CHAPTER ELEVEN
DIANA
“That’s Gramps’s friend!” Sara Beth excitedly points at the street banner attached to a light pole.
It has her great-grandpa’s old pal’s military portrait and his years of service listed.
Based on what I’ve heard at the vet clinic this week, All Schools Day marks the end of the school year and the official start of summer activities, and I have to admit that the parade was super fun.
Especially waving at Sara Beth as she and her classmates tossed candy to onlookers.
Apparently, Suitor’s Crossing makes it a habit of celebrating a lot of holidays, which is why Main Street is decked out with Memorial Day banners, too. Pictures of local fallen soldiers hang on each light pole and will stay there for the rest of May.
“Buddy was a good man,” Sara Beth’s grandpa says, staring up at the vinyl banner waving in the breeze. “Gone too soon; may he rest in peace.”
“Here’s everyone’s lemon shake-ups.” Soren returns to our spot under the Blushing Brides Boutique awning. When he’d invited me to spend the day with his family, I’d been nervous.
Was it too soon?
Would they like me?
But the Caldwells immediately welcomed me into the fold and eased my fears by cracking jokes and teasing Soren about us.
It’s been a while since I’ve been part of such a tight-knit group.
Most of my family, aside from Aunt Linda, lives across the country.
I rarely saw them back when long work hours made it impossible to take time off, and now the distance is a big barrier.
“Mmm… What did you call these?” I ask, practically inhaling the ice-cold lemonade.
“A lemon shake-up,” Sara Beth interjects before her dad can answer. “Because you shake it real hard to mix everything up.” She demonstrates by aggressively jiggling the plastic tumbler in her hands. We laugh at her enthusiastic antics.
Soren’s daughter is adorable. With dating so far removed from my thoughts back when I was too busy working at Dr. Marshall’s, I rarely had time to consider how I’d feel dating a single dad. Children come with extra precautions, and at my age, most men have kids from previous relationships.
Maybe it helps that I’ve met Soren’s ex during one of the weekend handoffs of Sara Beth, and there weren’t any lingering feelings in the air between the co-parents.
Maybe it’s just Soren.
Or Suitor’s Crossing heart sparks .
But being a part of Sara Beth’s life doesn’t scare me. Soren and Marsha have a good system worked out. I’m just a bonus who gets to also enjoy the father-daughter duo.
“Are you doing okay? I know we can be a lot.” Kennedy leans in close to check on me as we head toward the carnival set up across from the courthouse square.
“I’m good, thanks. You’ve all been super kind to the random stranger your brother brought as a tagalong.”
Kennedy waves her hand in the air with a scoff.
“You’re hardly a stranger or a mere tagalong.
You’re important to Soren, or else he never would have considered asking you to join us.
My older brother is extremely protective of our family.
” She takes a sip of her lemon shake-up.
“I met your Aunt Linda at a bingo night with Gramps. She raved about you.”
“Gotta love her enthusiasm.” I blush, imagining the sorts of things my over-exuberant aunt might have shared.
“She’s awesome and loves you very much. She’s happy you’re here and fancies herself a bit of a matchmaker now that you’re dating Soren.”
This I knew.
When Aunt Linda first heard about me and Soren—from a friend of a friend, because small towns —she’d called immediately to ask for all the details. The Caldwell family is Suitor’s Crossing royalty, and to snag one of them romantically is akin to winning the lottery around these parts.
She couldn’t wait to share the news about her incredible niece who landed Soren Caldwell in a flash of heart sparks .
Kennedy and I continue chatting while the guys buy tickets for games and rides. The rest of the day is a whirlwind with the countless number of people who stop to chat with the entire family. If I had any doubts about Aunt Linda’s town royalty assessment, I know better now.
By the time Soren has me back in his cabin after dropping Sara Beth off at Kennedy’s for another sleepover, I’m exhausted. “I had fun today. Your family is amazing.” My hand lifts to cover a yawn.
“Thanks, they love you, too. I’ve never heard Griffen talk so much.” Soren shakes his head in wonder as he shrugs off his jacket.
“What can I say? I bring out the best in people.”
“You definitely bring the best out of me.” He wraps his strong arms around me and drops a kiss on my forehead. Cuddling into his warmth, I hum in pleasure. Soren’s protective embrace is my favorite place to be.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“It must be this place,” I murmur sleepily. “Suitor’s Crossing has everything I didn’t even know I was missing. It’s more than having time to actually enjoy my life. It’s the charming atmosphere, the kind people… and the hot mountain men.” My chin tips upward as my brows waggle playfully.
“Happy to be of service, firecracker.” Soren walks me back into my bedroom until we flop onto the bed. We agreed earlier that it’s been a few weeks of dating and taking things slow, and we’re both eager to spend a night in each other’s arms again.
The slow burn is officially ending, thank god .
His lips cover my face in kisses before he pulls back, a twinkle in his eyes. “Although you forgot one major thing Suitor’s Crossing has going for it.”
“What?”
“ Heart sparks .”