Page 32 of The Magical Tea Shop

“So are you.”

They passed Throckmorton Grocery and the one and only bar in town, Toby and Mac’s. At Celestina’s Chocolates, Ivy paused. She pointed. “The competition—here at the corner of Hazard and Endeavor.”

“Really, I’ve never been inside.”

“Ah, well, you’re missing out.”

“Nah, there’s scones over there.” He gave a nod toward the tea shop. “I have all I need on Main Street.”

“Thank you.” Ivy beamed.

They rounded the corner by the ramshackle Hazard Inn with its “For Sale” sign still out front when Jaxon shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, I like all the businesses on the square. We have everything we need right here in the center of town. I especially like that my building is part of the whole. Listen, I should really tell you…”

Suddenly, Montgomery slipped free and tore across the street. Jaxon, now holding an empty leash, muttered a curse and dashed after him in pursuit.

Montgomery barked joyfully, chasing a squirrel on the green. As the squirrel made its escape, Montgomery pawed at the base of the tree wildly. Just as Jaxon got close and leaned down to reattach the leash, Montgomery darted toward the white metal bench in the middle of the expansive lawn.

Ivy watched from the corner, not sure if she should laugh. All the other Rebels took themselves so seriously. But when Jaxon let out a loud guffaw from the green and turned back to shrug, Ivy crossed over. Jaxon waited until she caught up and angled his head toward his pet. “Dog on a mission.”

The little Scottie parked his hind end by the Captain Hazard statue, waiting, as if calling them over to join him. Jaxon motioned Ivy to come along. He reached out a hand. Ivy took it. She needed the connection after the disastrous date at the diner. Well, after all of them, really. It’s like Jaxon knew she needed the human contact without expectations. Someone to understand.

That was the problem with all the dates. All the expectations they placed on her, imagining her to be what they wanted her to be and not bothering to find out what she might need. But Jaxon kept it easy, and she was certain if she were brave enough to share her thoughts, he would listen. But was that because all he wanted was a friend?

She swallowed, and it was as if Jaxon sensed her inner turmoil. He spoke, adding lightness to the moment. “I wonder if anyone ever called him Eddie.”

Ivy blinked up at him and couldn’t help it; she snorted a laugh. “Better than Edwin, I would think. Probably just Ed. A tough guy like him would be Ed, don’t you think? I bet he had a dog, too.”

“Oh? You think all the tough guys have dogs?”

Was he flirting?

Ivy gave him a cheeky grin. “Well, you do.”

He blinked in surprise. “Yes, but he’s a little dog, not a manly dog.”

“Oh, I suppose manly dogs are Rottweilers and Huskies. It’s not really fair to Montgomery, is it. I bet he thinks of himself as a tough, manly dog.”

“He certainly doesn’t lack for self-confidence.”

She could hear the smile in his voice. “Hmm, how did you come by Montgomery?” She sat on the bench with him beside her.

“He was a gift.”

She turned to face him. “From?” Her eyes widened at Jaxon’s pained expression. What had she said? Then it hit her. “Oh, I’m sorry.” She could’ve kicked herself as realization flooded over her. Her voice cracked. “He was a gift from your wife.” She cleared her throat. “Of course, I should have known.”

Jaxon shook his head. “No.” He gazed up at the sky for a long moment. “He was a gifttomy wife…from me.”

That just made it worse. Ivy’s stomach took a dip and dive, but Jaxon was shaking his head.

“Don’t. Please, you didn’t say anything wrong. It’s not…”

She held up a hand. “You don’t have to talk about this.”

Jaxon gave a harsh laugh. “It’s not that. Really. Swear to God, Candace never even liked Montgomery.”

“Really?”

“He was a terrible gift for her, a thoughtless gift. I don’t think I could’ve given her a worse gift than Montgomery.”

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