Walker lets out an aggressive sigh, but when I cross my legs and rub the bottom of my pink boot against his calf, his bouncing leg comes to rest. Marginally.
Penny twists so she can look at Walker. “Why won’t you ask my sister on a date? You just stringing her along like all the other men your age?”
My lips fold in on themselves again as I stifle a laugh. Walker sinks deeper into his frown before his eyes narrow. “Why’s your mother up on the stage?”
I glance up, and sure enough, my mother is up there, along with the rest of the town council. I shrug, but Penny leans across me with an answer. “Every owner of the big businesses in town has a shared seat on the town council. They alternate monthly.”
“What?” The waver in Walker’s voice makes me turn and study him.
Penny nods. “Yeah. Rosie, Eli, Babs. I’m sure there’s others. Not me, though. The bookstore isn’t big enough.”
“Yet,” I say with conviction. “The bookstore isn’t big enoughyet.”
My sister gives me a soft smile. “Thanks, Tal.”
“You say it like you want the position.” Walker scowls.
“Everyone wants that position,” she explains, and the pride in her tone takes me aback. My sister really does love this town. I always knew she loved the store and her books, but this passion for the community? It’s shocking. A bolt of something akin to jealousy hits me because I want to feel that way about my career.
“Not me,” Walker gruffs.
I smile and pat his thigh. “Then it’s a good thing you don’t own anything.”
He swallows heavily, and I ignore the niggle of a worry that bubbles in my stomach. “Remember, Walker, you lovethis town and the farm. You are so excited to be the next grand marshal. Now sit up straight. Everyone’s watching you.”
It’s a torturous two hours. Fletcher can barely get through his list of agenda points without someone interrupting him every five seconds. When the meeting finally ends, Walker grabs my hand and drags me from the meeting before another person can stop and say “Hi, Walker.” Now that he’s running for grand marshal, he has to respond, and I think it’s driving him batty.
“You done peopling?” I ask with a smile as he tugs me out onto the sidewalk.
April has brought with it slightly warmer weather and flowers on almost every stoop. There are trailing petunias in wicker baskets hanging in a cascade of colors and wreaths bursting with greens and yellows welcoming the new season. I can’t help but feel slightly nostalgic seeing our town all dolled up and ready for the spring parade. I’d forgotten that this time of year is by far my favorite.
Walker lets out a grunt as he stops under a street lamp and turns to face me. As he runs his hand through his mop of hair, my fingers twitch to do the same. “You want to maybe grab dinner downtown? Or go for a walk? Check out some of the stores?”
I try to hide the way his simple question, asked with a lilt of vulnerability, makes my heart swoon and my lips curve. “That sounds oddly like a date.”
He shakes his head. “Not a date, I promise.”
“So we’re just two people who like to kiss—”
“I like to more than kiss you,” he mumbles as his hands flex by his sides.
“And we’re just going to grab dinner and walk around town?”
“I’ll probably ask you questions, and you’ll drive me nuts and do that girly giggle thing a lot.”
“That tracks,” I say, nodding along as my stomach swoops again.
“We’ll probably split an appetizer or two, and if you get something I like, I’ll probably eat from your plate.”
My heart picks up as this crazy pull has me taking a step closer to him. “What about dessert?”
“I’d let you order whatever you want.” One brow lifts as he waits for my next challenge.
“And then when the check comes?”
He lets out a ragged breath and grumbles, “If you touch the damn check, I’ll turn your ass red as soon as we get home.”
I smile. Absolutely giddy. “Right, so you’ll pay for my dinner—”
