by Carrie Elks
“You do that.”
“Ha. Look at you pretending you’re not scared of Murphy.” Becca shook her head. “Everybody’s scared of Murphy. Even Murphy.”
“I’m not scared of him,” a sweet voice said. Tanner turned to see Cora Jean Masters standing there, a pad in her hand. Like the décor, she’d been part of the diner for as long as he could remember.
“Hey, Cora,” he said, standing up to kiss her cheek. “I swear you keep getting better looking.”
“Now stop that.” She swatted his arm and bit down a smile. “What can I get you?”
Becca looked up from her menu. “I’ll start with a chocolate shake please. With extra whipped cream.”
“And I’ll take a coffee,” Tanner said, then under his breath he added, “Because I’m not five.”
Becca kicked his shin. “I heard that.”
“So another Hartson boy is back in town,” Cora Jean said. “You here for a while?”
“I’m not sure how long I’m home for,” Tanner told her. “It depends how much Becca annoys me.”
This time her kick hurt. He winced, the pain shooting through his leg.
“Serves you right,” Becca told him, sticking her tongue out. “Now be nice.”
Cora Jean shook her head at their antics. “No wonder your aunt had her hair cut short. Stopped her from pulling it out.”
Tanner laughed. “She’s crazy about us.”
“You have no idea how true that statement is,” Becca told him. “You drive her crazy.”
“You want to order your food now, or shall I come back?” Cora Jean asked them.
“I know what I want.” Becca looked at Tanner. “How about you.”
“Go ahead.” He gestured at her.
Becca smiled up at Cora Jean. “I’d like a half pound hamburger with the works. And extra onions. Large fries and onion rings, too. Please.”
“Have you considered eating vegetables?” Tanner teased.
Becca shrugged. “I’m hungry. I’ve been working all day. Unlike some.”
“I’ll take the BLT and a green salad,” Tanner said, handing the menu to Cora Jean.
“You want fries with that?”
“Yeah he does,” Becca answered for him. When he gave her a questioning look she shook her head. “You can’t eat in here without having fries. Murphy would kill you.”
The bell above the diner door dinged, though from where they were sitting neither Becca nor Tanner could see who it was.
“You folks want anything else?” Cora asked.
“Nope. We’re good. Thanks, Cora.” Becca handed her own menu over. As she walked away, Tanner leaned down to rub his shin, wincing at the bruise Becca’s pointed shoes had caused.
“You’re a baby,” she told him.
“You want me to kick you back?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. It was impossible not to smile at her. Every time he went back to New York he missed this. Bickering with Becca cheered him up, the same way roasting Gray and his brothers made him grin. It was the one time he felt alive, part of something.
Part of a family.
Maybe the diner wasn’t so bad after all.
“The diner was always Craig’s favorite,” Zoe told Van as she pushed open the glass door and they walked onto the white tiled floor. The smell of fried food wafted around them, making Van’s stomach growl. “He used to bring me here sometimes. Not for a while though.”
“How are you feeling about him leaving?” Van asked her.
“I dunno.” Zoe’s face was impassive. “Where do you want to sit?”
Van bit down a smile at her unwillingness to talk about her emotions. She was like Van’s miniature in that respect. “How about we go to the booth in the corner. It used to be my favorite when I was a kid. Nobody can see you there, or judge what you’re eating.” She winked. “Or how much.”
“You used to eat here?” Zoe asked, looking at Van with interest. “That’s cool.”
“It was my second home as a teenager,” Van told her. “Along with…” She swallowed hard. Zoe wouldn’t even know who Tanner was. She wasn’t even born when her and Tanner’s friendship ended spectacularly. “Anyway, it was a nice place to spend time when I didn’t want to be at home.”
Zoe caught her eye, as though she knew exactly what Van meant. “I’ve been spending a lot of time at the library since Craig left.”
“The library’s cool, too.” God, Craig had a lot to answer for. “Here’s the boo—” Her words stopped abruptly as she stopped in front of her favorite seat, her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth. For a moment, all she could do was stare at the two people already sitting on the familiar red-and-white benches, her heart flailing wildly against her ribcage.
Tanner Hartson. When was the last time she’d seen him this close up? A decade ago? On the rare occasion she’d caught sight of him since, on those unlucky days when they were both visiting home, she’d managed to cross the road and keep her distance.
What the hell should she do? Say hello? She swallowed hard, taking in his dark, thick hair, raked back from his face like it always was, tapering down to the nape of his neck. His shoulders were wide, his broad chest stretching the thin knit of his sweater. And then there was the dark shadow on his strong jaw which made him look older. Sexier. No longer the boy she remembered, but a man now. One that could take her breath away if she let him.
Becca was the first one to recover. She looked up at Van with a smile. “Hey, I heard you were back in town. How are you doing? That can’t be Zoe. She’s so grown up.”
Somehow Van managed to form a smile on her lips. She always had time for Becca. She’d been like a little sister to her growing up. “I’m good,” she said, keeping her gaze away from Tanner. “And yeah, this is my sister, Zoe.”
“Hey, Zoe. You probably don’t remember me. I’m Becca Hartson.”
“Are you Gray Hartson’s sister?” Zoe asked.
Becca nodded. “That’s right.”
Zoe’s eyes lit up. “That’s really cool. Me and my friends love his music.”
“And this is Tanner, one of my other brothers.” Becca nodded her head at him. “I promise you he talks sometimes.”
Tanner swallowed hard, his prominent Adam’s apple undulating against his throat. “Hi, Zoe.” His smooth, dark voice made the hairs on the back of Van’s neck stand up. Awareness washed through her like the ocean across the shore.
Zoe nodded at him.
Then he was looking right at Van with those piercing eyes, and she felt a shot of electricity pulse down her spine.
“Hi, Van. You doing okay?” he asked softly.
She nodded quickly. “I’m great. How are you?”
“I’m good.” He gave her the ghost of a smile and it jolted a memory in her mind. Of the day everything changed. She swallowed down the bitter taste of it.
“Do you guys want to join us?” Becca asked them, gesturing at the booth. “There’s enough room for all of us.”
Tanner’s dark, assessing eyes met Van’s. She felt a jolt of alarm shoot through her.
“Thank you, but not this time.” As though there’d be a next time. “I haven’t been in town for long. Zoe and I have a lot to catch up on.”
“That’s a shame.” Becca was still smiling, as though she had no notion of the atmosphere dancing around the booth. “Maybe I’ll see you soon. Are you going to chairs this Friday?”
“Chairs?” Van wanted to laugh. “You guys still do that?”
Chairs was the name the folk of Hartson’s Creek gave to their weekly gatherings by the creek. Every Friday night they’d congregate in their front yards and on the grassy field along the water, bringing food and drinks to share. The old folk would sit in the chairs and gossip, while the younger ones played flag football or dangled their hot feet in the cool creek.
“Every Friday between April and October.” Becca grinned. “You should both come. It’ll be good to see you.”
“Mom doesn’t like Chairs,” Zoe s
aid softly. “She says there are too many gossips.”
Becca laughed out loud. “Your mom’s right about that.”
Van put her hand on Zoe’s shoulder, ready to steer her to another booth. One far away from this one. “We should go and put our order in,” she told them, flashing the briefest of smiles. “I’ll see you both around.”
“I hope so.” Becca beamed brightly. Tanner, she noticed, said nothing.
It didn’t stop her from feeling his eyes burning into her back as she and Zoe walked to the other end of the diner and sat down in an empty booth.
“They’re nice,” Zoe said, smiling for the first time since Van had gotten home. “Maybe we should go to Chairs on Friday.”
Van could still feel her skin tingling from seeing Tanner. “Maybe,” she said, squeezing Zoe’s shoulder. “We’ll see.”
“Are you eating those fries or just playing with them?” Becca asked.
Tanner looked up from his plate, blinking as Becca’s voice brought him out of his thoughts. Since he’d seen Van Butler he’d been stuck in them. Maybe it was the way she’d felt so familiar yet distant. Like a wisp of dust in the air that he couldn’t grasp ahold of. Or the way she looked even better than he’d remembered, with her wide blue eyes and full lips, and that golden hair that seemed to light up the room.
“Tanner?”
He shook his head. “I’m not hungry.” His eyes slid over to where Van and her sister were sitting by the window. The evening light was shining in, making her skin look warm and soft. Zoe was saying something to her, gesticulating wildly, then her spoon flew out of her hand, banging onto the tile floor.
Van chuckled, and it did something to him. What the heck was wrong with him? She was history. He’d made sure of that. Yet his body responded every time he looked over at her.
“You might want to take a picture,” Becca said. “That way you wouldn’t be so obvious.”
“Shut up.” He pushed his plate over. “Here, have my fries.”
Becca grinned and forked them up. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Cora Jean walked over to Van’s table, carrying a white plastic box. Van smiled at her, then said something that looked like she was asking for the check.
She was going to leave in a few minutes. Maybe that was for the best. Because right now his damn heart was clattering against his ribcage.
A minute later, Cora Jean brought over a silver tray with a printed receipt on it. Van laid some bills on top and nodded over at Zoe, who was grabbing her jacket to leave.
Before he could even think it through, Tanner was on his feet, walking over to the table by the window. Van looked up at him, her brows creasing as if in surprise.
“Can I have a quick word?” he asked.
She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, sliding her eyes to Zoe. “Um yeah.” She smiled at her sister. “Zoe, can you wait for me in the car?” She threw her keys, and Zoe caught them easily, looking at Tanner with interest before leaving the table.
Then it was the two of them, and he was already regretting coming over here, because he had no idea what to say to her.
Sorry I broke your heart didn’t really cut it.
“What can I do for you?” she asked, smiling in that old familiar way. Up close, he could see the lines that crinkled next to her eyes. They did nothing but add to her attractiveness.
“I was just wondering if you’re planning on staying in town for a while,” he said, his voice low.
“Um, yeah. For a bit. Why?” She was still smiling. God, he wanted to smile. Wanted to grab her hand and pull her out of there. Run around town with her the way they used to.
“Because I don’t want things to be awkward between us if we bump into each other in the street.”
The smile on her lips slowly faded. “Why would it be awkward?”
Because I broke you. Us. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking down at her. “No reason. I just wanted to check if we’re okay.”
Her eyes caught his. “We’re okay.”
His smile took him by surprise. “That’s good,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’m glad.”
She stood, grabbing her purse in one hand, the plastic box in the other. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah, you will.” He caught her eye again. “You’re looking good, Butler.”
She blinked. For just a moment, her poise seemed to disappear. She was Van again, the kid who used to run around town with him, driving people crazy.
“Thanks,” she told him, her lips curling up. “You’re not looking so bad yourself.” With that, she turned and walked out the door, her hips swaying from side to side. And if he appreciated the way her jeans clung tightly to the curve of her ass? Well, at least that proved Aunt Gina right.
The devil really did make work for idle hands.
Chapter Five
It had been a long night, full of tossing and turning. Her head had been too full of thoughts to sleep. Van sighed and sat up in bed, checking her phone to see it was only six-thirty a.m. It was pointless to try and sleep anymore. She felt more restless than ever.
She’d done her best to keep her poise in front of him yesterday. Something she’d learned from an early age. Put on a mask, don’t let people know they’re affecting you. That way they couldn’t hurt you.
For a long time, he’d been the only one who’d seen beneath the armor she wore. And now he was a stranger.
A really hot, built, handsome stranger who made her heart race like crazy, damn him. With his slow grin and muscled arms he knew exactly how he affected people. And it worked. She was affected. Ugh.
Rubbing her eyes with the heels of her hands, she padded barefoot to the kitchen and switched on the coffee pot. It hissed and spat as she grabbed a pen and paper, determined to focus on the present, and all the things she had to do.
Go through her mom’s bills, make sure she had enough money, and somehow persuade her to get out of bed today. Who knew, maybe Kim would even leave the house. Van had saved enough to see her through the next few months, but that money would be gone soon enough, and then she’d either have to go back to Richmond to work, or find something locally. It would help a lot if her mom was bringing in some income, too.
By the time Zoe got up, Van was dressed in a pair of tight running shorts and a sturdy sports bra, her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, waiting for her sister to go to school before she took a run.
“Hey.” Zoe grinned at her, pulling a bowl from the cupboard and filling it with cereal. She grabbed the milk, shaking it. “We’re nearly out.”
“I know.” Van looked up from her list. “I need to go to the grocery store. You wanna come? I can wait until you’re home from school.”
“Can I buy some treats?” Zoe asked, shoveling the cereal into her mouth. She sure was a fast eater.
For a moment, Van watched her load up one spoonful after another, impressed by her speed. “Sure,” she said. “You got everything you need for school?”
Zoe spooned the last mouthful in, and swallowed it down. “Yup. I’ll see you later.” She kissed Van on the cheek and put her bowl into the dishwasher, then grabbed her sparkly pink backpack from it’s new home in the hall closet.
“Have a good day,” Van called out as her sister pulled the door closed behind her.
A moment later, her mom walked out of the bedroom. “What time is it?” she asked, her pink satin robe knotted around her slim waist.
“Seven-thirty. Zoe just left.” Van stood and stretched her arms. Still so early, yet she felt like she’d done a day’s planning already.
“That’s what woke me up.” Her mom pulled a mug from the cupboard and poured herself some coffee. “She always slams that damn door.” She turned to look at Van. “What are you wearing?” she asked, looking her up and down.
“I’m going for a run.” Van glanced down at the tight running shorts and sports bra she’d pulled on this morning. “When I get back we can work on this list I’ve been makin
g. Starting with going through all the bills.”
“I’m sick.” Her mom touched her brow, wincing as though in pain. “Can’t the bills wait until tomorrow?”
“Maybe if you drank a little less, you wouldn’t be so sick,” Van pointed out.
“I don’t drink a lot.”
Van lifted a brow. “Sure you don’t.” The empty vodka bottle in the trashcan said differently.
Kim slumped at the table, lifting her mug to her lips. “I can’t believe you’re into running. It sounds like torture.”
Van shrugged. “I like it. It’s a good way to start the day.” She grabbed her earbuds and pressed her smartwatch to sync up. “I’ll be back in an hour or so. Maybe you could take a shower while I’m gone?”
“Maybe.”
Van took a deep breath and headed for the door, cueing up the playlist on her watch as she ran down the steps toward the sidewalk.
She’d started running years ago. It had felt weird at first, because she’d never been into sports at school, not like Tanner and the rest of his brothers. They’d teased her about her lack of athletic prowess. Not in a mean way – they were never mean. Well, not until the day Tanner had hurt her like nothing else. No, they’d asked her where the hell she put all the food she ate when she was constantly inventing excuses for getting out of gym class.
She couldn’t remember who’d first suggested she try running as a way to work through her anger. Maybe it was Craig. He always loved sports. Whoever it was, she’d tried it because she needed something to get her head straight, and nobody had been more surprised than Van when it actually worked.
Starting off easy, she jogged down the sidewalk toward the town square, doing a full circle before heading west on Main Road, out of town. As the space between houses increased, and the verdant green of the cornfields appeared in the distance, she felt her breath begin to shallow as her lungs worked overtime.
It always took a good two or three miles for her to get into her stride. Only when she’d reached an unconscious rhythm could her brain push out all the worries and anxieties and leave pure, blissful nothingness in their wake. She panted as the sidewalk ended and dusty country roads began, her skin heating up beneath the early morning sun.