Chapter 28

Jake sat with Courtney and Grams at the dining table sipping sweet tea and half-listening Courtney relay her idea for Austin and Serena's birthday party.

The week was almost up. He got through five days in relatively close quarters with Serena at Austin's store. She'd been covered in paint, while he'd been drenched in her laugh. In the past. Next week would be a welcomed change, as he would be able to go back to his carpentry projects when Austin reopened on Monday.

It was killing him being so close to her again. Those golden eyes of hers still had an edge to them when he called her "princess," a nickname she despised, and one he couldn't help but use. She was a princess. Not regal or uptight, but worthy of status. She was every bit the maiden from fairy tales. His, to be exact. She still smelled like vanilla too. Even covered in paint.

Friends.