Page 63 of With a Grain of Salt

She looks from the plate of food back to me, but she doesn’t argue about the sandwich before picking up half of it and taking a bite.

She stares, or should I say glares, at me the entire time she chews.

“Why do you think we’re dating?”

“I want to get to know you.”

“Why?” She asks in a way that makes me think she’s honestly curious about my answer because she can’t imagine anyone wanting to know her better.

“I get the feeling you wouldn’t introduce me to your daughter unless you knew me better, and I think it would be rather difficult to date you if we can’t include her.”

“Larkin,” she says as if I’ve forgotten the child’s name.

I haven’t. How could I? She’s the most adorable kid I’ve ever seen even though she looks exactly like her father with her wild blonde curls and bright blue eyes.

“I’ve never introduced her to a man before.”

A small frown pulls the corners of her mouth down, and it makes me wonder if she’s thinking that Hux never even got to meet his daughter. I believe what she said about their relationship and, honestly, her words made more sense than the story she came to town with about their marriage. I doubt Claire ever lied and told people there was more to it than there was. She simply told people they were married, and since the folks around here all think that only people in love get married, the assumptions are on them, not Claire.

“We can go at your pace,” I assure her.

“I haven’t dated a man in years. The last guy who I even considered myself to be in a relationship with was before I hooked up with Hux.”

My jaw flexes at the mention of Hux and the time she spent with him. I can’t think of a single man walking this earth who deserves her, and I include myself in that as well. She’s an incredible woman, and I can only hope to be worthy of her time and attention one day.

“It’s not like I could date even if I wanted to. I can only imagine what Nora would have to say about it,” she says before taking another bite of her sandwich.

I have to wonder if it’s been hard for her not having any form of companionship since coming to town. She was expected to be the grieving widow since no one knew the real truth behind her relationship with Hux. Guilt for what I shared with Barrett earlier in the week swims inside of me, and I have to put my sandwich right back down on my plate instead of taking a bite.

Despite how I feel about it, I don’t confess what I’ve done. This could go nowhere with her, and I’d still follow through with the plans I’ve made with Barrett. She doesn’t deserve to be burdened by debt she wasn’t responsible for. I wouldn’t want that problem to shift to the Kennedys either. They did lose their son after all, but, honestly, it’s more their responsibility than it is hers.

“I’m not going to introduce you to Larkin,” she says after taking a drink of her soda.

“That’s going to be really weird in a couple years after we’ve been dating for so long.”

I watch the corner of her mouth twitch as if she wants to smile but is fighting it.

“We aren’t dating.”

“We are,” I assure her. “What do you want to know about me?”

“I already know everything I need to know,” she says.

“List it off,” I urge.

“Your sister, Harper, works in the fire department. Rumor around town is that she’s secretly dating the chief.”

“Hayes would never cross that line with my sister. What else do you know?”

“I know…” she says but her words trail off, her eyes darting away for a long moment before finding mine once again. “I know about Jason.”

My twin’s name feels like a bullet to the chest, and I wonder, not for the first time, how long I’m going to feel like I’ve lost a limb when he’s brought up.

“I’m sorry for your loss. I don’t think I’ve ever told you that before.”

“Thank you,” I say, my tone a little different than it was a few minutes ago. “I miss him every single day.”

“I imagine.”

---