Lainey pulled her sketch pad out of her purse and showed some of the sketches to the couple, including one of Loch that she’d done when he hadn’t known she was looking.
“You’re very good,” Loch said. He peered at it more closely. “I am a handsome devil, aren’t I?”
Tate snorted. “That’s what they call artistic license.” Then he put his arms around Lainey’s waist. “You’re not flirting with my woman, are you?”
Loch burst out laughing. “If I weren’t marrying the most wonderful woman on the planet, I might risk it. But I’m taken, so I think you’re safe. I’m glad you two worked things out. You’ve got a good man there,” he added to Lainey, who blushed anew.
“I—well, I—we’re still–I mean—” she stammered.
“I believe what my lovely kitty cat is trying to say is that she knows that’s true, and she appreciates how incredibly lucky she is.” Tate grinned, and hugged her to him.
“Nope, I don’t think that was it at all,” she protested, but Loch and Ginger had already moved on to check out the gazebo where the ceremony would take place.
As Tate walked her back to her car, she noticed Hamilton Hooper with a group of men who were trimming hedges on the property.
He glanced up as she walked by.
“Hi, Kat,” he said. Lainey felt a little growl vibrating through Tate, who tightened his grip on her shoulder.
“Hello, Hamilton,” Lainey said. “What brings you here?”
He smiled grimly. “Anything to get away from the store and mother dearest, or what’s left of her these days. I volunteered to help out clearing the grounds.”
“Oh, well…that’s nice of you to help,” Lainey said, taken aback by his callous comment about his mother. “Good to see you again. I’ll see you around.”
“No you won’t,” Tate said to her as they walked away.
“Jealous much?” Lainey didn’t really mind. It was actually quite flattering.
“Of course I am. You’re delicious, and every man in this county would love to sample your…kitty cat. I particularly don’t like him, though. I don’t know what it is about him. I guess anyone that oozes that much charm, I just don’t trust.”
“He sure speaks harshly about his mother.”
“There are a lot of hard feelings there. His father drove him out of town when he was a teenager, because he was gay, from what Loch tells me, and his mother apparently didn’t stand up for him a bit, although I guess she always secretly sent him money.”
“He’s gay?” she asked, surprised.
“I gather he’s an equal opportunity offender. He hits on everybody, which is fine, as long as that means everybody but you.”
“Ooh, you’re the macho caveman type. I like it.”
“Sweetheart, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” He winked, and kissed her forehead before she climbed into her truck.
Chapter Eight
Tate showed up for their date an hour early. Lainey was in the kitchen, helping Imogen and Marigold make apple pie, when Emma stuck her head in the doorway. “Oh, Miss Kat, your gentleman caller is here,” she sang out.
Everyone seemed to have agreed that they were going to keep calling her Kat.
“Now? I have flour on my face.” Lainey ran over to the sink and splashed water on her face, wiped it off with a faded hand towel, and quickly took off her apron.
“Ooh, someone can’t wait for his hot date,” Marigold crooned as she pinched pie crust into shape. “Kat and Tate, sittin’ in a tree…”
“Wolves rarely climb trees, and when they do, it doesn’t end well,” Lainey informed Marigold. “And what are you, in first grade?”
The black wall phone rang, and Imogen rushed to pick it up. “Yes, he just showed up. He came here to pick her up already. Early, even. She wasn’t expecting him until six.”
“Who is that?” Lainey asked, astonished.
“It’s Hepzibah, the owner of the Kurl Up And Dye. Hepzibah says hello, and enjoy your date, and don’t let him get fresh.” Then Imogen turned back to the phone. “Hepzibah, these days, I think the young men get fresh a lot sooner than they did back in our day.”
“Is everyone in the county going to know all the details of my date by morning?” Lainey asked Marigold.
“It won’t take that long,” Marigold said, shooting her great-aunt an exasperated look.
“She’s wearing jeans and a flowered blouse and sandals, but she might change,” Imogen said into the phone. There was a pause. “Kind of a scoop neck. They’re daisies, on the blouse. Yes, it’s very flattering on her.”
“Oh. Good. Lord.” Lainey hurried towards the door.
“Welcome to my world,” Marigold yelled after her, as the kitchen door closed behind her. “Everyone in town knew I was engaged before I did.”