Heart of Stone - Book 2: Hearts Collide

Something happened when Stone jumped in that pond of murky water. He seemed different when he climbed out. Aubree didn’t know what torrent of thoughts whirled through his mind, and despite the neutral expression on his face, she could feel the conflict within him whenever she caught his eye. It was as if he wanted to draw her closer to him but instead pushed her away.

After he pulled the clean shirt and leather jacket on, he suggested they grab something from the snack bar.

Even though it wasn’t yet lunchtime, Aubree had no appetite. His mood made her nervous, and as they walked past two more smaller ponds through the bird sanctuary to the other side, she twisted her fingers together while he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket.

They walked in silence and she couldn’t help but remember the look of his bare back. How the muscles rippled as he moved, and the scars—the endless sea of scars etched across—made her hold her breath. Especially the two lines that moved diagonally across his back, from his right shoulder down to the bottom of his left ribcage and an identical one going down his left shoulder, forming a large, thick X. Even if he did have fast healing capabilities, that one looked like it must have been excruciating.

She wanted to ask about it but decided against it. He was already upset about something. She didn’t want to press him further.

They arrived at the Bread and Pickle next to the bandshell with the lake behind it. Picnic tables were scattered about in front of the concession stand with a dock behind it along the lake. It reminded her of a miniature castle with its rounded tower corners complete with tall pointed roofs. Coupled with a similarly designed bandshell and tree-lined lake, everything had kind of a magical, fairy tale atmosphere.

There was an order window next to a pick-up window and an entryway to the public washrooms. Above the order window was a large menu displaying the selection of food and drink items.

“Are you okay?” The silence and tension gnawed away at her as she twisted the hem of her blouse between her fingers.

“Yeah,” he mumbled as his eyes scanned over the menu.

She looked down at her fingers entwined in her shirt. “I’m not really hungry right now.”

“How about ice cream? Or something to drink? They have lemonade.”

“Okay,” she replied as she lifted her gaze to the menu board overhead.

He sighed and rubbed his face. “I’m sorry about all this. I ruined everything.”

She interrupted him with a gasp as she tugged on the sleeve of his jacket, her eyes glued to the menu as her lips pulled up in a big smile. “I want a tree hugger!”

She looked up to see him gaping at her.

“A what?”

“A tree hugger!” She pointed to the espresso section on the menu board in front of them. “It’s an iced soy latte with maple syrup. I love maple syrup.”

She looked up to find him still gaping at her like a fish out of water. “Coffee?”

Heat filled her cheeks as she withdrew and released his shirt. “Yes, coffee.”

The corners of his lips twitched before a small smile crept on his face.

“Hey, don’t judge,” she said pointedly as they walked the few steps up to the order window.

A friendly, young woman welcomed them at the window. “Good morning. What can I get for ya?”

Aubree beamed at her. “I’d like a tree hugger.”

“Good choice. Anything for you, sir?”

Stone hesitated before ordering a lemonade.

“Coming right up,” she said as she pushed some button on her computer screen and rang up the bill.

Stone pulled out his wallet from an interior pocket in his jacket and handed her a few paper bills. “Keep the change.”

“Thank you. Your drinks will be ready in a minute at the pick-up window to your left.”

Aubree giggled excitedly as they walked around to the window she pointed to. She looked up to see Stone watching her, his blue eyes smiling back at her. She pressed her lips together, feeling her cheeks heat up again as they paused a few steps from the window. “What?”

“You’re really that excited about coffee?”

Her cheeks pinched from all the smiling. “I’ve never tried maple syrup in a latte, so yeah, I am excited.”

“Will you always be this easy to please?”

The suggestiveness in his tone raised her eyebrow. “That depends.”

Butterflies danced in her stomach as she thought about other ways he could please her. She couldn’t help it. His kisses and his touch were all-consuming; she couldn’t help but want more.

He swallowed before looking away and rubbing the back of his neck. “Excuse me. I’m going to use the washroom.”

She huffed as he left and turned her attention to the pick-up window. Great time to walk away. Jerk.

Moments later, the window opened and her iced coffee and Stone’s lemonade were set out. She thanked the lady behind the window before picking up the drinks and looking around for a place to sit and wait.

There was an older woman in her sixties, maybe early seventies, sitting alone at one of the picnic tables. Upon making eye-contact, she flashed Aubree a warm smile. Aubree smiled back. She reminded her of her grandmother, who passed away a few years back. Her thinning gray hair was curled under her chin in a bob. She was dressed in a simple white T-shirt with some flowers embroidered around the collar, a light blue cardigan with more embroidered flowers, and a full-length light blue cotton skirt. Her face was a canvas of laugh lines with bright blue eyes sparkling with life.

“Do you mind if I sit here for a minute?” Aubree asked as she approached the table.

“Not at all. Help yourself, dear,” she said with a hint of a southern accent. “I’m just giving my old feet here a rest. It takes me a couple of hours to walk around this lake here, but she’s worth it.”

Aubree nodded as she sipped her iced coffee. She closed her eyes in momentary bliss as the mixture of maple, soy, and coffee danced on her taste buds. Pulling away with a sigh of content, she looked back at the woman. “It is nice. This is my first time here and I loved the rose garden.”

The woman’s smile widened. “First date?”

Aubree blinked in surprise. Did she watch her and Stone when they ordered? “How could you tell?”

Her eyes crinkled. “Oh, honey. At my age, you’ve seen it all. You can always tell when it’s a first date. If you don’t mind me saying so, he’s quite smitten with you.”

Aubree brushed her fingers across her smiling lips as she fretted a blush.

The woman looked over at the lake behind the building and sighed. “Henry and I moved here some twenty years back. This place has really changed, but it’s been a good change. He would have loved it.”

Aubree’s heart sank at her words. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

She turned and gave Aubree an encouraging smile. “That’s alright, dear. He’s with me wherever I go.”

She touched the place above her heart that sent a ripple of pain to shoot through Aubree’s. She knew it was hard to lose the one you love, and everyone handled loss differently, but it seemed this woman had moved on and was content to hold onto happy memories rather than live in pain.

“So,” she said, changing the subject, “have you seen the elf house yet?”

“The what?” Aubree asked as confusion tugged on her brows.

The woman smiled broadly. “The elf house. It’s adorable. Y’all have to see it. You’ll love it. It’s this tree on the path at the other end of the lake with a little door at the bottom. It’s believed to be inhabited by a little elf.”

Aubree thought the woman was joking at first, but the more she spoke, the more excitement bubbled up within and curiosity gripped her. She leaned forward in her seat.

The woman continued, seeing that she had piqued Aubree’s interest. “Visitors write him little notes with their addresses and slip it under the door. The best part is that he responds to every message. Isn’t that just darling?”

Aubree couldn’t help but agree.

“He’s here every spring and summer, but he doesn’t like the winter. I don’t blame him! I still haven’t gotten used to the cold myself, even after twenty years here. Brrr,” she said. “He posts a little note on his door before he disappears south. I might do that this coming winter myself. It’s lonely up here without Henry. I’m sure one of my girls would take me in.”

She chuckled lightly before she turned in her seat and pulled herself up to her feet with a groan. “Well, dear, it was lovely chatting with you, but I’m afraid I must be on my way if I want to be home by lunchtime.”

Aubree nodded as the woman ambled toward the bandshell.

She paused and looked over her shoulder and gave Aubree a wink. “Don’t leave until you’ve stopped by the elf house, dear. I think y’all will enjoy it. Take care.”