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Four
When Brit opened his eyes, he wasn’t sure how long he had been asleep. But his head was clear, and fatigue no longer stalked him.
Laney was curled on her side, facing him with one hand tucked beneath her cheek. Her eyelashes fanned her soft cheeks. His sex stirred. That was all it took. Just looking at her. Some thingsneverchanged. She was as beautiful and appealing as she had been at eighteen, maybe more so.
It shamed him at times to know he could have taken her with him back then. Maybe deep in his heart, he had known that an unexpected pregnancy or a sexy wife would have derailed his dream. He had finally made it to the big leagues, but at what cost?
When she eventually stirred, he touched her cheek with a fingertip. “You’re cute when you sleep.”
Her eyes widened as her cheeks turned pink. “I hope I didn’t drool or snore.”
“Not much,” he teased.
“You’re mean.” Laney sat up and sifted her fingers through her hair. She’d had it up in a knot for the funeral, but most of it had come loose while they slept. She found the pins and tucked them in the pocket of her dress.
“So, what’s the big news in Blossom Branch these days?” he asked.
Laney scrunched up her nose. “Nothing much,” she said. “Well, I take that back. Do you remember Cate Penland?”
“Vaguely. Unless, wait. Wasn’t she the girl who won Miss Georgia Peach Blossom four years running? My mother sent me news clippings after the last time. The local press had a field day with it.”
“You got it. Her family moved to Atlanta a long time ago, but her grandparents and other relatives still live in Blossom Branch. Cate is marrying Jason Brightman in June. They sent out save-the-date cards a few weeks ago, and that’s all anybody can talk about these days. Receiving an invitation to that wedding will be like buying a winning lottery ticket.”
“Did you get one of the cards?”
“What do you think? No. Not only am I older than she is, we didn’t exactly run in the same social circles.”
“I’ve never seen the point in splashy weddings,” Brit said.
“Her family can certainly afford it.”
“That’s not the point.”
Laney stared at him with a narrowed gaze. “I’m surprised you’ve ever pondered the subject at all.‘Britain Sheffield won’t be pinned down.’I read that in the checkout line,” she said, her tone tart.
“You can’t believe everything you read.”
“So youdowant to get married?”
“Don’t try to pick a fight with me, Laney. Not today.”
An awkward silence fell. “I suppose we should get back,” she said.
Brit noticed she never once looked him right in the eye. He reached for her wrist and wrapped his fingers around it in a gentle grasp. “What’s your rush?”
They couldn’t have asked for a nicer afternoon. Not too hot. Not too cold.
Laney chewed her bottom lip. “Why would we stay?”
“Is that a real question?” he asked quietly. “Or are you having second thoughts?”
Her eyes widened. “About what?”
“About giving me asylum. Am I in your way, Laney? Do you want me to go?”
His thumb monitored her pulse. He knew full well when the tempo sped up.
“Is this about sex?”
