The music started again, and she and Granny found seats at atable next to two older sisters in embellished blazers and glittery jewelry and a middle-aged couple who told them all about their work fostering service dogs. She lost sight of Erik, breathed a sigh of relief when he locked eyes with her once and gave a friendly nod-wave from across the room but made no move to come say hello. At least we can be civil. Though she wondered how long it would take for him to pull back his advertising dollars.
“Now that’s a catch,” one of the sisters told her in a low voice, and Rebecca startled when she realized the woman was speaking to her, had noticed her watching Erik. A faint blush warmed Rebecca’s cheeks.
“Oh, no—I’m not interested in him. I just … know him from work.”
“Pity.” The older woman winked and leaned closer, the stones on her ears flashing brightly. “If I were your age, I’d be more than a little interested.”
The other sister leaned in. “You’re from the paper, right?”
Rebecca steeled herself and nodded, waiting for the criticism, but the woman smiled.
“Well, I bet you have an inside track on this storm.” The woman waved an arm, bracelets jangling. “You think a hurricane is really going to hit?”
“The one off the coast?” Rebecca cocked her head. “I doubt we have anything to worry about this far inland.”
The first sister sniffed. “Back during Hugo, they said the same thing. Lost my entire vegetable garden, and a tree fell on my husband’s car!”
“Oh, and that poor little child died over in Charlotte from that downed tree on the house. Who ever heard of a hurricane in Charlotte? You can bet anytime they call for a storm now, we sit up and take notice.”
Rebecca made a mental note to call the National WeatherService first thing Monday, rework her front-page lineup.
“Well, I haven’t heard of anything that dire in store for us, but I’ll certainly look into it.”
“That’s good, dear.”
Next to her, Granny was intently asking the foster-dog couple about their latest pack. The sisters got up for dessert, and Rebecca tuned out, found herself people-watching. The humane society had hired some sort of swing band, the musicians all in their twenties and decked out in crisp charcoal suits and bowties. A few couples were on the dance floor, twirling and laughing in time to the beat.
Granny looked happy, relaxed. She wore a navy blue short-sleeved number with a lace overlay and a flouncy skirt, and the pearls at her neck and ears looked almost iridescent in the sparkling lights of the ballroom. Rebecca smiled, watching Granny giggle with the couple, glad they’d done this tonight. Granny seemed to read her mind, reached over and clasped her hand a moment.
Love you, she squeezed twice.
Love you back, Rebecca squeezed in reply.
She looked across the room to the buffet and blinked as she saw Josh Jamison, standing entirely too close to a woman with wavy red hair. Her heart did a flip-flop, and she swallowed, mouth suddenly very dry.
Josh. With a woman.
A pretty woman.
He wore a deep gray suit with a darker gray shirt, the collar unbuttoned and tie loosened a bit. His hair was tousled, and he was laughing at whatever the woman was saying.
Her heart began to thud. A flash of their almost-kiss came again, and she found her hands were now clenched. Found she couldn’t keep her eyes off him. He’s a single man, Rebecca. He has every right to date whoever he wishes.
And then, almost too late, she noticed he’d spotted her and wasnow making a beeline her way, the woman in tow.
Oh, you are kidding me. She had to get out of there. Now.
“Granny, I’ll be right back.” She stood, pocketbook in hand, scanned the room for a restroom.
“Becks!” She heard her name and pretended not to hear, but then he was there, and shaking hands with Granny, and she plastered a “hey buddy old pal” smile on and looked up at the woman to realize she was staring straight into the face of Josh’s older sister, Lissa.
“Becks, you remember Lissa?” Josh flashed a smile, and Rebecca swallowed back a blush. He wasn’t on a date. She recognized Lissa now, her thick hair and broad smile that matched her brother’s.
“Wow, it’s been a long time! You’re all grown up now!” Lissa’s smile was warm, genuine, and Rebecca found her heart thudding back to a normal rate. Josh was chatting with Granny in earnest now. “How nice to see you again! Josh told me you’re back in town.”
“He did?”
Lissa gave her another smile, one that seemed to see deeper than Rebecca wanted. “He certainly did.”
