Chapter Eight
Savannah
Two days after the car shopping expedition, Rhys texted me and asked me to help him buy a television. That particular shopping trip took longer than buying the SUV. In the end, he cooked dinner for us, which was a novelty I’d never experienced before. I enjoyed every minute of our time together and hope bloomed within me.
Then nothing. For over a week, I didn’t hear from Rhys. He didn’t call or text or even come into The Magic Bean. I never even saw a shadow in his window. Not that I took the time to look over at his house while hiding behind my curtains and blinds. That would be creepy. It was more of a casual glance from time to time. While standing behind my curtains. With all the lights off in the room. Okay, so maybe it was creepy. I was acting slightly stalker-ish.
I was beginning to wonder if the connection I felt with him was completely in my head. If the attraction that I thought he reciprocated was actually unrequited.
To combat my desire to brood, I dressed in a pair of ratty yoga pants and a ragged t-shirt and went out into my garden. Though both my front and back yards were small, I tried to make the most of them. When I started my garden, I wanted to create a whimsical fairyland and I thought I succeeded.
Lush plants and delicate flowers filled most of my front yard. A large oak tree soared over the house and cast shade across the lawn, which made it possible for me to plant flowers that grew best in the shade. Throughout the beds, I placed fantastical touches to bring fairytales and myths to life. Small stone fairies peeked around plants, wooden toadstools painted in bright colors were scattered strategically among the greenery, and other mythical creatures could be found nestled among the flowerbeds.
It took hours of work every week but I loved it. It was both relaxing and invigorating. I found that my mind was lighter after I spent a couple of hours in the garden and my body was pleasantly tired, making it easier to fall asleep after a stressful day.
Today, I decided to handle the weeding and removal of faded blooms from the plants. Settling into a rhythm that I found soothing, it was tedious work that would keep me occupied and prevent me from focusing too much on my thoughts.
Despite my confused feelings, I enjoyed spending time with Rhys. Because his emotions were so muted, I felt as though I could relax in his company. It was a strange sensation since I used so many emotional cues when I spent time with others. Instead I could focus on what he said and his actions rather than the ups and downs of his thoughts and feelings.
“Your garden is lovely.”
I yelped and whirled around, falling onto my backside. A tall, slender woman with long black hair stood a few feet away. Even in dark jeans and a gauzy purple tank top, she was terrifyingly elegant. I could tell from a quick glance that her entire outfit was probably worth as much as my car. When my eyes landed on the bag dangling from her arm, I knew that the cost of the purse alone could have paid for a brand new sedan.
I rose to my feet, keeping my eyes on her. Despite her sophisticated appearance, something about this woman made the back of my neck tingle in a way I didn’t like. Yet all I could sense emanating from her was general interest, nothing more. “Thank you. Can I help you?”
She walked toward me, her strides graceful and smooth despite the tall wedge sandals on her feet. She also managed to evade all of my flowerbeds with absolute grace. “Hi, my name is Rhiannon Temple. I’m a property developer and real estate agent. I’m interested in this area. Have you ever considered selling your home?”
As she spoke, she removed a business card from her bag. When she held it out to me, I took it automatically.
“Unfortunately, I rent this home,” I replied. A slightly painful shock jumped from her fingers to mine for the brief moment that we held the card between us, then she released it and the sensation faded. “But you can speak to my landlord. Her name is Ava Amaris and she owns The Magic Bean coffee shop on South Congress.”
Rhiannon nodded her head, her black hair falling like in a sleek sheet down her back. “Thank you. I appreciate the information.” Her eyes wandered over the plants in my garden. “You’ve made this place beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Courtesy dictated I invite her inside and maybe offer her something to drink, but my instincts were shrieking at me to keep her out of my home.
I was saved from having to make an excuse by the sound of Rhys’ voice.
“Savannah, I’m glad I caught you at home. Do you have a minute?”
Rhiannon and I turned toward him.
“Sure, Rhys,” I replied. I glanced at Rhiannon. “I’ll let Ava know you came by but if you’d like to speak with her in person, she’ll be in the shop next week.”
I tried to ignore the way that Rhiannon eyed him because I disliked the feeling it stirred within me. Jealousy. Plain and simple. I wanted to smack her as she longingly ogled Rhys from head to toe. He was my stupid hot neighbor. Mine.
“Hello,” she greeted him, holding out her hand. “I’m Rhiannon Temple.”
Rhys took her hand, but released it quickly. “Good afternoon.”
When he didn’t say anything else, the woman seemed undeterred. She reached back into her bag, coming out with another card. “I’m a property developer and real estate agent and I’m interested in homes in this area—”
Rhys lifted a hand. “Thank you, but I rent my home from the same landlord as Savannah. You’ll have to speak to her.”
With a polite nod, Rhiannon returned the card to her purse. “Thank you for the information.” She encompassed us both with a look. “I appreciate your time. Have a lovely afternoon.”
Rhys and I watched as she strode gracefully down the sidewalk and climbed into a white Range Rover that was parked several houses down.
It wasn’t until she drove away that he turned to me. “Are you okay?”
I blinked at him in confusion. “Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
He tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans and rocked back on his heels. “You seemed uncomfortable when you were speaking to her.”
I couldn’t deny it, so I shrugged and looked down at the toes of my dirty sneakers. “There was something unsettling about her, that’s all. But thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
We stood in my front yard in silence for a long moment. “Your garden truly is beautiful,” he said. After he spoke, a light breeze picked up and made the wooden and metal wind chimes hanging from the oak tree sing. “It’s almost as if it belongs in a different world.”
“Thank you. That’s exactly what I want it to be.”
Once again neither of us said anything else for a few seconds. Just when I was about to excuse myself and hide inside, he focused his eyes on me. The color startled me for a moment. They were brilliantly blue and piercing, as though he could see into my soul. Which he technically could, I realized.
“Would you go somewhere with me this afternoon?” he asked.
Unable to resist, I teased, “Do you need help buying a refrigerator or a laptop?”
Rhys smiled. “No, I discovered a beautiful place and I think you would enjoy it.”
Seeing the dimples in his cheeks, I couldn’t say no, even though I was still a little upset I hadn’t heard from him in a week.
“Let me go change.”