Just a Kiss

by Denise Hunter

  “It was amazing.”

  Chapter 25

  Riley ran water in the sink for the supper dishes. He and Paige had gotten back to some semblance of normality over the past two days. Their relationship still seemed a little stilted, but what did he expect? He’d kissed his best friend.

  They went through the motions at home and at work. He’d only been relieved tonight when she said she was going to the grocery after supper. It was past time to make that phone call.

  He turned off the water and grabbed his cell, taking care with his leg as he shifted back to the front of the sink. Noah should be off work by now, though he and his wife, Josie, might be in the middle of supper. He dialed the number, then held the phone at his shoulder while he picked up the first plate and began scrubbing.

  Dasher wove between his legs, her gray tail flicking high. She looked up at him, then slinked away as quietly as she’d come.

  “Oo-rah!” Noah said.

  Riley grinned at the familiar greeting. “Oo-rah!”

  “Long time, no hear, Tank! How you doing, man?”

  “It’s all good. My brother just got married over the weekend. Lucky guy’s in Key West right now.”

  “Good for him. She the one who was married before?”

  “Yeah, she really went through it with that guy. But she’s a great match for Beau.”

  “Have you heard from any of the guys?” Noah had just been finishing his tour when Riley started his. They’d bonded quickly though.

  “Eddie and Fin called me a while back to see how I was doing,” he said, referring to a couple guys in their platoon who’d finished their tours. “Seems like they’re adjusting all right.”

  “Fin still moony-eyed over that Suzy he was missing?”

  “Oh yeah. I expect he’ll be putting a ring on her finger soon as he can buy one he thinks is worthy of her.”

  “It’d help if money didn’t burn a hole in his pocket so fast.”

  They caught up on other details, careful to skim over the parts of the sandpit neither of them wanted to rehash. Noah seemed to be happy in his marriage, and his home improvement business was doing well.

  “How’s your recovery going?” Noah asked. “You getting mobile yet?”

  “Oh yeah. Got my temporary prosthesis, and I’m staying busy. Still helping Paige out at the shelter.” He’d never revealed his real feelings for Paige, though Noah had once come across the picture of her that he’d carried.

  “Well, when you get tired of working with the puppies, we could sure use you here.”

  Noah’s family owned the home improvement company. He’d been begging Riley to come work for him.

  “Dad’s itching to make his retirement official, but the work keeps coming in. I’m still at the office now, and I gotta say, paperwork is the pits.”

  Riley ran water over the plate he’d washed. “That’s why I called. I’m about ready to move down there. My replacement at the shelter comes in a few weeks, so I should be able to get out of here then. That apartment over your garage still available?”

  “Yeah, man. Absolutely. It’ll be great to have you around. You sound pretty good.”

  “I’m doing great. The prosthesis is working out. I’m walking and everything.” He didn’t mention the soreness or the blisters or the hours of therapy and exercises he’d endured. Or the cramps and nightmares that plagued him. Oh, and the broken heart. He didn’t mention that either.

  “Tank . . . you sure you want to do this? Leave your family and everything? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m gung ho to have you down here. But you got a life there, and from everything you’ve said, it sounds like a pretty good one.”

  Riley thought about Paige. About Paige and Dylan dancing together. Maybe it wouldn’t be Dylan. Maybe it’d be some other guy. But eventually she’d find someone she couldn’t live without, and he didn’t want a front row seat.

  “I’m ready to move on, you know? I need a change, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Georgia has to offer.”

  “Warmer winters, for starters.”

  “I could use some of that.” He tried not to think about winter at the family farm. About the miles of rolling hills covered with evergreens, or the big red barn, all of it layered with a fresh blanket of snow.

  “Well, I’m looking forward to it,” Noah said. “Man, you gotta save me from all these numbers.”

  “So I’ll see you in a few weeks or so. I’ll text you when I have a day and time. I don’t have a whole lot of stuff to move in, but an extra hand would be nice.”

  He wrapped up the call, turned off the phone, and shut off the water. A sound behind him made him turn around. Paige stood on the threshold of the kitchen, a dozen emotions fluttering over her pretty features.

  Paige rewound the conversation she’d just walked in on, trying to make it work any other way than the way it sounded.

  Ready to move on . . . need a change . . . see what Georgia has to offer.

  The terrible dread that had begun blooming inside her spread like a toxic gas. An awful and familiar feeling washed over her, making her sway a little.

  “Hey.” Riley turned back to the dishes. “Thought you were going to the store.”

  And that he’d sneak in his phone call while she was gone? His casual tone wasn’t fooling her for one minute.

  “I forgot my list.” She snatched it off the table. “What was that about, Riley?”

  He finished wiping the dish, ran it under the faucet, then turned the water off. Just when she thought he was going to ignore her, he dried his hands and turned around, meeting her eyes.

  He gave her a strained smile. “I was meaning to talk to you.”

  “Were you?” She crossed her arms. Her mind charged back to the day she found out he’d enlisted. After the fact, and not even from him.

  “Look, Paige. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. This has been a big adjustment, and you’ve been there for me every step of the way. I’m grateful.”

  His words, his tone, were heavy with the weight of good-bye.

  “I don’t want your gratitude.” She wanted his love. But she couldn’t say that. Hadn’t she done enough? It was probably the kiss that was driving him away. Had to be. The thought sent warmth flooding into her cheeks.

  “I just feel like . . . I need a fresh start, you know? Everything has changed so much. It’s too hard to be here in Summer Harbor with all the memories when I can’t do what I love.”

  “I don’t see why you can’t. You’re getting around really well.”

  “Walking and lobstering are two different things. It’s hard work—tough enough for an able-bodied person.”

  “So you’re just leaving. Again.” Leaving his family. Leaving her. She should be used to it by now. But she supposed being abandoned never became old hat. Her eyes burned.

  “Don’t take it personally.”

  “How can I not take it personally? You’re leaving me again, just like before.”

  “Paige—”

  “You didn’t even talk to me about enlisting! You just did it. And you know how I found out, Riley? Beau told me. You didn’t even have the decency to tell me yourself.”

  He blinked. “You’re mad at me for enlisting?”

  “You left me! And you’re leaving again. Everybody leaves me, so why should you be any different?”

  “Come on, Paige . . .”

  “You come on! You already left once, and by some miracle of God you survived that awful explosion. Do you have any idea what we went through, waiting to hear?”

  “I’m sorry. It’s not like I got wounded on purpose.”

  “No, but you’re choosing to leave again. Now, when you need us more than ever.” When she needed him more than ever. “Maybe your body’s healing, but you can’t tell me your mind is keeping pace. I hear you at night. I’ve seen the nightmares. Watched you jump every time something falls.”

  His jaw muscles twitched, and his eyes snapped with fire. “Stop it.”
>
  “It’s the truth. You need more counseling. You’ll have to start over with a new counselor if you move, have you thought of that?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “You’ll be back to square one.”

  “I’m not even seeing the flipping counselor!”

  Paige’s response died on her tongue. Not seeing . . . She searched his face.

  He averted his eyes. The muscles of his jaw ticked.

  “I take you every Tuesday.”

  He tossed the towel on the countertop. “Yeah, well, I haven’t been going.”

  She waited until he made eye contact and saw the truth in those stubborn green eyes. He’d just been pretending? All those times she’d asked him how it had gone, he’d been lying to her?

  She pressed her teeth together. “How long?”

  His eyes shifted away again. “I went the first time.”

  “The first—That’s it? One time?” She stared at him. No wonder the nightmares hadn’t gotten any better. No wonder he was irritable and moody and distant. How could she help him if he wasn’t willing to help himself?

  “It didn’t go well.”

  “Life isn’t going well. And it’s not going to until you get yourself some help. You think running away is going to make everything better?”

  He glared at her. “I’m not running away.”

  “Oh yeah? Since when did you want to live in Georgia? All you’ve ever talked about was settling here in Summer Harbor.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “Then explain it!”

  “I need a fresh start, different scenery, different people.”

  The thoughtless words prickled under her skin, and she winced.

  Something like regret flickered in his eyes.

  But it was too late. His words had already scorched her. Different people, huh? Maybe she should’ve been satisfied with best friend status. It sounded like even that was in jeopardy.

  “Well. Thanks for the clarification.” She stuffed the grocery list into her front pocket and hitched her purse higher on her shoulder as she turned to leave. “I’ll be at the store.”

  “Paige . . . come on. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  She kept going until she reached her car. Then she pulled from the drive as she tried to swallow back the painful lump in her throat. But it was lodged as firmly as the pain in her heart.

  Chapter 26

  The atmosphere in the community center was positively euphoric. The place had been decked out with balloons and streamers. Hors d’oeuvre trays were being passed around to a crowd of mostly single women, young and old. The volume of their collective chatter betrayed their level of excitement. Others had come just for the entertainment and, of course, to support the shelter.

  Paige tried to get into the spirit of things as she settled a glitch with the microphone stand. She should be ecstatic. It was a terrific turnout. Standing room only. The entry fee alone would raise a lot of money, and if the bachelors went for the amount she suspected they would, the shelter would have more than enough to tide them over until the new donors’ money came in.

  Lucy approached from behind the makeshift stage. “The fellas are ready. All set to go?”

  “I think so.” Paige tested the mike stand, finding it stable. “Do you have the order of events and the bios?”

  Lucy had agreed to emcee the event. She held up the sheet of paper. “Let’s get this show on the road. You might want to turn up the air. I have a feeling it’s about to get very warm in here.” She waggled her eyebrows.

  Paige notched up the air, then went to stand at the back of the hall by the door. After Lucy got the crowd quieted, she welcomed the guests and shared about the shelter and the important role it played in the community.

  Adorable pictures of dogs and cats flashed on the screen behind her as she talked, and she reminded everyone that those very animals were looking for loving homes right this minute. Charlotte Dupree was stationed at the adoption table with a sweet little terrier, ready to take appointments.

  Lucy went over the auction rules, then introduced the first bachelor, one of the local volunteer firemen. He scored a thunderous applause when he strutted out onstage in his turnout gear. He turned in a wide circle, arms out, clearly in his element. When Lucy finally got control of the crowd, the bidding was started at fifty dollars and quickly began rising.

  Paige relaxed her hand on her paddle. Her main job tonight was to drive the bids up when necessary, but it looked like the firefighter wasn’t going to need any help.

  Some of the others might not be so fortunate. After encouragement from some of the middle-aged single women in town, they’d included a couple of seasoned bachelors: Eden’s dad, who was a nice-looking man in his midfifties, and Sheriff Colton. After what happened between Miss Trudy and the sheriff at the reception, Paige had decided to win him tonight as a gift to Miss Trudy—whether the woman wanted him or not.

  She glanced out the window toward the deck. It was dark out there tonight, no lights twinkling under the night sky. But her thoughts were drawn right back to the night of the reception. To the kiss she’d shared with Riley under that glowing moon.

  Her stomach tightened at the memory. They’d reached a kind of truce the past few days. Paige regretted her outburst. He had every right to move away, just as he’d had every right to enlist. She shouldn’t take it so personally.

  The crowd was growing impatient, the noise level rising, and her stomach clamped down at the thought of what was coming tonight when Riley walked out onstage. He’d been so nervous getting ready. It showed in the way his hands trembled as he knotted his tie, in the unevenness of his gait, in the way he fidgeted with his lapels on the drive over. She’d tried to calm his nerves.

  “You look amazing. You’re going to have a dozen women competing for a date with you.”

  “Charlotte Dupree will start the bidding, right? What about Joe?”

  Charlotte’s husband was about as chill as a person could get. “Relax. It’s all set up. If she ends up winning, she’s gifting you to her niece.”

  He gave a wry laugh. “She’ll probably be the first and only bidder.”

  The cheering crowd, mingled with a few boos, drew her attention back to the stage. The fireman had been auctioned off to Bridgette Gillespie for two hundred dollars. Paige allowed herself a moment’s relief.

  Maybe things with Riley were a mess, but at least the future of the shelter looked promising. Sometimes she got way too fixated on what was going wrong. She whispered a prayer of gratitude.

  The next bachelor was Nick Donahue, a handsome pediatrician who’d briefly dated Lucy. A few minutes later Lucy closed the bidding on Nick, who’d scored two hundred eighty dollars for the shelter. Maybe she should’ve jumped in to nudge up the bidding if everyone was going to go this high. She was going to have to pay better attention.

  She felt a moment’s anxiety for Riley. As much as she dreaded seeing him auctioned off to some other woman, she wanted to see him humiliated even less.

  Relax, Paige. That’s not going to happen.

  For the next seven bachelors, Paige had fun driving up the bids. There was a lot of whooping and hollering as the women made a friendly competition out of each bachelor. Paige had gotten some playful scowls from some of the women, and some not-so-playful ones from others. Oh well. It was for a good cause.

  She skipped on bidding for Scott Lewis, not wanting to give him any ideas. A pretty young lady she recognized from the diner walked off with a date with him. Ellen Mays, a local photographer, won the bidding on Eden’s dad. Paige thought they made a nice couple.

  Dylan was up next, and the crowd went wild when he came out in his lobsterman gear. The bidding started off strong, then faltered at one ninety, so she lifted her paddle. He sent her a wink, as he’d done with several of the other ladies who’d bid. She hoped that did the trick, because two hundred was her cap.

  “All right, ladies,” Lucy called. “What’s it goi
ng to be? Do I hear two ten?”

  Millie Parker raised her paddle.

  Dylan’s smile faltered. Millie Parker wanted a husband more than she wanted her next meal, and every man in the county knew it.

  “Two ten! Who’s got two twenty? Come on, girls, look at those muscles!”

  Dylan gave Paige a discreet look.

  Fine. You owe me, pal. Paige raised her paddle.

  “Two twenty!” Lucy called. “Come on, ladies! Two thirty’s a small price to pay for a lovely evening with this handsome fella.”

  Paige scanned the crowd, mentally urging some of the women who’d been actively bidding to jump back in. Millie must’ve been tapped out because she seemed to be out of the bidding.

  “Two twenty going once . . .”

  Come on, come on.

  “Two twenty going twice . . . Sold for two hundred and twenty dollars to Paige Callahan!”

  Paige glued a smile to her face as the audience applauded and Dylan moved off the stage, no doubt relieved to have been spared from the clutches of Millie Parker.

  Even worse than the damage to her wallet was the effect on the remainder of the auction. She knew the rules—she’d written them herself. A woman could only win one date. Now she couldn’t bid on Sheriff Colton for Miss Trudy.

  Maybe Charlotte could help. She’d happily provided some of the hors d’oeuvres and volunteered to man the adoption table. But no, that wouldn’t work. If Charlotte wound up with Sheriff Colton, she wouldn’t be able to start the bidding for Riley.

  Drat!

  Danny Colton stepped onto the stage in his uniform, earning a few piercing whistles. Color flooded into his face, and he tugged his hat lower.

  On the other side of the room, Miss Trudy stood with Zac and Beau, her lips pinched. She hadn’t even bothered to register for a paddle.

  The bidding started at fifty and quickly rose. Paige made eye contact with Lucy and shrugged. There was nothing either of them could do. By the time the sheriff left the stage, his face was beet red, and Miss Trudy was white as a bedsheet, her shoulders stiff. The sheriff had himself a date with the owner of the Primrose Inn and head of the shelter’s board, Margaret LeFebvre.