by Cindy Kirk
The phone in his pocket vibrated. “It’s a text from my father. They want to know if it’s okay if they take Eva Grace on the Pumpkin Wheel.”
Their gazes lifted as one to the giant Ferris wheel. Painted a vivid orange with green spokes, it rose high over the pumpkin patch.
“Eva Grace has never been on a Ferris wheel before.” Two lines of worry furrowed Abby’s brow. “Find out where they’re at, and tell them we’ll be right there. I want to speak with my daughter before saying yes or no.”
Jonah quickly texted his dad, then received a response back with the location. He took Abby’s arm as they wove their way toward the Ferris wheel.
He wasn’t sure whether it was her concern about Eva Grace that had her not pulling away or the knowledge that it would be easy for them to become separated in the mass of people.
They found his parents enthralled by some story Eva Grace was spinning.
Abby gave Eva Grace’s hair a tug to get her attention.
A brilliant smile flashed across the child’s face. She pointed to the gigantic Ferris wheel. “Mama. Can I go on the Pumpkin Wheel with Nana and Papa, puh-leeze?”
Abby tilted her head back and winced. “It’s very tall.”
Something in the way Abby said the words had Eva Grace going still, a flicker of uncertainty entering her eyes. She turned to Michael. “I don’t want to do it anymore. I’m scared.”
“That’s okay, sweetheart.” Michael patted her shoulder. “There are lots of other attractions.”
The little girl had picked up on her mother’s fears. Jonah thought about saying something about the ride being safe but kept silent.
Abby swallowed hard. Then stunned him by smiling brightly. “It looks like a lot of fun.”
Eva Grace blinked. “It does?”
“I’ve always wanted to ride on it.” The lie, at least Jonah thought it was a lie, slipped easily from Abby’s lips.
“Me too.” Eva Grace offered a tentative smile. “But it’s . . . high.”
“That’s part of the fun.” Abby cleared her throat. “In fact, I think we should all enjoy the ride.”
+
“I went crazy for a second,” Abby muttered as the attendant made sure she was secured behind the metal bar.
“Pardon?” The ride operator’s bald head glittered like a highly polished cue ball, and his gold canine glittered in the sunlight.
“Sorry.” Abby waved an airy hand. “Just talking to myself.”
The man shot Jonah a glance. “Everything okay here?”
Jonah gave him thumbs-up. “We’re good.”
A second later, the enclosed car lurched upward, swinging back and forth. Abby gasped and squeezed her eyes shut.
Jonah reached out, and she gripped his hand tightly.
“In case you were wondering”—Abby kept her eyes closed—“this is the reason I didn’t want to ride with Eva Grace.”
“You’ll be fine, but I think you’ll do better with your eyes open.” His deep voice was low and reassuring. “There is something about swaying when you have them closed that makes everything worse.”
“I don’t want to look out and see how high we are.”
“You don’t have to look out. Just fix your gaze on me.”
He was right. The swaying with her eyes shut was making her feel nauseated.
She shifted in her seat, as much as the bar across her front would allow, and slowly opened her eyes.
His gaze was steady, as comforting as the clasp of his hand. “You’re doing this for Eva Grace. You don’t want her to be afraid.”
She blinked in surprise. “How did you—”
He gave a little chuckle. “You don’t like heights. I can’t think of another reason that would get you on one of these things.”
The car lurched upward and swung back and forth wildly as if someone had given it a good strong shove.
She tightened her fingers around Jonah’s. “I don’t want her to be afraid like me. I’ve been uneasy around heights my entire life. I don’t even like being on tall ladders. The last thing I want is to pass that irrational fear on to my daughter.”
Before he could say a word, Abby took a breath and continued on. She didn’t care whether she was rambling. When she was talking, she didn’t have to think about where she was or the confusing knowledge that simply being with Jonah steadied her. “I put that flicker of fear in her eyes with my thoughtless comment, and I couldn’t let it stay. But I wasn’t sure I could hide it from her if we were in the same car.”
Overhead, she could hear Eva Grace’s laughter.
“My parents are thrilled you let her ride with them.”
“She likes them. I can tell.” The car jerked upward again, then stopped. Abby’s breath froze. “Why is it taking so long to load?”
The one thing Abby knew was the ride couldn’t end until it began.
“I believe there was a large group with mobility issues in line behind us.”
“There was?” She might not be a trained observer, but Abby prided herself on noticing her surroundings.
“You were too busy keeping that brave smile on your face to notice.” Jonah’s tone was gentle with understanding.
Abby nodded, the queasiness in her stomach rising with each movement of the car. By the lurching upward, she knew they were higher, higher than she’d ever been in her life. But she wasn’t about to look out the metal grating to see just how high.
“Remember our junior prom?”
Abby pulled her thoughts from her stomach, not an easy task, and focused on Jonah. “What about it?”
“You’d gone with Kevin Murphy and I was there with . . .”
He paused as if searching for a name.
“Lucy Brogan,” she offered.
He nodded. “It was hot in the gym.”
“I slipped outside for some air when Kevin went to the restroom . . . and there you were.” Abby remembered her delight when she’d spotted Jonah.
“Lucy was out doing some synchronized something with other members of the dance team.” Jonah gave a laugh. “A good boyfriend probably should have stayed and watched.”
“The cool air outside felt wonderful.” As had his jacket when he’d wrapped it around her when she’d shivered. The clean scent of his soap and shampoo had lingered on the jacket, and she’d felt surrounded by him.
The moon had been full and had cast a golden glow. For those few moments, it had felt as if no one else in the world existed.
“You kissed me.” She nearly sighed the words, then shook her head. “It was wrong.”
“Because I had a girlfriend.” It was a statement, not a question.
“And because I had a boyfriend.”
“It felt like my only chance to show you how I felt.” There was a sadness in Jonah’s eyes. “I’d started to feel as if the fates had conspired against us. Each time I was free, you were in a relationship. When you were available, I wasn’t.”
“Then you went off to college, and I stayed in Springfield.” Abby kept her tone light even when her heart began to ache. “You found Veronica, and the rest is history.”
“You were the most intelligent, focused girl I’d ever known.” The soft words wrapped around her like a lover’s caress. “You knew the tough fight you would have to build a business of your own, but you didn’t let that dissuade you. You were determined to make it happen.”
Abby smiled. “I wanted that coffee shop so bad I could taste it.”
“I never understood why a coffee shop.”
Abby felt the ride picking up speed and knew they were high by the drop in the air temperature. When the car began to drop, panic clawed at her throat.
For a second, she feared she might lose it, but his fingers tightened around hers. “Tell me why a coffee shop.”
She forced herself to stare into his intense blue gaze. Her skin prickled, and an emotion she didn’t want to examine too closely filled her. “Remember Sunrise Coffee?”
Jonah no
dded. “The place on Plaza.”
“That’s the one. I used to go there all the time after school.” Abby grabbed on to the memory. “Even now, I’ll catch the scent of a rich Ethiopian blend, and I’ll be right back there. The place was nothing special, but Joe and Sue—they were the owners—made me feel welcome. I wanted to give that feeling back to other kids and other adults.”
“Now you welcome guests to your hotel.”
“I do.” She smiled. “It isn’t quite the same, but I enjoy it.”
As if he’d sensed there was more, he probed. “Have you ever thought of opening a coffee shop in the historic district?”
“There aren’t any open locations.” She shrugged. “I think there’s a need, but there isn’t a space for a shop. People have to settle for the Starbucks kiosk in the Green.”
“You’re an amazing businesswoman. Heck, you’re amazing period.”
The warmth of his tone had her heart skittering. Abby took a deep breath and willed herself to relax.
When he released her hand, she stopped the protest rising to her lips. She wasn’t a frightened child who needed to hold someone’s hand.
Without warning, before she had a second to breathe, his lips were on hers, exquisitely gentle and achingly tender. Her heart squeezed tight in her chest.
This was a dangerous game. As much as Abby knew she should push Jonah away, another part of her yearned for this closeness. Even if it was just for the moment.
He didn’t say a word. Perhaps if he had, she’d have come to her senses. Instead, she leaned forward and planted a kiss at the base of his neck, his skin salty beneath her lips.
Then he was kissing her, long, dreamy kisses that had her forgetting everything in the pleasure.
“I hope you enjoyed the ride.” The door to their car opened abruptly.
Abby sprang back from Jonah. Well, as far back as the bar across her midsection would allow.
The attendant flashed a knowing smile as he helped Abby out onto the platform leading to the exit steps.
She took a second to steady herself, then turned to Jonah. Though her quiet voice shook when she spoke, she met his gaze firmly. “This can’t happen again.”
Chapter Eighteen
“I realize this may be asking too much. If it is, just tell me.” Nancy gripped her husband’s hand as her gaze darted a short distance away to where Eva Grace stood exchanging Pumpkin Wheel stories with a school friend. “Tomorrow morning, Michael and I will be heading back to Springfield. We thought it might be nice for you and Jonah to have some time alone. It’s a beautiful night, so if you’d like to take a walk or something, we could play a game with Eva Grace or . . .”
Abby wasn’t sure whether Nancy stopped because she realized she was rambling. More likely, the woman had run out of breath.
The fact that Michael and Nancy had so easily slipped under her guard worried her. Jonah simply stood at her side, not saying a word. Once they’d gotten off the Ferris wheel, he’d started to respond to her comment but was interrupted by Eva Grace racing to him.
Apparently, the ride had been “awesome,” made even better when Papa made the car swing wildly.
“Thank you for taking Eva Grace on the ride,” Abby began. “I worry if she’d have gone with me, she might have picked up on my . . . fear . . . even if I’d tried to hide it.”
“I loved showing her the clouds.” Michael grinned, reminding Abby in that moment of his son. “Eva Grace was convinced if she could have gotten her hand through the cage, she’d have been able to grab a cloud.”
“Thank heavens for closed gondolas.” Abby knew they were waiting for her answer, but she was having a difficult time deciding the best course of action.
It didn’t help that Jonah stood close enough that she breathed in the tangy scent of his cologne with each inhale. Her body vibrated from his nearness, and an aching filled her limbs.
Abby opened her mouth at the same time Eva Grace rushed back.
“Papa.” The child tugged on his arm and then pointed. “My friend Bristol has a black dog just like Ranger.”
Surprise skittered across Michael’s face. “How do you know about Ranger?”
“I told her,” Jonah answered.
Abby took in her daughter’s ease with the couple. If they lived in Hazel Green, all this togetherness might be too much too fast. But Michael and Nancy lived three hours away, on the other side of the state. They’d be gone tomorrow. Who knew when Eva Grace would see them again?
Besides, she did need to have a private conversation with Jonah, away from little ears that could often be razor sharp.
“What do you think?” Abby settled her gaze on her daughter. “Would you like Papa and Nana to put you to bed tonight?”
A sly look filled the little girl’s eyes. “Would we get to read lots and lots of books?”
“Good try.” Abby smiled. “Two books, then sleep.”
Eva Grace thought for a moment, then took Jonah’s parents’ hands. “I’ve got all the Mercy Watson books.”
“Mercy Watson is a pig,” Jonah clarified. “Not a girl.”
He and Eva Grace exchanged a smile.
+
Abby had them come to the hotel. She helped her daughter shower and get into her pajamas. Nancy assured her she’d take care of the child’s wet hair before settling her in for stories.
“There’s absolutely no need to rush back,” Michael assured her. “If we have any questions, or if anything comes up, we’ll give you a call.”
Abby thought about giving her daughter one last hug, but Eva Grace was chattering to Nancy while Jonah’s mother flipped over the child’s thick curls, twisting the strands into a loose bun and securing it with a scrunchie.
The leave-in conditioner was something Abby had already been using to combat frizz, but she’d yet to add the gel she’d recently purchased. Nancy had informed her that her daughter Jackie, who had hair as curly as Eva Grace’s, swore by the product.
“Have fun,” Abby called out.
Eva Grace looked up and waved. “We will.”
Abby knew she should be happy that Eva Grace was so comfortable around the couple, but she had to admit that her little girl’s easy acceptance of her mother’s absence stung.
“What would you like to do?” Jonah asked when they stepped outside.
“Have you been to Goose Island Grog yet?” She needed quiet for her discussion with Jonah.
He shook his head.
“The place was inspired by 1800s Irish drinking dens. The main floor can get a little noisy, especially on the weekends. The upstairs is more”—Abby paused, searching for the right word—“refined. We could get a glass of wine. It will be quiet enough for conversation.”
“Sounds good to me.” Jonah reached out as if to take her hand, but she turned slightly, and he got the message.
Another good thing about Goose Island, Abby thought, was that it was only a few blocks from the hotel. Jonah held open the heavy wooden door with the frosted-glass insert and stepped aside to let her enter.
The main floor catered to those looking for whiskey and beer. The floor underfoot might be rough and covered in sawdust, but the long wooden bar was polished to a high gloss.
Most of the tables were filled as well as the stools at the bar. The far side of the room held two dartboards, both currently in use. “On a normal weekend night, this place is standing room only. I came here with a friend on a Saturday night, and it was like sensory overload.”
“A guy friend?” Jonah’s expression gave nothing away. “Or girl?”
“Nell. She loves these kinds of places.” Abby wondered what Jonah would have said if she’d told him she was on a date. She nearly chuckled. As if she’d had time to date in the last five years. “I couldn’t figure out why she brought me here. She knows I don’t like a lot of noise.”
“You never did.” Jonah’s gaze appeared to miss nothing as he scanned the room. “Hanging out at a coffee shop was always more your speed.
”
Abby gestured with her head toward the stairs. “Wait until you see what’s up there. Trust me. There’s nothing like this in Springfield.”
She climbed the steps and paused, letting Jonah get the full feel of this level before looking for a table.
His eyes reflected his shock. “It’s a different world.”
While this floor also had a bar and tables scattered throughout the room, that was where any similarities to the main level ended. Here the wooden floor had been polished to a high gloss, and there wasn’t a peanut shell in sight.
The predominant wood was cherry, with the tables strategically positioned over muted patterned persian rugs. An ornately carved ceiling added to the elegance. A mural of two peacocks facing each other added vibrant color to the wall behind the bar. The subdued lighting added a romantic glow.
Abby glanced down at her jeans and hoodie and winced. “I should have changed.”
“You’re the most beautiful woman in the room.”
Abby rolled her eyes but had to admit the compliment made her feel better.
“I think there’s a table . . .” Abby stiffened, then cursed under her breath.
Jonah’s gaze swiftly searched the room to locate the threat.
“It’s Rachel. She’s with Marc.” Abby kept her voice low. “I don’t think she saw—”
Rachel’s eyes brightened, and Abby knew they’d been spotted. Her friend stood and motioned them over.
Abby kept a smile firmly fixed on her face as they crossed the room. “I’ll try to get out of this.”
Both Marc and Rachel were standing by the time she and Jonah reached their table.
“This is so cool.” Rachel gave Abby a quick hug. “I didn’t realize you were seeing each other socially.”
Abby saw the assessment in Marc’s cool blue eyes.
Jonah flashed an easy smile. “This is a nice place. Very unique.”
“Please join us.” Rachel pointed to the two empty seats at the table.
There was no easy way out of this, Abby thought. Rachel had a tender heart and would be hurt by a refusal.
“Thank you.” Though her smile remained on her lips, Abby’s mind searched for something that would offer a quick retreat.
