Molly gets in between us, her fluffy tail wagging eagerly.
“Where will you and Molly go tonight?” she asks me, scratching my dog behind the ears.
I nudge the sidewalk crack with my boot. “Probably the truck stop off the highway where I can rent a cheap shower stall. I’m gonna need one after all that dancing.” I glance up at her and wink, grinning flirtatiously.
She giggles before her expression turns pensive. “Is it safe to sleep in a van near the highway?”
“Oh, sure. Although I do prefer a campground or a secluded spot off the beaten path. But truck stops are well-lit and offer great perks for travelers like me. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. I’ve been playing this game for almost two years.”
“Two years?” She seems shocked.
“Yup. Plenty of time to figure out what works and what doesn’t.”
“Hmmm.” She looks toward her home on the second floor for a beat before she turns and smiles up at me, her voice barely above a whisper. “Well… be safe.”
“I will.” I take a bold step toward her and lightly touch my thumb across her lower lip. I can feel her hot breath skate across my skin in a slow exhale. Gosh, I want to kiss this woman on the mouth so bad. I’ve wanted to kiss her all night. Instead, I lean in and press my lips against her cheek, whispering in her ear, “Good night, pretty Keri. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She steps back from me with a huge smile on her face and rolls her eyes, as if she’s disappointed I didn’t kiss her on the lips. I watch her ruffle Molly’s fur before she slowly turns on her boots and sashays across the street toward her home.
“Look at you,” I chuckle. “Fly on, fly on, Angel Face.”
She takes it a step further and dramatically flaps her arms, leaping into the air and mimicking a bird. I laugh out loud watching her. When she gets to the other side, she turns and looks at me one last time, pausing to blow me a kiss. I pretend to catch it and fist my hand over my heart. And that’s when it hits me.
Maybe everything before I came to Heartsboro was meant to happen so it would lead me to her.
Chapter Six
Keri
By lunchtime, I’m convinced Adam is a no-show.
All morning long, I stand confidently by my table, ready to lay eyes on my handsome dance partner as I smile and greet folks arriving for the Lavender Festival in droves. I hand out brochures and business cards, my smile never wavering, and my positive comments about small-town living landing on deaf ears. I intentionally wore a short-sleeved dress instead of my usual business attire, the flowy hemline touching the mid-part of my palomino cowboy boots. I feel comfortable, and I’m excited to see Adam again, knowing he’ll approve of my casual wear. But when he doesn’t show up by noon, I start to wonder if he decided to leave our one-stoplight town. Maybe he finally answered his phone, and that Roxy woman convinced him to leave and make the trek back to California to his home, wherever that might be.
I sit on a folding chair in the midday heat, fanning my face with a brochure. I’ve pulled my curled hair into a low ponytail to cool my neck.
“Hey, Keri. How’s it going today?” Madison Jamison approaches the table with a sunny smile. It does little to cheer me up.
“Steady traffic for sure. Y’all have a great turnout this year.”
“Today has been the best turnout since I moved here.” She eyes me with concern, shading her eyes with her hand. “You look like you could use some lavender lemonade. May I get you some? My treat. I’m heading over to the refreshment stand to grab some for my sister and me. Beverly’s keeping an eye on the boys while they play in the fenced-in yard by the house.”
Deeply immersed in Heartsboro’s rural town life, I know nearly everything about the residents—including sisters Madison and Beverly, their husbands George and Ridge, and their two-year-old sons, Joey and Roman. The cousins, born just months apart, light up the street when I glimpse them from my office as their mothers push strollers together through town. George and Madison Jamison are beloved here, hosting the state’s most glorious flower festival. And Hollywood heartthrob Ridge Wilson and his sweet wife, Beverly, are surprisingly down to earth.
“I’m good. Thanks for the offer, though.”
“No problem.”
“Say, do you know if Ridge came with Beverly today? I want to ask him for a favor. Do you think he’d write a testimonial for my web page?”
“I’m sure he would. In fact, I just saw him. He’s right over there, talking with that California guy, Adam.”
I snap my head in the direction of her pointed finger. Right away, I can see Adam and Ridge having a serious conversation near the white-flowered gardenia bushes lining the pathway to the red barn. My heart stops.
“Adam and Ridge know each other?”
Madison nods. “I guess so. When they ran into each other, they hugged like old friends.”
My brow furrows, and I fan myself a little harder. “Huh. Well, they’re both from California, so there’s that.”
