12. Larkin
It had beenyears since I’d gone out dancing with girlfriends, and I felt every one of those years after doing the Wobble. My knees definitely didn’t feel like this last time. And Twisters wasn’t like any dance hall I used to frequent in Dallas.
This building had an unassuming brick fa?ade matching the rest of the buildings on Main Street, and when you walked in the door, there was music going, loud enough to dance to but not so loud you had to shout to carry on a conversation.
The dance floor was made of black and white tile and surrounded by tables made of plywood and two-by-fours. Each table was covered in writing, and while Liv got us drinks, I sat with Hen, Della, Maggie, and Camryn, looking at everything written on its surface.
There were couples’ initials, cusswords, and in between, I noticed the same turtle design that had been tattooed on Knox’s arm. My eyebrows drew together as I traced my fingers over the design. Had Knox drawn this?
“Here’s your drink, lady.” Liv set my favorite drink in front of me—grapefruit vodka and Sprite—then sat beside me.
Della made a face at Liv. “We saw you talking to Garth.”
“Ugh.” Liv groaned. “I couldn’t dodge him. He is seriously the worst.”
I looked over Liv’s shoulder, wondering which of the several guys standing by the bar she was talking about. I was so absorbed in the table drawings that I hadn’t noticed. When I glanced back at the girls, I said, “Which one is he? So I can stay away.”
Liv set down her beer and said, “Big dumbass with the black hat and red face.”
I thought that wasn’t the most helpful description, but then I turned and he stuck out like a sore thumb. “What did he do?” I asked.
With a frown, Liv leaned forward. “Let me give you a heads-up. You’re new in a town with a very limited dating pool. Which means guys are going to treat you like you’re a shiny new toy.”
Della nodded, wryly adding, “Like a bunch of kids who never grew up and left the sandbox.”
My heart sank. Maybe some part of me had hoped to find someone truly good, when I was ready. But now that was seeming like a very distant possibility. Especially when the one “good guy” I knew was off-limits.
Hen patted my hand. As if reading my mind, she said, “There are lots of nice people here.”
My heart warmed at the kindness in her eyes. “You said you used to live in California. When did you meet your husband?”
Her smile seemed bright amongst the dimly lit bar. “I worked for an apartment company that was building a new complex, and Tyler was the head contractor on the job. Sometimes it seems crazy that out of all the people we could have hired and out of all the projects he could have worked on, we were in the same place at the same time.”
Della grinned. “Three years in, and they’re still one of the happiest couples I know.”
Hen responded with a bashful smile. “When you get married, I’ll give you the advice my dad gave me. Changed everything.”
Someone tapped on my shoulder, and I turned, looking to see who it was. A tall, stocky guy with wide-set brown eyes and brown curly hair grinned down at me. “Can I trouble you for a dance?”
Thankfully, it wasn’t Garth, but Liv’s warning went off in my mind. Was I really just a shiny new toy to this guy? Was he staking his claim or something? But surely a dance couldn’t hurt.
“Um, okay,” I said. As he took my hand and turned to lead me away, I sent a quick, questioning look at the girls.
Liv gave me an encouraging smile, and Della did a double thumbs-up.
Pleasantly surprised, my heart relaxed a little bit as he stopped midfloor and easily guided my hand to his shoulder. He took my other hand in his and settled a large hand at my waist. He led me in a slow dance to the warbling country song.
Seeming so at ease, he gave me a smile and said, “Nice to meet you. I’m Bennett.”
Relaxing a bit more, I said. “Larkin. Nice to meet you too.”
Up close, I thought he wasn’t my usual type, but there were things I liked about him. He had a nice smile. Kind eyes...
“I haven’t seen you around town,” he said.
“I just moved here not too long ago. I’m the new nurse at the retirement home.”
“Oh nice. My grandma lives there. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
“Who’s your grandma?” I asked.
“Mary Ellis Smith,” he replied.
“I love her!” I said. “I mean, I’ve only been there a week, but she’s already mopped the floor with me in Rummikub.”
He tossed his head back, laughing. “That’s Granny. She didn’t even let me win when I was a kid.”
I laughed. “I could see that.”
Despite chatting, he led us both, not missing a beat of the music. “What else should I know about you?”
My lips pressed together for a moment. I’d thought about how to handle having children and dating, but this was my first time other than my failed tryst on the dating app. “Well, the most important thing is that I have two children.”
I could feel his hands tense. “I’m not about to get beat up, am I?” he half-joked.
Which was actually funny because he was a big enough guy anyone would be an idiot to start a fight with him. “No,” I said. “I’m divorced.”
“Sorry to hear that,” he said.
I shrugged, because, really, what else could you say?
“If it’s not too forward, I’d love to take you out to dinner sometime. There’s not much fancy here in town, but there’s a steak restaurant in a town not far from here we could go to.”
The closing chords of the song played, and I stepped back, feeling... so much. Excited, nervous, breathless. Was I really getting asked on my first date in eight years? A tight sensation filled my chest. Nerves maybe. Because I had thought plenty about a rebound, but now that the opportunity was here, it didn’t feel right.
My sister’s words echoed in my mind, reminding me that I needed to get back out there and do something for myself. So I nodded. “Dinner sounds nice.” It didn’t have to go further than that if I didn’t want it to.
“Can I have your number?” he asked.
“Sure.” We walked to the side of the dance floor to get out of the way of the other people dancing, and once his phone was out and ready, I recited the numbers to him.
He saved them in and said, “How’s next Friday?”
“Seven o’clock?” I suggested. That would give me time to get ready after work.
“Sounds like a deal,” he replied.
I gave him a smile and said I was going to hang out with my friends. He promised to call.
It was all very... practical. Decent. No drama. No games. No awkward flirtation. Maybe my sister was wrong—in-person dating was still the way to go.
I walked back to my friends, and I could see them all trying not to stare yet waiting to grill me.
When I got to the table, Della leaned forward, red curls falling over her shoulders. “Tell us everything!”
My cheeks heated, and I felt young again. “He asked me out to dinner.”
Henrietta grinned. “What did you say?”
“I told him I would.”
I looked at Liv to see what she thought, but I noticed a slight frown before she tugged her lips into a smile. “That’s great, Lark.”
My eyebrows drew together. “Oh no. Is he not a good guy? I thought y’all gave me the go-ahead earlier.”
“No, he’s great.” Liv rubbed her neck. “I guess I got my hopes up that you and Knox would have a thing. I got ahead of myself.”
The mention of Knox had my cheeks heating. Especially since they had all noticed me looking forward to each of his text messages all night. “Knox is my neighbor,” I reminded all of us.
“And? Easy access,” Liv replied.
Della nearly spit out her drink, and Henrietta chuckled.
I shook my head. “The kids love him. I’m not going to mess that up.”
Liv replied in a sing-song voice, “Been there before.”
“What?” I asked.
She told me that she was Fletcher’s full-time, live-in nanny for all of a summer before they decided they couldn’t deny their feelings anymore. They’d been married for two years now.
“So Maya...” I asked.
“Is my stepdaughter,” Liv said.
“You two seem so close,” I replied.
There was a soft smile on Liv’s lips as she said, “As far as I’m concerned, she is my daughter. She just has two moms. But I’m excited for you. Bennett’s a great guy. You two will have a good time.”
I gave a tentative smile. “I hope so.”
The four of us didn’t stay out too late, which I appreciated because no matter what time the kids went to bed, they always woke up at the same time every morning.
When we pulled up along the street in front of mine and Knox’s homes, I noticed just the porch and kitchen lights on at Knox’s place.
“So what did you think?” Liv asked. “Was girls’ night a success?”
I took my gaze off Knox’s place and smiled over at her. “Honestly, I think it’s just what I needed. Thank you so much for including me. You’re great, and your friends are so fun. I hope we can do it again sometime.”
“Heck yes,” Liv said. “You fit right in, too. We’ll plan something soon!”
I hoped she meant it because as we got out of the truck, I realized there was so much I’d been missing during my marriage to Seth. Romance. Friends. Fun. A true partnership. And even though I moved to Cottonwood Falls to pick up the pieces of my life, it felt like I was finding pieces of myself too.
We reached the front door, and Liv let us in. The place was quiet, save for the two men sitting at the kitchen table with a stack of cards between them.
Fletcher and Knox both smiled at us, and something in my chest clenched. I hadn’t realized how much I missed someone smiling at me when I got home. They got up from the table, and Fletcher immediately took Liv in his arms, kissing her lips.
“How was it?” he asked.
Liv sent me a wink. “We had a great time. Got up to all sorts of trouble.”
“Oh really?” Knox asked.
“Nothing we can say in front of a police officer,” I teased.
He chuckled, the sound warming my chest. “I’m off duty.”
Glancing at the table, I asked, “What are you two playing?”
Fletcher cleared his throat but still spoke too softly for us to hear.
“What was that?” Liv asked.
“Go Fish,” Fletcher said louder. “We couldn’t agree on what to play, so this was it.”
I had to chuckle at the thought of two grown men playing Go Fish after all the kids had gone to bed.
“Don’t make fun,” Knox said, tattooed arms folded over his chest. “There was a lot riding on this game.”
“Like what?” Liv asked.
Fletcher said, “He was about to mow our lawn in his underwear.”
I had to laugh at that mental image.
Knox shook his head. “His neighbors would love it.”
Liv shook her head at the pair. “I’m going to use the bathroom. Fletcher, can you grab the girls?”
“Sure,” he said.
“I’ll go get my kids,” I said. “Thanks so much for watching them.”
“I’ll help you. I don’t mind carrying them next door,” Knox quickly offered.
It was so nice of him to help me. Or maybe that was the vodka Sprite making me feel so warm. “Thank you.”
We went back to the bedroom where he’d shown Emily the toys, and in the nightlight, I could see Jackson, cozy in his pajamas, booty in the air, as he lay in his pack and play. Then Emily was cuddled up on the top bunk, the blanket tugged up to her chin.
“I’ll get Emily,” Knox offered.
I nodded, going to pick up Jackson. He let out a small sigh, smacking his lips and then settling into my arms. It was so sweet. I held him close as we walked out of Knox’s house and across the way to my place.
I fumbled with my keys, finally hitting the lock, and then we went inside. I guided him through the house, showing him the room Emily and Jackson shared. I set Jackson in his crib soon enough to stand and see Knox carefully spreading the blanket over my daughter.
It was so tender, just another reminder that I was making the right choice by dating elsewhere. Knox was a great neighbor, I adored his sister-in-law, his brother was the town doctor, and Emily loved pranking him and spending time with his nieces. It was all too much for the first relationship after a divorce.
Once the kids were settled, I walked to the front door with Knox and we stood in my small living room. It seemed even smaller with his six-foot-two body standing there too.
“Thank you so much for watching the kids,” I said again. “Were they okay for you?”
“They were great,” he said. “Minus the Icy Hot burns on my butt.”
My jaw dropped. “Emily?”
“And Maya.” He cringed.
I covered my mouth to hide my giggle.
“Hey now,” he replied, his smile so bright, even in the dim room. I swore there was something else in his eyes. “If you ever need a sitter again...”
“How about next Friday?” I suggested, half joking. Hopefully their grandparents would be available... and not ask me too many questions.
“Another girls’ night?” Knox asked.
“Actually... a date.” I couldn’t quite meet his gaze right away, but when I did, he was wearing an encouraging smile that told me I’d been in my head for nothing.
“Good for you,” he said. “Who is the date with?”
“Bennett Smith,” I replied.
“Clean record. I approve,” Knox teased. “Let me know if the grandparents fall through. No dates for me—next weekend at least.”
My pride took yet another hit. He wasn’t bothered in the slightest that I was going out with another man. I’d been tying myself in knots over someone who only saw me as a neighbor. A mom.
Time to go lick my wounds. “Well, goodnight. And thanks again for watching the kids. It was really nice of you.”
“If you need anything, I’m right next door.” Did he smile at everyone like that? Because the way his eyes held mine made me want to melt, even though I knew there was nothing between us. Knox Madigan was a tease. Did he know he was doing it?
He gave me a wave and turned to walk outside. I watched through the screen door as he walked down the sidewalk, treating my weedy lawn just as well as anyone would treat the finest grass.
Before he could see me staring, I shut the door and hoped the heaviness in my chest would eventually fade.