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.She didn’t want to lose the man who didn’t laugh at the plans she made for the town, for his store.She couldn’t remember ever having someone in her life who listened to her the way he did.She couldn’t imagine life in Bygones without him.Or her life without him.The thought took her breath away.“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He walked out the door and left her alone to sift through the wild thoughts tumbling through her mind.She whispered an okay as he left, but she didn’t know if he heard.After he was gone, she cried.She didn’t know why she cried.Maybe because of the pain.Or because Patrick’s kiss had changed everything.She needed him in her life.With Patrick, for the first time in a long time, she didn’t have to smile and pretend everything was okay.Chapter TwelveOn Monday morning Gracie hobbled into the store, crutches gone.Patrick watched as she stored her purse in a cubby under a worktable and grabbed the green utility apron that hung on her tiny frame, well past her knees.He really needed to get one made that would fit her.He smiled and shook his head, knowing better than to say she should be at home.“Good morning, Gracie.” He finished attaching an armrest to the rocking chair he was working on.“Patrick.”“You know you should be at home.” He looked up only briefly.So much for not saying anything.Should he bring up yesterday and the kiss that had left them eating dinner in silence when he returned?“You know that I do what I want.” She smiled and leaned against the worktable.Her dark hair framed her elfin face, and her mouth turned up in that ever-present smile.“Yes, I know you do what you want.Crutches for a week?”“It’s been almost a week.”“Half.”“Over a half.” She stepped away from the worktable and finished wrapping the apron strings around her waist.He thought about his hands on her waist and kissing her.Big mistake because he nearly hammered his thumb.It was time to put down the tools and get a cup of coffee.“Want coffee?” he asked as he stepped toward the door.“No, you go ahead.I’m going to clean up in here a little and then stock shelves.”“Gracie, you should really take it easy.At least for a few days.”“I’ll keep that in mind.”He knew she wouldn’t.As he started out the door, he glanced at the calendar and frowned.Great, he had a lunch date today.Just what he didn’t need—another fix-up.Pastor Garman had arranged this one, with a nice young woman raised in church.“What’s wrong?” Gracie now stood next to him.What did he say to her? So much for that less complicated, small-town life.So far he’d found nothing uncomplicated about living in Bygones.Well, maybe the lack of traffic.It was definitely easier to find a parking space.He didn’t have to think long about where to eat lunch.He smiled at the run of thoughts.“Nothing, just complications.Pastor Garman insisted I meet a nice young woman for lunch.We’re meeting at Josh’s for coffee and a sandwich.”“I thought I was the only one trying to find a woman for you.”“Obviously not.” He pushed the door open.“I’m not sure how to convince you all that I recently turned thirty-five and I’m pretty capable of handling my own social life.”“I’m turning twenty-five at the end of the month and no one trusts me in that department.”He grinned and let the door close.“I can’t imagine why.”“Funny.” She brushed her hair back from her face.“But really, I think getting you married to a local girl is their way of keeping you here.If we can get all of the new shop owners married off…”“Oh, so that’s how it works?”She nodded and her smile spread across her face.“That’s how it works.”“I’m glad I know so I can avoid future attempts.”Her head cocked to the side and her eyes narrowed as she stared up at him.“Do you always avoid relationships, Mr.Fogerty?”“Do you always play the part of the Runaway Bride of Bygones, Ms.Wilson?”“Ouch.” But she smiled and he knew that in the weeks since the failed wedding, she’d managed to get to the place where she could joke about the situation.“I don’t avoid relationships.” He preferred to think of it as avoiding guilt because he’d never been able to put the time into relationships that they required.Maybe it had been about finding a woman who made him want to put more time into a relationship.She looked at the big clock on the wall.“Time to open.I have a workshop today.”“Oh, good, more single women.”They both laughed this time.He pushed the door open and she walked through, still limping, but obviously not listening to his advice or the doctor’s.“I’ll turn the sign to Open,” she offered.“Thank you.And then you can sit behind the counter and look at sales for the month.I’d like to see if the discounts or your workshops are bringing in customers.”“You’re taking it easy on me?” She unlocked the door and turned the sign.As she limped back to the counter, he saw a slight grimace that she quickly covered with a smile.“Not at all.It’s important to see what is working to bring in customers and what isn’t.And I’d like to get prepared for the block party.I’m giving away a rocking chair.And by Saturday I’d like to have that website up and running so I can promote it to people who show up.”“Good idea.” She took a seat on the stool behind the counter.“Where do I start?”He reached next to her and pulled out the daily-sales logs.He placed it in front of her, leaning too close.His shoulder brushed hers and a faint tropical scent swirled up to greet him.He opened the book and pointed at the figures.Her dark hair fell forward in a softly scented curtain.She pushed it back with her hand.“This is what I’ve been logging.” He pointed to the different dates and the special events or promotions on that day.“I want to see if our sales figures are random or directly linked to any of the promotions we’ve tried.Advertising, special events, workshops, whatever.”“Gotcha.I’ll go through and see what I can find
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