Page 56 of Valentine's in Bayberry

She hesitated. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Sure, it does.” When he pulled up to a stop sign, he glanced at her.

She shook her head.

He eased through the intersection and then pulled off to the side into a parking spot.

“What are you doing?” she asked. “We both have to get back to work. You have your meeting.”

“That can wait. But you have to find out what the surprise is.”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t. Maybe I don’t want to know what it is.”

His brows scrunched together. “Carrie, what’s going on?”

She leaned her head back against the headrest. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just overthinking things.”

“Carrie, do you know who the secret valentine is?”

“No. And that’s part of the problem. Why won’t he tell me who he is?”

This time Jackson didn’t volley back an immediate question. Instead, he stared straight ahead while he slid his fingers down over the steering wheel. “Maybe he’s shy.”

“I guess. But when will it end? Is he ever going to tell me who he is? And what do I do if I don’t feel the same for him?” And then she realized she shouldn’t be dumping all of this on him. “Don’t mind me. I’m just tired.”

“Maybe you should get the gift. After all, it seems like this guy went to a lot of trouble.”

She nodded. “The gifts have been very thoughtful.”

“Okay. What was the address?”

“But what about your meeting?”

“I’ll message Mark and let him know that I’m going to be a little late. He won’t mind.”

“Well, if you’re sure...”

“I am. Just tell me where I’m going.”

She read off the address, and between the two of them, they found it.

“Why are we at the newspaper office?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but I’m intrigued.” Without waiting for her to say anything, he got out of the car.

She joined him on the sidewalk. “Let’s go find out.”

They walked up to the old building. She’d visited theBayberry Gazettemany times as a kid—any time Sadie was working. Sadie’s father owned the paper. It had been in his family for generations.

Nothing about the brown stone exterior of the building had changed. Jackson opened the glass door for her, and she stepped inside. It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the dim lighting.But once she could see clearly, she found the inside of the building hadn’t changed much either.

Sadie looked up from her desk with a frown pulling at her lips. But upon seeing Carrie, her mouth lifted into a smile as she approached the counter. “Hi.” And then she looked at Jackson. “How much longer are you in town for?”

He hesitated, as though he didn’t want to answer the question. “Not too much longer.”

“That’s too bad. Everyone is talking about all of the work being done to the old building. Rumors are flying around town about what sort of business is going in there. Any idea?” When he shook his head, Sadie turned her attention back to Carrie. “What brings you by?”

Carrie stared at her friend. “I think you already know.”

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