“Hey, what’s up?” Reardon asked as Laurel and I walked into his office.
I’d called ahead to let him know we were en route, while Laurel was in her shop. Luckily, he’d just finished with a client and was available to speak with us right away. If he thought it strange that Laurel and I were there together, he hid it well.
“Can you look over some paperwork for Laurel? We’re pretty sure her parents turned the flower shop completely over to her, and therefore have no say in what she does with it, but we want to be sure.”
“Of course,” Reardon said, standing and reaching for the folder Laurel held.
She gave it to him and said, “Thank you so much, Rear. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem, do you need it back today?”
Laurel waved her hand slightly and said, “As soon as you can get to it. I don’t want you to rearrange your schedule or anything.”
Reardon placed the folder down on his mound of files and said, “Okay. I’ll let you know when it’s done.” Then he shifted to look at me and asked, “Want to grab lunch?”
We usually ate lunch together, and I know he probably expected me to say yes, but I shook my head and said, “Uh, we were actually on our way to lunch.”
“Oh,” Reardon said, his eyes shifting between Laurel and me, then he grinned. “Of course.”
“He can come with us,” Laurel told me, then turned toward him and repeated, “You can join us.”
“I wouldn’t want to be a third wheel.”
“You wouldn’t be,” she assured him. “It’s just lunch. Tell him, Dillon, he should come.”
“Yeah, man, why not? It’s just the diner,” I said, even though I’d kind of been looking forward to the alone time.
But, we had agreed to meet up tonight, so, silver lining.
“All right, if you guys are sure… I’m starved.”
“What’s wrong, Chris eating all of your Cap n Crunch?” I joked as we walked out.
Chris was Chloe’s teenaged son, and had been eating everything he could get his hands on. Reardon was constantly complaining about his favorite snacks being gone.
“No, but when I went looking for my Cool Ranch Doritos last night, they were gone,” Reardon said sulkily. “I’d hidden them in the bottom cupboard and everything. That boy’s got a sniffer better than a bloodhound. “
Laurel’s laughter followed us out onto the street as we began the short walk to the diner.
“Hello, Mrs. Dingle,” we said in unison, causing Laurel to laugh again, and Mrs. Dingle to blush happily.
“Well, if it isn’t the Lewis boys and the pretty Turner girl. Aren’t you a handsome lot.”
Mrs. Dingle was as much a part of Cherry Springs as the gazebo by the duck pond. A town treasure.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Reardon said jauntily, then asked, “What are you doing for lunch? Would you like to join us and be my date?”
“I already ate, but thanks for the invitation. I look forward to seeing the formal invitation for your wedding in my mailbox, young man.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Reardon promised.
As she walked past us I grinned at him and mouthed busted, and he punched me in the shoulder.
I opened the door to the diner and held it for Laurel and Reardon to walk through.
“Thanks,” Laurel said, smiling sweetly.
Reardon mimed tipping his hat to me, then I walked in behind him, shaking my head.
“Any available table,” Dolores called out when she saw us, so Laurel led us to one of the clean middle booths.
She sat on one side, Reardon sat on the other, and after a second, I slid in next to Laurel.
“Fran called in, so I’m on my own. Do you know what you want, or need a minute?” Dolores asked, her breath labored.
“Do you know what you want?” I asked Laurel, because Reardon and I were always ready to order.
“Yes,” Laurel said, smiling at Dolores. “I’ll have the Philly and a water with lemon.”
“Wedges, string, or curly?”
“Wedges.”
“And the usual for you two?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Reardon asked, doing the fake hat tipping thing again.
“Is that gonna be a new thing with you?” I asked when she walked away, pointing at Reardon’s head.
“I was trying it on for size, what do you think?” he asked.
“Hate it,” I replied, grinning when he scowled.
“So, I got a text from Zoey, and she and I are meeting up tomorrow night to talk bridal/baby/bachelor party,” Laurel told Reardon, who clapped his hands together excitedly.
“There you go,” he told me. “You should meet up with them.”
Laurel turned to me expectantly and I said, “As the Best Man, I should join you guys to help plan … that is, if you want my help. If not, no worries, I’m happy to pony up the money and leave the planning to the experts.”
“Oh, no, you should come, we’d love your input. After all, you know Zoey knows Chloe best, and you know Reardon best, and since you’re both standing up for them in the wedding, it only makes sense,” Laurel said, resting her hand on my leg underneath the table. She did it while talking, so I don’t think she even realized she did it, but Reardon sure did.
I knew this because I could see him wiggling his eyebrows out of the corner of my eye.
I kicked him under the table and said, “Just tell me where and when, and I’ll be there.”
“Zoey’s supposed to text me back to let me know, so I’ll tell you tonight.”
“What’s tonight?” Reardon asked.
Laurel blushed and looked at me, her face conveying her uncertainty.
“I was thinking Laurel could come over and meet Copper and Penny. It’s been awhile since she’s been out to the house.”
I spoke to Reardon, but I was looking at Laurel, so I saw her lips turn up and her cheeks flush with pleasure as she squeezed my leg under the table.
God, I couldn’t wait to get her alone again.
30
Laurel
“You know what it’s like when you have that first spark? That new passion that burns and burns. When you miss each other after five minutes, and smile every time you hear his voice?” I asked, leaning on the counter in the front of the flower shop, my voice annoyingly lovesick, even to my own ears.
“No,” Serena answered.
“Not really,” Chloe agreed.
“Oh, come on, you guys, really?” I looked at Chloe, whose hand was caressing her belly and asked, “Not even with Reardon?”
“With Reardon I was more freaked out that it was even happening. I didn’t have time for the gushy young love stuff,” Chloe replied, causing me to stick out my lower lip and pout at her.
I turned my pout to Serena.
“You either?”
I had a hard time believing Serena, possibly the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen in person, had never felt the stirrings of puppy love before. Were all the men in the world blind, or just totally freaking chicken?
Rena shook her head and said, “Nope. I mean, I’ve had hot sex, and boyfriends that I really liked, but no one that swept me up, not in the way you’re talking about.”
“But,” I muttered, still pouting, “That’s so sad.”
Serena chuckled and agreed, “Yeah, it is. But, we’re not talking about me, are we, we’re talking about you. And, what you’ve failed to say is, who is the lucky bastard who’s giving you all these feels?”
I slammed my mouth shut, wishing I’d done that from the get go, but when Serena and Chloe had walked in, I’d been thinking about seeing Dillon that night, and it had just popped out.
Chloe rolled her eyes and said, “I’ll give you one guess.”
“Dillon,” Serena answered immediately, shocking the hell out of me.
“What? How?” I stuttered.
“Puhlease,” Serena said, plucking a sunflower out of its container and walking toward me. “You’ve been in love wi
th Dillon for-ever. I’m just happy you guys are finally figuring it out.”
“You knew?” I asked, incredulously.
She nodded.
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
Serena held the sunflower to her nose and brought her mocha eyes to mine.
“Because it was obvious you were always trying to hide it, and he was trying to deny it, and Jazzy would foam at the mouth anytime one of her friends showed any interest in her twin.” Serena shrugged. “I figured it would all work out in the end.”
At the mention of my best friend, my new love glow dimmed.
“Jasmine’s going to hate this, isn’t she?” I asked her cousin, knowing in my heart it was true.
“You know Jazzy always thinks with her heart first, then her head catches up. Even if she is upset at first, she’ll come to see how great this is,” Serena assured me.
“I don’t know…”
“Look, Jazzy is gone for a little while longer,” Chloe began. “Why don’t you wait and see how things go with Dillon. I mean, first it was just a weekend thing, and now you don’t know what it is. How about the two of you figure that out first, then worry about Jasmine. ‘Cause if things don’t work out, then there’s no reason for her to get upset.”
“You think so? I feel bad keeping something this big from her,” I told them.
“Yeah, Chloe’s right,” Serena said. “If you and Dillon haven’t even talked about what you’re doing yet, you need to do that. Focus on what you want, then make him give it to you, and then sit down and talk to Jasmine. One on one. You guys are besties, and once she hears from you how you feel, she’s going to be happy for you.”
I thought about what they both said and I really did want to find out what was going on, before I risked getting Jazzy spun up for nothing.
Although, I really, really hoped, there would be something to tell her. Because after our weekend together, and the easy way we’d been together today, I wanted this to be real. I wanted to feel giddy and excited over a guy who treated me like what I wanted mattered, like I matter. And I especially wanted that man to be Dillon.
“Okay, you’re right,” I said. “I do need to see where things are going with Dillon before I freak out and make a big deal out of nothing.”
Just then, my phone beeped, indicating I’d received a text, so I picked it up off the counter.
I’ll be done in about an hour, want me to pick up dinner and you can meet me at my house in an hour and a half?
“It’s Dillon,” I told them, my tone conveying my excitement.
I sound just like teenaged Laurel used to when talking about NSYNC.
“Oh brother,” Chloe muttered, but I ignored her lack of exuberance.
“He’s going to pick up dinner,” I added, then gushed, “You guys, he’s been so sweet and attentive. I’ve never been with a guy like him before. He literally treats me like I treat Princess. Like I’m someone precious to him.”
Thinking of Princess, I made a mental note to give her food and extra snuggles before I left her alone again. She was not going to be happy with me.
“He is one of the good ones,” Serena agreed with a grin.
“Okay, even I can admit that there’s something about you Lewis cousins that is unlike anyone else I’ve ever met,” Chloe said.
“I think it can all be traced back to our parents, and this town,” Serena said thoughtfully. “Our childhood was just the best, and I’m sure that helped shape the guys. I know it helped shape me.”
Chloe and I looked at each other, our matching expressions sad. Chloe and Zoey had grown up with parents much like mine, except rather than being verbally abusive to them, they chose to ignore their daughters and focus more on their marriage.
It made you wonder why some people decided to have kids when it was obvious they didn’t want them. Heck, my mother had flat out told me when I was six that she’d never wanted to have kids, but when she’d accidentally gotten pregnant with me, her parents made her marry my dad.
“You were so lucky,” Chloe said longingly.
Serena reached out and rubbed Chloe’s belly and said, “You and your children are now part of The Lewis Clan, so they’re going to get to experience what we did.”
Chloe’s eyes got a little misty, but we pretended not to notice, knowing she wouldn’t want the attention. In truth, I was a little envious. At least she and Zoey were part of a wonderful family now.
31
Dillon
The second part of my day had been full of meetings, suspenses, and the never-ending pile of emails that were in my inbox. So, I was a little later than I’d planned when I strolled into the house with takeout.
“Hey, guys, I’ll get you in a minute,” I said to my excited dogs, who were jumping at my feet, trying to get my attention.
I dropped the food on the counter, then ran up the stairs, unbuttoning clothing as I moved. The dogs were trailing behind me, but as I was pulling off my slacks, I saw their ears perk up before they took off back down the stairs and started barking at the front door.
“Shit,” I muttered, trying not to fall over as I hopped on one leg, trying to get my socks off.
I pulled on a pair of shorts and was just pulling a T-shirt over my head, when I heard the knock on the door.
“Coming!” I yelled as I barreled down the stairs, jumping off at the bottom and rushing to the door.
“Stay,” I told the dogs, then threw the door open and said, “Hey.”
Laurel stood on the other side, looking fresh as the morning air and holding a pie in her hands.
“Hi,” she replied, then took in my heaving chest and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah… just got home… was getting changed,” I huffed.
Damn, looks like I need to get back in the gym.
“Please, come in,” I said, when it registered that we were still standing in the doorway.
I shifted to the side to let her by, commanding Copper and Penny to stay down, so they wouldn’t jump all over her. Once the door was shut, I turned back to her and did what I’d been wanting to do all day. I lowered my head and captured her lips
We moved backwards until Laurel’s back hit the wall, then I moved in closer, careful not to crush the pie she was still holding between us.
She made this sweet little purring sound at the back of her throat that drove me nuts, so I figured I’d better stop the kiss, or I’d be taking her against the wall within moments.
I pulled back slightly, brushing my thumb against her full lower lip as I smiled down at her.
“Hi,” I said again, softly.
Her lips turned up and she whispered, “Hi.”
“You hungry?” I asked, my body stiffening when her blue eyes darkened and she replied, “Oh, yes.”
I cleared my throat, found my will, and backed away.
“Then, let’s eat.”
I led Laurel into the kitchen, saying, “Is sweet and sour pork from China Garden still your favorite?”
“Oh my gosh, yes, I haven’t had China Garden in ages.”
“I got other stuff too, if that’s not what you want, but I always remember you devouring the sweet and sour whenever you were over for dinner.”
“I can’t believe you remember that,” Laurel said, placing the pie down on the counter and turning to give me a weird look.
“Of course I remember,” I said as I pulled out plates and began to open the various cartons of food. “You were as much a part of my childhood as my cousins. At every holiday, special occasion, and most dinners. There’s a lot I remember…”
When she winced, I knew she was thinking about the pranks and how often I used to yell that she and Jazzy were driving me nuts, so I moved to her and placed my hands on her biceps. And when her eyes met mine, I admitted, “Not all of it was bad, Laurel, I remember the good stuff too. That may not have always been the case, but when I think past the jokes and pranks, I remember that you were always there for me, and that I cou
ld always count on you to have my back.”
“You do?” she asked softly, her tone full of hope.
“Yeah, remember that time, sophomore year, when Taylor Thomas got pissed that I said no when she asked me to the Sadie Hawkins dance and wrote that crap about me on the wall in the girls’ bathroom? You were the one who took in paint the next day and painted over it.”
“You knew about that?” Laurel asked, her eyes widening.
I nodded.
“Jasmine told me. She also told me about the time you called Jessica out for spreading rumors about me, and when you gave Joshua Spencer a purple nurple for picking on Reardon in the fifth grade. She always made sure I knew you were one of us, even when I was railing on about how crazy you made me.”
“I didn’t know she did that…”
“You still make me crazy,” I admitted, getting closer and closer with each word. “Just in a different way.”
“Oh yeah?” Laurel asked, her arms coming up around my neck as I settled my hands at her hips.
“Definitely. Totally. Crazy.”
This time I kissed her softly. Taking my time to savor her lips as the kiss went deep and she melted against me.
When she pulled back, Laurel pit her lower lip, and said, “You know, I’m not really that hungry right now…”
“Yeah, I had a snack around four,” I said with a slow grin, then I swung her up into my arms and carried her toward the stairs, her laughter ringing out as I started to jog.
32
Laurel
I sighed and snuggled into the warm sheets, stretching under Dillon’s hand as he caressed my back. I felt his lips on my shoulder and smiled, eyes still closed.
I’d spent the night.
In Dillon’s bed.
In Dillon’s house.
I’d wanted to, Lord knows, I’d wanted to, but I hadn’t wanted to seem presumptuous, so I hadn’t packed a bag when I’d come over the night before. I hadn’t wanted him to think I was making a giant leap in our “relationship.”