Ellie fought back a smile. Ryder had Nate’s saunter down to a T. Though he couldn’t quite pull off his scary look yet.
“Someone’s in a mood today. I guess he’s still mad at Nate for taking off,” Spencer said, dropping into the chair across from her.
Honestly, she had no idea why she’d once thought Spencer was good at reading body language. But she wasn’t about to correct him. Nate was the last person she wanted to talk about to Spencer.
“So”—he rubbed his hands together—“are you ready for the big day?”
There were several events for the production company today, including a presentation at the town hall.
“I wish I could, but I have things to do around here.” Like cleaning rooms and doing laundry, and then making dinner for the Happy Ever After executives tonight. She’d nearly fainted when Spencer presented the menu to her this morning. It was her own fault for saying she’d be happy to make whatever they wanted. She’d had no idea they’d opt for a steak-and-lobster feast that included three different types of wine to go with each course.
“Come on, don’t be a spoilsport. It won’t be nearly as much fun without you by my side.” He leaned forward and reached for her hand. “Please, for me.”
She gave his hand a tepid squeeze before pulling it away. “I really can’t, Spencer.”
“If this is because of Nate, you don’t have to worry. He knows how I feel about you. He gave me the all clear.”
She stiffened. “The all clear? What exactly does that mean?”
“You know, he cleared the way for me to be with you. He stepped aside. Pretty decent of him, if you ask me.”
“Apparently neither of you thought to ask me.” Ellie was equal parts hurt and furious. Of all the high-handed, asinine things she’d ever heard of, this took the cake.
Either Spencer hadn’t heard her or he decided her opinion didn’t rate the same attention as his. “Then again, the writing was on the wall, I guess. He knows I’m the better man. At least for you, I mean,” he quickly amended, no doubt in response to her narrow-eyed stare. He didn’t have to be an expert body language reader to know she was ticked.
“First of all, the only person who gets to say who’s good for me is me.”
“You don’t think I’m good for you?”
“Spencer, where is this even coming from? Before Sunday, we hadn’t talked in more than a year.”
“I know, but we’re so good together. It was like old times. We were completely in sync. Everyone saw it, Ellie. We’re tied with Sadie and Chase for Most Romantic Couple in Highland Falls.”
And Nate hadn’t believed that the Love Blooms in Highland Falls campaign had the power to change hearts and minds. Why was she even thinking about him? He’d basically passed her off to another man.
“But it was all an act, Spencer. We were playing Romeo and Juliet. We were reading lines.” She’d known it was a terrible idea, but she hadn’t wanted to disappoint their audience.
“So you didn’t feel it?”
“No. I didn’t.” She softened her tone at the hurt expression on his face. “I’m sorry, Spencer. I didn’t know you still had feelings for me.”
“And you don’t have them for me, do you?” He searched her face. “Did you ever love me, Ellie?”
“Of course I did.”
“I sometimes wondered if part of the reason you were attracted to me, at least in the beginning, was because your mother loved me. I know you guys didn’t get along, but I could tell her approval meant a lot to you.”
No matter how much she wanted to say there was no truth to his observation, she was afraid there might be. “I loved you for you, Spencer.”
“And I blew it.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I think it’s best if I leave. It’s probably not fair for me to judge the contest anyway. I’m not exactly impartial.” As though sensing her panic, he smiled. “Don’t worry, Ellie. If I’m an example of love blooming in Highland Falls, you guys have this in the bag. I just needed to find a woman who hadn’t given her heart to another man. You love him, don’t you?”
She had, but that was before she’d heard what he’d said to Spencer. “It doesn’t matter how I feel. Nate has made his feelings for me perfectly clear.”
“Sounds like you and I are in the same boat. Too bad we can’t share it, Ellie.” He came around the desk. “A hug for old times’ sake?”
“Of course.” She stood and hugged him. “Be happy, Spencer.” And because she was feeling a little emotional right then, her barriers dropped…and she nearly slugged him. He’d already replaced her in his mind with a woman who was auditioning for the role opposite him in the romantic movie they’d be making in the small town that won the contest.
* * *
Nate sat behind his desk, debating whether to call Ellie. He’d been thinking about her all day. Instead, he called Chase. He glanced at the time on the computer screen. His best friend was probably home by now. Sadie and Michaela were his priority. Chase had work-life balance down to a science.
“Hey,” Chase answered. “Hang on a minute. Talk to Michaela. Say hi to Uncle Nate, baby.”
Nate took the phone from his ear and shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He sighed, bringing the phone back to his ear. He didn’t want the kid to scream in his ear so he pitched his voice higher, as Ellie had suggested. “Hey, kid. What are you up to? Eating some of that organic crap your parents like to feed you?”
One of the other agents turned to stare at Nate as he walked by and ran into a desk.
Nate rolled his eyes. He didn’t sound that weird. “You know, you should try pizza,” he told Michaela. “Can you say pizza?” He heard a crash. “Kid, are you there? Please tell me you didn’t jump out of your high chair while I was phone-sitting you.”
In the background, he heard Chase and Sadie laughing hysterically. “Have you two had me on speaker the entire time? Hello, are you there?” he said when they didn’t answer him.
“No, not the entire time,” Chase said, a hint of laughter still in his voice. “She threw the phone on the floor. She was terrified. Her eyes practically bugged out of her head. Honestly, after hearing you talk in that voice, I don’t blame her.”
“Ellie told me…Never mind. Don’t take me off speaker. I want to talk to Sadie too.”
“Okay. What’s up?” Chase asked.
He looked around and lowered his voice. “Has Ellie ever mentioned that she’s psychic?”
Sadie gasped. “She told you?”
“Wait a minute. Ellie’s psychic? How come no one told me?” Chase asked.
“Because Ellie doesn’t want anyone to know,” Sadie said. “I just found out last fall. As far as I know, my aunt Miranda is the only other person who knows. Granny probably knows too, but we haven’t talked about it. And now both of you know.”
“So you believe her?” he asked Sadie.
“Nathan Black, if you dare made her feel like she was crazy when she told you, I’ll shoot you.”