I smile at my sisters.“I will.I promise.”
“Okay, one more question, and we’ll let you get back to work.”Courtlynn leans in, resting her elbows on her knees.“How did he look?”
“Court!”Leighton scolds.
I don’t have to think about my answer.“Good.He looked good.His hair is short, and he always wore it longer, but he’s… mature, I guess is the best way to say it.He’s not the boy I fell in love with all those years ago.He’s a man.”
“A sexy man,” Courtlynn chimes in.“I mean, Chandler is a total DILF, so I’m assuming Copeland is aging like fine wine,” she says, sitting back in her chair and fanning her face with her hands.
“Courtlynn Rayne!”Leighton admonishes.“You can’t say things like that.Chandler is a married man.”
“I know, Lei.I’ve met his wife.She’s lucky as hell,” Courtlynn says, grinning like a loon.
“Go.”I shake my head at them.“Get out of here so I can get some work done.”
“We love you,” they say at the same time as they stand and walk around my desk.I stand, as well, pulling them both into a hug.
“I love you, too.It’s strange, but I’m good.I promise.”I have to be.This is a small town.We’re going to run into one another, and then one day, I might even have to see him move on.I’ll have to watch him fall in love again and live the life I thought we would live together.I just hope and pray by the time that happens, my heart will come to terms with the fact that he’s no longer ours.
It takes me a little time to settle back into my tasks once they leave.I still have to touch base with Macklin, but I can do that tomorrow.I need to finish this supply order, and then I’m calling it a night.
An hour later, after fighting a slow system from the supplier, I’m exhausted and ready to head home.It’s just after seven, and dinner was served at six, so it should be clear for me to leave without running into Copeland.At least, I hope that’s the case.Two run-ins in one day after seventeen years of nothing is enough for me.
Closing down my laptop, I leave it on my desk before grabbing my purse and phone.I’m looking around for my keys when I remember I walked here.It’s not far, but when the sun goes down, it’s chilly at night.
Reaching behind my office door for my light jacket I keep there, I find a bare hook.“Shit,” I mutter.I forgot I took it to the house to wash it.Oh, well, a little bit of cold air never hurt a girl.It’s a short distance anyway.
Turning off the light, I close up my office and start my way through the kitchen and into the dining room.Just as I hoped, it’s empty.I wave to Jack, one of our graveyard shift guys who works overnight in case the guests need anything.That’s something that I’ve changed since taking over from Dad.Being on twenty-four seven is just too much.Having night-shift staff who are also trained in maintenance duties has been a savior many times since then.
“Have a good night,” I call to Jack as I rush for the door.
“You, too, Ellison,” he calls back, just as I close the door behind me.Standing on the front porch, I pull in a deep breath and slowly exhale.I managed to get out without seeing him.
“Long day?”his deep voice asks.
I swear, I think I jump ten feet in the air before I turn to face him.“Don’t do that.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, sitting up straighter in the rocking chair.
“Have a good night,” I say, moving to step off the porch.
I hear his footsteps, and I know he’s following me.I should have expected it.What I didn’t expect was for his blue long-sleeve jean shirt, which he had on earlier, to land on my shoulders.The warmth of his skin from the shirt wraps around me like an embrace.I stop and turn to look at him.
“I don’t need your shirt.It’s not a far walk.”I start to remove it from my shoulders, but his hand covers mine.
“Keep it,” he says softly.“My momma would kick my ass if she knew I didn’t offer you warmth on a chilly evening.”
I glare at him.“That’s so wrong, using your mom like that.”
He nods but doesn’t comment.
“Fine,” I huff.“Thank you.I’ll leave it for you at reception tomorrow.”
“You used to love stealing my shirts, my hoodies, my coats…,” he says, his voice trailing off.
“Almost two decades ago,” I remind him.
“Feels like yesterday,” he muses.
