Page 52 of Suddenly Single
Jenny wished she had that.Not the volatility, please. But the certainty. She wished for that with all her heart.
It was such a lovely late afternoon that the gathering moved from the golf course to the garden courtyard in front of the inn. Jenny helped Rosalyn round up some champagne and crystal flutes, as Lorenzo had announced that he and Elizabetta were getting married.There wasn’t a person among them who believed they’d actually make it to the altar without someone dying, but nevertheless, it was cause to celebrate.Rosalyn and Hugh rounded up Sandra and Ned, and they all came for a toast.Lorenzo’s brothers appeared, too, apparently back from the city. No one could seem to find Edan, however.
“You know what?” Vanessa said when they were on their third glass.She was draped across one of the benches, staring up at the turret.“I like it.” She glanced at Jenny. “I really like this inn.”
“Me too,” said Brooke. “I think it could be awesome.”
“You do?” Jenny asked, surprised and pleased.
“I do,” Vanessa said. “It’s quaint. And unique, like you, Jen.I can’t wait to see what you do with it.”
Jenny smiled broadly.“What do you think, a portable outdoor bar here?” she asked, gesturing to an ivy-covered wall.
“Totally!” Brooke said.
Jenny was explaining her idea for a farm shop when Vanessa and Brooke’s gaze drifted past her.She turned around to see that Edan had come into the courtyard.
“Who isthat?”Brooke whispered.
“Edan.”
Vanessa and Brooke gasped at the exact same moment, at the exact same volume.
Lorenzo, drunk on love, called out to Edan and gestured him over while Elizabetta stood there looking bored.“Come, come, meet the woman who will be my wife.”
“Si matto!” she said.
“He’s crazy,” Jenny translated to Vanessa and Brooke.
“Ah but youwillmarry me,mi amore,” Lorenzo said giddily.
Edan looked like he was walking the plank as he hesitantly walked into the group of Italians and met Elizabetta.He shook her hand, kept the conversation short. Then he looked around, his gaze landing on Jenny.
A shiver of lust ran through her. “Hey,” she said.
“Hello,” he said back.
Jenny stood up. “These are my friends, Brooke and Vanessa.And this is Edan Mackenzie, the proprietor of the inn.”
“Oh,” Vanessa said, practically falling over herself to extend her hand. “I wasn’t expectingyou,” she said.
“I’ve heard that before,” Edan said.
“Youraccent,” Brooke purred.
“Scottish,” he said.Edan was perfectly polite, very friendly.He chatted about the weather, and gave a brief history of the inn when Vanessa asked.They asked him about Scotland, and he talked about that, too.Jenny stood there like a dormouse, feeling awkward, unable to add anything to the conversation, her mind racing through all the things she wanted to say to Edan.Thanks for the hospitality.Oh, before you get on a plane, could you please explain what happened? Because we had such a great time in the sack…
“I need another drink,” Brooke said, wagging her empty flute.“Vanessa, come help me find one.”
“I’ll fetch it if you like,” Edan offered.
“Nope. Need the little girl’s room, too,” Brooke said, and grabbed Vanessa’s arm and made her stand. She smiled at Edan. “Verynice to meet you.” She dragged Vanessa into the inn.
That left Jenny and Edan standing side by side.The silence between them could not have been more awkward, but this time, Jenny couldn’t think of words to fill the silence.“Sooo,” she said.“Lorenzo and Elizabetta.”
“Aye,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at the happy couple, who were now regaling Rosalyn and Hugh with some loud tale.
Edan glanced at Jenny, and he looked...entirely too tentative.
