The way he’s smiled at me when I stepped into the breakfast room every day for the past few months made me feel special. Wanted. But now he seems eager to help me win a contest all but guaranteed to throw me into another man’s arms.
Ugh. Why are feelings this confusing?
Shaking off the moment, I turn and wave to Blake, who’s watching both Colin and me rather curiously. “Thanks so much! Let’s catch up later!” I call as we head out the back door.
Hope greets me with a wide grin that transforms into raised-brow curiosity as Colin follows me across the bright spring grass, her gaze shifting back and forth between us. “Hey, Savannah. Cassie just sent a group text letting everyone know that you’re here and participating in the treasure hunt. How fun is this? You came home at a great time. I can’t wait to catch up on all your news and hear all of your stories. There’s no way Blake and I can leave the country for any adventures of our own, what with the farm and the winery, so I need to live vicariously through you.”
“Yes, yes, you adorable human with your adorable baby,” I say, ignoring the flash of pain that shoots through my chest at the sight of her sweet, sleepy boy nodding off on her breast. I’m happy for her and Blake, but the news that I’ll never know what it’s like to nurse a sweet little one is still too fresh. My feelings about almost everything are complicated right now. “But first, give me the goods. I’m ready for the next clue.”
Her lips twitch. “No guesses first?”
“Something to do with that llama, I’d imagine,” Colin suggests.
“Alpaca,” Hope corrects. “But I’ll forgive you for the mistake, because your accent is utterly delicious.”
“Ah, thank you.” He shifts, his face doing that endearing thing that it does when he walks in on Beatrice and me having a conversation about puberty or boys.
“Aw, and that blush is charming.” Hope grins as she shifts her attention back to me and subtly wiggles her brows, silently asking the question I’ve asked myself a dozen times today alone.
Is there something going on between Colin and me?
The answer is no. Probably. Most likely. Unless I’m confused.
I’m definitely the last part so I shrug and roll my eyes, hopefully telegraphing, “I have no idea, we’ll dish later,” and point to the alpaca wearing the heart necklace. “Okay, the clue did say something about hearts.” I pull it from my pocket and read it aloud. “Beauty, hearts, aroma… Search the hearts within…” I look up, delight rushing through my chest. “Oh my gosh, do we get to hug your alpacas?”
“Well, that’s a start.” Hope’s smile has turned downright devious.
“For heaven’s sakes, must we woo the thing?” Colin asks.
It’s so very Colin in that grumpy yet resigned way that my heart flutters once again.
She giggles. “As much fun as that would be to watch, no. Just a hug and a peck on the cheek. Chewpaca has been working very hard on his new trick, but he knows he has to get a hug and a kiss first.”
The alpaca wanders closer at the sound of his name, lips flapping like one of my former dates who was entirely too excited at the idea of the post-date kiss, though on Chewpaca, the sweet thing, it’s darling. Colin frowns hard—very hard—but doesn’t move away.
“Get in there, you two.” Hope waves her free hand, gesturing us closer to the animal, as the baby squirms in his sleep. “Don’t be shy. Or nervous. Chewpaca is the sweetest lover in all the land. I wouldn’t have him be a part of an event if I didn’t know he would behave himself.”
“Hope runs a rescue farm and is amazing with all animals,” I tell Colin, stepping around to the large, oh-so-soft creature’s other side. “So, on the count of three? We hug and peck at the same time?”
“I’d do the count of one,” Hope says. “You’re the first team here, but I’m betting the others aren’t far behind, and the next stop is pretty far away.” She curses softly, casts a glance at the baby like she doesn’t want him hearing bad words, and brings a hand to cover her mouth. “Shoot, I shouldn’t have told you that. Pretend I didn’t.”
“Pretend what? I heard nothing.” I turn back to Colin with a firm nod, my heart soaring at the knowledge that Steve hasn’t beaten us here. But has he cheated in another way?
No. I won’t worry about that either. I’ll simply embrace this moment and know that I’m doing this race right. I add a smile and nod to Colin. “Ready? And…one.”
Our arms wrap around Chewpaca’s neck, tangling together in a way that’s so nice I’m distracted for a moment. By the time I remember it’s time to go in for the kiss and tilt my head back to aim my mouth at the alpaca’s cheek, the handsome boy is gone, replaced by an even handsomer one. It’s Colin, with his eyes closed, aiming his lips toward the same empty air as mine.