“Of course,” he said, as if that was never a question. “Just ask any of his customers. According to Grams, no one could drop off or pick up their dry cleaning without having to suffer through a story about whatever it was I was doing at the time. I would send pictures during my deployment, and he would print them, along with information about the country I was in, and tape them to the counter so customers could read about it while they waited.”
Ashanti slapped her hand against her chest. “That’s so sweet. He sounds like an amazing man. Of course, he would have to be amazing to catch a woman like Mrs. Frances.”
“Yeah, Gramps was a good one. Best man I’ve ever known.” Thad’s expression sobered and she realized it must hurt for him to talk about his grandfather in the past tense. She knew that feeling intimately.
“I’m sure he would still be very proud of your post-military career, as well,” she offered. “Despite my opposition to what you are doing to the house in the Bywater, I will admit that I am impressed by your business model. In a city that has more bars than pharmacies, you came up with an idea that is unique. That’s quite an achievement.”
“I’m glad you approve.” His eyes sparkled with his grin.
“Not that youneedmy approval,” Ashanti said, bumping him with her shoulder again. “But yes, I approve.”
“I may not need it, but I like having it all the same.”
The amusement in his eyes was coupled with a sincerityshe had never before heard in his voice. It compelled Ashanti to believe that he truly did value her opinion. The thought sent a ribbon of deliciously warm feelings twisting through her.
Why was this man turning out to be nothing like she first assumed?
“You know,” Ashanti said. “You’re not as much of a curmudgeon as I thought you were.”
“Yes, I am,” he said with a laugh. “But I’m trying to get better at not being such a hard ass.”
They drifted into a comfortable silence as they people-watched from their perch on the bleachers. Ashanti’s entire being hummed with the urge to thread her arm through Thad’s and rest her head on his shoulder. She abruptly stood before she could give in to the impulse.
“It’s getting late, and we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow,” she said.
She wobbled as she started down the steps, and Thad caught her by the waist. His fingers brushed against the skin at the small of her back, where her sweatshirt had ridden up, igniting her body like a sparkler on New Year’s Eve.
“Take it easy,” Thad said. “You okay?”
Ashanti pulled in a steadying breath and nodded. She took a second to glance in his direction and immediately recognized her error. Looking at him gave him the chance to see what she was desperately trying to hide, the wanting she knew was evident in her eyes.
When he spoke, his voice was so soft she was surprised she even heard it above the fray of the busy square.
“Ashanti—” Thad said.
She felt his whisper on her skin; the longing in that simpleutterance reaching deep inside her. It tugged on emotions she’d vowed she wouldn’t give in to.
Once she was back home, she would share a bottle of wine with Evie and Ridley, and lament over Anita’s long-ago threat continuing to cockblock her. That’s the way things had to be for the next two years. Nothing was worth jeopardizing her guardianship of the girls.
“We should go,” Ashanti said. She divested from his hold and made her way down the bleachers.
Thad was at her side within seconds, but he blessedly withheld any comment about what had transpired a minute ago. He stuck his hands in his pockets and gestured with his head. “Our hotel is this way.”
The crisp New York night provided welcome relief from the heat that continued to consume her from the inside out. Ashanti remained ferociously cognizant of where she was in proximity to Thad for their somewhat awkward, yet still surprisingly pleasant, walk back to the hotel.
They entered the lobby and were immediately recognized by two young women who looked to be in their late teens or early twenties.
“Oh, snap, you’re Puddin’ and Duchess!” exclaimed the one wearing a Philadelphia Flyers sweatshirt.
“Um, actually, we’re their owners,” Ashanti said. “Puddin’ and Duchess are the dogs.”
“Sure, sure,” the girl said. “That’s what I meant.”
“You two are the cutest couple,” her companion said. “Almost as cute as Puddin’ and Duchess. You know what, you two should re-create their video! But instead of the dog treat you can share like a hot dog or a churro or something like that. How cute would that be?”
“For real, for real,” the other girl said. “My timeline would blow up after seeing a video like that.”
“We’ll take that into consideration,” Thad said, gently capturing Ashanti by the elbow and ushering her to the bank of elevators. One opened just as they were walking up to it.
