I’ve come back to Chicago just long enough to tie up loose ends and prepare for a permanent move South. I’ll be staying with Sandy in the family home indefinitely. Everything seems to crawl at a snail’s pace as I work with my attorney to make Brandie an equal partner in the boutique and hand over the management reins to her, as well as find a long-term renter for my furnished condo. I’m packing up my memories, personal possessions, and clothing I want to keep for transport to Green Springs, donating everything else, and closing the Chicago chapter of my life.
The decision to leave most of my belongings behind made packing easy. Since I’m shipping most of what I decided to keep, I’m left with only what I need for the drive down in my SUV. Standing at the large picture window in my condo, I look out over Lincoln Park, reflecting on the years I’ve spent here. They flash by quickly. I thought I was happy, content at least, but something was always missing. Even when I had Mama, I spent a great deal of time alone. I’ve had a few boyfriends and one serious relationship that ended badly. I thought I loved Kenny. Looking back, I’m not sure if what I felt for him was love or just some shadow of the real thing brought on by years of being alone and the comfort of having someone in my life. At first, he’d been safe, kind, and generous. I was comfortable with him. There was some passion, although we weren’t setting the sheets on fire. A year into the relationship, just as I was ready to ask him to move in with me, I caught him with another woman. A much younger, white woman at that. I was heartbroken. But now I see my heartbreak stemmed more from the wasted time and the hurt of being traded in for a younger, slimmer, paler model.
I haven’t dated since. My days and nights have been full of work and building my business, plus taking care of Mama until she died. I didn’t allow myself any time to consider how lonely I was.
Green Springs and Sandy have changed my perspective on all that. I have a new family, a happy one, and, shocker—a white one—who have welcomed me with open arms. I love the slow pace of the town. I can take the time to look around and see the world around me. There are no blaring horns and sirens, no threats in dark parking garages. Hell, Green Springs doesn’t evenhavea parking garage. Safety, family, and, not to mention, warmer weather, I know I’m making the right choice.
Smiling, I flip off the lights, leave the key on the kitchen counter for the realtor, and close the door to my condo. And Chicago. Today, I say goodbye to Salynda Jones and hello to Sally Jones-Patrick.
Chapter 15
Nolan sat in his truck, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel and staring into the front windows of the Blackened Skillet. He’d eaten there at least once a day, sometimes more, for years and never before had he been too nervous to go in. What, or, rather, who, he saw inside was keeping his ass firmly planted in his pickup.Sally Jones-Patrick.He’d heard through the rumor mill that not only had she moved to Green Springs permanently, she’d added Patrick to her last name. Over time, he’d almost convinced himself he’d be able to see her and be unaffected.Wrong.He wasn’t even in the same room with her and his palms were sweating like he was a teenager on his first date.
“Jesus, get a grip, man. She’s just a woman you met and spoke to for less than thirty minutes a few months ago. She probably doesn’t even remember you.” Just a beautiful woman with flawless skin, curves for days, and more sass than any southern belle he knew. Yeah, his body sure remembered everything about her, he thought to himself as he adjusted his jeans. “You got this. Just be polite, remember your manners, and try not to get a hard-on the second you see her.” He laughed, realizing he was giving himself a pep talk before heading inside to join Drew. He was a grown-ass man, not a boy seeing his first pair of boobs. He should be able to control himself. “Dammit,” he muttered, again adjusting himself at the thought of Sally and her bountiful boobs.Get your damn head out of the gutter, Nolan! Think about Drew and why you’re here.His friend had struggled with his demons over the last few years, but finally seemed to have his shit together. As far as he knew, there’d been no more fights and no more whoring around in Tupelo. Tonight was their weekly dinner meet-up outside of the garage.
The bell over the door jingled as Nolan walked in. He spotted Drew at his customary seat at the counter, then slid onto the stool beside him. “Hey, Drew.” He nodded a greeting and flipped his coffee cup over. It didn’t matter that it was late in the day, he had to have coffee. He was a serial drinker, twenty-four/seven. Old military habits died hard.
“Evenin’, old man. How’s it goin’?”
Nolan forced his gaze to remain glued on Drew so as not to be obvious in his attempt to get a good look at Sally. Through his peripheral vision, he was able to catch sight of her in a booth along the window. He tried to be inconspicuous as he looked to see who she was dining with. He didn’t consider himself a jealous man, but he couldn’t resist the urge. He let out a breath as he realized she was sitting across from her father. She was a vision in red, but he couldn’t tell if it was a dress without openly looking at her. He didn’t think she’d noticed him, and he refused to draw attention to himself.
“It’s goin’. You know, about the same as half an hour ago at the garage.”
Drew waved a hand, dismissing him. “You don’t have to check up on me anymore. I’m fine. I told you. The nightmares are gone, and I feel better than I have in a long time. Football is in full swing and that’s keepin’ me busy. I wish I’d thought about coachin’ at the high school a long time ago. I just hope I can do half as good a job for those kids as my old coaches did for me.”
“You’re going to do great. No question about that, Drew.”
“So, I know we aren’t here to talk about work, but I see that hot woman whose car broke down a while back, and who ripped you a new one, is sittin’ right over there.” Drew jerked his head in Sally’s direction.
“I’m aware.” Nolan drank more of his coffee, trying to give himself time to think of a subject change. The very last thing he wanted to discuss with Drew was Sally.
“You should go say hello. I’d love to see her sass you again.” Laughing, Drew nudged him with his elbow. “She sure is pretty, don’t ya think?”
“Sure, she’s pretty.” And sexy, and gorgeous, and curvy, and all the things a man could want in a woman. Even though she had a tongue sharp enough to lash a strip off his hide.
“Yep. There’s lots you’renotsayin’.”
“It’s bad manners for a man to discuss a woman with another guy. Keep it up, Drew, and I’ll tell Nana on you.”
“Oh, really? You gonna run and tattle on me like a five-year-old? Real mature, old man.”
Just as he was about to reply, their food was set in front of them. Shrimp and grits as always for Drew, and a bacon cheeseburger for Nolan. Pushing his sleeves up past his elbows, he picked up the burger. He brought it to his mouth, and was about to take a bite, when someone bumped into his back, shoving him face first into his greasy sandwich, smearing ketchup, mustard, and melted cheese all over his mouth and chin.
“Ugh,” he muttered, putting the burger down and grabbing a napkin to wipe the mess off his face. “The hell?” Turning around, he came face to chest withher. Sally’s large breasts were encased in a dark-red top that was cut low enough he could have easily buried his face in her cleavage. Happily. “Um, hello,” he said, forcing his eyes to her hers. His face heated against his will. He was glad he hadn’t eaten yet either, as his stomach clenched with nerves.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Sally’s voice washed over him. “Nolan, right?” She sounded unsure, but he knew she remembered him. At least remembered his ability to fit his foot into his fool mouth. She was being nice, which made him suspicious, but he wasn’t about to miss out on an opportunity when he saw one.
“Yes, ma’am.” He remembered his manners at the last moment. He’d screwed things up with her once already; he didn’t want to risk offending her again. He scrambled for conversation. “Car still runnin’ okay?” Now that she was in front of him, he wanted to keep her there.
“Just fine. It got me down here again with no problems. Sorry for bumping into you. I’ll just… be on my way.”
“Wait!” He reached out, grabbing her arm. She jerked it out of his grasp quickly and backed away from him. He knew the look of fear when he saw it. “Shit. I’m sorry, Sally. I didn’t mean to scare you, I swear. I just wanted to apologize again for what I said last time I saw you. My mama raised me better than that.” His heart was thudding in his chest; the brief second of contact with her skin had set his own on fire. Tingles still raced along his hand and arm from where he’d touched her. Just imagining how it would feel to explore all of her, to have her bare beneath him, nearly made him embarrass himself.
“I appreciate the apology, but please, don’t ever grab me like that.” Her voice was soft and hesitant, surprising him. He knew that look, that tone. Fear. She was afraid of him. The knowledge forced a lump in his throat. Who or what had caused her to be afraid? Fury spiked through him and he forced himself to keep it at bay and off his face.
“Sally, will you sit with me awhile?” He knew she was there with Sandy, but the need to spend time with her and erase the terror from her features wasn’t one he could ignore.
“I’m, um, I’m here with my father.” As he watched, she squared her shoulders and seemed to swallow her fear down. “Give me just a moment.” Before he had a chance to respond, Sally continued to the back of the diner, toward the restrooms.
