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Sage followed her gaze, wondering what she was looking for. It became obvious when she spotted the deliciously good-looking man in a full suit—slacks, jacket, white shirt, tie, and shiny wingtips.
He smiled at a woman who had dark hair—like Sage—and placed his hand on the small of her back as he pulled out the second chair at a table for two. Then Tyler Parker rounded it and sat across from her, in plain sight of Sage. If he’d look up and to his left the teensiest bit, their eyes would meet.
Her gaze flew back to Joy’s. “What’s ‘oh, boy’ about that?”
“It’s Ty,” Joy hissed, and hissing was never good. It drew the attention of Bessie at Joy’s side. And Bea at Sage’s.
“What?” they both asked.
“Ty’s here,” Joy said loudly, practically bellowing the man’s name.Thatwas “oh, boy.”
Sage leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “Joy.”
“Oh, it’s Ty,” Bea said. “Were you…? Didn’t you guys go out?”
“Once,” Sage said. “And it’s fine. It’s not like I never see him.” But the truth was, she hadn’t seen him again. Not really. Here in there across a crowded room or beach full of people didn’t count.
Her heart pumped out extra beats as she looked over to him again. He was too handsome for his own good, especially when he smiled and tipped his chin toward the ceiling as he laughed.
As he brought his head level again, he looked past his date, and his eyes landed on hers. Instant heat roared through Sage as the smile slipped from his face. He was the picture of calm, cool, and collected, as he leaned in and said something to his date.
“Stars in heaven,” Joy breathed. “He’s getting up.”
“He’s seen us,” Bea whispered.
“Why are you whispering?” Lauren asked. “What’s going on?”
Ty indeed had risen to his feet. He buttoned his jacket as the dark-haired woman turned their way. Sage didn’t know her, but Bessie said, “Sugar and salt, that’s Katherine Tallison.”
“Who’s Katherine Tallison?” Sage asked, wondering why she’d decided to whisper too. Probably because all six feet of the sandy blond god name Tyler Parker was walking her way, his eyes fastened to hers and no one else’s.
2
Tyler Parker wasn’t sure why he’d just abandoned Katherine. Maybe because it felt like his body was made of steel and Sage Grady’s a very powerful magnet. He was simply drawn to her, and he couldn’t resist the pull between them.
Her hair looked like she’d washed it and let it air dry, as it curled softly over her shoulders, and on the one date they’d been on, she said it did that if she let it do whatever it wanted.
Their drinks hadn’t come yet, and his mouth felt like he’d been chewing on cotton since he’d picked up Katherine. He glanced around at the drinks and appetizers on the table where Sage sat with her friends, finally able to take his eyes off her.
“Hello, ladies,” he said pleasantly. He tucked his hands in his pants pockets, his eyes going right back to where Sage sat on the end. “Sage. It’s great to see you again.”
All six pairs of eyes focused on him, and Ty felt them weighing him down. Oh, and another female pair behind him. He had no idea what he was thinking, coming over here. He should’ve ducked his head and texted Sage later.
He missed her, plain and simple, and he recognized those feelings as he stood at the head of the table.
“You too, Ty,” she said diplomatically. Her eyes traveled up to his hair. “I see you’ve found someone else to cut your hair.”
That was the worst thing she could’ve said to him, because then he wanted to tell her why he’d stopped coming to her for a trim. The words sat right there in his throat, but he couldn’t get them out. Just like the text inviting her out to dinner again had sat on his phone, unsent for weeks before he’d finally deleted it.
Something foamed between them, and it wasn’t until Bea asked, “Are you seeing Katherine?” that Ty could pry his eyes away from Sage’s.
His first inclination was to laugh, but he merely let a smile grace his face. “No,” he said. “Sage, could I speak to you for a minute?”
She blinked rapidly, and Ty could understand why. He’d taken her to a concert in the park. Held her hand. On his side of the equation, he’d had a great time. Something wasn’t exactly right, but he couldn’t pinpoint what that night, and in the months since, he hadn’t been able to either.
She hadn’t texted him much afterward, and to be honest, he figured she wasn’t interested. Fine, if he was being totally honest, he hadn’t wanted to press the issue, because he knew he wasn’t ready to be dating again.
But it had been a little over six months since the Heritage Festival and their first and only date, and his heart and mind were in a much better place now.
