Page 37 of A Cup of Autumn
Brandt had returned to his hometown too. “Love makes people do the unexpected.”
He expected her to agree with him not shrug.
She blew out a breath. “Sometimes love isn’t enough to make someone stay.”
Was she talking about her ex? That Emmett guy? Raine sounded resigned, not hurt.
Still… “Then maybe the love…the person…wasn’t the right one.”
Gratitude shone in Raine’s eyes. “Maybe.”
Not that Keaton knew for certain. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever been in love or simply infatuated. There seemed to be a fine line. At least for him. But for Raine’s sake, he wanted to be correct. And hoped he was.
Chapter Eight
Once again, Raineowed Timmy. She parked her car in the garage, grabbed the pizza from the passenger seat, and hurried into the house. He was only twenty-two, but he was an old soul. She’d recognized that quality in him when she hired him four years ago and seen it tonight when he’d told her to leave the coffee shop at six thirty because he had everything under control.
Timmy did.
Thank goodness because she needed a shower before Keaton arrived.
Inside, she kicked her shoes off. The clogs went flying and hit the wall.
Oops.
She’d put them in the basket later.
Raine tossed her keys and purse on the kitchen counter. She shoved the pizza box into the oven and set the temperature to warm.
The microwave clock read six fifty.
That gave her ten minutes to shower and change.
If Keaton was punctual. But something—her gut or a hunch—told her he might be early.
That meant a super-short shower.
She ran into her bathroom where she turned on the shower so the water could heat up. All she needed was time to wash off the grime from working all day. She didn’t need to put on makeup or do her hair. This was a working dinner, not a date, right?
Right.
As fast as she could, Raine showered, dried off, and dressed. Leggings and a shirt. She wanted to be comfortable after a long day at the shop.
She combed her wet hair.
The doorbell rang.
Not quite seven.
Early as she expected.
A good thing she hadn’t planned on makeup because she had no time for that.
Raine walked to the front door and opened it.
Keaton stood there with a pink box from Lawson’s bakery on top of the Boo Bash container. Okay, the guy had manners. If he wasn’t carrying the orange and black box, this would be a good start to a date. If she wanted a date, which she didn’t.
She clutched the doorknob. “You didn’t have to bring dessert.”
