Page 55 of Beautiful Dreamer

“Just keeping you in line.” Devyn yelled back.

“I’m gonna knock you in your head.”

“I’m gonna tackle you right back if you do. And I’m not the oneusing a cane. Who do you think is gonna win?”

“Bully.”

Elizabeth smiled at the sisters doing their thing and realized howlucky they were to have each other, and what a shame it was they lived so farapart. “You guys are still twelve.”

Devyn grinned. “That will never change.”

“Good. Meet me at the entrance to the park at noon tomorrow?”

“We’ll be there,” Devyn said. She hooked a thumb behind her. “CanI get back to work now or do you want to check me out some more? Totally yourcall. I’ll just be here, trying not to look devastatingly sexy.” She gave herhair a toss.

Elizabeth was pretty sure that Devyn had meant it as a joke, butthe effect actually was incredibly sexy. Elizabeth swallowed the flutter itcaused, instead making a show of glaring at Devyn and turning playfully on herheels.

“Work it,” Devyn called. “I like the sass you have going. Yes,girl.”

Elizabeth shook her head but kept walking, putting an extra swingin her hips, hoping Devyn was checking out her ass and secretly loving everyminute of it.

Chapter Fifteen

Devyn had never seen more flower arrangements in her life. And notjust the kinds in vases. Bountiful Park had been outfitted to the gills withwreaths, strings of bursting blooms, flowers in the shape of happy townspeople,animals, objects. It was quite simply overflowing with color, and even Devyn,who found the whole concept of the festival to be a little hokey, could not denyhow breathtaking the place looked. The organizers of this one must have workedtirelessly the day before.

The weather had shown up for the festival, too, cresting in at aneven seventy-six degrees, complete with a comfortable breeze that rustled themany trees shading the festival grounds just inside the park. She and Jillwaited patiently at the ticket table, while pretty much everyone who passedraced up to Jill to check on her status.

“I should be back at school officially next month,” Jill told someof them with a warm smile. “I’m doing so much better. Thank you for asking. Notquite myself yet, but I’m getting there,” she told others. They’d made a pactthat they would go slowly through the festival grounds and allow Jill to relyonly on her cane this trip, leaving whenever she felt too tired to keep going.A quick call to her doctor had concluded that this kind of outing was actuallyvery good for her.

Meanwhile, Devyn scanned the arriving faces, but no Elizabeth.When it hit ten minutes past the hour, she began to get antsy. “Where could shebe?” Devyn asked, getting ready to text her.

“You know Elizabeth. She doesn’t have a lot of downtime. She’sprobably finishing up a job somewhere before heading over.”

“You looking for Lizzie?” an older, grouchy-looking fellow asked.He didn’t wait for an answer before pointing behind him into the festival.“Last I saw her she was hurling softballs at the dunking booth. Knocked themayor off his perch twice from what I saw. She’s a ringer.”

“Of course she is,” Devyn said, confused and intrigued by thisinformation. “And you are?”

Then as if summoned, by the mention of her name, Elizabeth racedout of the park entrance and landed in front of Devyn. Her face was flushed andglowing. “Hi,” she said, first to Devyn and then again to Jill. “I got a headstart. Couldn’t sleep last night with all the anticipation of today.” She madea silly face as if realizing how ridiculous she was. Only Devyn didn’t thinkso. Her enthusiasm only made her likable. And cute. Yep. Her friend was verycute. And fuckable. She shook her head at that last part.

Jill laughed and slung an arm around Elizabeth. “Should haveknown. The pleasure seeker was off enjoying herself.”

“Don’t worry,” Elizabeth told them. “I saved all the best stuff.Do you want to start with the fried Oreos or the miniature Ferris wheel, whichI have to admit could be more exciting.”

“Gonna pass on the Ferris wheel,” Devyn said. “Small rides can bedicey. I’ve seen the news.”

“Fair enough. But let me warn you, we’re doing the three-leggedrace at two. Jill, you should maybe sit that one out.”

Jill nodded. “Probably a wise decision. Happy to watch and cheeryou two crazy kids on, though.”

“Well, look at this. You’re here.” It was Charlie. He ambled upall smiles in his short-sleeve plaid shirt that he’d tucked in. Bless hisheart. His sneakers gleamed, too. “I wondered if you’d make it.” It was like hecouldn’t take his eyes off her.

“Hello, Charles,” Jill said, blushing.

Charles?

Riveting.

Please let therebe more. Jill had been divorced for years now, and this was thefirst time Devyn’d had the privilege of witnessing her reacting to a man. Itwas something to see. Jill stood taller and fluffed her hair. She also glancedaway a lot, clearly affected. The pink cheeks were adorable and drew arrowsigns over the affection she must have carried for Charlie—sorry,Charles.

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