Let’s get lunch this week. I’ll be fairly busy, but I always need to eat. And I’ll see you Saturday night for sure, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
She nodded decisively and shuffled off with a farewell to both of us. I needed to ask her what the deal was with John and why they fought so much—maybe she’d tell me why since I hadn’t heard John willingly explain it.
“I told you. It’s weird between them,” Aidan said as we turned to walk the path on the way to the parking lot.
“I’m going to ask her about it when I see her this week. I’m too curious.”
“Well, if you find out anything good, let me know,” he said, a small smile on his face that sent my stomach to my toes.
“Sure will.”
We’d stopped walking again, and his eyes had hooked into mine, all serious and encompassing. “Any chance you’d be my date next weekend?”
My heart thudded. “To the Night in Bloom?”
He nodded.
“Um… sure. Yeah. Okay. I can do that.”
He loosed a small chuckle. “You don’t have to. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I just thought it’d be fun for us to go together.”
Hope and disappointment twisted in me, but as though he could see straight through me, he added, “If you’re still interested, I’d like it to be a real date. I mean, if you want. Not if you’ve—”
“That sounds good. Yes. Please.”
He grinned, and I beamed right back at him becauseyes, the man’s smile was too gorgeous andyes, I wanted to date him.
He held out a hand, and automatically, I placed mine in it. He raised it to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of my hand, sending butterflies fluttering wildly in my chest.
“I’ll see you Saturday, if not before.”
“See you then.”
