AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cass is getting married in two days, she told herself. She could wait to say anything. Besides, she could easily say she got some vacation days around the holiday and the wedding, and no one would think that odd.
“Nothing,” she said honestly. “My whole day is wide open.”
His eyebrows went up, and they started walking again. “Is that right? No plans with your friends the day before Cass’s wedding?”
“We are going to dinner tomorrow night,” she said. “Just the six of us. Oh, and her daughters.” They’d both arrived on the island for the Fourth, and while Cass had a large house, Lauren almost felt in the way. She’d volunteered to stay at Harrison’s, but Cass wouldn’t hear of it. “So I guess I’m only free during the day.”
“As am I,” he said, letting the words hang there. “Although.” He drew that word out, and Lauren glanced over to him. He wasn’t dark like her ex-boyfriend, and she liked that difference. He was educated and articulate, and she could see why she was so attracted to him.
He smiled at her. “Although?” she prompted.
“I’ll have my son.” He looked hopeful then. “But we could have breakfast together in the morning without him. I know we’re not dating.” He whispered the last word and glanced around like someone dangerous might overhear him. “So it’s probably far too early to meet my kid.”
Lauren’s ribs felt too tight for her to take a breath. When she didn’t know how to react or what to say, she went quiet. On her video calls, she could cut the video and mute herself, make an excuse in the chat, and compose herself.
Now, standing in front of Blake, she couldn’t do any of those things. “I think we should at least be dating before I meet him,” she said quietly.
Blake’s face broke into a grin. “Are you saying there’s a chance we’ll start dating?”
Lauren recognized flirting when she saw it. She laced her hand through Blake’s arm and looked down the sidewalk. “Yes,” she said simply. “I think there’s a chance we’ll start dating.”
“Hallelujah,” he said with a laugh.
Lauren smiled too, this one bright thing in her life making all the darkness and difficult things of the past few days seem dimmer than they’d been previously. “Do you want to really cause a stir tonight?” she asked. One more curve, and the spot where she’d sat with her friends for the Fourth of July fireworks for the past three years would come into view.
All of her friends would be there. They’d see her being escorted by Blake Williams to the picnic.
“I’m always in for causing a stir,” Blake said, and his voice carried just the right amount of mischief.
“Yeah, you do seem like the type.” She grinned at him, glad her flirting game was still spot-on. “If I hold onto you like this, everyone around that corner will freak out.” She took another step, getting closer and closer.
“Will they?”
“Mm hm.”
Blake took a moment to respond, and when he did, it was to tighten his elbow against his ribs and say, “I can’t wait to see this.”
4
Blake Williams shouldered the weight of a dozen pairs of eyes, including those of his mother. All conversation had come to a halt, and he and Lauren stood in a gap in the semi-circle of chairs and blankets that had been set up.
“Hey,” Lauren said easily. “I think you guys all know Blake Williams.” She looked over to him, positively beaming at him, a secret edge in her eyes that told him she liked this kind of attention. Not only that, but she likedhim.
He honestly wasn’t sure what kind of lottery he’d won to get the attention of this gorgeous woman.
“This is Sage Grady,” Lauren said. “She still lives in Texas. Bessie Clifton, also in Texas. Cherry Forrester and her husband, Jed.”
“Howdy, brother,” Jed said. He rose from his chair and shook Blake’s hand.
“Howdy,” Blake echoed back to the cowboy. He liked to think of himself as a Southern gentleman, and Jed was the opposite of that. He seemed refined at the same time he was rugged, and Cherry got to her feet and greeted him with a handshake too.
As they settled down, Lauren continued with, “You know Joy, I think. Joy Bartlett.”
“Always ajoyto see you,” he said.
Joy rolled her eyes, and Blake didn’t blame her. Heat filled his face at such a lame statement. She’d played interference between Blake and Lauren when he’d missed their date last summer.
“Cass, of course,” Lauren said. “Harrison, Grant, Shelby, and Bea.” She’d just gotten to his mother, and Lauren actually made a little squeak.
