She looked up to see Luke from the concert smiling down at her. “Tara, I’ve been looking all over for you. I saved a spot for you to see the parade. You two ladies don’t mind if I steal her away, do you?” He forced a laugh. “What am I saying? You two are pro-stealing, so it’s no problem.” Putting an arm around her shoulder, he steered Tara away while she sputtered.
Had he really heard all that? And why could he think up a good comeback when she couldn’t?
Once they were out of range of the two vipers, he dropped his arm and looked at her, all pretenses dropped. “I’m sorry. It was a protective impulse I gave in to and I didn’t think. I just went with it.” His eyes were gentleness and mischief mixed in one. It was a potent combination—almost enough to push away the pain that hit her when she was once again reminded of her broken engagement.
“You and my aunt have something in common then. And speaking of, I should probably go back and get her. She’ll be so thrilled to see you.”
He laughed. “Yeah, about that—”
“Luke!” Aunt Sandy practically barreled into him, but stopped herself at the last second and patted his arm instead. “I guess I should ask before hugging. Can I have a hug?”
He held his arms out and she came in and wrapped him up, swaying him from side to side.
He rubbed his neck self-consciously when she finally let him go, turning to glance at Tara. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t need to find her. She found us, and in record time, too.”
“Oh,” Aunt Sandy glanced between the two of them. “Oh, right. Intruder alert. I’m gonna go make myself scarce. But I have my phone on me. Call me when you’re ready to go, sweetheart.”
“Wait.” The word died on Tara’s lips. Aunt Sandy had already picked up her folded-up lawn chair and weaved around the family in front of them, disappearing as fast as her little tennis shoes could take her. Traitor.
Tara glanced everywhere but at Luke, not sure what she was supposed to do now. He didn’t really want her there. He’d only borrowed her from the women trying to humiliate her, and now she’d been foisted on him once again by her aunt.
A horrible thought gripped her, and she frantically unclasped her purse and jogged the insides until her hands clasped the familiar cold metal of her car keys.
“Are you missing something?” Luke asked, stepping closer.
“Just my dignity,” she muttered. Unfortunately, she’d said it loud enough for him to hear based on his responding grin.
She closed back up her purse. “I was checking to make sure my aunt didn’t swipe my car keys so I’d have to ask you for a ride home.”
“I wish I could say I was shocked.”
“Me too.”
His eyes sparkled. “Come on. I really do have a place to watch the parade saved. Your aunt is invited to join us too if she ever shows back up.”
She looked for signs he was joking, but he seemed to be sincere, calmly waiting to see if that was what she wanted.
She finally nodded. “Thank you. I’d love that.”
He turned and led the way, dropping his hand back for her to take as they threaded through the crowd. She loosely gripped his fingers, and even that bit of a connection between them had her heart in her throat. It didn’t seem right to feel so much for someone she knew so little about.
He stopped when they reached two people guarding a handful of lawn chairs on the little section of sidewalk they’d carved out for themselves. It was Sarah, who worked in the front office of the school, and presumably her husband. Tara had only talked to Sarah a handful of times, but she’d always been friendly and helpful.
There was no denying the surprise in Sarah’s eyes, though, when she spotted Tara and Luke’s intertwined fingers. Luke dropped Tara’s hand at the same time she let go. Maybe this was a bad idea. Scratch that. It was already a bad idea. But maybe it could get worse.
“Come have a seat,” Sarah’s husband said quickly, reaching out to take Tara’s lawn chair and open it up. “I think my wife knows you, but we haven’t met. I’m Heston.”
“Tara.” She shook his hand before sitting in the chair he’d placed for her.
“It was nice of you to come out,” Sarah added. She stole the lawn chair next to Tara before Luke could sit down and threw him a look of triumph.
Luke gave Tara a wink before sitting next to Heston in the row behind them. Not knowing how they knew each other or what their plans had been before her arrival made her feel a little uneasy as to how to proceed, or how to even ask.
Sarah leaned over and whispered, “Did Luke invite you?” Apparently, she wanted to know things, too.
“Um, no. I ran into him at the bake sale table and he said I should join him. Is that okay? Am I taking someone’s spot?”
Sarah clutched her chest. “Of course it’s okay for you to be here. I’m sorry. Sometimes I get so caught up in our neighborly rivalry that I forget how rude I sound.”
