Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 117915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
“Oh, well.” I shrugged and tried not to blush. “I can’t take credit for that. Mrs. Peevey did the hard part. I’m only playing the part of coordinator for the evening. Though I do have a few notes about things I—I mean, Mrs. Peevey—could do a bit differently next year.”
She snorted. “I’m sure you do. But I wouldn’t count myself off the hook for next year just yet. If I know Lorraine Peevey, she’ll be more than happy to retire as coordinator and let you take charge. In fact, that might’ve been her aim in getting you to step in tonight.”
I frowned. I hadn’t considered that, and I wasn’t sure what I thought about it. “I’m not sure where I’ll be next year. I… I’m from Nashville originally. I plan to move back there once I’ve built my business up.”
“You and Percival, in Nashville?” She raised her eyebrows. “After he swore he’d never live there again? You must be some kind of miracle worker.”
“Er, not quite. You see, I…” I rubbed the back of my neck. I couldn’t lie to the man’s mother. “I’m not sure what will be happening with Champ and me. The news of our engagement was, um…” I glanced around to make sure there were no Drakes in the vicinity. “A bit premature.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“As in, we’re not engaged,” I explained.
Her expression didn’t change.
“Not even dating,” I elaborated. And when she still didn’t reply, I said a bit desperately, “We’re not in love. No feelings. Understand?” I licked my lips nervously. “Although, if you could just keep that to yourself for a couple of weeks, I’d appreciate—”
“Horse puckey,” Bunny said in a perfectly posh accent.
Oh, fuck. Did that mean she wouldn’t keep the secret? Champ would kill me for blabbing.
“No, seriously, ma’am, I can’t stress enough how important it is—”
“I meant, there is no way that you and my son don’t have feelings for one another. He’s never kissed another man in public to my knowledge, not even Vincent, and they dated for years. And he would never hold your hand if you weren’t something special to him.” She waved her hand imperiously again. “The rest will sort itself out. With you at the helm, I have no doubt.”
I wasn’t sure if I should feel complimented or concerned. Maybe a little of both.
“But why do you want to move back to the city anyway?” Bunny asked.
“To get back what I had,” I said immediately. What I’d had before fucking Scott had ruined it all.
Bunny lifted an eyebrow. “If what you had was really that great, why did you leave in the first place?”
I blinked at her in surprise. Something about her words hit me. I hadn’t fought for what I wanted when Scott left. If it was really that wonderful, why hadn’t I?
“Nashville’s my home now, of course,” she went on, “and I love it there—all three of my husbands loved it there—but honestly, Quinn, it’s deathly dull, and you know it. Everyone knows everyone else, everyone’s tired of seeing the same old things, everyone’s jaded. I swear that’s part of the reason Percy decided he could never live there. What Nashville folks really want is someone who can offer them something fresh and new. A little bit of Thicket reality and ingenuity we can import from time to time to spice things up.”
I side-eyed her deeply. “The Thicket is spicy?”
“The Thicket is different,” she countered. “And that makes it interesting. Not to mention, practically speaking, the city’s a wasteland.” She waved her hand, which I was coming to recognize as one of her habits—one I kind of enjoyed. “Why, just this week, I heard about a well-respected wedding-planning business that’s supposed to be going under due to financial mismanagement, and their poor clients are fleeing like rats from a sinking ship! Far smarter to base yourself here in the Thicket,” she said firmly. She gave me a saucy grin. “And if that keeps you close to Percy, so much the better.”
I had no idea how to respond to that. Fortunately, I didn’t have to because we were interrupted by a young woman I’d met earlier in the evening.
Anita Shelton came over and dropped into a chair next to my pillar. “Mind if I sit here? My feet are killing me in these shoes.”
I offered her my truffle plate. “Have one of these. They’ll cure everything, including high-heeled regrets.”
Anita chuckled and reached for one of the truffles. I took the opportunity to introduce her to Bunny, who surprised me by leaning around me to engage with her. “Aren’t you Diamond Shelton’s oldest?”
Anita nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Bunny looked between us before settling back on Anita. “I know your mother through the community garden project. She said you’d recently gotten engaged to Hubert and Jasmine’s son.”
Anita’s face lit up. “Yes, ma’am. Elijah proposed on New Year’s.”