Page 13 of Love Like Ours

Chapter Four

Did she know how bad he wanted to kiss her right now? His entire body shook from the desire to brush his lips across hers.

“I suppose,” she said after a long pause.

Just then, Loki yanked on the leash and let out a few happy-sounding barks.

“Sorry,” someone called out.

Glancing over, he recognized Jacob and Rose Jordan. Their daughter Grace was holding their older dog while Loki continued to bark at them.

“Loki,” he said, pulling the leash.

“We didn’t mean to spoil the moment,” Rose said when the dogs quieted down. “Nice night for a walk.”

“Yes,” Sophia said, bending down to pet Sophie. “I was happy to hear that she was still around,” she said to them.

“She’s old but still spry.” Jacob laughed.

“I used to dog-sit for the Jordans,” she said with a smile towards him as she stood back up.

“I doubt I could find a dog sitter named Loki,” he added with a wink.

“Palmer, we were going to call your brother to take a look at extending our patio this spring. I also have a few odd jobs I’m thinking of doing at my parents’ place,” Rose said to him. “Now that you’re business partners, I suppose I can just ask you to swing by their place sometime this week. Just let me know and I’ll meet you over there.”

“Sure thing.” He nodded.

“You’re business partners with Parker?” Sophia asked, turning towards him.

“Sure am.” He beamed. “He made it official the when I got my license.”

“Congratulations,” she said, and he saw her shiver.

“I think I kept you out in the cold too long. Want me to walk you all the way up to the door?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Thanks.”

“Thanks for bringing me dinner,” he added. He said goodnight to the Jordan family and then turned and started heading back down the beach with Loki, who whined a little but then fell into step when they got further away from Sophia.

The walk back to his place seemed boring. Quiet. Lonely. Even talking to Loki and letting him run free for the last little bit didn’t brighten his mood.

How had Sophia changed so much in him with one single night? Damn, he didn’t even get to kiss her like he wanted to. Did she want to kiss him? Was she thinking about it? About him?

Shit. He didn’t even have her phone number to text her a proper thank-you for the night. For the rest of the night, he stewed over his stupidity.

He didn’t feel a sense of relief until the next morning when he and his brother were meeting at Sara’s Nook and Sophia walked in with her sister-in-law.

Of course, he should have known he’d run into her eventually. They lived in what she liked to call the perfect small town—a place where you couldn’t walk a block without seeing someone you knew. And often, you’d end up crossing paths with the same people multiple times a day.

“Hey,” he said as Avery sat next to him without asking. He scooted over for her.

“Morning,” he said easily.

She sighed and rolled her shoulders. “Sorry to barge in. Sophia is going to order for us and this is the only available spot.”

He glanced around the crowded bakery and, sure enough, they were the only table that had room for them.

“No problem,” he said easily.