Page 13 of Beneath Southern Stars

Ryan

After our timein the bookstore, I had hoped Pepper would talk a little more. Unfortunately, the only sounds she made after that single word were that of yawns and ultimately an occasional snore. It’s why I turned away from town and took a drive. Naps are not something my girl willingly gives into anymore. It isn’t that she doesn’t need them, only that she fights any reason to not be exploring or working on a puzzle.

I think the drive did us both some good. Pepper recharged her battery, and I was able to work through some things in my mind. Mainly why Laney seems to take up so much space. And maybe why I was so willing to blame her for stalking when it was obvious I was the one invading her space. And her town.

My thoughts took me all the way to Mobile where Pepper and I grabbed a bite to eat and had more ice cream. Sadly, The Scoop did not come close to the quality of banana splits as Frozen Spoon. I’m dreading the sessions with the trainer Gordon is sure to force on me when we get home. Maybe I should download a few workouts to do in the mornings while we’re here. Strictly to counter the ice cream. And whatever this Jubilee is going to offer. I heard a few people while we ate dinner going on aboutthe event. Apparently, Magnolia Grove is a hot location for the holiday celebration.

Now, standing in the yard, cradling the neighbor’s dog like I used to hold Pepper as I paced the halls while she used her newborn lungs in the middle of the night, I find myself walking a fine line toward flirting. My how things have changed in less than a week. There is no doubt part of my reaction to this woman is how kind and patient she is with Pepper and how taken my daughter is with her. She spoke to her.

The melody of her laugh makes it impossible to hide the smile fighting to break free. “Maybe that’s something we should look up.”

“Lurking? We could do that. I mean, I have a pact with my friends to clear our search histories should anything happen to one of us.”

Something is different tonight than it has been the other times I’ve talked with Laney. Based on the number of cars that were lined up in her driveway and in front of both of our houses, she was entertaining tonight. Maybe being with her people relaxes her. Or wine. Most of the women in my life are known to share a bottle or two with their friends, I doubt Laney is any different.

“Sounds like a solid plan.”

A beat of silence stretches between us, only the sounds of crickets filling the void. “Umm, do you think we could talk for a minute?” she asks, her eyes looking over my shoulder toward the front door.

I’m taken slightly aback. Just enough that I stop giving her dog the attention he wants, and he begins to squirm out of my hands. I lower him to the ground and as I stand ask, “Did you want to sit on the back deck? Pepper’s asleep and I was heading back out there when I heard the commotion.”

A roll of eyes and slight shake of her head, are her only response as she moves past me and into the house. “Come on, Steve.”

I follow my new guests into the house and as she moves with familiarity toward the back door, her eyes scanning the house as she goes. “Would you like something to drink? A beer? I also have bottled water and a bottle of whiskey.”

Laney stops and turns to face me, her nose scrunched. “Ew, no whiskey. A beer would probably help.”

Shaking off her comment, I grab us each a beer, popping the tops and tossing them in the garbage as I follow her and Steve outside. She’s sitting at the edge of one of the loungers when I walk up, holding a bottle in her direction.

“Thanks. Don’t you love this view?”

I follow her gaze as she looks out at the river, the moon and stars bright in the night sky, and natures call all around us. Dixie, the Martin D-28 I’ve had since Katie and I first arrived in Nashville, is leaning against the small table between our loungers. Steve pounces on a twig a foot away. I don’t want to take the chance of him knocking over Dixie, so I take her by the neck and move her next to me.

Laney follows my movements while taking a pull from her beer. “Do you play?”

She chokes and shakes her head. “Me? No.”

“Why do you say it like that?”

“How?”

“As if it’s a foreign concept for you to play guitar. Dixie here may be offended.”

My hand taps the side of my first guitar, and she snorts, hand flying to her mouth, a blush clear on her cheeks. I kind of like this version of Laney. Uninhibited and carefree.

“I have something to tell you. It may be a little presumptuous of me since we hardly know one another. It’s the holidays andI’m sure you and Pepper have plans to leave Magnolia Grove soon. But, since you are here now, I thought...”

Is she going to ask me for a fling? It’s not something that’s been on my mind, but I can’t deny my attraction to this woman. And, it has been a while. It probably isn’t the best idea. There is enough change in my life, no need to complicate it with someone who lives next door, even if it is temporary.

“You should know that someone recognized you in town today. It wasn’t me. Heck, I thought he was full of bologna being a teenager and all. Then, I really thought about it and, well here you are. Sitting right there.” Laney waves her hand and lifts the bottle to her lips again. Which appears to be empty by the way she’s tilting her head back.

I feel as though I’ve been sucked into a vacuum as her words sink in. There’s a buzzing in my ears and the world around us tilts slightly. Thank goodness Pepper is asleep.

“What do you mean?” It’s a dumb question because I know the answer.

Laney sighs. “You’re RyanMiller.The beard threw me off. Or just you being here in Magnolia Grove and not on my TV or in my ears did the job. I’m not sure.”

Well, shit. So much for Gordon’s guarantee on anonymity.

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