Josh frowned.“Ihadn’t thought about it from that angle to tell you the truth.I’mjust so proud of y’all for making it to the playoffsIwanted you to have some really nice new shirts to whoop some ass in during the tournament.”
“I really appreciate that,Josh.ButIthink we’ll stick with the shirts we’ve worn all season.”Shelaughed.“IguessI’mmore superstitious thanIthought.Andmaybe some of the girls are as well now thatIthink about it.Ginny’ssocks have been pretty funky smelling lately.”
Josh laughed with her.“Okay.Butthe offer is on the table any time you want to circle back to me on it.”
Rose made her way back to the front of the store and stopped to talk toShelly.
“So, are you getting new shirts for the playoffs?Y’allhave had that same design for years.Don’tyou think you should do a special one just for these games?Youknow, so everyone will know you’re in the playoffs when you wear them around town.Somethingcurrent and jazzy.”Shellywas all about new designs and current trends.
“Nope.We’rekeeping the same shirts we’ve played in all season.Iwouldn’t want to mess up our luck by changing them at this point.”
Shelly’s eye got round.“Ohwow!Ididn’t think about that.Yousurely don’t want to mess up your luck at this point.”Shereached into her pocket and brought out a round silver metal piece.“Thisis my lucky quarter.Ihave it with me all the timeIknow it doesn’t look like a quarter anymore.”Sherubbed it between her index finger and thumb.“I’veworn all the markings off over the years.It’sfrom the yearIwas born.Mymama gave it to me whenIwas sixteen.ShesaidIneeded all the luckIcould get with my attitude and wayward ways.”
They laughed together.
“Well, it seems to have worked pretty well for you.Ahusband that adores you and two beautiful kids.”
Shelly smiled and put the much-worn quarter back in her pocket.
“You’re right about that.I’mtruly blessed”
The heat outside had her hurrying to her truck where she found a note tucked under her windshield wiper when she came out of the feed store.Itwas written in sharp, clean handwriting on thick, cream-colored stationery—because of courseDeclanRoweusedstationery.
Rose—
Supper with the girls was fun.I’dlove to take you out sometime—just the two of us.Ihear the food atTheSilverCatfishis legendary.Sayyes.
—Declan
She stared at the note for a full thirty seconds, then turned it over, half expecting there to be a pressed flower or a wax seal on the back.Itseemed like his style.Cosmopolitan.Notlike the local guys she’d known all her life.Honest, hardworking.Notfancy.Butfull of heart and good guys all he same.Therewasn’t a pressed flower or a wax seal.Andsomehow it felt a little disappointing.
She glanced around the parking lot.Noone was looking in her direction.Andwhy would they be?Itwas a normal day for everyone.Includingher.Noneed to read anything earth shattering into this.
She needed time to think over her response.Hadn’tshe just been thinking earlier that she didn’t need guys in her life right now?Still, she’d make sure she was in a quiet place with plenty of time to think before answering.MaybetheUniversewas sending her a message.Maybeit was time to be interested in someone.Someonecosmopolitan.Someoneso outside her usual life that no echoes of the past would intrude.
She slid the note into her bag and climbed into the truck, heart beating a little faster than she cared to admit.Declanwas thoughtful, and steady, and—so far—uncomplicated.
But her stomach twisted as she pulled out of the parking lot, because nothing inPickwickBendever stayed uncomplicated for long.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Across town,Acenwas elbow-deep in grease and regret when the past walked right through the open garage bay door in three-inch heels and a designer blouse that had no business being this close to a carburetor.Orin this town for that matter.Noton a brightSaturdayafternoon.
Cursing silently, he stepped back from the car.AtleastRileyhad given him a heads-up so that he wasn’t totally taken by surprise.He’dhave preferred to run into her at the localPigglyWigglyin front of half the town to this though.Thisfelt calculated on her part.Andhe didn’t have time for her calculation in his life these days.He’dlet her screw up his future once because he’d been young and dumb.Olderand wiser – and lesson learned – was the order of the day now.
“Briana,” he said flatly, yanking off his gloves and keeping his distance.“CanIhelp you?”
“I hope so.”Sheflashed a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.“Mycheck engine light came on.ThoughtI’dbring it to someone who actually knows how to fix things.”
He crossed his arms.Apparently, the lack of enthusiasm in his voice hadn’t clicked with her..“Youpassed three shops on the way here.”
“I wanted to see how you’re settling back in.”Shetossed her head in a well-remembered move.Itmade her smooth blonde hair shimmer just below her chin drawing attention to her long slim neck.
Too bad for her that it didn’t work on him anymore.“Youdon’t care howI’msettling in.”
Briana’s smile faded.“That’snot fair.”
“What’s not fair is you showing up after twenty years like you left on a lunch break.”
