Chapter 34
Chapter thirty-four
Paisley
Serenity Springs went all out for the Fourth of July.
Red, blue, and white pennants hung alert on the vintage lampposts down Main Street, and the park in the center of town was littered with families, tables, and tents.
Because all good celebrations started with food. Namely the town pancake breakfast.
But the best part was having Liz, Stephanie, and their fellas in town to join us.
“Paisley, over here!” Liz waved wildly, her head bobbing in weird contortions, catching my attention in the crowd.
I weaved my way over to her and the man whose arm she was gripping. Her husband, Ben, judging by the photos I’d seen. They were matching in white T-shirts and denim. Liz’s red gingham hair scarf fluttered in the breeze.
“Hey! I got lost there for a second, and Greyson . . .” I scanned the crowd. One minute he was there, hand on my back leading me across the green (which was very brown this time of year), and the next he was gone.
“Pais.” Greyson stepped up behind me, hand to my shoulder turning me slightly and scanning me quickly. “You okay?”
I smiled up at him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Yup. Why aren’t you in your apron? I thought you were serving breakfast?”
“I am, but we got separated and I needed to make sure you were okay.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Mrs. Gulliver hates when people are tardy.”
“Mrs. Gulliver can—”
Liz cleared her throat behind us. Right, we had an audience.
Greyson kissed my forehead. “You’re my first priority. Always.”
“We’ll take good care of her,” Liz promised.
Greyson nodded and reached out to shake Ben’s hand. “Good to see you, man. I found that part you were looking for.”
Ben’s eyes widened. “Seriously! Where? I’ve talked to nearly every distributor between here and Colorado.”
Greyson grunted. “My grandpa did actually. Had it lying around in his garage out in Twin Falls. I gave him your address.” He refocused on me. “See you in a few.”
“There are so many of you up there in aprons.” I tilted my head, tapping my chin. “Whoever will I pick?”
Greyson growled playfully and gave my hips a brief squeeze. “The only one you’d consider kissing.”
I gaped at him. I . . . what now?
He winked at me before the crowd swallowed him from view.
“Girl!” Liz stage-squealed, wrapping me in a hug. “You guys are just too cute!”
“Is Steph here?” I asked, desperate for a subject change to draw attention away from my burning face.
“Of course! She’s right over . . . oh, there! Up on Nash’s shoulders.”
And sure enough, Stephanie, looking more casual than I’d seen her in ages, wearing capris and a graphic tee—and was that a cowboy hat?—perched on a tall man’s shoulders, laughing at something he said. He smiled up at her like she was his world.
Liz waved a hand, and they moved towards us. With ease, the man reached up and lifted Stephanie off his shoulders, holding her steady when she wobbled once her feet touched the ground.
“You good?” he asked.
Going up on tiptoe, Stephanie kissed his cheek and plopped the hat on his head. “Perfect.” Her eyes brightened when she saw me. “Pais! This is Nash!”
I took a minute to study my bestie’s fiancé. He didn’t give off millionaire vibes in his jeans and T-shirt paired with his nerdy dark-rimmed glasses. “Nice to meet you. Again.”
Nash’s smile was warm. “Glad you’re with us for the day.”
“Uh . . . Not to be weird, but why are you wearing a cowboy hat, Nash?” Liz asked dubiously.
Stephanie grinned, lifting a hand to smooth her slightly mussed black curls. “He lost a bargain.”
“You guys are still doing that?” Ben asked, lips twitching.
“I thought you hated the Texas cowboy stereotype,” Liz pressed.
“I do, and we are,” Nash said, wrapping an arm around Stephanie’s waist and tugging her closer.
“In my defense, you did suggest this particular wager and punishment.” Stephanie crossed her arms in what I was sure was a power move, but it didn’t work on Nash.
“Oh, I’m exactly where I want to be, darlin’,” Nash said, brushing a kiss to her lips.
“And on that note, let’s find Jules and Myles and get this show on the road!” Liz announced, tugging Ben after her.
Myles and Juliet joined us on the way to where the pancake breakfast was being hosted. Juliet’s face took on a green shade when a fresh cornucopia of smells wafted past us.
My gaze wandered across the open park to find Greyson. It wasn’t like I meant to find him; he was just . . . magnetic. And totally adorable as he served a couple of kids a stack of pancakes.
“I think we should divide and conquer,” Stephanie said, scanning the busy greenway. “Some of us should take orders while the others guard enough seats for the rest of us.”
“I’ll be a guard,” Juliet offered, smiling faintly. “I’ll even sing if it means I don’t have to stand in line smelling all of that.” She flapped her hand towards the tents.
“I’ll stay with you,” Liz offered. “Ooh, kitty!” She crouched to pet Jerry, who was sashaying around her legs. The usual nuisance-turned-golden-child purred under Liz’s cooing, nudging his head into her palm and acting the part of an adoring feline instead of a miniature devil with fur.
“Show-off,” Juliet muttered without any heat.
“My very own Disney princess,” Ben teased.
After we got everyone’s orders straight, I joined Nash, Stephanie, and Ben in the line while Juliet dragged Liz and Myles away from the heady confusion of smells.
The pancake breakfast was legendary in Serenity Springs.
It was all done by volunteer and donation, sponsored by local businesses.
They rotated servers every year, and Greyson and a couple of the guys from the mechanic shop were up for service this time.
I studied him unapologetically while he dished up a plate of pancakes for a wide-eyed little boy and drizzled syrup on top.
Greyson was great with kids. I’d seen him with his nieces and nephews, and he was a natural.
A deep longing ached in the middle of my chest. We hadn’t discussed kids since the day we’d dropped Juliet off at the airport.
I’d seen the pain in his eyes then, and somehow that hurt more than my own struggle to come to terms with that lost dream.
Someone jostled me, interrupting my musings. Noticing the gap in the line in front of me, I scurried forward. Oops.
“What can I get you, gorgeous?” Greyson asked, when I stepped in front of his section.
“Do you greet all your customers like that?” I asked, hand to my chest.
His eyes twinkled with humour. “Just the extra gorgeous ones. You’re the only one I’ve seen who fits the bill.”
My cheeks heated and were going to need their own personal fan if this man insisted on flirting so much in public. “Two double-doubles please.” Code for stack of two.
Greyson flipped a few pancakes and dished them up. “Syrup?”
“For one, please. Juliet wants hers plain.”
He slid them across the counter to me. “Anything else?”
Just him. Preferably not in public and somewhere I could kiss him. Kiss him? Whoa, girl. But it didn’t feel wrong. I did want to kiss this handsome, thoughtful man. Wanted to remember what it felt like when his lips moved over mine. His light scruff would probably be delicious.
“Pais?”
I snapped out of the kissing daydreams. “Sorry. Nope!” My voice pitched ridiculously high, and Greyson arched an eyebrow.
“Not till we’re alone later,” I tossed out, then waltzed away. What in all of Middle Earth was that? You did not just say that! But I did, and I was blaming my kissing thoughts and how adorable he looked in an apron.
Hurrying back to the table Liz, Myles, and Juliet had secured, we ate quickly since other families were waiting for tables, and after Greyson joined us, we started our day on the town.
Which began with Marcel swinging open the door of Donovan’s Downto’n at nine o’clock on the dot and blasting his boombox with Toby Keith’s “Made in America” all without saying a word.
The whole park sang along; even Myles joined in.
Would they revoke his Canadian citizenship for that display of American patriotism?
Once the song ended, Marcel saluted and disappeared back inside. Same as usual. He said plenty without saying much of anything at all.
Ethan and a couple of his friends scampered past us, tossing salutes and hellos as they raced towards the pond on the south side.
There was always something to do. After the float parade and classic-car show, Liz wanted her face painted.
Main Street was littered with games of cornhole, bobbing for apples, and a dunk tank—which Shane had ended up getting volunteered for.
Food trucks and cafés had tables set up with enough food to feed the town three times over.
Nash surprised all of us by winning the strongman hammer game. The guy was solid, but when he was up against two professional athletes and a retired Marine, it was a win none of us saw coming. Except Stephanie, who smiled smugly.
After dinner came the dancing, and then it was time for the fireworks.
“I’m going to duck into the library real quick to use the restroom, but I’ll meet you on the green,” I promised my friends as they headed to watch the light display.
“I’ll walk you,” Greyson said, and for the first time since this morning, we were alone. It was a nice breathing moment after the busyness of the day. The library was deserted, so I was quick, and in no time, we were heading back to watch the fireworks over the pond.
We weren’t quite quick enough, though, because the fireworks exploded overhead in a volley of silver, blue, and red before we got there. Instantly, Greyson yanked the hand he held and spun me into his chest, hunching over my body as he dove behind a nearby truck.
What the—? I sprawled against his chest—not a bad way to spend the evening—hands gripping his T-shirt. But the out-of-control staccato of his heart raced under my touch. And I knew I wasn’t the one affecting him like this.