Sue wanted the lightness back in their conversation. The ring on her hand tingled its magic up her arm. She felt the connection between them building. His nearness steadied her and made her feel safe.
“You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met,” he said. “I wish I could explain what I feel. It’s like…”
“What if I told you I think you feel magic? Real magic?” She took a deep breath. “That I was drawn to Freewild Cove by that same magic.”
“I’ll believe anything you tell me.” He said it, but clearly, he didn’t understand what she was telling him.
“Promise not to freak out.” Sue concentrated on the papers scattered on the floor.
Jameson turned to follow her gaze. “What is it?”
Her hand tingled as she willed the papers back onto the desk. They began to flutter. Suddenly, the papers swept up from the floor and landed on the desk in a neat pile.
Jameson stared at the desk, then at her, and then back again. “How…?”
Sue instantly regretted the impulsive decision. Maybe it was too much, too soon.
No. She didn’t want a life with secrets and lies, not anymore. She was who she was. He would have to decide for himself if he wanted a ticket on her crazy train.
“Did you…?” He stepped away from her.
“Now you know all my secrets, Jameson.” Sue picked her purse up from the floor and reached for the doorknob. “I hope it hasn’t scared you away, but if you don’t come tonight for our date, I’ll understand. Please excuse me. Lorna, Vivien, and Heather are waiting for me to bring back vanilla lattes.”
“Eight o’clock,” he said after her as she stepped out of the office.
Sue smiled at the door as it closed between them.
Chapter Twelve
“Where the hell did you go for coffee? The Amazon jungle?” Vivien demanded, moving to take the lattes from Sue when she stepped into the theater lobby. Without waiting for an answer, she yelled, “Lattes are here!”
“Where are the others?” Sue held a bag of muffins clutched in a fist.
“Lorna is in the office returning calls, and Heather is upstairs taking a shower.” Vivien still wore her pajamas shorts. She suppressed a yawn and carried the lattes toward the office.
Lorna glanced up when Vivien entered. Her eyes rounded, and she instantly reached for a latte. Into the phone, she said, “Yes, Mrs. McDowell. There are one hundred and four seats so you can sell that many tickets for your event.”
Sue held up the bag to show them. “I brought chocolate muffins too. Stu told me you all liked them.”
“Oh, yes, Stu, you sweet, sweet crack dealer!” Vivien exclaimed.
Lorna made a small noise and threw a pencil at Vivien to get her attention.
“What?” Vivien asked, pretending to be offended as she rubbed her arm.
“I’m sure your church group will have a fantastic evening,” Lorna said loudly into the phone, her eyes wide as she stared at Vivien.
“Oops,” Vivien mumbled, slowly backing out of the office with the remaining lattes. She turned to go upstairs.
“No, I haven’t seen that particular film. I’ll have to hope you only sell one hundred and three tickets so I can sneak in the back to watch.” Lorna pointed at the bag with a hopeful look on her face.
Sue pulled out a muffin and handed it to her.
Lorna grinned and mouthed, “Thank you.”
Sue nodded and moved to follow Vivien to the apartment. Vivien had put the latte container on the kitchen island and lounged on a chair near the window.
Heather came from the bathroom in a flannel shirt and jeans. Her wet hair was wound into a bun at her neck.
“Stu sent muffin crack.” Vivien reached for Sue’s bag, wiggling her fingers. Sue handed it over.
“One day, you’re going to call it that to the wrong person.” Heather went for the coffee cup. “And I’m not going to say a word when they cart you off to jail.”
“You’re no fun,” Vivien said. “That’s okay. Sue will bail me out, won’t you?”
“What took so long? Was there a long line today?” Heather asked, sitting by Vivien and taking her muffin from her to eat it herself.
“I know you didn’t have trouble finding it.” Vivien grinned, grabbing another muffin to replace the stolen one. “Was Jameson working this morning? Is that what happened?”
“There was a line, and I went to the bookstore.” Sue took her latte and sat down at the table with them. “So I have some news.”
Both women set their muffins down.
“I bought the bookstore today. Melba is going to stay on to show me how to run it.” Sue took a deep breath and waited for their reactions. “Am I insane for doing this?”
“Ah…” Heather tilted her head to the side.
Vivien reached to take her hand. Slowly, she smiled. “Not at all. I feel very strongly that is exactly where you need to be.”
“I think so too. It’s funny. I walked in, and it became clear that I didn’t want to leave this town.” Sue took a nervous sip of her latte. “Ever since I put on the ring, it’s like I’ve been hit with clarity. I came here. I met you all. I bought a bookstore.”
“I didn’t know Melba was finally selling,” Heather said. “It’s a great building. Quality craftsmanship. The wood floors could use some work, though. Say the word, and I’ll have my brother help me refurbish them. It’ll only take a weekend.”
“Jameson owns the building, so we’d have to ask him. I’ll only have the store,” Sue admitted. “I hope that doesn’t become awkward.”
“Dating your landlord?” Vivien waved a hand in dismissal. “Go for it. You only live once.”
Sue tried to hide her blush, but there was no hiding anything from Vivien.
“What?” Vivien demanded. “So help me if you buried the lead with that whole, I bought a bookstore story…”
“Vivien, for the record, you have a loud mouth.” Lorna appeared at the top of the stairs with her latte and a half-eaten muffin. “By the way, you just scored yourself two tickets to Mrs. McDowell slide show musical performance one-woman extravaganza.”
“Yeah, I’m not going to that,” Vivien dismissed.
“Well, she thinks you’re a crack addict now,” Lorna said. “She’s praying for your soul.”
“Shh, lecture me later,” Vivien said. “Sue was about to dish.”
“What’s up? Was something happening at the coffee shop? You were gone a long time.” Lorna asked, moving to sit on the couch. She leaned on the arm to face them.
“I bought the bookstore,” Sue said. “I’m going to move to Freewild Cove.”
Before Lorna could answer, Vivien said, “Not that. Tell us what happened with Jameson. Or do you want me to try to guess?”
Vivien started reaching for her.
Sue leaned back in her chair. “I had sex with Jameson. In his office. At the coffee shop. We locked the door. It was awesome.”
Lorna’s mouth dropped open. Heather laughed softly.
“You go you!” Vivien clapped her hand and jumped up to do a little dance, singing a made up song, “Su-san. Getting freaky. With Jameson. In the coffee shop.”