Page 16 of Rose's One Night to Forever
“What’s the special the other six days?”
Rose grinned. “Eggs, toast, and hash browns.”
They were in town now. Chance drove slowly, making sure he turned at the correct corner to land on Main Street, headed in the right direction. He glanced at the numbers briefly but was more focused on the business names.
Miraculously, when he spotted it, an open parking space sat directly in front of the shop.
“This is it,” he announced. He popped from the car and hurried around to Rose’s side to open her door and help her out.
“This is what?” Rose glanced around in confusion. “Where is your gallery going?”
“Right here.” Chance held up his hands to the photography studio in front of them. The place had seen better days, and he was sure the improvements he planned would make the entire block—
“No.”
The horror in her tone made his head snap around to check what had happened. “Rose? Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not.” She waved an out-of-control hand to the west of his soon-to-be studio. “Notice anything?”
Chance took a fast examination of the road, the cars, the people. Nothing there that should have made her cheeks flush with anger.
Then he spotted it. The beautiful old-fashioned logo and writing on the picture window of the next shop over. The one next to the store he’d just purchased.
Buns and Roses.
Bollocks.
“Is this the place you were going to—”
“Yes,” she snapped.
“Rose, I’m so sorry. I had no idea—”
She shot up a hand to stop him. One deep breath later, she spoke with utter politeness. “Thank you for the picnic and your support of the Heart Falls community fundraiser. Good luck with your remodeling.”
Before he could say anything, she shot past him and vanished into the café.
7
Rose walked away before she did or said something she couldn’t take back.
Thankfully, Tansy was hard at work and didn’t have time to do more than flash a brief thumbs-up. Probably assumed the date had gone well.
Their little sister, Fern, was working the floor, though. Delivering a few menu items, cleaning up tables. Despite being in full work swing, her gaze narrowed as she examined Rose’s face.
A moment later, she’d effortlessly blocked Rose’s path with her full tray. “What’s wrong?” she asked quietly.
Rose wanted to keep moving in case Chance followed, but Fern was a persistent bloodhound when she wanted information. Lying was out of the question in their family. “Something, but I need time to figure it out.”
Fern blew her a little kiss then nodded decisively, stepping aside and heading for the kitchen. “Take your time, but not so much it makes you cranky.”
“You’re still the baby of the family,” Rose reminded her, helping open the kitchen door and lower the tray to the counter. “You don’t get to call your big sisters things like cranky.”
“If the boot fits…” Fern snagged her by the wrist before she could run away. “Give me a hug, then you can go be grumpy by yourself.”
“I’m not going to be grumpy,” Rose said. Then she snickered as even she had to admit she’d grumbled the words. “Brat.”
“That’s me,” Fern admitted happily. She let go but looked as if she still had something on her mind. “Hey, Rose?”
