Page 81 of The Pink House

“Pardon?” Her brows pulled together in obvious confusion. For the first time, he noticed the lines of fatigue and strain edging her eyes.

Emotion flooded his brain. “I was your test run. While I was developing feelings for you, you were just using me like training wheels to see what life might look like post-Brian. After all, good old Charlie was safe, since you never much cared for me anyway.” Charlie shoved to his feet. “Glad I could be of help.”

“That’s not what I—” Hannah surged to her feet so quickly that the box tumbled to her feet and split open, sending bits of cake flying.

She cried out in frustration, but Charlie paid no heed as he got out of there as fast as he could.

* * *

Hannah spent the weekend cleaning her house…and missing Charlie.

She hadn’t seen him since he’d stormed off her porch on Friday night. The end of their burgeoning relationship was for the best, she told herself, though she couldn’t quite make herself believe it.

On the ride home from Normandy, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Brian. If she loved him even half as much as she thought she did, how could she be having these intense feelings for Charlie so soon?

The cake had cinched it. On the ride home, she'd found herself thinking how nice it would be if Charlie stopped over so they could enjoy the cake together with a glass of wine.

It hit her that she was actually considering splitting Brian’s cake with Charlie. On their anniversary.

A triumphant shout from outside had her moving to her window, where she saw Charlie exchange a high five with Sean. At the feet of the two men, surrounded by tools, a lawnmower was running smoothly.

Hannah was unprepared for the wave of longing that washed over her. She reminded herself that she’d told him they could be friends.

Hannah rubbed the bridge of her nose, remembering the look on his face when she’d said that. She’d hurt him. That had never been her intent.

The ringing of her phone startled her. Mackenna’s ring tone—an obnoxious voice shouting, “Answer me!”—must have carried through the open window, because Charlie abruptly turned.

For a second, their eyes met and held.

Before she could smile or even lift a hand in greeting, Charlie bent down and began picking up tools.

Taking a quick step out of view, Hannah answered the phone. “I definitely have to get a new ring tone for you. This one is obnoxious.”

Mackenna laughed. “It’s a good thing I prefer to text.”

True. Which made her calling now—and during a workday—puzzling.

“It’s always good to hear from you,” Hannah assured her friend.

“Listen, I only have a sec. Jace’s cousin will be in town on Friday. Jace mentioned maybe the four of us could go out.” Mackenna’s tone turned persuasive. “His cousin is an attorney specializing in small businesses, so the two of you should have lots to talk about. Jace says he’s super nice. Divorced. No kids. Please say you’ll do it.”

“I’m afraid Friday won’t work—”

That’s all she got out before Mackenna interrupted. “I knew it. I told Jace that you and Charlie probably already have plans. He knew you’d come to Skyline Farm together, but he didn’t realize all the other stuff you’d been doing.”

The last thing Hannah wanted to do was go out with Jace’s cousin. Would there really be any harm in letting Mackenna think she had a date with Charlie on Friday? Mackenna would certainly accept that excuse more readily than Hannah simply saying no.

Hannah shoved aside the temptation. She wouldn’t lie to her friend. “Charlie and I were seeing a lot of each other, but…”

She paused, searching for the perfect explanation.

But we were getting too close, and I got scared.

But now it’s over.

But he doesn’t even want to be my friend now.

“That’s okay. I totally understand. Duty calls. Chat soon. Tell Charlie hi.”

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