Page 3 of Silver Sanctuary
“Hey, Mr. Nash!”
“Cheese! How was your first day of school?” Brie ran up to him and answered his outstretched hand with a high five.
“It was okay.”
Lacy looked up in disbelief. Hadn’t Embrie just talked her ear off about all the things she’d enjoyed?
“Just okay? I thought you were pumped for today? Aren’t you the same girl I saw studying that science book all summer?”
“Yeah…”
“Where’s all that enthusiasm?”
Embrie shrugged, her arms folding around herself. “It’s just hard starting over again. But I met a friend. She likes math and science, like me.”
“That’s great, Embrie. You’re still trying out for the team this weekend, right?”
“Yeah!”
“Actually,” Lacy interrupted, “I was just about to close upthe shop. I thought you would have been in here at lunch time, like usual.”
His eyes bounced to hers and the biggest smile filled his face. He was so unbelievably handsome, it actually made her heart skip a beat.
“Lace, are you keeping tabs on me?”
“You caught me.” She laughed. “I just got worried when you weren’t here like usual, that’s all.”
“Yeah, you are pretty old, Mr. Nash,” Embrie added. “Have you had your heart checked recently? Maybe he should come to the doctor’s with us, Mom.”
Lacy stared at her in absolute horror. Did Nash look older than he was because of his salt-and-pepper hair? Maybe. Was it just one of the things Lacy found droolworthy about the man? Yes. Yes it was.
“Embrie!” she quickly scolded.
“All right, wise guy.” Nash chuckled, holding his hands up like he was about to surrender to her daughter. “I was a Navy SEAL and still train like one, so I don’t think we have to go marking my grave plot just yet. And second, no more of that ‘Mr. Nash’ stuff. It’s just Nash, or Coach when we’re at practice. Got it, Manchego?”
“Hmm. Manchego.” She held her hand up and rocked it back and forth. “Manchego.I think it’s probably Italy.”
Nash laughed. “Good guess, but it’s Spain. That’s one point for me.”
Lacy just shook her head back and forth. The very first time Embrie met Nash, she’d gone on and on about how special her name was because her mom loved Brie cheese. And that was true. Lacy didn’t get to indulge in it very often, but she was hoping if business picked up, she could get a small wheel to bake at the holidays for her and Embrie to enjoy.
And thus started the cheese-origin-naming war between her child and the man who looked like he was straight out of amilitary edition ofHunks, Incmagazine. If that was an actual thing… which, of course, it wasn’t. She could feel her cheeks growing warmer as he caught her eye.
Breathe, Lace.
It was actually pretty funny how seriously they both took the competition. Nash really did seem like he wanted to stump Embrie, and Lacy knew her daughter wanted to impress Nash. So much so that they’d taken to reading about different kinds of cheese some nights before bed.
“Once we get through the names and countries of different cheeses, we should have a cheese tasting party.” Nash’s voice pulled her back to their conversation.
“That would be so fun! Wouldn’t it, Mom?”
Lacy nodded, checking her watch for the time. They needed to leave in a few minutes if they were going to make it to Embrie’s appointment on time. But part of her was willing to wait until the last possible moment if it meant getting to watch Embrie and Nash tease each other over cheese.
“Good. It’s a date then.” Nash winked over his shoulder. “Okay, kiddo, help me pick out my flowers before you close up.”
He moved around the small space with Embrie, and after about five minutes, during which Lacy definitelydid notcheck out how well his ass fit into his jeans, he walked up to the counter and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket.
“Two bouquets, and only one arrangement today?”
