Page 14 of A New Chapter in Rosewood Beach (Rosewood Beach #7)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Faith tapped her fingers against her chin as she stared at her computer screen.

She was sitting at a table in Ocean Breeze Café doing some of her legal work, and she was managing to focus decently that day.

She’d given up on focusing in her own office, at least for the moment, and she found that the cheerful atmosphere of the café gave her a much-needed energy boost.

This coffee doesn’t hurt either, she thought, taking a sip of the mocha she’d been savoring. Neither did that blackberry grilled cheese sandwich or the potato soup.

It had all been delicious, creamy comfort food, and she’d come to the conclusion that Alexis had been right about food helping to prevent overthinking, at least a little bit.

She was in the middle of rapidly typing up some notes when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped a little, startled, but her face lit up with a smile as soon as she turned to see who it was.

“Ryan! Oh my gosh, hi.” She was thrilled to see him, despite the fact that he’d been the source of her worries. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to bring you this orange cream milkshake,” he told her, grinning as he set it down in front of her and sat down in the chair opposite hers.

“I remember you telling me once how much you like orange cream. As soon as I saw that they had this as a special today, I knew I needed to buy you one. And then I saw you sitting over here. It was perfect.”

“Thanks.” She laughed breathlessly, pleasantly surprised and delighted by how sweet he’d been to think of her like that. “But I already ate, see?” She gestured to the empty plate and soup cup in front of her.

He shrugged. “But you need a dessert, right? I know I didn’t make it myself like you made me lunch the other day, but I wanted to do something in exchange for what you did for me. I wanted to pay you back for it.”

He smiled at her warmly, and she smiled back, but inside her stomach flopped a little.

She couldn’t help feeling a little anxious about the way he felt a need for an “exchange.” Pay her back?

For what, her love? It made her feel as though he didn’t want to owe her anything, which made her feel as if he looked at their relationship as more of a mutual business transaction than a deep, lasting romance.

He didn’t owe her anything for bringing him food—she’d done it because she loved him.

She wanted to keep on loving him, and giving to him, and she never wanted to stop doing those things. Did he want to stop someday?

She knew she was starting to spiral, and she told herself that she needed to stay positive. She had a feeling that Ryan hadn’t meant his words that way at all, and she guessed that her brain was too much in the habit of worrying at the moment, and too quick to jump to negative conclusions.

“Hey,” Ryan said gently, tapping her hand. She blinked at him and realized that he was watching her with some concern. “Are you all right? You look upset about something.”

“I—I’m not upset, I’m just—” Faith wavered.

She felt in her gut that this could be a perfect time to bring up her concerns with Ryan.

She should tell him that she was worried that he didn’t take their relationship as seriously as she did, and that she definitely wanted marriage and ideally children someday.

She was wondering how on earth she should phrase all that when a waitress stepped up to their table.

“Hi, sir, can I get you anything?”

As Ryan was politely telling the waitress that he’d already eaten, Faith felt herself chicken out completely.

She just didn’t feel ready to bring those things up with Ryan yet.

After all, didn’t she just realize that she had no idea how to phrase any of her concerns?

She needed to be able to clearly express how important they were to her without making him feel as though she was slamming an ultimatum down in front of him.

“What were you saying, sweetheart?” he asked, turning back to her.

She shook her head, smiling. “It’s nothing. I probably just have resting worried face after doing all this legal work. Share this milkshake with me?”

“Hmm, that doesn’t seem fair but okay.” He laughed and took a sip of the milkshake as she offered it to him.

They continued to chat for a while, and as always, he made her laugh a great deal. Faith had a wonderful time sitting and talking with her boyfriend, but she was reminded of how much she cared about him and how much she didn’t want to lose him.

I’ve got to have that conversation with him soon, she told herself firmly. He needs to know where I’m coming from, and I definitely need to know where he’s coming from too.

She bit her lip, watching Ryan’s face while he was distracted by taking another sip of the milkshake.

She hoped that everything would work out between them, but she knew that until she spoke with him about her fears, she was going to feel as though there was a wall between them.

She needed to muster her courage and figure out a time to tell him exactly what was on her mind in the best way possible.

But when, and how?

“That’s great, Mrs. Finnegan.” Dean smiled as he listened to one of his customers chatter excitedly on the other end of a phone call.

He was sitting in his office at Main Street Auto.

He’d been able to take more breaks since Jeff had started working there, and already he was feeling his energy levels improve.

He had been sitting at his desk, resting his body and doing some paperwork, when Mrs. Finnegan had called.

She’d brought her beloved Mustang in the day before, and Jeff had been the one to repair it.

“I’m telling you, Dean, this car has never driven so smoothly,” Mrs. Finnegan gushed. “I took it five over going up that massive hill outside the farm, and it didn’t even hesitate. It’s like that new mechanic of yours has a magic touch or something.”

Dean grinned as he glanced out at the garage through the indoor window in his office. Jeff was in the middle of doing an oil change on another car, and Dean could tell that the other man was working quickly but with care and precision.

“I’ll let him know that you love it,” Dean told Mrs. Finnegan.

He almost made a joke that she was welcome to mail Jeff a thank-you card, but then he stopped himself in case Mrs. Finnegan thought that he was being serious and decided to do so.

“Let us know if you have any trouble with any of your other cars.”

“Oh, I’m sure we’ll be bringing in that darn truck again soon enough. Thanks, Dean!”

He said a cordial goodbye to Mrs. Finnegan and hung up the phone. He smiled to himself as he went back to his paperwork, glad that Jeff was already making such a great impression on Main Street Auto’s customers.

There was a soft knock on Dean’s office door, and he looked up curiously.

“Come in!”

Noelle poked her head inside a moment later. She was wearing a sundress, and her light brown hair was pulled back into a wispy ponytail.

“Hi, sweetheart.” He stood up and welcomed her into a big hug. “You look beautiful. How’s your day off?”

“Lovely. I got coffee with Julia this morning and ever since then I’ve just been wandering around town looking at all the cute things and buying myself all kinds of fun beverages. Have you been to that boba tea place yet?”

“No.” He grinned at her as she sat down in the chair across from his, and he sat down as well. “We’ll have to go together. I’ve never had boba tea before.”

“You’ll love it. I’ve been there seven times already, so I can help you pick out a flavor that I think you’ll like. There are so many.”

“Seven times today already?” he teased, and she laughed.

“No, just once today. But that was after an iced raspberry latte and an orange guava kombucha and a mango banana smoothie, so you are still free to judge me.”

He chuckled and leaned forward to give her a kiss. “I’m glad you’re staying hydrated.”

“Very. How’s Jeff working out?” Her eyes glinted gleefully, clearly delighted that her plan to hire another mechanic had worked out.

“So far so good.” Dean smiled at her. “I don’t want to get too excited, since I barely know the guy, but he seems like a total gem. He fixes the cars really well, he’s on time, and he treats all the customers really well too.”

“Ha! I knew it would work out!” she crowed in triumph. “I’m so glad, sweetheart.”

“You were right.” He chuckled. “Remind me of that next time I want to be so pessimistic again. I appreciate you being so persistent about it, sweetheart. I needed you to push me to not give up. Having this extra help has really been helping with my fatigue already.”

“It wasn’t all my doing.” She leaned forward and kissed him. “We decided together. We’re a team, after all.”

She offered him her hand and he took it, squeezing it gratefully.

“Yes. We’re a team. I feel like I’ve got the best teammate in the world.”

“So do I.”

For a minute, they sat there smiling adoringly at each other, and then Noelle glanced at the time.

“I’d better go,” she said reluctantly. “I promised my grandmother I’d come over this afternoon to help her weed her garden, and I need to stop at home and change my clothes first. You’re still coming over for dinner tonight, right?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Dinner nights at Noelle’s place were some of his absolute favorite times. She was an amazing cook, and he loved being able to spend time alone with her. They usually watched a movie together after dinner or went for a walk or played cards.

“Better not. I’m making tuna casserole and sweet corn.”

“Oof.” he grunted, thumping his fist against his heart. “Incredible.”

She laughed and left his office with a wave. “I’ll see you later.”

Dean watched her go, feeling a glow of contentment in his heart. Once she’d gone, he glanced back out into the garage and smiled. Noelle’s love and care had led him to Jeff, and that more than anything made him believe that everything was going to work out great with his new employee.