Page 41 of Stealing Kisses

“Next month; we leave for Scotland in a couple weeks…feels like I’ve been waiting all my life to make Maree my wife.”

“The fabric designer?” Teddy asked.

“She’s the one,” Rhys confirmed, adoration heavy in every word and painted all over his face.

“Baylin mentioned her work, said it’s incredible.”

“Maree’s a rare talent,” Rhys bragged. “She’s also an unbelievable cook.”

“Okay,” Teddy said with a nod. “That sounds good for you…”

“And for you, too.” Rhys insinuated something, but Teddy didn’t follow. “Here, take a look…”

He handed over a sheet of paper. Teddy skimmed the list written on it:two sirloin steaks, one yellow onion, two-pound bag baby potato medley, small sweet potato, spinach, orange bell pepper, yellow squash, 8-ounce sliced Bella mushrooms, medium cucumber, fresh carrots, one pomegranate, pine nuts, three or four apples (assorted types), and on, and on.

“Looks delicious! Y’all have a special dinner planned?”

“In a manner of speaking,” Rhys hedged, pulling into the Get’n’Go parking lot. “Let’s get your groceries.”

“Excuse me?Mygroceries?” Teddy hustled to catch up to Rhys.

He’d already snagged a basket and selected an onion.

“Did you saymy groceries?”

“I did,” Rhys confirmed.

“Was your offer to give a ride random?”

“There is no such thing as a coincidence,” Rhys said with a chuckle.

“Are you quotingNCIS?”

“Yep, Gibbs’s rule number 9.”

“I’m scared that you know the rulesandthe numbers,” Teddy commented. His eyebrows wrinkled as he considered that fact, as well as Rhys’s admission that he’d been set up.

I’m being set up. On a date.

“What’s going on?” Teddy demanded, stepping in the grocery cart’s path.

“Word on the street is that you, my friend, are in the doghouse. The Busy Bees’ Quilt Guild seems to think you need a helping hand digging out.”

“I didn’t?—”

“Doesn’t matter,” Rhys interrupted him, pushing the basket around Teddy with a pat on his shoulder. “They have a hunch you’re a good thing in Baylin’s life, and all they care about is her happiness. Even if nothing comes from yourfriendship,” he hesitated at the word, “…they don’t enjoy seeing her sad, not for any reason.”

“I want to be a good thing; I want to be in her life,” Teddy admitted, deep in thought.

“Maree’s going to meet you at Baylin’s farmhouse, so she can cook you a dinner to dazzle. Janie Lyn’s in charge of getting Baylin home for dinner. Landry — that’s Davis’s girlfriend andMaree’s best friend — is closing up the O’Casey Farm booth tonight. And Miss Sadie’s going to soften Baylin’s heart a little so she’ll be willing to sit through dinner with you.”

“I wish you didn’t make that last bit sound like the hardest part,” Teddy said with chagrin.

“Baylin’s got a sweet nature; I’m sure shewantsto forgive you. But her feelings are hurt, which means her pride is bruised. Sometimes, setting aside our ego is the biggest obstacle.”

“I pray this dinner plan works.”

“We all are,” Rhys said. “I’ve been there; I almost lost Maree. Take all the help and prayers you can get,” he commiserated. “Do whatever it takes to see if she’s the one.”

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