“You know how to throw together a salad?” His voice didn’t condescend even though he was obviously teasing her.
“You mean that green stuff? And those orange sticks? I vaguely remember learning something about onions in college.” She ventured meeting his eyes again when he chuckled.
That laugh. She felt it right down to her toes. The sensation reminded her of how she’d felt his sigh over the speakers in her car.
“Yeah, that green stuff.” And then he frowned. “You do know how to cook, don’t you?”
She could either get angry or be understanding. She opted for understanding. This entire situation called for an abundance of understanding. “Yes. As a grown woman who’s lived alone for nearly a decade, I’ve realized the importance of learning how to cook.” Pretty much. Salads, in fact, were her specialty. She’d also been known to microwave a mean Lean Cuisine on occasion.
He drifted over to the window. “You have a boyfriend or something? Somebody who’ll be missing you this fall?” He stared outside as he asked the questions.
For a minute she thought about Chad. She hadn’t even told him she was leaving town. They’d dated on and off but never made any sort of a commitment to one another. He kept busy at his job in finance and she spent her time gathering images and information to keep her client’s media content fresh.
She probably ought to shoot him a text though. Apparently, she’d paused long enough that Peyton guessed her answer. He glanced over his shoulder and cocked one eyebrow. “Is that a yes?”
“Kind of. Nothing serious.” She didn’t want to discuss Chad with him. “What about you?” Now why’d she go and ask that?
He shrugged. “Same.”
Was it possible he could be even less communicative than he’d been before? And where had this sudden curiosity on her part come from? “Same?” She prodded.
“Kind of. Nothing serious.”
Is he mocking me?
At her exasperated look, he stepped away from the window and pulled something from his back pocket. “Think I’m lying?” He opened his wallet and handed it over. She wasn’t sure he believed she’d actually flip through it, but she wasn’t about to pass up a chance to learn something about him.
The first photo looked as though he’d carried it around for decades. A happy looking couple stared back at her from the faded and dog eared image. “Your parents?”
He nodded.
The next picture was one she’d seen before. In fact, she had the same one in her purse. It was of Corinne sitting in a hospital bed holding Misty as a newborn. Corrine glowed. Not wanting to think about how different she looked now, Stella flipped past a picture of Red and then a few more of Misty. On the last page, a picture of a blond girl in a cowboy hat stared back at him. Although she couldn’t know for sure, the fact that the girl’s shoulders were bare lead Stella to believe the cowboy hat might have been all she wore. “This her?”
“Miss Valerie Hunter.” He reached out and Stella reluctantly handed it back to him.
“She looks awfully young for you, Peyton. She out of high school yet?” Why was she goading him? Of course, a guy like him would never lack female companionship.
“Very funny.” He stuffed it back into his pocket. And then: “I’ll go down and set the table. Don’t forget about that salad you promised.”
He looked a little uncomfortable. “I won’t.’ Stella said. “Just let me get dressed first.”
Pause– pause– pause– pause. She was getting used to this now. His eyes darkened as he narrowed them at her. The word ‘smoldering’ came to mind. “You’re not gonna forgive me for that, are you?” Her knees practically buckled.
“Me? It’s already forgotten.” Keep it light Stella.
He walked over to the door as though to leave but then turned around one last time. “Don’t think I’ll be forgetting, Stella. Not for a very long time. He took a step backwards and grinned. “Even if I wanted to.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Since Misty wasstaying the night at the neighbor’s, the three adults sat down to a quiet dinner alone that evening. Stella imagined the mood would have been considerably different if Misty had been home.
Corinne tried to keep conversation flowing, but seemed tired and Peyton, well. He wasn’t all that talkative to begin with.
But Stella hated silences. They made her itchy. Despite the self-consciousness she felt with Peyton, she forced herself to liven things up. “The drive over was breathtaking. I think the autumn leaves are peaking. Red’s, golds, yellows. I could barely keep my eyes on the road.” And it had been beautiful. Even in her grief she’d found herself in awe.
“We need to take you up on the mountain,” Corinne took a small bite of potato– a very small bite. “Maybe Peyton could take you up with Misty. I’ll bet Misty would love that.”
Peyton peered up from his food and nodded slightly in his sister’s direction.
