Page 13 of The Love Audit
Not sure if Tora was allowed inside, I tied his leash to a post outside, making sure he stayed in my line of sight before stepping through the door. A cheerful chime of bells greeted me, followed by a blast of cold air and the mouthwatering aroma of fresh bread.
“Hello there,” a deep voice called. I looked up to find a man crouched over a display case. He straightened as I approached, revealing a warm smile framed by a neatly trimmed beard. He was a brown-skinned man who looked to be in his fifties, dressed casually in jeans and a polo shirt beneath a black leather apron.
“Hey.” I returned his smile. “I was out for a run with my dog and stumbled across your place.”
“Ah, yes.” His smile widened. “You must be the couple staying at The Derry House. I’m David.” He extended a hand, which I shook.
“Yeah,” I replied, laughing nervously. “I guess news travels fast around here.”
“You better believe it,” David said with a knowing grin. “What can I do for you?”
“Honestly, I was curious about the mill itself,” I admitted, glancing around. “But now that I’m here, the smell coming from your kitchen is telling me I need to grab a bite to eat.”
David’s laugh was warm and genuine. “I don’t blame you. My wife, Eleanor, is the best cook in Miller’s Cove. But I might be alittle biased. Grab a seat outside, and I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
An hour later, I had a full stomach and a new friend. David, as it turned out, was a descendant of Miller’s Cove’s founder. His wife, Eleanor, was indeed an amazing cook, and the pair had extended a dinner invitation that I was reluctant to accept for one reason: the invitation was for me and my “wife.”
As I strolled back through the town square, still smarting from my earlier exchange with Jasmine, a jewelry store display caught my eye. Specifically, a ring. It was a square-cut emerald that matched the green flecks in Jasmine’s hazel eyes perfectly.
Her words from the previous night echoed in my mind: “I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but married people tend to wear wedding rings.”
A smile tugged at my lips as an idea formed. If we were going to attend dinner as a married couple, we might as well look the part. At least, that’s what I told myself as I left the store with matching wedding bands and a collar for Tora with emerald accents to complete the charade.
CHAPTER FIVE
Jasmine
I decided to spend an hour or two doing some research on Miller’s Cove, but when I heard the door click shut to the apartment, I realized that I’d spent the entire day hunched over my laptop and had barely touched the sad excuse for a salad sitting beside me. I sighed, stretching out the knots that had formed in my shoulders from hours of poor posture. Just as I shut my laptop, Derek walked into the kitchen.
“Don’t worry,” he called over his shoulder, his tone as smug as ever. “I have no interest in whatever you were doing on your laptop. I’m not a thief.”
“Neither am I,” I shot back, rubbing my temples. Turning in my chair, I added, “And you can never be too careful. So, you were gone for a while.”
“Yeah,” he replied casually. “The old boy and I did a little exploring.”
“Did you find anything interesting?” I hoped my voice conveyed the nonchalance I definitely didn’t feel.
“Not you slamming your laptop shut when I walked in the room and then grilling me for information.” He chuckled, a sly grin spreading across his face. I rolled my eyes, willing myself not to take the bait.
“I was attempting to make conversation,” I said coolly, pushing back from the table. “But keep your little funky secrets.” I stood and started toward the sink, but his voice stopped me.
“Actually, I did find something.”
Curiosity piqued, I turned back to see him sliding into the chair opposite mine, holding a small paper bag. The logo on the front caught my eye immediately. A jewelry store? My stomach flipped as a cascade of questions flooded my brain. Why would Derek have gone to a jewelry store? Was it a gift for someone? Another woman, maybe? My mind immediately conjured the woman from the night of my drunken tirade. Was she his girlfriend? Did Derek even have a girlfriend? And why, for the love of all things holy, did I care?
“It’s for you.” Derek’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, dragging me back to the present. My heart skipped a beat, and I quirked an eyebrow as he slid the bag across the table.
“What is this?” I asked, trying to sound casual even as my fingers trembled slightly.
“Why are you looking at it like it might explode?” he teased, his grin widening. But there was an edge of something—anticipation, maybe—in his expression that made my pulse quicken.
“Because, knowing you, it might,” I quipped, half joking. Iflipped open the box inside, and my jaw dropped. My eyes snapped up to his in disbelief.
“Seriously, Derek. What is this?”
“I think you’re mispronouncing the words ‘thank you,’” he replied, plucking the box from my hands and sliding the most stunning emerald ring I’d ever seen onto my finger. “Ah, perfect fit.” He leaned back, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
“Are you going to answer my question?” I asked, my eyes fixed on the ring even as my brain scrambled to make sense of what was happening. There was no way this was his way of apologizing for this morning. No way.
