Page 32 of All Because of You

Since that time he’d brought pizza, there hadn’t been any moments when she thought he might kiss her again, not even on their “date” to watch the whales when she’d snuggled next to him and practically willed him to with her mind. But she should be OK with that. After all, they had a history, even if he didn’t remember it. Maybe it was best to let bygones be bygones, to embrace an unexpected friendship—a kinship with someone else who had loved Aunt Chrissy—and be satisfied with that.

Tonight wasn’t about figuring out what was between them. It was about thanking Evan for all he’d done to help her. She didn’t need anything from him. He’d given enough already.

“Shall we? Then we can get to the really fun part.” She handed him a fork and started eating her salad.

“What exactly do you have planned?” Evan tucked into his meatloaf and groaned. “Whatever it is, the answer is yes. You’re my hero right about now.”

“That’s only fair, since you’ve been mine the last few weeks.”

He paused, lifting an eyebrow.

“I would never have gotten the store ready for reopening if it weren’t for you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

Evan studied her for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Then, he nodded. “Yeah, of course. No big deal.” He shoved another bite of potatoes into his mouth.

“Don’t discount it. It’s a huge deal.” She pushed a chunk of bacon around on the top of her salad. “You have a life, a job. Yet you’ve spent countless hours helping me, a stranger.”

“You’re not a stranger, Mad.”

Mad. Something about the way he said the nickname—that he’d used a nickname at all—sent a tingle up her spine. “Well, I was, and you still helped me. So tonight is my way of thanking you.”

“I have to admit something to you.” He winced. “Originally, my motives for helping you weren’t so pure.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know that promotion I’ve mentioned?”

“You mean the one you’re going to snag after you get the whole town on board with the Christmas festival?”

His laugh came out short, a bit disbelieving. “Yeah. Well, anyway, that’s part of the reason I was fighting so hard for Herman Hardware in the first place. I thought it would help me stand out among the applicants. And when I found out Herman wasn’t happening, I figured helping you get your store open would look good on my resume.”

That answered that question, then. Not that she could blame him. The man had lost the Herman opportunity because of her.

Madison stabbed a tomato. “I understand.” And she did, however disappointing it was to hear.

“But.” He slid his hand across the table, and with a tentative movement she gave him hers. He rubbed her fingers with a light touch of the tip of his thumb. “That changed pretty much after that first night of helping you. By then, I was hooked. I just wanted to spend more time with you.”

She burst out laughing. A flash of hurt crossed his face, and Madison rushed to explain. “I was the one who was hooked, remember? Quite literally, in fact.”

“You know, when we met, you weren’t exactly the joking type.” He grinned. “Looks like I’m rubbing off on you.”

“Maybe you are.” After a moment, she grew sober, inhaling. “Thanks for telling me that, Evan. You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to be honest. But I’m serious about it becoming about more than a job to me. It’s been an absolute pleasure to help you.” He cocked his head. “How are you feeling about tomorrow?”

The sun had set and the park, ramada, and fields beyond were bathed in inviting light that spilled from the streetlamps and floodlights spread throughout the public space. “All the things. Nervous. Excited. Really, really hoping I don’t fail.”

“You won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know you.” The words soaked into the dry and thirsty places of her heart, the ones she’d deprived of water for so long. “And you can do anything you set your mind to, Madison Price. Of that I’m sure.”

“Thank you, Evan. I believe the same about you.”

His staccato laugh proved he didn’t believe what she was saying.

Madison threaded her fingers through his and fixed him with a pseudo-stern look. “I mean it. Look at how you’ve turned your life around. Chrissy believed in you and so do I.”

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