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“My pleasure,” Lukas assured her.
“Thank you. I should be doing it for you anyway,” Tallie added. “I owe you.”
Lukas’s raised his brows. “You do?” He didn’t remember doing her any favors recently.
“For what I said when you brought your friend—Holly—over last weekend. Calling her Grace.” Even now the color flushed Tallie’s cheeks.
Lukas’s mouth twisted. “It worked out. Gave me a reason to explain who Grace is—and isn’t—in my life.”
“Is it serious? You and Holly?”
Lukas grimaced. “Nothing to be serious about.”
“Really? I thought you looked interested. You certainly turned red when I called her Grace!”
Lukas shrugged. He had denied it for so long that it had become part of who he was—the guy who wasn’t interested in Holly. But now he said cautiously, “I could be. Maybe.”
Tallie laughed. “Well, don’t bowl her over with your enthusiasm.”
The boys bounced into the kitchen just then so he didn’t reply. He didn’t know what he’d have said anyway. What was there to say?
“Uncle Lukas is going to take you to the park,” she told the boys.
Instantly, the stampede was on. Tallie smiled at him. “Go to the park,” she commanded. “Have a good time. The boys will keep you busy. You won’t have time to answer your phone.”
Lukas gathered up bats and balls, baseball gloves, a football and a soccer ball, then chivvied Garrett, Nick and Digger out the door.
“Don’t let them drive you nuts.” Tallie fixed him with a hard look.
Lukas just grinned. “They’re fine.” The noise and bounce of little boys was easy to handle. It was the rest of his life—well, what he felt about Holly and what she felt about him—that threatened his sanity. He dropped his mobile phone on the kitchen counter.
“What’s this?” Tallie said.
“I don’t want any interruptions.”
Tallie looked doubtful, but he didn’t offer any other explanation—especially not the real one: that he didn’t want a phone call from Holly telling him she had changed her mind.
But he wasn’t entirely surprised when he brought them back shortly after four that she had left a message on his voice mail.
Lukas waited until he was back in his SUV to listen to it. “Sorry to leave it so late.” Holly sounded slightly breathless and just a bit frazzled. “But I can’t go to dinner. I’ve sold the condo and I have to clear things out. Maybe we can do it another time...like in a couple of years when I get back.” There was a light strained laugh. “Anyway, thanks for the invitation. See you someday. Maybe. Love your gallery.” And then there was a click.
See you someday. Maybe.
Another end—before it really began.
No. Not someday. Not maybe. There was something between them—always had been. For years they hadn’t allowed themselves to discover what it might become. Maybe nothing. He had to admit that. Maybe he’d just been focusing on her because, in a sense, she was the one who’d got away.
Girls had normally flocked to him. It’s disgusting, Martha said, The way you practically have to beat them off with a stick. Can’t any girl say no to you?
One had. One did.
Maybe if he got her to say yes—and want him, mind, body and soul—that would be enough. Maybe, though, he was as guilty as Skeet of not going after what he thought he wanted. Did he want a foundation to help him do it?
Hell, no.
And what kind of excuse was selling her condo? It didn’t mean she had to stop eating.
At least she loved his gallery.
You had to start somewhere.
* * *
The unexpected chime of the doorbell reached Holly even deep within the bedroom closet. She ignored it, swiped a hand across her damp brow and plunged even deeper into the mess. She had to get through it, pack what she intended to keep, and donate the rest to the charity shop on Monday. Then she needed to start on the books. God, the books! They were going to be far worse than the closet.
The doorbell rang again. Longer this time. Louder.
Not really. But if a doorbell could sound determined, this one did.
Holly sighed and muttered under her breath. There was only one person who rang her doorbell with that singular determination—Deb from across the hall, wanting to borrow a cup of sugar, a teaspoon of horseradish, a bag of mixed greens.
Holly was Deb’s go-to alternative to the grocery store when she couldn’t be bothered. And she didn’t give up.
