This Time Around Page 6

  Allie drew in a lungful of the pine-scented air, perhaps her favorite smell of all time. Well, there was also that spicy cologne Luke wore. Couldn’t forget that.

  But no, they were just friends. Even if friends didn’t necessarily notice the way jeans hugged the derriere or the way biceps bulged as they flexed.

  They reached a clearing, completely shaded by the towering pines, a picnic table in the center. Somewhere nearby a squirrel nattered and a robin tweeted from a high perch. Luke settled on the table, his feet resting on the bench.

  Walter sniffed the ground and pawed at something. He was really kind of okay in his own way with his sad jowls, put-upon expression, and disinterest in ripping her apart and gnawing her bones.

  Allie checked her watch.

  “You worried about the time?”

  She shrugged. “Not really. We’ll make the party in time. I can’t wait to see my grandparents’ faces when they see the Chevy. They’re going to be so surprised.”

  “That’ll be awesome. Really nice of your folks to do this for them.”

  Allie joined him on the table. “I’m so glad that hail didn’t leave a mark.”

  “She’ll look great once we get her cleaned up. I found a car wash about forty-five minutes from your grandparents’ place.”

  “Sounds good.”

  The long sideways look he gave her made her aware of how close they were sitting. And just like that it was seven years ago. Her pulse raced and her palms grew damp.

  “What’s your life like in Atlanta? I know you live in an apartment. Olivia mentioned you’re a teacher’s assistant.”

  Her heart gave a tug. Even her mom couldn’t seem to keep up with her jobs. “Yeah, for a kindergarten class at a public school.”

  “You were always good with kids.”

  “I’m a child at heart, what can I say? They’re really cute at that age. Learning’s still fun and exciting, and they say the darndest things.”

  “You’ve been there awhile, haven’t you?”

  “For the whole school year. It’s just enough of same and different to keep things interesting.”

  “I can see that.”

  “This summer I’m working at my friend’s floral shop—Charlotte’s a super-chill boss and I like arranging flowers, so it’s a good fit.”

  “I’ll bet you’re great at that, with your creativity.”

  “Well, she hasn’t fired me yet. And your business seems to be doing well.”

  “It’s growing. Keeps me busy.”

  “And you like it, making cabinets?”

  “I do. I like working with my hands and being my own boss. That way when someone asks me along on a road trip, I’m free to go.”

  They shared a smile for a lingering moment.

  “What do you do in your spare time?” he asked.

  She lifted a shoulder. “Hang out with friends, go to the park, go garage-saleing. And as I mentioned before, I volunteer at the zoo. That’s fun.”

  “They didn’t teach you angry-raccoon management?”

  “Strangely enough, no. The raccoons at the zoo are cute and cuddly.” She slid him a smile, maybe flirting a little. Would that be so terrible?

  “What about boyfriends? Seeing anyone special these days?”

  She met his eyes, her smile falling, and got stuck there for a hot minute. Like, literally hot. Her skin burned and her face was probably turning twelve shades of pink.

  “Um, not at the moment.” Her heart rate was reaching rabid-raccoon-evasion levels. “How about you?”

  He leaned forward, elbows on his thighs. “Nope, no boyfriends.”

  She nudged him with her shoulder.

  “I was dating a girl from Ellijay for a while, but it didn’t work out. We broke up a few months ago.”

  “Who broke up?”

  “I guess I did, but I think it was pretty mutual.”

  Sure it was. Allie gave a wry huff. Men like Luke—capable, mature, responsible, and fun—did not come along every day.

  “What was that for?” he asked.

  “What was what for?”

  “That huff. You huffed.”

  “I didn’t huff.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  “Well, if I did, I’ve forgotten why.”

  Walter, having finally found the perfect spot to relieve himself, lifted his leg at the base of a pine tree. But this was just the beginning. He always seemed to have enough reserves to water several trees.

  “I don’t have an anniversary gift for your grandparents.”

  “They won’t expect you to. I can add your name to mine if you want.”

  “That’s okay. What’d you get them?”

  “I had their wedding photo made into one of those canvas prints. It turned out really beautiful.” She stared up past the canopy of treetops to the blue skies beyond. “Fifty years . . . can you even imagine?”

  He leaned back, his shoulder brushing hers. “Yeah . . .”

  At the reflective note in his voice, she looked at him. Gazing into those mysterious green eyes, she still saw the boy he’d been. But they were more solemn these days, as if life and its trials had drained away a bit of the fun. She made a note to fix that.

  But something else simmered in those depths too. Something warm and inviting. Something that made it hard to breathe.

  The air seemed to crackle around them, electrified. It had been this way before. But no other man had made her feel the way Luke had. All these years she’d written it off as the flush of adolescence. That magical elixir of hormones that somehow allowed a person to reach emotional levels never again achieved.

  But no. It was still there, this incredible, wonderful pulling and wanting. It both compelled and frightened her at once.

  His gaze dropped to her lips, making them tingle.

  She’d always loved his mouth. That perfectly arched upper lip. The lower one almost too thick for a man’s. Those lovely lips of his knew just what to do.

  He leaned toward her, the space between them shrinking. Allie’s eyes fluttered shut, the magnet of desire irresistible.

  “Koda, get back here!” someone shouted.

  Allie and Luke jumped apart just as a black Labrador burst into the clearing. A middle-aged couple was on its heels. Koda found Walter and clearly wanted to be best friends forever. Walter tolerated the other dog’s enthusiasm with a slow blink.

  Allie’s eyes bounced off Luke’s in one of those awkward “we almost kissed” looks. Her heart still beat out a wild tattoo.

  Then she stood and greeted the couple with a wide smile as if she didn’t want to hurt them just a little bit for interrupting the moment.

  Chapter 10

  They were only thirty minutes away from Bedford. Luke slid the gear into fourth and gave it more gas, the engine practically purring. Man, the Chevy sure did drive out nice. And now that she was sparkling clean again, he could sit back and enjoy the ride.

  Beside him Allie fiddled with her playlist. The old songs were starting to grow on him—as was Allie. They’d spent the last six and a half hours catching up—and carefully avoiding mention of the almost-kiss.

  Luke’s only regret was the interruption. Allie got to him in a way no other woman had. She was fun and funny, and she helped him loosen up a little. Reminded him schedules could be broken and new things could be exciting.

  And now that she’d forgiven him, he couldn’t help but wonder if they could be more than friends. He couldn’t help but wonder if the Adamses would be okay with that. Was he good enough for their little girl?

  He pushed back the niggle of worry and palmed the back of his neck where tension gathered.

  “Hey, mister, both hands on the wheel.” Allie tossed him a smile that almost made him forget he was driving.

  Allie might be fun and impulsive, but she sure was serious about keeping this car safe. Then again, so was he. He gripped the wheel with both hands, his gaze falling to the gas gauge.

  “We should probably fill up. T
here’s only a quarter tank, and we should leave it full for your grandparents.”

  “Good point.” She started a new tune: “All Shook Up.” “We’ll be getting there as the party is starting, but that’ll make our arrival even more exciting. There’s a gas station a few minutes up the road.”

  The sun was low in the sky, they were surrounded by woods, and the country road wound around the hills. Beautiful country. Beautiful day. Beautiful woman in the seat beside him. She was singing along to the song, completely unaware or uncaring that she sang out of tune. The wind blew through her open window, making her hair wave behind her like a flag.

  Eyes on the road, buddy. You’re not home safe yet.

  A few minutes later he saw Allie was right. Despite the lack of civilization, there was a mom-and-pop gas station with four pumps and a sign reading Country Store—hunting licenses, permits, ammo.

  For such a small place, it was doing good business. One of the pumps was taken, and two cars were parked in front of the store.

  Luke pulled up to a pump and filled up while Allie waited in the car. When he was finished he put Walter on his leash and took him for a quick walk behind the station.

  Allie joined him a minute later. “It’s pretty back here.”

  Her honey-colored hair was windblown, and her cheeks and shoulders were sun kissed. “Sure is.”

  “We’re doing okay on time. I might run inside and restock my snacks.”

  “Wouldn’t want to run out of Ho Hos.”

  Her eyes smiled. “Right? And you already blew through my peanut M&M’s.”

  “I’ll buy you another bag.”

  “Nah, you drove all this way for me—I’d say that evens things out.”

  Walter finally found a suitable tree and lifted his leg.

  “I’ll agree to that,” Luke said. “But only because I got to drive a ’57 Chevy.”

  “Through storm floods and hail. Not exactly the joyride you expected, huh?”

  It had actually been so much more.

  “Hey, mister!” The woman from the store came around the building. “Is that your old Chevy out front?”

  “Yeah . . .” Luke walked toward her, tugging the leash.

  “Some kids just took off with it.”

  “What?” Luke jogged toward the front, dragging Walter behind him.

  Allie reached the parking lot first and screeched to a dead halt. “It’s gone!”

  “Like I said.” The woman shelved her hands on her hips. “Those boys who were inside a minute ago just took off with it. They bought cigarettes and . . .”

  She recited a list of goods purchased, but Luke couldn’t hear any more. He laced his hands behind his head, staring at the empty spot where the beautiful ’57 Chevy sat only moments ago. He tried to imagine telling Bill and Becky what had happened, and a fist tightened in his gut. Sweat beaded on his neck.

  That car was irreplaceable—and Luke had lost it.

  * * *

  No, no, no.

  Allie paced in front of the store, staring at the empty spot where the car had just sat. The store clerk had disappeared inside to call the cops. Allie couldn’t believe this was happening.

  She palmed her cheeks. Her parents were going to kill her—and she deserved it. When Luke blocked her path she stopped, dropped her hands, and met his gaze.

  His jaw was knotted and a furrow split his brows. What was he so worried about? The car was her responsibility—this catastrophe her problem.

  “How could this happen?” She’d only been out of the car two minutes. Could someone hot-wire a car that quickly? “How could they have made off with it so fast?”

  “Do you have the keys?” A bite sharpened his tone.

  “No . . . Why would I have them? You’re the one driving.”

  “I left the keys in the car, Allie. Because you were in the car.”

  She gasped. “Well, I didn’t know that! You didn’t tell me.”

  “So you left the keys in the car.”

  “No . . . You left the keys in the car.” She glared at him.

  He glowered right back. “Didn’t you think to check the ignition before you followed me out back?”

  “Why would I do that when you haven’t left the keys in the car before now?”

  “Because I haven’t left you in the car before now.” He was clearly working hard at that level tone.

  “Sheriff Dudley’ll be right here,” the pretty clerk said as she exited the building. She was eyeing Luke like he was her next meal.

  Allie speared the woman with a withering look, but she was too busy making eyes at Luke to notice.

  “He’s a real good guy, the sheriff. You’ll like him a lot.” The clerk swung her gaze between the two of them, finally seeming to sense the tension. “Well . . . I’ll be right inside if you need me.”

  “Can we review the camera footage?” Luke asked.

  Allie perked up at the question. Maybe they could retrieve the car before—

  “Sorry, hon. We don’t have cameras. Never had a car stolen before—that’s a first. Maybe a candy bar or a six-pack or . . .”

  She kept talking but Allie tuned her out. If she didn’t get a moment alone, she was going to scream. She wandered off and found a picnic table on the side of the store where someone had smoked about two hundred packs of cigarettes and dropped the butts in the dirt.

  Her heart thudded in her chest and her palms sweated. How was she going to explain to her parents that she’d allowed the car to be stolen? Because Luke was right—the whole key thing was her fault. She was the last one in the car. She should’ve checked before she left it.

  She perched on the table and buried her face in her hands, her stomach roiling until she felt sick. Instead of demonstrating that she was a responsible adult, she’d proven just the opposite.

  The grand surprise was going to be a disappointment of epic proportions. Her news would ruin the party—ruin her grandparents’ fiftieth anniversary. How could she have been so stupid?

  A few minutes of self-flagellation later, the jingle of Walter’s tags made her lift her head. Luke approached, his face unreadable. He dropped the leash and sank onto the table beside her. “Sorry I got so upset.”

  All the fight was gone from her now. All that was left was the matchless misery of failure. “It’s okay. You were right. I should’ve checked for the keys.”

  “Who would’ve dreamed someone would take off with it? I mean, you think of this stuff happening in the city, not at some backwoods gas station.”

  Even now her parents were waiting for them to pull into the drive. Allie’s lungs struggled to keep pace with her heart. At the thought of facing her parents, her throat thickened and her eyes stung. “My parents are going to kill me.”

  “Nah. You’ll maybe be sentenced to a lifetime of guilt trips. But that was probably going to happen anyway.”

  A wet sound erupted from her throat. She seemed to be crying. Allie covered her face.

  “Hey.” Luke put an arm around her and pulled her into his side. The welcome comfort only made the tears come faster.

  “It’s going to be okay. As much as they might value that car, it’s just a car, Allie. They care more about you.”

  “They think I’m hopeless! They already think I’m a screwup, and now I’m going to prove them right.”

  “That’s not true. They love you. You’re not a screwup.”

  “You don’t understand.” The words burbled out of her. “They count on Olivia for everything. Need someone to water your plants and get your mail? Ask Olivia. Need an executor for your will? Ask Olivia. Five-course meal? Olivia!”

  “Look, honey. Olivia’s just a different kind of personality. She’s very structured and prepared—a stick-in-the-mud, some might say.”

  A laugh slipped out just as she felt something wet on her foot. Walter reclaimed his tongue and gazed up at her with mournful eyes that seemed to reflect her pain. Okay, she had to hand it to the dopey dog—he had his good points.
She ruffled his ears.

  “You’re spontaneous and fun and accepting,” Luke continued. “There’s nothing wrong with who you are.”

  “Tell my parents that. Know what they assigned me to bring to the party? Napkins.”

  His low chuckle stirred something deep inside, as did the hand that caressed her bare arm. “And while your sister’s in the kitchen today, slaving away over the stove, guess who’s going to be on the lawn playing tag with the kids? Guess who’s going to be regaling her grandparents with funny stories from work? Guess who’s going to be beating her dad in a game of cornhole?”

  “Okay, okay. But this is still going to be awful. The whole reason I offered to bring the car was to prove to them that I’m a capable adult. And now look what’s happened. I lost their car.” The last words escaped on a pathetic squeak.

  “Hey . . .” He pulled her in tighter, and she laid her head on his shoulder, a tear trickling down her cheek. “You are a perfectly capable adult. You’ve been on your own since you were eighteen, haven’t you? You’ve held down a job—okay, lots of jobs, but it still counts. You have your own place, you pay your bills. You don’t have anything to prove, Allie. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

  Allie tipped her head up and their eyes connected.

  “Thanks, Luke.” When he brushed the wetness away with his thumb, her heart gave a squeeze.

  “Allie, I—”

  A siren chirped, dragging their attention to the gas station’s entrance where a sheriff’s car was turning in.

  Allie fixed her gaze on it as she straightened, her stomach weighted with lead. “I guess we might as well get this over with.”

  Chapter 11

  Sheriff Dudley was over six feet tall and reminded Allie vaguely of Mr. Clean. His manners were spot-on, but she was filled with so much dread she couldn’t even return his smile.

  It seemed to take eons to answer all his questions. Thankfully the store clerk was able to provide a detailed description of the two boys.