“I admit, I enjoy them as well. Last week I bought a new pair of boots.…”
She glanced down and nodded in approval at the hand-tooled brown leather boots he wore. “Very nice.”
“Thank you. And just now, I’ve purchased what I am told is the—” he paused to reach into a paper bag and draw out a jar long enough to read the label “—world’s best huckleberry jam.” He shrugged and gave her a smile that could probably melt ice at a hundred yards.
Amanda just chuckled. “If you bought that jam from Kaye Cannarozzi, I guarantee it is the world’s best. She’s won prizes for her jam every year at the state fair.”
“Good to know,” he said and folded up the bag again. “You can find just about anything here, I’ve discovered.”
Amanda watched him as he looked around the park. He was dark and gorgeous and his accent made every word sound like seduction. Alex was also nice, funny and, except for his dubious taste in friends—Nathan for example—he was pretty much perfect. Too bad for Amanda that the only bell he rung for her was one of friendship.
“Hmm,” Alex mused. “I’m curious as to what put a frown on your face just then. Dark thoughts?”
She forced a smile and shook her head. “Not at all. Um, I’m headed for the coffee wagon over there.” She pointed and asked, “Would you like to join me?”
“I could use some coffee as well, so, yes.” He fell into step beside her. “I’m looking forward to the Fourth of July celebration. I hear it’s quite the event.”
“Oh, it’s great,” Amanda told him. “Most of the town gathers right here for an all-day party. There are contests and games and the fireworks show is always amazing. If I do say so myself, we put on a terrific Fourth.”
Funny how good it felt to say we.
“Sounds as though you’ve missed it.”
“I really did,” she admitted, glancing around the park at the people wandering from booth to booth. Kids raced away from their parents, laughing as they headed to the playground. Dogs on leashes strained against their owners’ restraining hands and a hot summer wind kicked up out of nowhere.
Royal was home. There was no other place like it and she’d never really been happy anywhere else. “You know, I told myself while I was gone that I was fine. That life in the city was better, somehow. But now that I’m back, it’s like I never left.”
“Going home isn’t always possible,” he mused. “I’m glad you’re finding it easier than you’d thought.”
Amanda looked up at him and saw that while his stare was fixed on the distance, a slight frown was etched into his features. She didn’t know Alex well, but she sensed something was bothering him. Before she could offer to help, though, he spoke again.
“I’m pleased to see that the gossip hasn’t upset you.”
She sighed. The downside to small-town life. She’d already had several people stop her in the park that morning, asking questions, giving her sly winks and knowing smiles. Nathan and she were the talk of the town and until something really juicy came up, that wasn’t going to change.
“You’ve heard it, too?”
He gave her a rueful grin. “I think you would have to be on the moon to miss it.”
“Know anyone who could give me a ride?”
“Sadly, no.” He shrugged and added, “Though a beautiful woman shouldn’t let loose talk from small minds worry her.”
Amanda stopped, cocked her head and looked up at him. “You really are perfect, aren’t you?”
His mouth quirked. “I like to think so, though I’m sure others would disagree.”
“Not from where I’m standing.”
“For that, I thank you. Besides, gossip isn’t a static thing, Amanda,” he said. “Very soon, they’ll find something else to talk about.”
“I suppose,” she said, looking at the crowds in the park. Most of the people she’d known her whole life. Oh, there were plenty of outsiders who had come into town solely for market day. But the great majority were familiar to her. Which was probably why everyone felt free enough to talk about her.
She knew they were watching her now, too. Wondering why she was walking with Alex when it was clear she and Nathan were starting up again. A tiny twist of pain wrapped itself around her heart. “As much as I love Royal, it’s not always an easy place to live.”
“No place is easy,” Alex said, his expression becoming thoughtful again, as if there were things chewing at him.
Somehow, she’d struck a nerve, Amanda thought. From what she knew, Alex Santiago hadn’t been in town very long and she wondered if anyone really knew him well. Reaching out, she threaded her arm companionably through his. “Everything okay, Alex?”
Immediately, his handsome face brightened as he flashed her a smile. “You’ve a kind heart Amanda, but there’s no need for concern. I’m fine.”
“Am I interrupting?”
Amanda looked up when Nathan’s deep voice demanded her attention. He was only a few feet away, headed right for her. The sunlight winked off the sheriff’s badge pinned to his broad chest. He wore his favorite scuffed boots and a uniform shirt tucked into black jeans. The gun at his hip made him look even more formidable than usual. His gaze was fixed on hers, but still he managed to fire a brief glare at Alex.
A flash of heat shot through Amanda at Nathan’s nearness and made the heat of the summer sun seem no hotter than a match-head in comparison. She wanted to fan herself, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good, so she settled for sarcastic indifference instead.
“If I said ‘yes you are,’” Amanda quipped, “would you go away?”
His eyes flashed. “Not until I know what you guys are talking about.”
Alex grinned at his friend. “About small towns and smaller minds.”
Nathan frowned and nodded. “You mean the gossip.”
“Among other things,” Amanda said, drawing Nathan’s eyes back to her. She knew him so well she could see the tension in his face. The gossip was irritating to her. To Nathan, it had to be infuriating. “What do you want, Nathan?”
“Coffee, one of Margie’s cinnamon rolls and to talk to you. Not necessarily in that order.”
So, there wasn’t even going to be a pretense of friendliness between them. He was acting as if the kiss they’d shared hadn’t happened. As if putting it out of his mind made the whole scene disappear.
“I’m busy,” she said. “Alex and I are shopping.”
She should have known that men would stick together. Alex immediately said, “Actually, there are a few things I have to take care of. I’ve enjoyed myself, Amanda.” Shifting his gaze to his friend, he nodded and said, “I’ll see you later, Nathan.”
“You don’t have to go,” Amanda told him quickly. Without Alex there, she and Nathan wouldn’t have a buffer. And she suddenly wanted one really badly.
“Yeah, you do,” Nathan said at the same time.
Alex only laughed. “You two are very entertaining. I’ll be on my way.”
Around them, conversations rose and fell. A sultry wind teased the hem of her shorts and in the distance, children played and laughed. Amanda knew that she and Nathan were now the center of attention, but she didn’t care anymore. Alex had been right about one thing. Sooner or later, everyone would find a new topic of interest. Until then, her best choice was simply to ignore them all. People would talk and she couldn’t stop them. So instead, she continued on toward Margie’s