by Lynn Shannon
He kept thinking about Sara’s touch on his face outside of the coffee shop. The brush of her thumb against his lip, the quickening of her breath, and the way she leaned in—just a touch, just enough to let him know she was thinking of kissing him. It replayed in his mind constantly.
He’d wanted to kiss her. But that line was a dangerous one to cross and not something he had a right to do. She hadn’t asked for anything more serious than some fun and flirtation. Sara was in the driver’s seat, not Grant.
But if she’d leaned in and kissed him, he wouldn’t have stopped her. Not for a second.
So instead of calling to cancel, Grant had gotten ready and driven to Sara’s house. The porch light was a welcome beacon. He killed the ignition and took a deep breath. “You can do this. Keep it light. Some fun, some dancing. That’s it.”
He climbed out of the SUV. The night was crisp, the faint scent of fall leaves and grass drifted on the wind. His boots thumped against the porch. Grant took another deep breath, cleared his throat, and rang the bell.
Light. Fun. Flirty. You’ve gone against the worst kinds of terrorists. You can do one date—
The door swung open, and any thought Grant had flittered away. His heart seemed to stop and then picked up speed like a race car.
Sara was dressed in a red, feminine, floaty dress that flirted with her gorgeous legs. She’d done something special with her eyes, and his gaze was drawn to them, then down to her deep red lips. A simple chain caressed the curve of her neck, slipping along her collar bone. His fingers twitched with the urge to adjust her necklace and discover if her skin was as soft as it appeared.
It would be. He knew it would be. This was Sara. Everything about her was…unbelievable. Fantastic. Gorgeous.
Sara shifted in her cowboy boots. Land’s sake, he’d never been one for cowboy boots, but she was changing his mind. No, not changing his mind. Changed his mind. He was officially pro-cowboy boots. Especially sexy black ones that gave Sara just enough height to reach his chin.
“Umm, should we go?” Sara asked.
Belatedly, Grant realized she’d said hello to him, and he’d said nothing, just stood on her front porch like a dummy. He sucked in a breath—yes, he’d been holding his breath—and somehow found his tongue. “You look nice.”
Nice? No, wrong word. He held up a hand. “I mean…you look great…stunning.”
Good grief, the woman had him tripping over himself, and she’d only opened the door and said hello.
Get it together, Edwards.
He took a deep breath. “You’re breathtaking. You have me tongue-tied.”
Sara smiled, a pink color rising in her cheeks. “Thanks. You look great too. I like that color on you.”
He was wearing a blue button-down. Grant filed that tidbit of information away, making a mental note to wear more blue around her.
Sara tugged a coat off a nearby stand and shrugged it on one arm. Grant stepped forward, grabbing the other side and holding it out for her. She slipped her arm in the sleeve. The back of Grant’s hand brushed the curve of her neck as he assisted her. A zap of electricity raced through him.
“Thanks.” Sara peeked at him over her shoulder, then quickly grabbed a small wallet and tucked it into the jacket pocket.
Grant stepped out and waited while she locked up. Then he placed a hand on the small of her back as they went down the walkway to his SUV. “Does Miller’s Tavern still host bands?”
“They do, but no one is playing tonight other than the DJ.” She shrugged. “Sometimes I think that’s better. We get all the best songs.”
“Sure.”
He opened the passenger side door, and she climbed in. Her springtime fragrance teased his senses. Grant breathed it in.
One night. It was one night of pretend. He could allow himself that much. For one night, it could be just him and Sara. One date, without any of the baggage or worries. The fact that she was his late best friend’s wife, that his mother still refused to discuss treatment, his heartache over his father’s death, her worry over the library program, and the impending separation once he left Hidden Hollows. All of it could melt away.
For just one night.
Grant jogged around to the driver’s seat and started the car. The drive to Miller’s Tavern was a short one. He asked about Ben on the way, and Sara entertained him with a funny story about his kindergarten class. By the time Grant turned into the bar’s parking lot, the conversation was flowing, and they’d shared some laughs. The SUV’s wheels rolled over the gravel and rocks as he searched for a parking spot.
“Who are we going to hang out with tonight?” Grant asked.
“Umm, Hailey Bridges will be there. She owns the salon in town now, along with Kensie. Hailey’s significant other is Rhett Rhodes.”
His brows arched. “The high school bully?”
“Reformed. He’s actually a really nice guy. Works at the high school now.” Sara started ticking people off on her fingers. “Millie from the bakery and her fiancé, Luke St. Clair. I’m not sure if you know the others. Catalina Garcia and Westley York might be there. Maybe Everly King and Austin.”
“No, those names don’t sound familiar.” Not surprising, considering he’d been gone from Hidden Hollows for ten years.
Grant parked and got out. He circled the vehicle and opened Sara’s door. She flashed him a beautiful smile. “I’m getting the full date treatment.”
“Nothing but the best.”
He extended his hand to help her out. She hesitated, then slipped her hand into his. The warmth of her touch arced through him. Sara’s grip tightened a bit as she climbed out of the vehicle.
Grant fully expected her to release his hand once she was on the ground, but Sara didn’t. Instead, she interlocked their fingers. They crossed the parking lot. Loud music spilled out of the tavern. Several people mingled on the front porch. Sara waved to a woman Grant didn’t recognize.
Inside, the place was packed. A mass of people mingled on the dance floor and near the bar. It smelled like peanuts and beer. Sara craned her neck, then pointed to a table. “Oh, there are some of our friends from high school.”
He recognized a few faces. Others he couldn’t place. They joined the group at the table and Sara made the introductions. Everyone greeted him enthusiastically.
Rhett gave him a good-natured grin. “Hey, Grant, I saw the photographs of you on the library website. You look fantastic in a cape.”
The whole group laughed, and Grant mock glared at him. “Don’t make me take you down, Rhodes. Cuz I will. Cape or no cape, I can still kick your behind.”
The group laughed again. Grant pointed a finger at Sara. “Word of warning to all of you, don’t volunteer to help this one out with anything. She’ll make you wear the most absurd things.”
Her mouth dropped open. “That’s not true. You didn’t have to wear a costume on Friday.”
“No, I had to sing some ridiculous song about the planets.” He winced, remembering it. “The poor kids. I can’t carry a tune to save my life.”
She laughed. “They all loved it.”
Everyone at the table ribbed Grant some more. Sara shared about the library party and The Dixie Kings performance. In spite of Grant’s warning, everyone at the table volunteered to set up, break down, or work the event. They were excited to help out.
It was all coming together for Sara. Grant was happy for her and proud to have played a small role in helping to make it happen. She deserved every ounce of joy the world had to offer.
A new song came on, the tune upbeat and catchy. Sara clapped her hands together. “Oh, I love this one.”
He slipped an arm around her waist. “Then let’s go dance.”
The two-step came back to Grant without much effort. He twirled Sara, and her dress flitted around her legs. By the end of the song, her cheeks were pink with exertion. Another song came on, and they kept going. It was too loud to talk, but Grant didn’t care. Being with Sara was effortless. He love
d seeing her smile and laugh.
She made him feel good. Grant hadn’t felt good in so long, he’d forgotten what it was like. He found himself imagining a life like this. Staying in Hidden Hollows, fixing cars, and date nights with Sara. Weekends spent cooking at her house and playing games with Ben. Baseball games, school events, bills, and responsibilities. It should’ve made Grant panic, but it didn’t. Probably because a part of him had been longing for it from the first day of his arrival back in town.
They exited the dance floor when the song shifted into a line dance. They slid up to the bar and ordered soft drinks. The time slipped away until it was after eleven. Sara yawned and hid it behind her hand. “Sorry. It’s been a long day. Actually, it’s been a long week.”
“Ready to go home?”
“If you don’t mind.”
He set his coke down on the bar. “Not at all.”
They said goodbye to their friends and then headed into the cool night air. Sara drew closer to him, and Grant took her hand. He liked touching her, liked the way she felt next to him. “Did you have fun?”
“Tons.” She arched a brow. “You’ve been holding out on me, Grant. Where did you learn all those fancy steps?”
He chuckled. “My buddy Boone—that’s the guy whose brother is in the Dixie Kings.” She nodded and he continued, “Boone likes honky tonks. Drags me to one every chance he can. I’ve picked up a step or two along the way.”
She was quiet for a long moment. “I guess the women must love you. Good looks, charm, dancing skills—you probably have to beat them off with a stick.”
There was a tinge of something in her voice he’d never heard before. Was it jealousy? The thought sent a warm rush through him because it meant she cared. But Sara had no reason to be jealous. No woman would ever match up to her. No one ever had. Not in the last ten years.
And Grant was beginning to believe no one ever would.
He stopped and circled in front of her. Dipping his head to catch her gaze, he said, “I’ve been out many times, but I’ve never had as much fun as I did tonight. You’re amazing, Sara.”
She inhaled. Grant became incredibly aware of the proximity of their bodies. With one step, they would be close enough to kiss. His gaze dropped to her mouth. The red color on her lips was darker in the dim parking lot lighting, but no less distracting.
He’d known Sara for years. Knew she was terrified of spiders, that she giggled at corny jokes, and her favorite dessert was apple pie. Her eyes would darken with anger, and she had no patience for bullies. She cared deeply, passionately, for her friends. Loyal. Strong. Smart. There were so many things Grant knew about her.
But he didn’t know what it was like to kiss her.
He swallowed hard as Sara’s gaze dropped to his mouth. She edged closer. Grant raised his other hand, placing it on her hip. The silky fabric of her dress was soft against his palm. “Sara…”
Did he whisper her name as a warning? Or an invitation?
He wasn’t sure.
She edged even closer. “I like the way you say my name. The way you look at me. Like I’m irresistible.”
“You are, and it’s driving me insane, Sara. I want to kiss you so badly.” He lowered his voice. “But we’re playing with fire here, and I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
She drew her lip in between her teeth. He was memorized by the movement. Sara nodded, slowly. “You’re right. It’s better for both of us that we keep this the way it is.”
Sara took a step back, and Grant closed his eyes. A strange combination of relief and loss coursed through him. “Right. Good decision.”
“I don’t want to mess up our friendship.”
“Neither do I.” He rolled his shoulders and tamped down on the mix of emotions running through him. It was logical to cool things off, but a large part of him wished Sara had thrown caution to the wind. He let out a long breath. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
The drive back to Sara’s house was quiet. Not an awkward silence. More like the comfortable stillness that settled over two people who knew each other well. Still, he kept sneaking peeks at her profile. She was stunningly beautiful.
She also wasn’t his. And she never would be.
Grant walked her to the porch. Sara fumbled with the keys before unlocking her door. It swung open, and she slowly turned to face him. “Thank you for tonight. Grant. I had a really good time.”
“So did I.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, careful to keep an appropriate distance between them. Sara had made it clear she didn’t want anything more than a casual flirtation. He would honor that, even if it killed him. “Good night, Sara.”
“Night.”
She slipped inside, and the snick of the front door lock sliding home followed. Grant let out a breath and stepped off the front porch. Stars sprinkled the night sky. It made him think of his SEAL team, and he wondered what they were doing right now. They could be running a night training mission at this very moment. Probably freezing their hind ends off in the ocean or hunting each other in the woods.
He glanced back at Sara’s house. Tonight had been fun, but it was also temporary. This wasn’t his real life. He didn’t belong in Hidden Hollows.
Grant would never be as good as his father. Or Jared. He was broken and always had been. Right from the beginning. From the time he sailed out of town leaving his mom to face her depression and hoarding alone.
Sara had made the right decision by choosing to keep things the way they were between them. Flirty friends were all they could ever be. Kissing was out of the question. Anything more serious was impossible.
Grant wasn’t good enough for Sara.
And he never would be.
11
Sara
Monday morning, Sara sat at the library front desk, tapping her pencil against the pad of paper in front of her. She was supposed to be making a to-do list. Unfortunately, her mind wouldn’t focus. It kept drifting to Grant, as it had all weekend. The memory of their date and near kiss wouldn’t leave her alone. It was like she’d had a small taste of an apple pie, and now she wanted the whole thing.
“That’s the look of a woman heading toward love.”
Sara’s gaze darted up. Marie Jenkins peered at her over the top of her glasses. A smile twitched on her lips. “Yep, definitely heading toward love.”
She dropped the pencil. It banged against the pad of paper before rolling off the counter onto the floor. Her heart skipped a beat. Was she headed toward love? With Grant?
No. Absolutely not. Marie always had love on the brain. That’s why she kept trying to set Sara up with every single male within a fifty-mile radius.
Sara retrieved the pencil with a laugh. “Sorry to disappoint, Mrs. Jenkins. I’m trying to finalize plans for the library party.”
Marie dumped her library books on the counter. “I’m old, Sara, dear. But I’m no fool. You might be trying to finalize plans, but your mind was far away. Probably thinking about that handsome Grant Edwards. Rumor has it the two of you were a hot item on the dance floor at Miller’s Tavern the other night.”
“We had a good time and a few dances. Grant’s been helping me out with the after-school program.”
“I know.” Marie arched her brows. “Between you and me, I’d love for that boy to stay in Hidden Hollows. His mother could use some cheering up. April’s never been the same since losing her husband.”
That was a feeling Sara could relate to. “It’s hard to move on.”
Which is exactly what she’d been reminding herself all weekend. Going out with Grant and spending time together was possible because it was only temporary. But actually getting serious? That was something else entirely.
Losing Jared was the worst thing she’d ever been through. It wasn’t only the suddenness of his death from a brain aneurysm, although that was part of it, perhaps. But the pain went deeper. She’d lost people she loved before. Her parents in a plane crash. Nana had passed away two years ago, quietly in
her sleep. Their deaths had shaken her. Left her grieving.
But Jared’s death had broken her heart. Unlike her parents and Nana, who had been in her life from the time she was born, Jared was someone she invited in. Sara had chosen to love him, and somehow, that made the loss sharper and more painful.
So deciding to love someone new? Sara didn’t think it was in her.
“Have you seen April recently?” Marie asked, cutting into Sara’s thoughts. “I haven’t spoken to her in ages, and she’s missed one month of the quilting group meetings.”
Sara’s hand paused on the book scanner. A niggle of worry crept over her, still, she plastered a smile on her face. “Grant mentioned his mom has been redecorating her home. And I’m sure having him back in town has been keeping her busy too.”
Sara wouldn’t mention her concerns to Marie, otherwise they’d be all over town. But she did make a mental note to ask Grant again if his mom was okay. Something didn’t seem right.
Marie tapped her fingers against the counter. “I do think you and Grant make a lovely couple, Sara. He’s perfect for you. And so good with kids.”
“He is good with kids.” She finished scanning the books and handed them back to Marie. “All set. Have a nice afternoon, Mrs. Jenkins.”
“You too, dear.” She smiled broadly. “It’s so nice to see young people falling in love. Call me when you start to plan the wedding. I know the best place to get your dress.”
She laughed and shook her head. “We’re a long way from that.”
A very long way. Like this side of never. But at least Mrs. Jenkins hadn’t come in armed with a list of single men. That was progress.
Sara sat back down in the chair and picked up her pencil. She forced herself to focus and spent the next twenty minutes making a to-do list and finalizing plans for the party on Saturday. They still needed a few more volunteers to help break things down once the event was over, but otherwise things were shaping up beautifully. Mayor Stewart was over-the-moon about The Dixie Kings performing. She’d promised to convince the rest of the city council to get on board with funding the library.