“His time is almost up,” Alma teased.
“He and I are the same age!” Georgia raised her brows, questioning Alma’s meaning, but Alma didn’t back down. She took a sip from her wineglass and offered a not-at-all innocent shrug, which made Georgia kick the woman’s booted foot off the coffee table in revenge.
“I’m just saying we aren’t exactly spring chickens,” Alma explained. “If he is going to find love, he ought to do it soon. Whereas Melanie and Colin have nothing but time.”
Georgia threw her arm over Stella’s shoulder and pulled her close. “Well, I think Stella and I are both plenty young enough to find love if that is what we want. Age is just a number, and love has no expiration date. It can come along at any time.”
Stella appreciated the support, but she also wondered whether Georgia wasn’t envisioning a future with Sam. The two of them had been friends for years, and the way she staunchly defended his right to be single made Stella wonder if Georgia didn’t prefer him as a single man.
Without realizing it, she finished her glass of wine, and she felt suddenly bold. She was moments away from asking Georgia outright if she was interested in Sam when Alma pointed to the road. “Speaking of love, here it comes for you, Georgia.”
Stella turned around as a blue Jeep pulled up in front of the inn and a man with graying blond hair got out. Georgia jumped up and jogged down the porch to the obnoxious whoops and whistles of her two friends. Before Stella could wonder about the nature of the relationship, Georgia stepped onto her toes to give the man a kiss.
“Is that her boyfriend?” Stella asked.
“Yes sirree. Mr. Joel Abbot. The two of them bonded over their flaky spouses a few months ago, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.” Alma poured herself another glass of wine and then splashed a bit more into the bottom of Stella’s glass, too. “Their infatuation would be nauseating if I wasn’t so gosh-darn happy for them.”
As Joel and Georgia stared lovingly at one another, talking about things Stella couldn’t hear, she found herself feeling happy for them, too. They looked so happy in each other’s arms. It meant that maybe what Georgia said was true: love really didn’t have an expiration date.
And it also meant that one particular folksy, picnic-packing car mechanic was in fact available.
10
On Sunday, Stella managed to wake up in time for breakfast. A few other guests at the inn were sitting at the tables in the dining room, sipping on hot coffee and complimenting Georgia on her delicious cooking every time she passed by.
“Take a seat,” Georgia said, balancing a stack of dirty plates in one hand and gesturing to an empty table with the other. “Let me know what you want, and I’ll bring it right out.”
This was Stella’s first time seeing Georgia in her element, helping guests and multitasking. To put it plainly, she was in awe. She was also glad she now knew for certain Sam and Georgia were not an item because jealousy would be eating her alive. Even knowing as little as she did about Georgia, Stella was positive she was a good woman. And adding ‘great hostess’ to her laundry list of good qualities would feel impossible to live up to. Now, Stella knew she didn’t have to worry.
Georgia was taken.
And Sam was not.
It didn’t matter though—not really. Stella wasn’t going to stay in Willow Beach. She was only passing through, but there was no reason she couldn’t make the most of her time here, right?
By the time she finished her pancakes and scrambled eggs—and added ‘impeccable cook’ to Georgia’s list of talents—Stella had decided. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she was going to do something illogical. She was going to do something for no other reason than she wanted to. It might blow up in her face, but at least she’d be able to tell Brenda she tried.
Sam was in the back of the shop when Stella walked in. He had on his denim coveralls again, but he’d slid his arms out of the sleeves and had them wrapped around his waist instead, revealing his plain white T-shirt underneath. He looked like the male model version of an auto mechanic. Like the kind of mechanic you’d find in a calendar full of hunky firemen, doctors, and police officers. Suddenly, doubt clouded Stella’s resolve.
Just because Georgia was seeing someone didn’t mean Sam wasn’t still interested. If he’d been single all these years, even when she was with Richard, he could have been waiting for her. If he had waited that long, why not wait a bit longer for Joel to be out of the picture?
“Hey, Stella. I was wondering if you’d be stopping by today.”
Stella’s racing thoughts stopped short when she realized Sam had noticed her lurking in the doorway, thereby ruining her plan to confidently sashay up to him. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled to try and salvage the situation. “Tasha didn’t drag me into the theater to paint today, so I have nothing better to do.”
“Nothing better to do in Willow Beach? Bah. Have you been to the beach yet? It’s great this time of year. Still warm, but not as crowded as in the height of summer. Or a meal at the Italian place on the opposite end of Main Street? You haven’t lived until you’ve had an espresso and one of their cannolis.”
Sam seemed more nervous than usual, and Stella wondered if he was offering to escort her to these places. He had hinted at the two of them spending more time together the night they danced at the Duke Saloon, but that was before their uncomfortable lunch yesterday. He might have changed his mind, and Stella didn’t want to jump to any conclusions.
“I’m not sure I’ll
