Page 25 of Searching for Sadie
Wes Darling... Why did that name sound familiar? "Wes Darling..."
"Yeah, he plays for the Glendale Magic."
"I think one of my friends hooked up with one of the players when they were in Nashville last year. I don’t remember his name, but he had a beard and tons of tattoos.”
“Cash Hawthorne?” he asked glancing at her.
“I think that might have been it.”
Lucas gave another chuckle. His laughs and smiles were like a drug. He was so easy to make happy, that wasn't something she was used to.
"That tracks... I've met a couple of the guys since I'm friends with Conner McPhee. He's from Mystic Falls, that's why Wes is here from time to time. He's dating the bookstore owner in town, who just happens to be the goalie for my team."
"What even is this town? NHL players and Liam James."
"It's a magical little town."
"Clearly," she said, as she realized her hand had been on the door handle for a few minutes. She needed to get out of this truck, but she just couldn't seem to part herself from this wonderful man.
But as her phone dinged again, it reminded her just why she needed to part herself from him.
"Thanks for the ride," she said as she opened the door and hopped out.
Just as she was shutting the door he said, "I'll take a look at your car when I get home."
She turned to say that wasn't necessary as the door shut and he just grinned at her and drove off.
Nothing to do now except go start her new job.
CHAPTER 12
LUCAS
Lucas watched the look on his sexy little neighbor's face as he drove off. There was something going on with her. He was sure of it.
He'd suspected it when she turned up with nothing but a carload of stuff. He'd suspected it even more after their time at the carnival. She'd seemed so guarded, but every now and then he'd catch glimpses of her. Those little glimmers told him she was hiding from something. While he still had no idea what she was hiding from, he would wager it had something to do with whoever was blowing up her phone.
The idea that it was someone she was scared of didn't settle well with him. Hopefully if it was someone dangerous, he would be able to keep an eye on things being her neighbor.
It wasn’t long before he pulled up to Smith's Orchard and parked. He was putting an updated electrical system in their kitchen and then running some line out to a new structure. When he was growing up this orchard had been a small roadside stand, but that had changed over the past couple years.
The gravel crunched under his work boots as he got out of the truck and made his way into the upgraded market.
"Hey Lucas," Poppy greeted him.
Her family owned the orchard, but as her and her brother took over the management things had changed.
"I wanted to ask you how long you thought the power might be off. I've moved some stuff to the fridge back at the house, but I wasn’t sure if I needed to empty the freezer."
"No, I only need an hour tops for this upgrade. As long as the freezer stays shut, you'll be fine."
"Awesome, thanks. Sam is back there. I'm sure he knows what he needs you to do," she said with a little smirk.
Poppy ran the bakery and new cafe at the orchard, but Sam was running everything else, and he had plans. Growing up this orchard had always been an important part of the community, but Sam had all these ideas on how to tweak things, like adding an event center, to make it an attraction for their little town.
"I'll go find him. Thanks, Poppy."
Lucas made his way to the back and sure enough there was Sam looking over some plans.
