Page 2 of Dance in the Light
“Don’t call me Cynthia. You know that bugs the crap out of me.” I huffed to my car and grabbed my bags.
“Yeah, I knoweverythingabout you. Or did you forget?”
“Well, it’s been eight years, RyanRooseveltLee. I’m pretty sure you know little about me now.” I trudged over to the passenger door of his truck with my things. The image of his huge biceps flexing as he pulled the tow cable out wasn’t lost on my eyes.
“Like I said a minute ago, if you’d have stayed in touch . . .”
I shut myself in his cab to avoid any further conversation. If this was the start of my return to Glendale Falls, then I couldn’t wait to return to the city. Although a quick scan of my messages on my phone told me nothing—and no one—was waiting for me there, either.
TWO
ROSEBUD
RYAN LEE
My lips twitched, thinking back to the childish game we used to play. Who could break the silence first? Cindy losteverytime.
“Well, this is awkward, but it’s only ten minutes to town. I’m sure you can survive being quiet that long.” I dared her.
Then again, I sure as hell had questions on the tip of my tongue I needed answers to.Why didn’t you keep in touch? Do you always make promises you can’t keep?
“Wow, is that the Hopewell farm?” She pointed out her window at the new Par Three golf course recently built on what used to be a prime dairy farm in the area.
I smirked. Yep. Every time. “I think you’ll find a lot has changed in Glendale Falls, if you keep your eyes open.”
Cindy sighed and slumped into the truck seat. “Look, I’m only here a few days, okay? If we could please keep things civil?”
“Civil?” I snickered. “That assumes our current relationship status falls somewhere in the friend zone. Then again, I was used to that.”
That sent her back into the quiet game. I snuck a glance at her and regretted it instantly. Goddammit, this woman took my breath away with her long red hair flowing in curls down her back.
I hadn’t thought of Cindy in years, er, months—aw hell. There wasn’t a day where I hadn’t played thewhat ifgame, torturing myself over things that couldn’t be. She chose the city and left me behind. Time marched on—and fuck me, turned her body into one curvaceous woman.
The way her arms folded beneath the swell of her full breasts and tilted those perky babies in the air? Shit, I suddenly needed to adjust myself in the worst way.
Okay, Ryan, forget the woman of your dreams, your old best friend, suddenly walked back into your life and remember how she left you years ago. Or better yet, how she laughed at you on prom night when you poured your heart and soul out to her.
Or recall the kisses . . . Nah, fuck them.
“Not going there,” I muttered under my breath.
“Excuse me?” Her head whipped to mine and for a moment, our eyes met.God, kill me now with those emerald eyes.
I cleared my throat and sat up straighter. “Nothing.”
A few minutes of uncomfortable silence later, I pulled into the gas station and backed her car up to the service bay door.
“I’ll have a look at it in the morning. Hopefully, it’s just a starter or something.”
“You? But isn’t this old Red’s place?” She asked.
“It’s my place now. Bought it off of Red Jenkins when he retired. Like I said, lots of changes around here.” My voice came out pretty snarky, but then again, her face looking at me like I was dirt under her fancy New York City shoes didn’t sit well with me.
After I unhitched her car, I was about to be civil and say goodbye, but I found her standing on the curb with luggage at her feet, studying her phone.
“Shoot. Where is everyone? Why can’t I get a hold of them?” She shouted.
I squeezed my eyes closed and counted to ten.Don’t do it.But I ignored my warning. “I can give you a ride out to your old farm, but I have to stop somewhere first.”
