Page 58 of Love, Lies and Lavender
She looked down at her lap, playing with the scarf’s fringe, and laughed. “I kind of wondered if you wanted to see me.”
“You’re joking, right?”
She lifted her shoulder. “But when I walked into your store and Maria found out who I was, that made me feel better.” Hilary smiled and wrinkled her nose. Dane was so charmed by her expression he momentarily lost the question that came to mind. “She’s funny,” Hilary said.
“Sometimes to a fault. What did she say to you?” Dane didn’t think he ever mentioned Hilary by name to Maria. Then he remembered. She’d seen Hilary’s name pop up on the text.
“She asked if I was the mysterious conference contact that you’d been texting like a fiend.”
He laughed. “‘Like a fiend’? Maria said that?” Incredulous, he wondered what else his loose-lipped employee told her.
“So I’m a conference contact is all? That hurts,” Hilary said, leaning forward. Her smile was bewitching.
Dane couldn’t pass up the opportunity. He kissed her lightly, lingering to inhale the sweetness of her perfume. She drew a shaky breath and pulled away, her cheeks flushed.
“So, Jorie knows you’re here?” he asked when he settled back in his chair.
“I didn’t tell her directly, but I think she knew.” Hilary took a strand of her hair and twisted it around her finger. “She wouldn’t mind now.”
Hilary filled him in on her conversations with Jorie, including their confrontation at the bank, and also the progress with the inn. He wasn’t surprised to learn that most of Jorie’s reservations and need for control had to do with her suppressed grief from losing her brother.
“I don’t want to step away completely from the inn, but I don’t want it to be everything to me. There are too many other things I want to do,” she said.
Dane took her hand, caressing each of her fingers. Outside, the water cascading from the eaves had slowed to a steady drip. The sweet tang of lavender hung in the air. Hilary was studying him when he looked up.
“Do I fit into those plans of yours anywhere?” he asked.
From her expression, Dane knew the answer. But he wanted to hear the conviction in her voice.
She clasped his hands in hers and grinned.
“You fit into all of them.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
EPILOGUE
Hilary stood over the farmhouse sink, letting the faucet fill up the empty casserole pan to soak, while staring through the window. Outside, the early morning sun hit the dew-topped grass in golden radiance. She never tired of moments like this. A day full of promise beckoned, even though nothing special was planned. But Dane was upstairs in the Cortland room. That brightened her day immeasurably.
He’d come yesterday afternoon and would stay until after lunch. His visit was a short one this weekend; he needed to get back to the farm. They’d taken to alternating weekends—Hilary in Clove, Dane in Redville—to visit each other during the last year. It was less than five hours in good weather and a pretty drive on Route 26 through national forests, especially this time of year.
Jorie popped into the kitchen, dressed in running clothes, coffee mug in hand.
“Morning,” she said with a quick smile.
Hilary shut off the water. “You look ready for the day. What are you up to?” She followed Jorie into the walk-in pantry where her sister-in-law began rummaging through one of the wicker baskets holding serving ware they rarely used. But the clatter of metal was too much. Hilary backed out of the small space and took refuge at the far end of the kitchen, massaging her temple.
“I have everything on the buffet, but I don’t hear anyone stirring,” Hilary called, though she doubted Jorie heard above the racket. ”Are you sure you told them we serve breakfast at eight?” she asked, raising her voice.
“They know,” she said over her shoulder. “I heard the people in Honeycrisp turn on the shower.”
“I hate trying to keep stuff warm.” Hilary winced again as more metal clanged together in the basket. “Maybe I’ll put it back in the oven.”
Jorie stopped digging. “Not necessary. By the way, I didn’t see the fruit salad out there."
Hilary made a face. “That’s because it wasn’t on the menu. But I can get right on it.”
“Fruit is on the bottom shelf of the fridge,” said Jorie as she went back to digging. When Hilary didn’t move right away, Jorie looked back at her. “You’d better hurry. They’ll be down soon.”
