Page 17 of A Lonely Road
I lifted a brow. “Wow. That must have been hard. Moving here was a big adjustment for me and Sam, and that was only the one time.”
“I guess it is pretty tough for some kids. And for some adults, obviously. Just about the time you settle in and make friends, you pack up and move again. I always thought it was fun to see so much of the world, though. This might come as a shock to you,” she added dryly, “but I wasn’t the most sociable kid. Being alone never really bothered me.”
I laughed, imagining a miniature version of her prickly self. “I’m sure you were adorable. So now you’ve got the travel bug?”
“Maybe that’s what it is,” she hedged, suddenly sounding self-conscious.
“Or maybe you’re just looking for a place to call home.” From the way her expression flashed with something soft and vulnerable, I gathered that one struck a chord with her.
She gave a tiny shrug, her gaze on the back corner of the yard. “Maybe.”
From anybody else, I would've considered that a rebuff, but I heard the longing in her voice, caught the wistful glint in hereyes as she studied the pink tinge of the impending sunset over the trees. I bit back the urge to continue nudging, to ask if she thought Spruce Hill might fit the bill.
If I played my cards right, she’d open up when she was good and ready, not a second before. I carefully turned the conversation toward safer subjects, fully aware of the grateful smile she threw my way.
It was nearly dark when Nora said, “I better get going. This was . . .” She cleared her throat. “This was really nice, Jake. Thank you.”
“It was my pleasure, Nora.”
That much was completely true—I hadn’t expected to enjoy the evening quite so much, but Nora was an exceptional companion, once I’d edged past those defenses. I stood when she did and held out a hand, grinning when she took it without a trace of her previous hesitation.
“Will I see you at The Mermaid tomorrow?”
The look she shot at me was both amused and annoyed. “Your sister bullied me into meeting her for coffee in the morning, so maybe not. I might need a night off from work to recover from that level of socialization.”
I winced dramatically. “Ah, well, best of luck with that,” I joked. “I can call your phone at a designated time so you can use it as an excuse to get the hell out of there, if you want.”
Though she laughed, Nora kept her palm out and curled her fingers. “Give me your phone, I’ll add my number to your contacts.”
Simmer down, buddy, she’s just playing along,I told myself as I handed it over. Still, I felt a rush of pleasure when she gave it back. It was progress, no matter how small.
“Let me know if you need an escape call,” I said with a wink.
The smile that curved her rosy lips caused a bolt of heat to streak its way through my insides, settling firmly somewhere in my chest even as tiny sparks continued down my limbs. It took all of my willpower not to reach out and touch her. Instead, I dropped my gaze to the phone and sent her a text that said,Friendly neighbor rescue service here.
She smirked at the message and pocketed her phone. “Have a good night, Jake,” she said softly.
“You too, Nora.”
As she cut across the grass toward her apartment, I was left grinning like a fool and clutching my phone to my chest.
This woman was slow to warm, that had been obvious from the start, but she was quirky and clever and I’d give almost anything to earn her trust. I was dead certain the eventual thaw, however long it was in coming, would prove well worth the effort. The sound of her laughter captivated me, so much so that I struggled not to imagine the other ways she might be slow to warm up.
One thing was absolutely certain—Nora Cassidy needed a friend. First and foremost, I was determined to be that for her. And if anything else came of that friendship, I would definitely not complain.
I just hoped Sam would go easy on her tomorrow. My sister was not known for her subtlety, and I got the impression that any overt movements might send Nora fleeing from Spruce Hill altogether.
Chapter Nine
Nora
Forthefirsttimein years, I pulled my one and only dress from the closet to study it with a critical eye. My capsule wardrobe didn’t really include anything overly fancy. When I met Sam the other night, though, she looked like a fashion plate, perfectly poised and put-together.
I was one hundred percent sure I couldn’t come anywhere close to that, but I didn’t want to sit across from her looking like a total slouch.
A choked laugh escaped me as I thought about the gross shirt I’d worn yesterday—if Jake minded associating with a slob, he certainly gave no indication. Something told me that his sister wouldn’t care if I showed up in similar disarray, but my pride won out. With the dress clasped to my chest, I pawed through the rest of my limited options.
“It’s probably time to update the wardrobe,” I muttered. Then I followed the comment with the stern admonition, “For your own sake, not to impress the guy next door. No matter how obnoxiously attractive he might be.”
