“I really like seeing you flustered.” I push on. “You get this little flare in your eye, and eventually you take it out on my body.”
He stalks toward me, his swagger slightly exaggerated. “Christ, woman, you’re goddamn perfect. Better get out of here before I change my mind and do exactly that.”
—
“Oh, I didn’t know you were going to be here!” My sister cheers the second she sees me before looping her arm in mine and leading me to the front of the room. While I’ve had plenty of time for heart-to-hearts with Walker, I haven’t had any real conversations with my sister or my mother since arriving home. Maybe it’s because I’m afraid to admit how much I wish I could stay here. Afraid they’ll be disappointed in me for staying away so long when my dad was alive and for giving up a plan I was hell-bent on for so long.
I glance behind me to make sure Walker is following, but he’s already been waylaid by Mr. Simmons and I’m pretty sure he’s giving Walker an earful about the photos his wife sent Walker last month. My cowboy is holding up his handand shaking his head, and I swear I can almost hear him say he didn’t want to see them, though the crowd is louder with their clacking of hellos and gossip.
“Incoming,” Penny mumbles as I’m tugged to a stop and return my focus to the front of the room. Nothing I can do to help Walker right now.
“Oh, I’m so excited you both could make it,” Babs says as she and Ruby block our way to the chairs.
I thumb toward the back of the room. “Looks like your husband is having a word with Walker, Mrs. Simmons. You might want to go handle that.”
She waves her hand. “A little jealousy keeps the men young and virile.”
“Not sure that’s how it works,” Penny mutters.
“You know my son is a doctor,” Babs cuts in, a twinkle in her eye.
“Isn’t he married?” I ponder aloud.
Ruby shakes her head. “We don’t like the wife.”
“She doesn’t eat meat,” Babs explains. “Or vegetables or fish. No pasta, no chocolate, no gluten, no sesame. I’m sure if you show me a food, she’ll tell you a reason why she doesn’t eat it.”
My jaw drops as I try to figure out what shecaneat.
“Exactly.” Babs points to my face. “Which means we’re on operation divorce. You want to be a mistress?”
My eyes pop. “Me?”
Babs grins. “My oldest always thought you were cute.” Penny snorts, and that draws Babs’s attention back to her. “What about you? Ever consider being the other woman?”
“Oh my God,” I mutter.
“Think about it.” Babs grins as she and Ruby head over to their next unsuspecting victim.
“Why are we sitting at the front?” I ask Penny as she guides me to the first chair opposite the lectern. I place my purse on it and move to sit on the second one, but Penny pushes me down farther so I’m seated beside Fletcher, who’s staring at a note-covered paper on his lap. “Hi, Fletcher.”
He grins a hello before I turn my attention back to my sister who merely shrugs. “I don’t want to miss anything.”
“You don’t want to miss our neighbors arguing over complete nonsense? Or trying to set you up with their married sons?”
“I know the small-town thing isn’t for you, Tally. But I love it. Minus the matchmakers. And as a business owner, it’s important to get involved.”
“Whoever said small-town living wasn’t for me?” I mutter.
“Up.” Walker appears out of nowhere and stands in front of me, arms crossed, glaring.
I raise an unimpressed brow. “We leaving already?”
“I’m only staying if you sit next to me, so like I said, up.” He motions for me to stand, and I giggle as I wait for my sister to move down a seat so I can sit next to Walker. He takes the seat on the end, where he’ll garner the most attention, and his knee bounces as he sits and waits for me to settle beside him.
My sister leans over. “Is this a date?”
I plop into the seat between them. “Nope. Walker was very clear. This isnota date.”
