“Have you seen my order book?” he asked without looking back at her.
She couldn’t help it; she grinned. Lucas had always had a knack for sensing her presence. “It’s at your front counter. I put it there in case you get any special orders tonight.”
Lucas straightened and turned to look at her. He’d been busy in the back sanding a credenza when she’d arrived to start prepping his store for the open house. His black and white speckled hair was sticking up in random clumps, and there was sawdust covering his T-shirt and jeans. “Ah, that was good thinking. But I need to check a note.” He moved toward the door, glanced at her, and smiled appreciatively. “The new haircut looks great.”
Hope’s insides lit up with the compliment, and she automatically raised her hand to touch her silky curls. While the facial had been a mistake, Lance had made her hair look better than ever. In addition to a great cut, he’d also used some sort of product that made the curls soft and shiny all at once. “Thanks.”
“And happy birthday. I hope it’s a good one.” He winked at her and swept back into the showroom.
Hope’s heart swelled with the knowledge that he’d remembered, and she followed him almost as if he were a magnet. The draw to him was still just as potent as it had been when she was eighteen. Only back then it had been exciting, and now she was just unsettled. He’d broken her heart twice. If she let him in again, she was certain this time it would end up shattered.
Stop it, Hope, she silently scolded herself. There was no point in thinking about Lucas that way. She’d already vowed that she wasn’t going there again. She just needed to get through the night, and everything would be fine.
She walked back into the showroom and checked the buffet of crab puffs, shrimp, and salmon bites.
“Where’s the beef?” Lucas said from right behind her, making her jump.
“Holy shit,” she said, pressing her hand to her chest. “I didn’t know you were standing there.”
He pressed his hand to the small of her back and reached past her for a shrimp.
“You didn’t have any input on the menu, so I just went with a seafood theme. If you want beef, next time I’ll—”
“The seafood is fine, Hope,” he said with an easy smile. “It was my lame attempt at a joke. Forget it. I should stick to woodworking.”
Hope just stared at him, dumbfounded. Then, when his words finally sunk in, she let out a cackle that turned into a full fit of laughter. When she finally got herself under control, she wiped at her eyes and asked, “Did you really just make a joke about that old commercial from back when we were kids?”
He shrugged, and his lips turned up into a sexy half smile. “It got you laughing didn’t it?”
“Yes, but I’m laughing at you, not the joke.”
Lucas’s smile widened. “Whatever it takes to put that sparkle in your eyes, Anderson. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it.”
His words sobered her, and she moved to the end of the buffet, pretending to check the napkins and paper plates.
Lucas cleared his throat. “I’ll be right back. Going to clean up.”
“Yep. I’ll make sure the doors are open at six,” she said, checking her phone to make sure she hadn’t missed any messages. As part of the open house, she’d invited a number of local businesspeople who might be interested in his woodwork. The list included interior designers, realtors, and even a wholesale buyer for an upscale online furniture store, as well as the lifestyle reporter from the Premonition Pointe News. If any of them had questions, she wanted to be available.
If there was one thing Hope knew how to do as an event organizer, it was how to create buzz and opportunities for connections. And that was exactly what she was going to do for Lucas.
Because if his business is successful here, he won’t leave. Hope scowled at her traitorous thought. She did not need to be thinking of a future with Lucas. That was just not going to happen.
There was a knock at the door, and Hope hurried to answer it.
“Hey, Hope,” Kendall Vonn said as she followed Hope into the showroom carrying her guitar. Her long red hair was pulled up into a neat bun, and she was wearing an elegant red sheath dress.
“You look nice tonight,” Hope said. Usually the singer was wearing a T-shirt with a long cotton skirt while she busked down by the riverfront.
“I know how to clean up when I need to.” She grinned at Hope. Then she glanced around the showroom. “Where’s McHottie?”
“McHottie?” Hope raised an eyebrow.
“Please.” Kendall rolled her eyes. “Like you don’t see how smokin’ Lucas is.”
“Oh, I know exactly how hot he is,” Hope said, unable to keep the words from pouring out of her mouth. “We dated on and off for over ten years.”
“That’s right,” Lucas said as he reemerged from the back, dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt. His hair was damp, and he wore that cocky grin that told Hope he’d heard every word of their conversation. “She knows all my secrets.”
“Oh hell,” Hope breathed and turned her back on him. This was the last thing she needed.
Adorable. His voice sounded in her head, making butterflies flutter in her gut.
Damn. Taken before I even had a shot, Kendall thought.
Hope smiled to herself, because even though she kept telling herself she wouldn’t be getting back together with Lucas, there wasn’t any universe where she could picture him with anyone else. And wasn’t that selfish? But in that moment, she couldn’t bring herself to care. She cleared her throat and pointed to the area near the front counter. “Kendall, I thought you could set up and play in that corner over there.”
“I’m on it.” She walked over and started setting up.
“You’ve done a wonderful job,” Lucas said. “You have no idea how much I appreciate this.”
Hope waved a hand. “Don’t speak too soon. Let’s see who shows up first.”
“Knowing you, at least half the town will be here.” He leaned over and pressed his lips to her cheek.
Hope leaned into the kiss and swallowed a sigh as her face tingled from the contact.
The bell chimed on the door, and from that moment on, the next three hours flew by as Hope reintroduced Lucas to all of the attendees as Premonition Pointe’s premier furniture maker.
The place was a who’s who of the coastal town. A few members of the city council, the president of the chamber of commerce, and even the mayor were all in attendance. Hope made sure to greet them all and then moved on to a group of part-time summer residents who lived in the same beachside subdivision.
“What I want to know is why no one has snatched up that glorious specimen,” a tall redhead said as she took a sip of champagne.
“Someone did,” Grace said, appearing from behind Gigi, who was standing quietly among her new neighbors. “But he moved to Boston, and you know how long distance goes.”
Hope wanted to groan with exasperation. Yes, Lucas was a catch, but was every single woman in the town going to set her sights on him?
“So he is single then?” the redhead asked.
Grace shrugged. “He’s not married, but I don’t think he ever got over the one he left behind if you know what I mean.”