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As he took the last of the holders up to his office, he admitted to himself that he didn’t get it. Not her, not what had happened, not any of it.

When he reached his desk, he sat down and stared at the holder. He wanted to tell himself it was just folded paper, but he knew it was more than that. Reggie had seen a problem and then had decided to figure out a solution. She’d put time and effort into the project. He would guess there were multiple attempts to get it right, and the whole time she’d been working, she’d never even hinted at what she was doing.

Even more astonishing was the fact that a couple of nights ago, she’d pretty much told him she wanted them to start dating. Meaning she was interested in him romantically—something he was still trying to ignore. Instead of accepting her enticing offer, he’d told her he couldn’t take the chance and had let her walk away. A reality that had kept him up for the past two nights.

But even after all that, she’d still shown up here and had given him the pie holder design. For nothing. Who did that? No one he knew. Why wasn’t she mad at him? Why did she ever want to see him again?

He crossed to the window, hoping to catch sight of her, but she’d already left The Wreath. He stared out at the other stores, at the bright blue sky, as if the answers to his questions were hiding somewhere.

He knew Reggie well enough to believe she wasn’t trying to trick him. Instead she was just being herself. Giving, generous, honest. If he were to ever trust another woman, she would be on the short list. But to take the chance was to risk too much.

Or was it?

Was she correct to tell him he wasn’t protecting Harrison as much as he was protecting himself? He’d never considered the possibility. What Lori had done had scarred them both. But if there was even a whisper of truth in her theory, shouldn’t he consider her words?

He had no answers, no clear idea of what to do next. The only thing he knew for sure was that she was right about one thing. If he let her go without trying, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“You’re not eating,” Dena pointed out, grateful she’d put on yoga pants after she’d gotten home from work. Ursula had outdone herself with the food. “Did you not see that there are bacon jalapeño poppers and mini black bean and cheese tostadas? Plus chips and guacamole. You’re from LA. This should be your thing.”

She was sitting with Micah in the dining room. They’d agreed to meet for Snacks and Wine, something she’d been looking forward to all day.

Micah, as gorgeous as ever, in jeans and a sweater just a few shades darker than his eyes, smiled at her. “Sorry, I’ve been thinking.”

“You can’t think and eat?”

He chuckled. “I can and I will.” He rose with lazy grace. “Be right back.”

She knew it was wrong, but she turned to watch him walk away. The man had an amazing butt. And long legs. He was so incredibly perfect that she couldn’t help wishing they were more than friends. Seeing him naked would be a memory she would treasure the rest of her life. She wasn’t crazy enough to wish for sex, but just a casual glance at his awesomeness would be pretty incredible.

Ah, dreams, she thought, then did her best not to laugh.

He returned with two plates. One had several appetizers on it, and the other had a scoop of guacamole and a handful of chips. He pushed that one toward her.

“Because of the reverence in your voice when you said guacamole,” he teased.

“I can’t help it. Washington State grows lots of fruits and vegetables, along with amazing grapes for wine. We even produce most of the country’s hops, which beer drinkers everywhere should celebrate. But we don’t have a climate for avocados. Sad but true.”

She grabbed a chip and scooped up guacamole. “It’s the small things that make life so nice.” And the company, but she was careful not to say that.

It was near the end of the Snacks and Wine hour, with only a few guests lingering before heading back to their rooms or out for dinner.

“I should have had a salad,” she said, picking up another bacon jalapeño popper. “Although technically this is a vegetable, right? Hmm, I have beans for protein, cheese, vegetables.”

“You’re saying you’re having a healthy dinner?”

She laughed. “Maybe. Kind of. It’s not awful.”

He ate a tostada. “People keep talking about it snowing tomorrow.”

“We’re all hoping. It’s so late this year. The town makes a big deal of the first snowfall, so tourists always want to be here when it happens, but there’s no way to be sure of the date.”

His gaze lingered on her face. “I’m sorry I’m going to miss it.”

“You are? But you can’t. Where are you—” She held in a sigh. “Is it already time for you to go to Los Angeles for the variety show?”

“Yes. I fly out early in the morning.”