The Inn on Harmony Island (Sweet Tea and a Southern Gentleman #1)(15)

I sucked in my breath. “Ouch.”

He shrugged. “But if I come with a date, I might make her jealous.” He motioned toward me. “Enter you.”

I drummed my fingers on the table as I chewed on his words. What was the worst that could happen? It would solidify the impression that Titan and I were together. Plus, I could do some recon work and see what the other planners were doing. There wasn’t any harm in checking out your competition. “So, if I agree to go to this wedding with you, we’ll be even?”

The smile that emerged was genuine, and it helped melt away some of my stress. He nodded and then shrugged. “It’s what I’m looking for; take it or leave it.”

It was actually perfect. We could get a few photos of us today, and then I would disappear for a few weeks. Then we’d show up at a wedding together, and that would feed the gossip train long enough for me to launch my business and remain in the tabloids.

I extended my hand across the table. “Deal.”

Titan engulfed my hand in his, and we shook on it. Suddenly, he shifted his hand and slipped my fingers between his thumb and forefinger as he leaned forward to press his lips to the back of my hand. Heat permeated my body as I sat there, frozen.

It had been a long time since a man pressed his lips to any part of my body. I’d forgotten what that warmth felt like. My heart pounded in my chest, and I must have been staring at him, because when he pulled back, his eyes widened.

“Was that not okay?” he asked. Then he stopped and stared at me. “Someone has their phone pointed in our direction. If you’re planning on slapping me, can you do that once we are alone?” His lips tipped up into a smile that only made my warm body flush even more.

Not sure what to say, I nodded. Thankfully, that movement knocked me out of my stupor, and I was able to focus on the task at hand. I smiled and glanced down, using my embarrassment to my advantage. Hopefully, people would buy that I looked rosy from love and not from shock.

Thankfully, Titan knew how to work the cameras, and in one swift movement he was on my side of the booth, wrapping his arms around me. He smelled incredible and felt so alive as he sat next to me.

I didn’t realize until now how much I missed physical touch. Even though my mind was screaming with warning bells, I kept still as he whispered nonsense into my ear for our adoring crowd. I focused on my breathing and on acting the part.

Our session only lasted a few minutes before Titan slipped out of the booth and grabbed my hand. He led the way out of the shop and onto the sidewalk. I didn’t think, I just allowed him to guide me over to his convertible, where he held open the door, and I slipped onto the soft, leather seat.

By the time I officially snapped out of my trance, he was driving down the road, tapping his fingers to the music blaring from the radio.

“I think we did pretty good,” he yelled over the music and the sound of rushing wind.

I glanced over at him. “Really?”

He nodded. “Although, you’re going to have to be less standoffish when we go to the wedding. There’s no way Samantha is going to believe that you are completely in love with me.” He glanced over and gave me a wink.

“Well, you did kind of spring it on me,” I said as I hastily tucked the hair that was flying around my face behind my ears.

“You looked like a nun,” he said as he turned his attention back to the road.

I was grateful that his gaze didn’t linger. The last thing I needed was for him to keep digging. I didn’t want to dredge up my past. I was hours away from facing the very thing I’d run away from. I wanted just a few minutes where I didn’t have to think about Harmony, my past, or what my deceased grandmother was going to ask me to do.

I was headed off an emotional cliff whether I wanted to go or not.

“What’s your address?” he asked as he waved toward the large screen on the dash.

I punched in my address, and he kept his focus on driving me there. Once he pulled up in front of it, his eyes widened. “This is where you live?” he asked.

I nodded as I pulled open the door. “Yes.” Once I stepped out onto the sidewalk, I paused. I wasn’t sure what to say. Thanks? You’re awesome? I let out a sigh.

“Don’t worry, kid,” Titan said as he smiled at me. “Our plan will work.” He gave me a wink as he pushed the car into gear and merged into traffic.

I stood on the sidewalk, watching him go. Then I turned and faced my apartment, a small glimmer of hope igniting in my stomach. If I could find some peace in Harmony and come back to the future that Titan and Charity were confident was inevitable, then my future was looking brighter.

Although I would always be a cautiously optimistic person, I couldn’t help but feel excited.

I was mere weeks away from the freedom that I’d been craving for ten years. And the thought that there was a possibility I could have it…

It made me feel alive for the first time in a long time.





6





ABIGAIL





Five o’clock rolled around, and right on time, the front door chimed at Fanny’s arrival. I leaned back in my chair, my back popping from the change in position. Fanny was the recently-returned-from-college girl that I’d hired to help run the bookstore at night so I could head home to help Sabrina.