Page 44 of Sycamore Circle

“Hope ain’t a game plan, sweetheart.”

Meeting his gaze and seeing both his concern and the seriousness that was shining in his eyes, she nodded. “I have a feeling you’re right.”

The reality was that someone was watching her, and he wasn’t going to go away on his own.

CHAPTER 15

Bo was pretty sure that driving Joy directly back to her house after all that was the wrong thing to do. Their breakfast hadn’t exactly ended on a good note, and there was a tension between them that hadn’t been there before.

He suspected there was a good chance that he wasn’t going to see Joy Howard again once he’d dropped her off. And he really wanted to see her again.

Joy opened the car door the moment he’d put his car in Park. “Thank you for breakfast,” she said as she got out. She treated him to a fake smile too. The kind women gave to security guards and annoying salespeople. Like she was glad for his place in her world, but she didn’t want them to connect on a regular basis.

On another morning, his pride might have gotten a little pinched. That minute though, he was veering somewhere between frustrated and annoyed.

“Hold up, Joy,” he barked.

When she stilled, he scrambled out of his vehicle. “Do you think I’m just gonna sit here and wave goodbye to you like I’m in the carpool lane?”

She pursed her lips. “No. I mean... Bo, it’s not necessary that you walk me to the door. We’re not on a date.”

Bo frowned. “It was a date to me. We made plans, I picked you up, we drove to the diner, had a meal, and now I’m dropping you off. It wasn’t a date to you?”

“No, you’re right. It was.” She opened her purse and pulled out her keys. “But, um, I still need to go.”

“I get that you’re anxious to get inside, but would you please give me a minute?”

Her expression fell. “Yeah. I’m sorry. I... I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Unable to help himself, he brushed back a piece of her hair that had settled against her cheek. “Is it me or the texting that’s got you so spun up?”

“Maybe both?” She ran her teeth over her bottom lip. “I kind of feel like I’m in over my head—but I’m not even sure what, exactly, I’m stuck in.”

He smiled. “As hard as you are on a man’s pride... I reckon I feel the same way.”

She pushed her hair behind her ear and sighed softly. “Yeah, right.”

As much as he wanted to touch her, he remained still. “Joy, in case you didn’t notice, I really like you. I’m trying to go slow and not scare you off, but being so patient isn’t in my nature. All this is new for me too. Give me a chance, okay?”

Her brown eyes warmed on his. “I want to.”

“Good. And I’m happy to help you deal with the texts and the police. All you have to do is ask.”

“I can go there by myself, Bo. I can take care of myself.”

He was disappointed she wasn’t taking him up on his offer, but he supposed he shouldn’t have expected anything different. “Let me know what happens, okay?”

Looking more at peace, she nodded. “Okay.”

“All right. I’ll let you go.” Before she could move away, he pressed his lips to her forehead. Allowed himself to breathe in her sweet perfume for a split second before giving her space. “Have a good day.”

“You too.”

He grinned as he turned away. As first dates went, it wasn’t exactly all that good, but it had turned out better than he’d feared it might for a while. He’d take it.

Instead of going home, he drove over to Lincoln’s. He needed some relationship advice, and he didn’t want to ask either of his sisters. He hoped both Lincoln and his wife Jennifer were available, because if they weren’t, he was going to lose his mind.

He knew exactly what Joy meant when she’d admitted to feeling in over her head. He felt the same way. He had no clue how to date a woman like her. All of his former girlfriends had either just wanted a good time or to be taken care of.

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