“Who?” Brooke asked.
“That guy over there talking to Marlena.”
Marlena beamed at him, flipping her hair back over her shoulder. I could tell even from across the crowded lawn that she was trying to impress him.
“Oh, him. That’s Noah Lawson, your dad’s new recruit. I saw him a few days ago in town from a distance. He’s really hot. I told you about him, remember?” Brooke rolled her eyes. “Looks like Marlena has staked her claim on him.”
“Isn’t he a little old for her?”
“She’s eighteen. Remember her huge birthday party that we weren’t invited to? Although, if he has any sense at all, he’ll stay away from her. Because, if he doesn’t, he’ll have to be very careful where he puts his hands, not to mention other things.” Brooke looked back at me with a sparkle in her eyes, and we both laughed. Then she asked, “So, are you ready to start your senior year as the local hero?”
“You’re giving me too much credit. Dakota’s the real hero.” I stopped short as her parents approached us and asked about the night I found Ryder. I answered them politely, only this time referring to Dakota as a stray dog. As I spoke, my attention reverted back to the scene across the lawn. Marlena had moved closer to Noah, and he had turned slightly so that I could see the side of his face. He was wearing the town police uniform of blue jeans and a light blue button down shirt, a silver badge pinned to the front pocket. From a distance, I could tell that Brooke was right. He was gorgeous.
As I watched him, his gaze wandered across the lawn until it settled on me. Even hiding behind my sunglasses, I felt like I’d been caught staring and I snapped my attention back to Brooke’s parents. They looked at me expectantly, as if they were waiting for me to speak. “I’m sorry. Did you ask me something?” I asked sheepishly.
Brooke’s mother smiled with understanding. “I’m sure this is a lot to handle right now.” She motioned to the crowd. “They all came to see you. I was asking if you had prepared a speech.”
I nearly choked at her question. “Speech? Um, no. I haven’t even thought about that. I have no idea what to say.”
“Well, you better think fast,” Brooke said. “It looks like the mayor is about to begin.”
I looked over at the gazebo. Mayor Hobbs, dressed in khaki slacks and a white polo shirt, his short gray hair brushed perfectly into place, stood at the front and center. He held a microphone in his hand. “May I have everyone’s attention?”
A hush fell over the audience as his voice echoed from the loudspeakers. A baby cried and the voice of a young child broke through the silence every few seconds.
Once all eyes were focused on him, the mayor began. “Good afternoon. Thank you all for coming. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to gather here to pay our respects to one very special girl.”
As he rambled on about Ryder’s rescue as if no one knew yet, I tuned him out and looked at Brooke. She took a deep breath and mouthed, “Sorry.”
I turned my attention back to the mayor just in time to hear him say, “Please give a warm welcome to Laken Sumner.” He held his free hand up over his eyes to shield them from the sun as he scanned the crowd for me. “Laken, please join me up here.”
I slowly rose to my feet and handed my sunglasses to Brooke. Everyone watched me as I walked along the outer edge of the lawn. Nerves fluttered in my empty stomach and I tried to ignore them. I glimpsed my father behind the gazebo with Pete McKay, the deputy who would be retiring at the end of the summer. Deputy McKay’s hair was frosted white and his face weathered from years of outside exposure. My father smiled, nodding at me as I approached the gazebo.
I was especially careful as I climbed the wooden stairs. The last thing I needed was to trip and fall flat on my face with everyone watching. At the top, I hesitated before walking across the platform. All eyes were focused on me, making my heart race. The mayor tossed a kind smile my way as I stopped beside him. I took a deep breath, trying to relax.
“Hello, Mayor Hobbs,” I said quietly.
“Laken.” He extended his hand, but when I reached out for it, he pulled me into a quick hug. As he let go, I noticed the slightest glaze of tears in his blue eyes. But he composed himself at once before speaking into the microphone. “I think I speak for the entire town when I say thank you. You did an amazing thing by rescuing Ryder and we are all grateful. It’s people like you that make living in this town very special.” He paused, reaching into his pocket for an envelope. “The business owners in town have come together to give you this.” He handed it to me. “It’s not much compared to what you did, but it’s the least we could do. These are some gift certificates to restaurants and stores. We hope you enjoy them.”
I graciously took the envelope from him. “Thank you,” I said softly, but I knew no one except for him could hear me. He noticed right away and handed the microphone to me. Holding it up hesitantly, I repeated, “Thank you.” The loud words echoed as I peered out across the sea of faces watching me, waiting for me to say something more. I took a deep breath and prayed for courage. “I just want to say that this is completely unnecessary. I only did what any one of you would have done if given the chance. I was in the right place at the right time, that’s all.” I turned to face the mayor and held up the envelope. “This was very thoughtful. I will enjoy these.”
“It’s a small token of our appreciation for what you did.”
I nodded in understanding as I scanned the crowd, honing in on Ryder who sat on his mother’s lap, his father beside them. Tears of happiness streamed down her face as she kissed the top of Ryder’s head. I sighed and looked over at the mayor. Covering the microphone with my free hand, I leaned toward him. “I don’t have anything else. Can I go now?”
“Sure.” He took the microphone from me and held it up to his mouth. “Thank you, Laken. That was wonderful.”
Then he tucked it under his arm to clap his hands. Applause roared out from the audience. I smiled shyly at him before hurrying back to the steps. Flustered, I couldn’t wait to get as far away from the gazebo as possible.
My thoughts lingered on the applauding crowd as I started to rush down the stairs. Unfortunately, I wasn’t nearly as careful as I had been going up the same steps minutes ago. I misjudged the second one and tripped on my own two feet. As I felt myself falling forward, I reached for the only thing I saw in front of me, two strong arms. I grabbed a hold of the stranger as his hands clasped around my waist to steady me back onto my feet.
Neither one of us let go as I stepped down off the last wooden stair and stood firmly in the grass. It wasn’t until that moment that I looked up at the handsome stranger who had come to my rescue. And I knew exactly who he was by his light blue shirt.
“Whoa. Careful,” he said quietly, his warm brown eyes studying me. “Are you okay?”
“Um, yes, I think so. I--uh--just wanted to get out of the spotlight up there. It’s really not my thing,” I rambled on nervously.
His hands hadn’t moved from my waist and I was suddenly very aware of his touch. When I looked up at him, our eyes met.
“Even so, you don’t need to break your neck getting away. I’m Noah, by the way.”
After what seemed like forever, he dropped his hands away from me. I let go of his arms, but as I did, a fleeting moment of disappointment washed over me. That was the most exciting guy moment that had ever happened to me.
“I know. I saw you from across the lawn earlier. I’m Laken, but everyone pretty much knows that now.”
“Yes. It’s very nice to meet you. I was wondering when I was going to get to meet the sheriff’s daughter, even before you found Ryder. I saw your picture on your dad’s desk at the station,” he admitted with a grin.
I felt a blush creeping over my cheeks. “I bet you didn’t expect I would fall into you like that,” I joked.
“No, I certainly didn’t.” He flashed another smile and I thought I saw a subtle blush on his face for just a moment. “I guess I was in the righ
t place at the right time.”
I caught his gaze and, for a split second, noticed a flirtatious spark. Or was it my imagination?
“I mean, we can’t have the girl who rescued a three-year-old boy breaking her legs during a ceremony to thank her,” he explained.
“Unfortunately, that would be just my luck. Then I’d never get rid of the reporters. Speaking of which, you haven’t seen any here today, have you?”
Noah turned and pointed across the lawn. “They showed up just as the mayor started. Don’t worry, your dad already asked me to keep them away from you.”
“Good,” I said, relieved.
“So, you really meant what you said a few minutes ago?”
“What’s that?” I suddenly had no idea what he was talking about as I looked up at him again. I was having a hard time focusing on this conversation.
“That you don’t enjoy the spotlight.”
“Oh, that. Yes, I meant it.”
“Well, I don’t think you got that from your father.” Noah nodded toward the gazebo where my father had taken the microphone from the mayor as I was falling down the stairs. He had been up there this whole time talking about Deputy McKay’s retirement. I turned to see him out of the corner of my eye as he mentioned Noah.
Noah rolled his eyes. “That’s my cue. My turn for the spotlight.”
“You’d better get up there, then. You can’t keep everyone waiting.”
“I know.” He started to head up the steps, but hesitated, gently touching my shoulder. “I’ll see you soon?”
I met his questioning gaze. “It’s a small town. We’ll see each other again. Now go. Everyone’s waiting for you.”
He flashed a smile before turning back to the gazebo and racing up the steps to the platform.
I tried to keep my cool as I crossed the lawn. Brooke met me halfway back to the blanket. “If he had caught me in his arms like that, I’d be smiling too,” she chided.
I felt a blush race across my face. “Is it that obvious?”
“Yes, but only because I know you too well.”
“Okay, guilty as charged. You were right, he is hot. But he works for my dad, so it’s not like anything can happen.”
We walked together across the lawn in a direct path to the blanket where Ethan waited. “Why not? He’s probably only a year or two older than us,” Brooke countered. “Besides, you can go out with anyone you want after you turn eighteen next month.”
“Maybe, but I doubt my dad would allow it.”
“Are you kidding? Who do you think he’ll trust more, his deputy or some punk from school? But you know your dad would be the least of your problems. I think Marlena would have your head on a platter.”
“Why? What do you mean? Where is she, anyway?” I stopped and scanned the crowd, but I didn’t see Marlena before turning my attention back to the direction we were headed.
“Right now? Not sure. But she saw you and Noah together. And if looks could kill, we’d be picking out your casket right now.”
I stopped again. “Really?” I asked. “Why would she care who I talk to? She’s gorgeous. No guy can resist her.”
“Oh, please,” Brooke groaned. “She may be gorgeous, but so are you. And you are something she is not. Nice. Someday, guys are going to see that her beauty is only skin deep.”
“You really think I can compete with her?”
“You obviously haven’t looked in the mirror lately.” Brooke grabbed my hand, turning and pulling me with her toward Ethan. “Now, come on. You guys are coming over tonight for pizza and movies.”
We had gotten close enough to Ethan who heard her. “Pizza?” he asked, his attention suddenly focused on us.
Brooke laughed. “You just ate like three sandwiches and all you can think about is pizza?”
“I’m a growing boy. I can eat around the clock,” Ethan responded matter-of-factly.
I smiled at them. They always knew how to take my mind off my worries. Ethan stood as he and Brooke started packing up the picnic items. “Think fast, blondie,” Brooke said, tossing my sunglasses to me as soon as I looked her way.
I caught them and slipped them on. “Thanks.”
Ethan stood up, holding the basket in one hand and the cooler in the other like they weighed nothing, while Brooke folded up the blanket.
“Let’s go,” Brooke said, taking the lead.
I suddenly remembered the reporters. “Can we take the long way around? I saw some TV cameras over there at the entrance to the parking lot.”
“Sure.” She changed direction to lead us through the trees surrounding the lawn.
I followed behind them, reminding myself to call my mother and let her know I was going home with Brooke so she wouldn’t wonder where I was. I stole one last glance off to the side to catch a glimpse of Noah beyond the trees. He stood in front of the gazebo next to my father greeting some of our town’s citizens. I sighed, wondering if Brooke was right, that I could be competition for Marlena. If she was, life was about to get a lot more interesting. Maybe this town gathering had been worth getting up in front of a crowd after all. With that thought, I smiled to myself as I jogged to catch up with Brooke and Ethan.
***
I didn’t have long to wait before I saw Noah again. I only wished I had a warning before our next encounter. I spent the next day in the woods with Dakota and the book I had been reading the afternoon Ryder had disappeared. When I returned home that evening, my parents had a surprise dinner guest waiting for me.
At first, it seemed like every other evening. I approached the house from the backyard and came in through the door to the kitchen. My mother was in the midst of tossing a garden salad. “There you are,” she said. “I was beginning to wonder when you’d get home.”
“You weren’t worried, were you?”
“Always,” she said seriously. Then she smiled. “But I’m sure you were with Dakota, so no, I wasn’t really worried.”
Before I could respond, I heard two male voices in our family room. “Mom, do we have company?”
“Yes, actually, Noah is joining us for dinner tonight.”
I gasped. “What? Really? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We only just decided to have him over a few hours ago, and you, my dear, were out in the woods. We didn’t think you would mind...”
My mother’s voice faded as I turned and rushed up the stairs. There wasn’t enough time to shower, so I wiped my face and arms with a damp cloth. I exchanged my dusty hiking jeans and T-shirt for clean skinny jeans and a black shirt with three buttons down the front. All I had time for with my hair was to pull it out of my ponytail and run a brush through it. Then I added some eyeliner, slipped on silver hoop earrings, and spritzed a dash of perfume on my wrists before hurrying back downstairs.
“Okay,” I told my mom. “I’m ready now.”
“That was fast,” she said, grinning. She had finished with the salad and was setting glasses next to a pitcher of lemonade on a tray. “Your dad and Noah are out on the patio. Would you take this out to them?”
“Of course.”
I picked up the tray, carefully balancing it. My mother held the back door open for me as I slipped outside onto the patio.
Noah and my father stood beside the grill. They looked over at me as I placed the tray on the table. Noah caught my eye and smiled, causing me to nearly lose my balance. It was a good thing I had already set the tray down, or the pitcher and glasses surely would have fallen.
“Laken, I believe you met Noah yesterday. I don’t know if Mom told you, but he’s going to stay for dinner,” my father said.
“Yes, we met yesterday and Mom filled me in a few minutes ago. Hi, Noah.”
“Hi, Laken. It’s good to see you again,” Noah said.
All I could think about was that fateful moment yesterday when he had caught my fall. I could almost feel his strong arms where I had touched him, and I vividly remembered how his hands had felt around my waist.
“
Yes, you too,” I replied politely, trying to push the memory of yesterday out of my mind at once. “Would you like some lemonade?”
“I’d love some.”
As I poured two glasses, my father turned his attention back to Noah. “I need to get a few things inside. I’ll be back in a couple minutes. Noah, can you keep an eye on the grill?”
“No problem.” After my father disappeared into the house, Noah smiled at me. “So how is it being a small town sheriff’s daughter?” he asked as I handed him his glass of lemonade.
“Considering I don’t know anything else, it’s fine.” I sipped my lemonade as I walked around the table to sit on the steps leading down to the grass. I always preferred to sit there rather than at the table because it was closer to Dakota while he was out in the yard. Even now, when he wasn’t around, I sat there without thinking.
Noah joined me, sitting so close that our shoulders almost touched.
“The town seems like a very close-knit community. I like that. I’m from a big city where you can get lost in the crowd,” he explained.
“Really? Where’s that?”
“Pittsburgh.”
“I would welcome a big city right about now. Getting lost in the crowd would be great after yesterday.” I looked at him, meeting his steady gaze.
Noah raised his hand, gently brushing his fingers along the side of my face where I had hit my head the other night in the forest. All that remained was a faint bruise, and in a few more days, even that would be gone. “What happened here?”
“I fell the night I found Ryder. I’ve done a lot of hiking in these mountains, but only during the day. It turns out that it’s a much more dangerous place in the dark.”
He laughed softly, pulling his hand back. “I’m sure it is.”
“And you saw first-hand how coordinated I am during the day. It’s a wonder I got Ryder home safely without killing both of us.”
Shadows at Sunset: Sunset Trilogy ~ Book 1 Page 6