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“I would. Would you?”
“Would I what?”
“Make the first move?”
“Yes, but only if I wanted to kiss you.”
“Fair enough.”
They’d turned back toward the downtown area, not saying much. She was thinking about how he’d never been in love, and he was probably thinking about a myriad of things such as his mother, the wedding, and Sarah.
To be honest, she was thinking about Sarah, too. They hadn’t been best buddies back in high school, but they’d been friendly. Sarah had been a sweet girl, always nice. She’d never been one of those mean ones that bullied people. She was the kind that would share her notes from chemistry class if you’d been out sick.
“I wonder if they’ll have a memorial service for Sarah now that she’s been found. They never did before,” Lucy said as they drew closer to the bookstore where her car was parked.
“They didn’t? I guess I don’t remember. She had a lot of friends in school, though. Sarah was dating Ethan when she disappeared, right?” Zack asked.
“I think so,” Lucy replied. “He’s supposed to be at the wedding tomorrow. His wife was in the bookstore with their kids and mentioned it a few weeks ago.”
“He’s still in town? What does he do? I didn’t even know he was married.”
“He’s an attorney, and he got married about twelve or thirteen years ago.”
“I guess I haven’t kept up much. When I’m home I don’t usually stay long.”
“It’s nice that your brother Cooper has moved back. I didn’t know him very well back in school, but he’s a nice man. He comes in the bookstore every week. He’s an avid reader.”
“What does he read? Or can you not tell me? Is there some sort of code about divulging that like with a doctor and patient?”
“Knowing Cooper, he’d tell you himself if you ask. He reads all sorts of books. Every genre. But he loves mysteries the most.”
She’d often wondered - but never out loud - whether Cooper read mysteries because he couldn’t solve his mother’s disappearance. Lily Winslow had been declared dead three years ago, and everyone in town assumed that she was gone.
They continued walking until they were standing in front of the bookstore, her vehicle parked at the curb. She pressed the button on her key fob and the lights flashed with an audible chirp when the locks disengaged.
“This is me,” Lucy said, opening the back door and shoving her purse onto the backseat. “I guess I’ll see you at the wedding tomorrow. Unless you change your mind and fly back to the Big Apple.”
“I won’t do that. As much as my father makes me crazy, I’ll be there. I think they should postpone the wedding but it’s clear they’re not going to.” He took a step closer, and she got a whiff of his scent. Something citrusy with a hint of spice.
He smelled as good as he looked. It had been a long time since she’d been even slightly tempted. But she had to know that he wasn’t going to stick around. If she got involved with him, she had to prepare for him to walk away. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon. It wasn’t a dealbreaker for her, but she had to be honest with herself.
Zack was, at most, a fling. A sexy as hell one, but he wasn’t the long-haul type. He’d never been in love after all. Women skinner, sexier, and far more successful had tried and failed to turn him into the home and hearth type.
I’m not looking for that either right now. I’m happy on my own.
“Don’t forget you promised to save me a few dances,” he said, a smile on his far too handsome face. “I’ll be at the wedding all by myself.”
There would probably be five hundred people at that wedding, and she doubted that Zack was ever alone unless he wanted to be.
“I will save you a few dances,” she promised. “I admitted that I’m not a good dancer. What about you?”
“I’m terrible. I have absolutely no rhythm whatsoever.”
From what she’d seen, Zack Winslow was good at everything.
“At least you’re honest.”
“If it’s anything faster than a foxtrot, I look like I was stung by a bee.”
