Don't Let Go(97)

“That one I failed you on?”
“Nope. A better one at Old Tin Barnes,” she said. “I saw Savanna Barnes at the bank and she hooked me up. She had one much more rustic, and cheaper, and Frank is making it awesome.” Ruthie stopped and hugged her arms to herself. “Oh, wow, and it might be the first thing I put in my store,” she whispered.
It was contagious, her giddiness. Like watching Becca see everything ahead of her.
Ruthie shook her head free and smiled, her eyes shining. “So, what are these things you want to do?”
“No concrete plans, but—Becca suggested some art classes, and—”
“Yes!” she exclaimed, jumping up and making me laugh. “It’s about time you got reacquainted with your freaky self! I used to love your artwork.”
“Well, I’ll have some time and money, now that Becca is putting off college a year—”
“Wait, what?”
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s another story. She’s going to work on her writing.”
Ruthie backed up and studied me. “Who are you?”
“That’s the exact thing Becca said,” I said, smiling, feeling the weight of old crotchety me lifting by the minute.
“Well, you are stepping outside your box, that’s for sure,” she said.
“It was time.”
“Just think of that tonight at the carnival,” she said, to which I groaned. “More box-stepping,” she said. “You can do it.”



Chapter 26

The temperature dropped thirty degrees since our sunny day at noon. Even Harley gave me a look when I told her to go outside and do her business. I’m sure she was thinking the hall bathroom would do just fine.
Becca came and went, restocking for her second sleepover night, and then texting me a few hours later with a line of smiley faces. She was in a great mood. I was, too, in spite of the carnival plans in freezing temps. I was going on a date with Noah Ryan for the first time in twenty-six years.
With the possibility of a sleepover of my own.
I was such a slut.
And when Noah arrived an hour early, with a delicious look of desire in his eyes, I was eager to explore that. Which we did. All over my kitchen. And I didn’t even obsess about sanitization. I figured I could worry about that later, and he was worth every bit of it. If I could have kept him naked 24/7, I would have.
Lord, who was I?
Evidently I was a woman held down by rules and boundaries for far too long.
There was also something to be said for Noah in clothes, too. In faded jeans, boots, a dark blue button-down shirt and that do-me-on-the-table leather jacket of his, I was salivating.
“You taste like cupcakes,” he said later, licking and kissing my neck as I attempted to get ready. We’d already gone two rounds.
“Vanilla and coconut lime body splash,” I said.
“Mmm, it makes me want to—”
“Again?” I said, laughing.
“I was gonna say go buy some cake,” he said on a grin. “But I’ll be game again in a couple of hours.”
“Have you talked to Seth today?” I asked. “I’ve tried calling him but he hasn’t answered.”
“Yeah, right after I left here, before the parade,” he said.
“Hmm, guess I just keep missing him,” I said. “Does he have big plans for the day?”
“He said he was spending the day with family,” he said.
I felt a prick of pain to my heart on the word, but then let it go. It was right that he do that. It was right.
Icy air hit me like a wall when we parked in front of the bookstore and got out.
“Déjà vu,” I said. “Sure seems like I was just here. Oh, geez,” I muttered, pulling my coat tighter around me. “What is wrong with these people?”
Food aromas assaulted our senses. Either it had gotten stronger with the thicker, denser air or we had some serious post-sex munchies going on. I wanted it all.
“Don’t suppose there’s like a sampler platter,” Noah said as we approached the various chili booths.
“Uh, no,” came a familiar voice behind us. Linny stood behind a table with a patio cover overhead, a giant red apron announcing 1st Place Winner emblazoned across the front. A matching banner hung overhead. “There’s only one bowl of chili you need to get.”
I sucked a breath and ran to hug her. “Oh, my God, Linny!” I said. “You won! Holy shit!”
“I know, isn’t it crazy?” she said, her face pink with pride and the cold.
“Crazy?” I said, laughing. “It’s awesome! It’s about time.”
“You’ve entered before?” Noah asked behind me.
“Every year,” she said.
“Georgette Pruitt has won every single year for—I don’t know, fifteen years?” I said under my breath in case she was lurking.
“At least,” Linny said.
“Way to go,” Noah said, hugging her. “Serve us some up. I’m starving.”
“I’m so proud of you,” I said. “And I want extra. I’m even hungrier than he is.”
“You don’t know that,” he said, looking down at me with mischief in his eyes.
“Oh, yeah, I do,” I said. “You’re saving room for cake, remember?”
“I can have both.”
“I’m sorry,” Linny said, raising her hand. “Have I missed an announcement or something?” She pointed to us in turn. “When did this happen?”
“This morning,” I said, unable to keep the ridiculous smile off my face.