Page 28 of That One Heartbreak

“Hi.”

“You want some water?”

A smile pulled at his lips. “I’m good. Is everything okay here? Seen any more snakes?”

“No. We’re good. I just wanted to talk to you…” She glanced back at the house as though to make sure none of her kids were there. “About James.”

“Sure.” Marley nodded, all too aware he’d had more conversations about a kid that wasn’t his today than anything else. “What’s up?”

“He said the Junior Firefighters are supposed to be volunteering atChairson Friday night.”

“Yeah, that’s right. The band is doing a fundraising set. Playing some music. There’s always clean up afterward and we’ve asked the juniors to be part of it.”

Her eyes met his. Up close they looked like corn, just before it turned. Green with some yellow. Pretty.

“He’s still grounded.”

“I know. And it’s up to you, but I can guarantee that the clean-up isn’t the fun job you might think it is.” Marley gave her a half smile. “I’ll even make sure he doesn’t have any fun. And at least you’ll know where he is.”

“I guess…” She didn’t look certain. And he felt bad, because he was trying to help, not cause her more problems. God knew she probably had enough of them already.

“I’ll even drop him home myself if you’re worried about him getting back,” Marley told her.

“I can bring him home,” she said quickly.

“Are you coming to the gig?” he asked. It was strange how much he wanted her to say yes.

“I don’t know.” She offered him a small smile. “I’m not the biggest fan ofChairs.”

“You should come,” he told her. “You’ll have a good time.”

“Will I?” she murmured. And he wasn’t sure if she was talking to him or herself.

“Yes.”

Her eyes met his again and he felt it somewhere inside him. She was a beautiful woman.

But she was also Paul’s widow. He was just trying to look out for her and the kids, that was all.

Her chest lifted as she inhaled slowly, her brows pulling tight as she thought it over. “I can’t remember the last time I heard you play. Probably about seven years ago.”

“We’ve only gotten worse,” he told her and she laughed, the sound like nectar to his ears.

“Didn’t you almost get picked up by a record company?” she asked him.

“Kind of. But that’s an old story.” He smiled at her. “So are you coming?”

She didn’t say anything for a moment. Just looked at him, the setting sun lending her face an orange hue. In the distance, he could hear the rumble of a car, and – closer – the sound of a single bird warbling from the sugar maple tree at the edge of her yard.

“Yeah, I think maybe I’ll come watch,” she said. “Bring Addy and Ethan. Make an evening of it. Catch up on the local gossip.” She widened her eyes and it made him grin.

“Good.” He nodded. “I’ll see you there then.”

“Yeah, you will.”

It sounded like a promise. A promise that hit him straight in the solar plexus. And when he nodded his head in goodbye and set off on his run back home, the smile lingered on his face.

Chapter

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