Organically Yours: Sanctuary, Book Five by Abbie Zanders (classic books for 11 year olds .TXT) 📗

he wasn’t worth a thin slice of her limited free time was a piss-poor way to do it. “It’s okay. I get it. You don’t have to explain.”

“I think I do,” she said, her face twisting in frustration. “Be patient with me, okay? I’m not used to second-guessing myself, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the last three weeks.”

His chest loosened at her admission. A little. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Yes, please. Water would be great, thanks.”

He rose and got them each a glass. When he returned to the table, she seemed surer of herself.

“The thing is, by not going out with you, I feel like I’m missing out on an opportunity. I’m not saying anything will come of it, but the possibility is there, you know? And that sense of possibility is not something I feel often, so it’s important I pay attention when I do.” Tina blew out a breath and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m explaining this badly. You probably think I’m a few peaches short of a bushel, huh?”

His lips quirked. Her awkwardness was endearing. He understood because he’d had similar thoughts. “No, I don’t think that. I understand exactly what you’re saying.”

She seemed relieved. “Good. So ... maybe we can start over?” She extended her hand across the table. “Hi, I’m Tina. Want to have dinner with me?”

He laughed and wrapped his hand around hers. The moment he did, an odd energy seemed to coalesce at the point of contact, race up his arm, and spread across his chest. “Doc. Or Cole. Whichever you prefer. And, yes, I would like very much to have dinner with you.”

Her smile was brilliant. “Excellent. Now, I feel like I can actually eat something. Got some plates and silverware? Despite prior evidence to the contrary, I can be a civilized dinner companion.”

He rose and took three steps into the kitchen area, appreciating her self-effacing humor. “According to Kate, Zook’s is good enough to warrant a bit of savagery.”

“She’s not wrong.” Her eyes widened in realization as he placed dinnerware and utensils on the table and sat back down. “Don’t tell me you’ve never had a Zook’s chicken.”

“I haven’t,” he admitted. “They’re usually sold out by the time we get there.”

“Next week, I’ll pick one up for you.”

“That would be great, thanks. If it’s even half as good as your peach iced tea, I’m sold.”

A lovely rose hue painted her cheeks as she smiled and looked downward. She’d done something similar when Kate mentioned how much he enjoyed Tina’s tea. Was she not used to receiving compliments?

“So, your family’s been around for a while, huh?”

“More than four hundred years,” she said with a touch of pride. “We’re one of the original founding families along with the Winstons and the Sumneys.”

“The Sumneys? I haven’t heard of them, but I’m guessing that’s who the town is named after.”

Tina nodded. “Efigenia Sumney was the last. She died in the 1800s. It’s a tragically romantic story. The man she was supposed to marry was killed in the Civil War, and she was so heartbroken that she died herself shortly after. But something of the bloodline continues. One of Effie’s sisters, Emilia, married an Obermacher, and another, Eva, married a Winston.”

“You know your local history.”

“It’s kind of a requirement around here—to know where you came from. Family pride’s a big thing. I bet if you asked Matt, he’d tell you the same.” She lifted a spoon to her mouth and hummed. “Mmm. I can’t tell you how much I missed Kate’s pot pie.”

“It is good,” he agreed, but her words had something else floating to the forefront of his mind. “Tina, can I ask you something?”

“Sure. That’s the idea, right? To get to know each other better?”

“Right. Do your brothers know you’ve been coming up here?”

Tina finished chewing and then took a drink of water. “No.”

The answer wasn’t unexpected, and yet he’d hoped it would be. “I see.”

She set her spoon down, her expression more serious than it was earlier. “Okay. This is good. Let’s talk about this because while it shouldn’t be an issue, it clearly is.” She took a deep breath and seemed to be considering her next words carefully. “You know there are those in town who are not fans of Sanctuary.”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“Then you probably also know that my brothers are among them.”

He nodded.

“Well, I’m not my brothers. I make my own decisions and form my own opinions, which differ from theirs quite often. We butt heads a lot, and honestly, it’s exhausting and a waste of time and energy. Because of that, I prefer to pick my battles for those who are worth it. They’re going to find out I’m helping Matt eventually, and when they do, shit’s gonna hit the fan. But I think it’s worth it.”

“And having dinner with me?” he asked.

“That’s where that second-guessing comes in,” she said, her lips curling slightly upward. “And why I’m here now. Something tells me, Cole Watson, that you are worth fighting for.”

Chapter Fifteen

Tina

Tina clamped her lips together. While she tended to speak her mind, she wasn’t usually that honest, especially with someone she didn’t know well.

The thing was, she did feel like she knew him. Maybe not in a detailed history sort of way. She didn’t know where he’d grown up or if he had any brothers or sisters or what he liked to do in his spare time.

But below the surface nervousness, there was this ... pull—for lack of a better word—drawing her in and making her want to know more, a simmering sense of anticipation laced with a calming familiarity she couldn’t explain. She wasn’t even sure how to label it. Whatever it was, it made her feel comfortable enough to say what was on her mind.

She held her breath and chanced a look right into his gorgeous hazel eyes. The green hues seemed more vibrant than they had been, the gold flecks more prominent. Behind them, she sensed more going on than his