Page 33 of Somewhere You Belong

“Anytime. And hey, let me get your number while you’re here. I’m not letting you out of this beach trip.” With a cunning smile, she pulls her phone back out of her pocket as I rattle off my number to her. “I’m gonna text you so you have mine too.”

I feel my phone vibrate in my purse. “Okay. Thank you.”

“Have a good day! And good luck with the house!” she calls after me as I wave with my free hand and make my way out to my car, ready to find a few things I can work on to fill in the time between work and when Penn is scheduled to swing by the house later.

And maybe I can push Penn to give me more insight into his brother, too.

***

I drag my chosen chair in its bulky cardboard box up to the register, stopping every few feet to catch my breath. Of course the one I liked the most was also the biggest. It’s not like this tiny hardware store had much to choose from anyway, but, seeing as the only other place to buy furniture around here is the dollar store, I figured I’d have better odds here.

I was also hoping to run into Penn since I had a few questions for him, but he’s nowhere to be found. Instead, the older woman behind the counter watches me with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, not bothering to assist.

"Having some trouble?” It’s more a statement of the obvious than an actual question. When I only grunt in response, she asks, “What’s a little thing like you doing with a chair that size anyway?”

“It’s for my new house,” I huff out as I continue to drag the box with what little upper body strength I possess.

“New in town, huh?” she prompts as she leans on the counter, her interest clearly piqued.

“I am. And I just need to pay for this chair and get it home, okay?”This damn chair better be worth all of this trouble.

“Good choice.” A voice to my right pulls my attention, and the person it belongs to holds it for a moment before I realize I’m staring.

Dallas.

“That’s the one I had my eye on for the balcony,” he says.

The thump of my heart has me taking a moment to gather my thoughts. “Um, yeah, that’s what I was planning.”

“Gotta have somewhere to sit to watch the sunrise and sunset, right?” He walks over to me and takes the cardboard behemoth from my hands, lifting it with ease and walking around me toward the register.

“I had that!” I call out as he walks away from me, carrying the box like it’s as light as a feather.

“Just say thank you, Willow,” he says over his shoulder as I sigh in defeat.

“Thank you,” I mutter, trailing him as the employee watches us both now with her eyes bugged out.

“Mrs. Hansen.” Dallas nods at the woman as he leans the box against the counter. “How are the puppies doing?”

Her face lights up for the first time since I’ve walked in here, and her eyes finally focus on something other than me. “Oh, they are perfect. Such a rambunctious little bunch. Your brother came by yesterday to check on them.”

“Sounds like Parker is doing his job, then.”

“All of you boys are responsible and loyal to a fault. Your daddy would be proud of y’all.”

I watch Dallas’s face fall, but he simply clears his throat and nods. “Thank you.”

“Such a shame the cancer took him so young.” She shakes her head as she holds up a handheld scanner to the box.

I try to make it look like I’m not paying attention, but she is doing a better job of offering up information about this man than Astrid did earlier today.

His dad died from cancer? Well, that presents some intriguing insight.

Seems we actually have something in common.

“Yes. It is.” He flicks his eyes over to mine. “I think Willow here needs to pay so she can get going, right?”

“Oh. Yes. Go ahead and insert your card into the machine, dear.” Her voice has taken on a much lighter tone as I break my stare with Dallas and pay for my item.

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