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“Uh-huh. How is Aphrodite?”
As if on cue, Lucy’s cat got off her perch on the couch’s armrest and sauntered over, rubbing against the side of Lucy’s hand. Lucy checked the time. Five minutes to eight. “Sweetie, she is good, and she misses you.”
“Dad says we’ll be home for Dawn’s wedding.”
“I’m so glad.” Lucy loved to hear this little girl call South Port home. More anger flashed through her as she thought about Matt with Charlene tonight. Why had he even wanted to speak with her? “Sweetie, I’m sorry. I have to go.” Lucy petted Aphrodite, ignoring the cut on her hand, and wished she could hold Tatum.
“Okay. Bye, Lucy.”
“Bye, sweetheart.”
They hung up, and Lucy sucked in a breath, wishing so many things were different. She resisted the urge to cry. Matt hadn’t messaged her back. He was probably still talking with Charlene.
Charlene was conniving. That was just a fact. She’d used and abused Matt for a long time before Matt had finally divorced her. Now she was still trying to use and abuse him. Why couldn’t he see that?
Lucy stood and paced, frustration coursing through her. She breathed deeply. She would not lose control and fall apart right now. No. She was going on a motorcycle ride with a hot guy.
But that didn’t soothe her anxiety. She didn’t know anything about Raine, other than he was good at flirting. Still, she could do this. A night of flirting and fun. Right?
She turned her phone off. Then she thought of something Pastor Henry always said:Wishing doesn’t make things come true. Prayer does.
She smiled, and when she got back to the bathroom mirror, she dabbed water on her cut and bowed her head, saying a little prayer for Tatum, for herself, and of course for Matt. The Matt part was brief because she was still ticked at him.
The bell rang at the front door of the boutique. Lucy quickly gave herself a once-over in the mirror and grinned. The leather pants made her feel young. She would have fun tonight with this mystery guy. Oh yes, she would.
Chapter 7
The first thing Raine noticed was the way the leather pants fit this mysterious Lucy Longmont so well. She’d left her hair down, with soft curls flowing and a red top that hugged in all the right places. Attraction sizzled through him. This woman was high-class.
“Hi.” He held out a bouquet of flowers, feeling awkward like it was his first date. “You look … amazing.”
Lucy’s grin widened. “Thank you.” She took the flowers and breathed them in. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you picked these from the city park.”
He didn’t want to admit it, but he grinned sheepishly. “The flower shop was closed on my way over.”
Lucy let out a light laugh. “They do smell nice.” She gestured to the boutique. “Come in for a sec while I put these in water.”
He had been in the shop before, but as he walked in now, he paid more attention to how it exuded the feeling that this woman gave off: elegance, charm, a sense of fun, beauty, and general femininity.
“It’s nice.” He walked over and admired a print ofStarry Night.Art was something he’d dabbled in for a few years before the stock software program.
She strode toward him across the boutique. “You like art?”
Raine didn’t want to show his hand too much, but he didn’t want to be an imbecile, either. “You have two originals in the front. I don’t recognize the artists.”
Lucy paused and cocked her brow, giving him the impression that she was quite impressed indeed. “Two locals. They focus on the beach and sunsets, and those sell well.”
“I like the use of light in that one.” He pointed to the one on the right.
She nodded. “I do too.”
He gave the room another cursory glance and decided the paintings wouldn’t go for that much. At least, not on the black market. “I like the prints. All classics. All good.”
She moved closer to him. “Did you go to school somewhere?”
He chuckled. “Nope. Just a fan.”
“You intrigue me, Mr. Birch.”
