Page 15 of The Sound Of Silence

Shit. Where did that come from?

I smile brightly to hide my awful thoughts, and tell Pippa about my plans to design more of my own pieces. I’ve already added making essential oils and matching bath salts to my list of talents, and they’re actually our best-selling items.Now I just need to get the jewelry-making right.

Like I knew she would, Pippa’s eyes shine with love as she tells me how proud she is of me. And while I’m grateful for her genuine excitement, it only increases the guilt I have for my earlier notion.What the hell was that?

“Now that we’re all caught up on the work side of life,” Pippa says, her smile widening. “What about other areas? Any men in your world that I should know about?” she asks, her eyebrows sitting high on her forehead.

I try to hide my cringe, but like a hawk, she zeroes in on it, crossing her arms over her chest. “Please tell me you’re not stillanti-men.”

“I’m notanti-men. I just don’t want a relationship right now.”

“You’re missing out.”

“Oh, do tell me about theamazinghockey superstar you’ve taken off the market. I remember a time when you told me he was a bit of a manwhore. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

Pippa’s eyes flash with something closely resembling nerves before she shakes it off and smiles, launching into a detailed description about how good her love life is. “He’s so caring… attentive… and the way he looks at me…”

I couldn’t imagine him being anything like that after our brief encounter, but what do I know.

“So in short… you’re in love?” I say with a smile, even though there’s something niggling inside me. Something telling me I shouldn’t be happy about that.But why?

Pippa laughs, shaking her head back and forth in an exaggerated fashion, a nervous energy to her motion. “I wouldn’t say we’re in love. But… ah…maybe one day.” She shrugs.

Her admission relaxes me a little, but again, I have to stop myself from questioning why. Instead, I place those thoughts in a box marked “unsafe for release,” and vow to forget them.

“I met him today,” I say so we can move away from the topic of love. “When he dropped by with the wire for the flowers.”

Pippa’s eyes widen before she smiles, though it comes out a little forced. “He didn’t mention that.”

“Probably because I didn’t tell him who I was.”

At that, she laughs out loud. “Uh-oh. Was he an ass?”

“You know it. You always said he was. I’m guessing, or rather hoping, he’s different with you.” I raise an eyebrow and wait for the confirmation.

“Of course he is,” Pippa says, squeezing my arm. “But…”

My eyes flash to her as concern mars my features. “But?”

“He did get us kicked out of the inn.”

“He what?” A laugh bursts out of me as I picture all the ways he could have done that. That’s something Icanimagine after meeting him. “What happened?”

“He slammed the door when I mentioned our family dinner. Put a hole in the drywall.”

“That would have broken Marley’s heart.”

“It did.” Pippa places her hand on her chest as though she feels for our innkeeper, but the sassy grin suggests she doesn’t.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“I was kind of hoping my amazing sister would take us in. It’s only a few days. Marley said we could stay there until Friday, because that’s the earliest she can get someone to fix it.”

The thought of having Jesse here is not ideal, but what can I do? I’m a people pleaser.

Pippa stares at me with an expectant grin and I smile. I know I can’t say no. Ineversay no, but something tells me this is a very bad idea.

Chapter Eight

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