Page 4 of Written with Love

After taking a sip of the drink, he dipped a chip in the salsa and took a bite.

“Sophia wasn’t joking. This is really good salsa.” He smiled and leaned back as his eyes locked with hers.

“Sophia doesn’t joke when it comes to good food.” She smiled.

“Or friends, I’m hoping.”

She arched her eyebrows. “Meaning?”

“From the moment I met her, Sophia has gone on and on about her bestie who helped her develop her stories, plot film scenes, design backdrops and costumes, and, most importantly, edit footage. I’m hoping all those stories are true.”

“They are.” She leaned forward. “Having writer’s block?” she teased, and he chuckled.

“Some,” he admitted. “Most importantly, there’s a mystery I’m trying to solve.”

“A mystery?” She began to laugh. “You’re not seriously trying to find the diamonds are you?”

He frowned at her. “What diamonds?”

She sobered as he ate some more chips. “What’s the mystery?” she asked after shaking her head slightly.

He took another sip of his drink and then leaned closer and lowered his voice. “How serious is it between Sophia and Palmer?”

She sighed. “Everyone in town knows that Palmer has had it bad for Soph since he first laid eyes on her. Sophia, well, it took her a while, but I’m pretty sure she is mad for him too. Sorry,” she added. “Did she break your heart?”

He shook his head. “No, it’s okay. Really. I’m… it’s more a brotherly concern at this point. He’s a good guy? Palmer?”

She nodded. “One of the best. I had hoped…”—she shook her head lightly again—“his eyes would land on someone else.”

“Like you?” he interjected.

“Small towns.” She shrugged. “Most of the kids we went to school with left after graduation. We do have an influx of new stock”—he chuckled at her use of words—“thanks to the Coast Guard school. But, yeah, Palmer Clark has been at the top of the bachelor stock in Pride for a few years now.” He nodded and took another sip of his drink. “That is, until you moved into town.” She placed her chin on her fists and chuckled when he almost choked on his drink.

While he recovered, she stood up and grinned down at him.

“How does it feel being the most eligible bachelor in town?” she asked softly.

He shook his head and glanced around. “I didn’t move to town for attention.”

“Really?” She frowned at him. “You do realize you quite literally moved into a light house. You know, a tall building that shines a very bright light out over this town every night.”

He smiled. “She’s a beauty.”

“I wouldn’t know.” She started to turn around to go grab his food.

“You’re welcome to come look at her, if you want,” he called out.

She stopped and glanced back at him. “I’ll take you up on that. Soon.”