Chirp(45)

“May I come in?”

She gave it some thought. This could be her chance to help Hanna. Find out about Seth’s bride. “Okay.”

He propped his hip on the floor, then maneuvered inside. “What are you doing up here?”

She glanced at her tablet. “Drawing.”

“I saw the mural. You’re good. Which reminds me. We don’t need your room. We’ll stay out of your way. We were hoping you’d come with us to the festival.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re Rance’s friend, and we want to include you. There’s a street dance tonight. Why don’t you come? That way I’ll have a partner.”

She and Rance weren’t friends. Not anymore. She wasn’t sure what they were.

Unlike his older brother, Seth had an easy way about him. No bad attitude. No rough voice. She saw kindness in his eyes. “I don’t dance.”

“Then it’d be a good time to learn. I’ve been taking lessons because of my upcoming wedding, so I could teach you a few steps.”

“What’s your bride like?”

“Oh. She’s pretty. From a good family. Does a lot of volunteer work.”

“What’s her name?”

“Heather Banks.” He chuckled. “She thinks Heather Keller is hard to say and sounds funny, so she plans to hyphenate.”

Blaze couldn’t help but smile. She was acquainted with the family and remembered Heather and her younger sister, Haley, were about as snooty as they came. Served her right to be stuck with a hyphen.

“You want kids?” Blaze asked.

Another look of surprise. “Well, sure. Someday.”

“Will Heather be a good mother?”

“Uh, I guess. She’ll be good at hiring the right nanny. That’s for sure.”

Blazed picked up her sketch pad. She’d heard enough. Hanna would never want Noah raised by a nanny, but Blaze could reassure her on that front. Heck, she’d loved every minute with Helga. But, then again, Blaze didn’t have a mother. “I’ve got to go. It’s time to milk the goats.”

“What goats?”

“My friend Hanna is out of town. I’m taking care of her business.”

He slid toward the ladder and waited for Blaze to join him. “When is she coming back?”

“Sunday night.”

“Too bad. I was hoping to see her before I left.”

“Why?”

“We’re old friends. I wanted to catch up.”

Blaze took the leash, hooked it in the dog’s collar, and placed him on the ground. Then she stuck her sketch pad under her arm. “She works two jobs. About to get her teaching degree next month. Starting up a goat-milk product line. That catches you up.”

“She seeing anyone?”

“Why do you care?”

“Just curious.” Seth pulled his brows together. “You get right to the point, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“I like you. Come to the festival with us. I’ll even help with the goats, if you need me.”

Blaze cocked her head. She couldn’t figure this guy out. “You get right to the point, too.”

“Yeah. Another reason we should hang out.”





21


Blaze


Blaze saw no reason to tell Seth she’d already planned to go to the festival with Tiffany. Once her friend had learned about the botched sex and the current situation with Rance, she’d claimed a night out was what a girl needed to heal a broken heart. Blaze didn’t think hers was broken. Just cracked. But it wasn’t Rance’s fault she’d fallen in love with him.

Tiffany didn’t make excuses about her ulterior motive, which was to hook up with Nick. According to Hanna, Blaze and Tiffany were both nuts for wanting to get involved in any way with that family. Considering Hanna’s history with Seth, Blaze thought her opinion was biased. As much as Hanna protested, Blaze saw the sadness in her eyes every time Seth’s name came up. She still loved him. And Noah looked so much like Seth it was spooky. How had she missed it? The big brown eyes. The way he cocked his head. The curve of his lips. Put those two in the same room, and everyone would know they were father and son.

Blaze released the last goat from the stall and rushed to take a shower. Tiffany had texted earlier to say she was bringing something for Blaze to wear. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she’d liked wearing the dress to the banquet. She hadn’t worn anything but pants and T-shirts for so long, she’d forgotten how feminine beautiful clothes made her feel.

She missed that part of her life. And her long hair. And the trips to the spa. What she’d give for a day beneath Janine’s hands. Blaze shook her head. If she hadn’t thought of the world’s best masseuse until now, surely she could block Rance from her mind. All it took was determination and time. Two things she had plenty of.

At six o’clock Tiffany burst through the door like a fireball. The girl never had a bad day. She shoved a clothes bag forward. “You will look so beautiful in this outfit Ranceroni will drool.”

“I don’t think so.”

Tiffany looped a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve been thinking about your dilemma. That conversation you had with him in the garden says a lot. He wants you to come back, and I don’t think it’s because you pay rent.” She flapped her hand in the air. “I know, I know. That’s what you think, but he didn’t have to come out there and talk to you. But he did. Sure, he regrets what happened, as he should, but it’s more than that. He just doesn’t know it—yet.”