Finding Lacey Moon

by Donya Lynne

  When you began to resent the day in and day out of your career, it was time to look elsewhere for fulfillment.

  After cleaning the rest of the tables, sweeping the floors, and fetching drinks for one last group of kids, Lacey returned behind the counter. She had felt Scott’s eyes on her for the duration, and now was no different. As she approached with a decanter of decaf, he set his half-eaten burger down, watching her in a way that lit all kinds of fizzles in her belly.

  “Need a top-off?” She lifted the decanter and nodded toward his cup.

  He placed his hand over his mug and shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

  “Don’t you normally get your food to go when you don’t have Savannah?”

  His cheeks lifted as he glanced down at his plate. “Shirl’s been talking to you about me, hasn’t she?”

  He didn’t sound angry, so why lie? “A little. You’re quite the town’s hero.”

  Puffing out an exhale, he shifted on the stool. “I wouldn’t say I’m a hero. More like a casualty.”

  Lacey frowned, crossed her arms, and leaned against the counter. “You’re not a casualty. From what I’ve heard, you’re a survivor.” His gaze jumped to hers. “Shirl told me enough to know that much.”

  “I guess that’s what I get living in a small town.”

  “What’s that?”

  “No secrets.”

  She arched one eyebrow. “Just because people gossip and talk about you doesn’t mean you can’t have any secrets. Just because they think they know the real you and what really happened doesn’t mean they do. Only you know that stuff. You and whoever you choose to talk to about it. Those are the only people who really know the truth.”

  He watched her with the intensity of a hawk then said, “Why do I get the feeling you speak from experience?”

  Lacey pushed away from the counter and fussed with a nearby display of salt and pepper shakers. “How does that saying go?” She met his eyes only for a second before dropping her gaze to her hands, hiding the windows to her soul. “Takes one to know one, right?”

  After a brief hesitation, Scott said, “You know, you talk like a woman much older than you look.”

  Out of habit, Lacey lifted her hand to play with her hair only to find a lot of empty air. Even after three weeks, she wasn’t used to her new hairstyle.

  Scott’s words hit close to home, though. She had grown up fast. She’d had no choice, giving up her childhood in favor of training before she turned ten years old. By the time she was seventeen, she had her own accountant. Not many teenagers earned as much money as a Fortune 500 CEO, and that sort of lifestyle had a way of abruptly ending any flicker of youth and frivolity.

  Scott made a contemplative noise as he sipped the last of his coffee.

  “What?” she said.

  “I was just thinking.” He set down his cup and popped a french fry in his mouth. “What do you do for fun, Mattie?”

  “Me?”

  “Takes one to know one, right?” This time when he smiled, his straight front teeth showed.

  She bit her lip at the way he playfully threw her words back at her in a way she imagined was completely out of character for him. “Touché.”

  “That’s why you’ve come to Hope Falls, isn’t it? To find the fun that was missing in your own life. Tell me I’m wrong.”

  She sighed in surrender and smiled wanly. “You’re not wrong.” But just because she could be honest about that didn’t mean she could be honest about everything else. She still didn’t feel comfortable revealing who she really was, no matter how much she wanted to.

  The Everly Brothers’ “Wake Up Little Susie” began playing on the jukebox.

  “So, you didn’t answer my question,” she said, busying herself by filling a nearby napkin dispenser.

  “What question was that?” he said before taking a bite of his burger.

  “Don’t you normally get your food to go?”

  He tucked his bite of burger against his cheek. “Trying to get rid of me?”

  “Just trying to make polite conversation.”

  He grinned as he chewed, watching her as if trying to decide how to respond.

  After several seconds, he said, “Maybe I’ve finally got a reason to eat in.” His trepidatious gaze burned into hers, making his meaning clear. “I mean, I’m kind of liking…” He drifted off, his cheeks shading pink. He shifted uncomfortably on the barstool as he glanced toward a group of laughing kids at the corner table. Then he seemed to find the second wind to finish what he’d started to say. Meeting her eyes again, he slid his elbows toward her on the counter. His gaze burned into hers. “I think I’m kind of liking the view here lately.”

  She bit her lip and felt her cheeks flush.

  As “Wake Up Little Susie” neared its end, he fidgeted and cleared his throat. “You know, the last home game of the season is next Friday.” His voice broke on the word “season.”

  His cheeks were full of color.

  Recovering from his overt show of interest, she smiled coquettishly. “Are you warning me that I might have to volunteer my table-waiting services again? Or is this part of some covert football conspiracy?”

  He chuckled, and the deep, nervous sound made her heart perform a little somersault. “No, I…” He cleared his throat again, pushing his fries around his plate. “I thought you might like to go to the game. It’ll be…fun.”

  He was asking her out. Very unexpected. “Are you officiating?”

  “Probably, but afterward, maybe we could, you know, grab a late dinner.” He gave her a crooked grin. “And hey, I can get you in to the game for cheap. I have connections.”

  She fought a smile and eyed him sideways. “Hmm, sounds shady. You sure this is on the up-and-up?”

  The pink color in his cheeks deepened. “I promise.” His eyes searched hers. “So, how about it? Would you like to come to the game? Maybe have dinner with me after?”

  If she did this, she’d be crossing a line. Then again, she couldn’t deny the way her heart and mind seemed to be on the same page, one pounding so hard it was a wonder it didn’t fly out of her chest, the other screaming for her to say yes.

  “Okay. Yes. Sounds like fun.”

  Relief blanketed Scott’s expression. “I’ll call you in a few days with the details.”

  The last group of kids gathered their things and left, toting Pappy’s milkshakes with them, and she hurried off to clear the table, feeling Scott’s eyes on her the entire time. She had a date. With him. Oh, God, what had she done? How would this work?

  Hush, Lacey. It’s just a date. You’re not marrying the guy.

  She needed to keep things in perspective and not freak out. If things progressed, she would have to tell him the truth about who she was.

  Who was she kidding? Eventually, one way or another, he would find out. Still, now wasn’t the time to pull him aside and say, “Hey, by the way, I’m Lacey Moon. You know, your daughter’s idol.”

  And what about Savannah? It wasn’t just Scott she needed to think about, but his daughter, too.

  When she returned behind the counter, he was pulling on his coat and smiling at her.

  “You leaving?”

  He nodded. “I’ve got a busy day tomorrow.” He zipped his coat. “I’ll call you soon, though.” The determined look in his eyes put an exclamation point on his statement.

  She waved as he headed out and made his way through the kids still hanging around outside to his truck.

  It wasn’t until she felt an elbow nudge her arm that she stopped staring out the window. She turned to see Shirl grinning at her like a proud momma.

  “Seems someone has finally caught our Scotty’s eye.”

  Heat blazed through Lacey’s cheeks and down her neck. “No. That’s…he’s…you see—” She tripped over her words like an idiot.

  Shirl laughed and held up her hand. “Oh, honey, if you could see your face.” She quieted and shimmied closer. “If you ask me, you’re g
ood for him, sugar. I know people, and I’ve had a good feeling about you since the moment I first saw you. Yessir, you and Scott’ll be mighty fine together. How long you say you plan on staying in Hope Falls?” She gave her a wink then scurried off without waiting for an answer.

  “Umm…” Despite the rush of excitement coursing through her, dread filtered in, too. She hadn’t come to Hope Falls to find a boyfriend. She’d come to find herself. She was messing with the whole dynamic of what had brought her here.

  Still, she couldn’t hold back where Scott was concerned. The more she was around him, the more she liked him.

  And now she had a date with him next Friday night. She needed to tread lightly. This could blow up in her face if she wasn’t careful.

  Chapter 10

  Scott’s knee ached as he stood on the sideline during a timeout. A storm was coming. A big one from the feel of it. Not even the first week of November, and the season’s first big snow was upon them.

  And Savannah wasn’t with him to enjoy it. She was settling into her new home with Theresa and her fiancé. New home. New school. New everything. Scott wished there was something he could do to keep Savannah with him, but it just wasn’t feasible. He worked too much, and Theresa would never agree to giving him full custody, anyway. And, despite the trickery behind how Savannah was conceived, Theresa was a good mother.

  He glanced toward the stands where Mattie snuggled under the green and navy blanket he’d given her. Her blond hair poked out from under her fuzzy, light-blue cap, which matched the oversized sweater and scarf she wore under her dark-green coat. She pulled the blanket farther up her lap before cupping her gloved hands around her mouth and letting out a cheer as the teams took the field again.

  Only ten seconds left, and Hope Falls High was down by three points on Mason’s four-yard line. With no timeouts left, this was their last chance to win the game.

  Scott blew his whistle and willed his knee to hang in there.

  The center hiked the ball. The quarterback dropped back.

  Scott kept his eyes on the players, watching for fouls.

  The quarterback pumped, pulled the ball back in, rushed to the right. All the receivers were covered. But there was a gap. A small one, but if the quarterback didn’t wait, he could make it to the end zone.

  Scott rushed toward the action, remembering the thrill of a buzzer beater. He had played in several back in the day.

  The quarterback saw the gap, tucked the ball, caught a lucky block, and broke into the end zone with only one second left on the play clock.

  On the inside, Scott pumped his fists, but outside he remained stoic as the officials covering the end zone raised their arms straight in the air.

  Touchdown!

  Hope Falls had pulled out a win for their last home game.

  He couldn’t play favorites when officiating, but he was always happy to referee a game Hope Falls High won.

  After the extra point sealed the game, Scott made his rounds to both sidelines then limped toward the home stands, where Mattie stood with the folded blanket in her hands.

  “Why are you limping?” She hopped to the bottom bleacher. “Did you hurt yourself?”

  He shook his head. “No, there’s—”

  She held up her hand. “Wait. Don’t tell me. A storm’s coming, right?” Her gentle smile, as well as her chilled-pink cheeks and nose, warmed his heart.

  He glanced down at his leg then back up at her. “My knee makes me a better weather forecaster than the guy on the news.”

  She stepped down to the ground and smiled up at him, her brown eyes almost doe like. She was beautiful. He’d never seen such a breathtaking woman. Mattie made him feel things. Made him think he might be able to trust again, start fresh…fall in love. He’d given up on feeling that way about another woman a long time ago. But here came Mattie, and even though he barely knew her, and despite not knowing how long she would stay in Hope Falls, he found himself falling. He wanted to lose himself in her eyes. Wanted to kiss her pretty pink lips and run his fingertips over her porcelain skin to prove it was as smooth as it looked.

  She glanced around. “No Savannah again this weekend?”

  He shook his head. “No. But I’ll get her for her fall break from school, so it’s all good.”

  He missed his daughter, but looking into Mattie’s kind eyes took some of the edge off his heartache.

  Mattie stepped closer. “I love how close you two are. It’s unfortunate she had to move.”

  He shrugged and took the blanket out of her hands. “I’ll still see her. I’m just not used to her being so far away.” He was used to seeing Savannah almost every day. Now he would be lucky to see her twice a month. “I’m glad you’re here, though.” Before he could stop himself, he placed his gloved hand on the side of her face.

  For a second, she appeared startled. Then her gaze lowered shyly as her cheeks shaded pinker than they already were from the cold.

  Clearing his throat, he pulled his hand away and fought back a smile. God, but he felt like he was back in junior high again, putting the moves on the prettiest girl in school. “So, uh…you ready to go?”

  She looked up at him and nodded, pressing her lips together. “Sure. Are you?”

  “I just need to change.” He held out his hand and felt his chest puff up a little higher when she slid hers around it, their gloved fingers lacing together.

  He led her inside, and while she waited in the hall, he hurried into the locker room and changed from his referee uniform into a navy-blue sweater, blue jeans, and boots. With a nervous glance in the mirror, he straightened his hair and brushed his palms down the front of his sweater.

  He hadn’t been on a date in over a decade. He still didn’t know why now? Why Mattie? What was it about her that drew him in as if she were his favorite addiction? He couldn’t get enough of her.

  “Here goes…” he murmured under his breath.

  An hour later, after a pleasant dinner and a lot of small talk, the waitress cleared their plates and brought a piece of carrot cake for them to share. He’d decided to take her somewhere other than Pappy’s. Too many familiar faces there. Too many nosy waitresses. Not that he didn’t like Shirl and the others, and not that they wouldn’t find out sooner rather than later that he’d taken her out, but he hadn’t wanted to endure their stares and hushed whispers on his first date with Mattie.

  “Mmm, this is good.” She licked frosting off her lip.

  He took a nibble off his side of the cake. “Best carrot cake in Hope Falls.”

  “Best carrot cake anywhere.”

  He smiled at the blissful expression on her face.

  After a couple more bites and a sip of decaf, Scott set his fork down and wiped his napkin against his mouth. “So, you’re from Utah, right? I think that’s what you mentioned before.”

  A subtle shadow fell over her eyes. “Yes.”

  “Whereabouts?”

  “Salt Lake City.” She kept her gaze averted.

  “Have you lived there long?”

  “Pretty much all my life.” The shadows seemed to lift as if she’d forced them away.

  He swiped a fingertip of cream cheese icing and licked it into his mouth, studying her. Just when he thought he was getting a feel for who she was, another wrinkle unfolded. She was like a Russian doll, with layer upon layer to open to get to the next.

  Rather than push her for more—because, really, didn’t he hate when people pushed him?—he turned the subject around. “So, what did Shirl tell you about me? I can guess, but it’s better just to get it out there, don’t you think?”

  Her eyelashes flickered and she almost looked…guilty?

  “Hey, it’s okay,” he said. “I’m not mad. I’ve known Shirl since I was a kid. She’s a notorious gossip. Always has been. You don’t need to feel bad because she told you stories about me.”

  “No, it’s just…” She sighed and offered a benign smile. “I just feel weird about it. I’m not a fan of gossi
p.”

  And didn’t that statement make Mattie’s stock rise even higher? The more he learned about her, the more he liked her.

  * * *

  He’d misinterpreted her reaction. He thought she was upset because she’d indulged Shirl’s gossip. And while, yes, she was a bit ashamed of that, she was more agitated because his words hit too close to the mark for comfort. …it’s better just to get it out there, don’t you think? How prophetic. It felt like Grandpa was giving her another sign, telling her to fess up.

  “I’m not a fan of gossip, either,” he said, before she could seriously entertain the idea of coming clean.

  She played with her fork. “It’s always made me uncomfortable.”

  “Me, too.” He crossed his forearms on the table. “But I’ve learned to live with it.”

  “I can’t see how anyone can learn to live with gossip.” She recalled all the nasty things she’d heard and read about herself along the competition circuit and in celebrity rags found in the checkout lane at the grocery store.

  “You sound like you speak from experience.”

  She stared at the half-eaten piece of cake. “You could say that.” She swirled the tines of her fork in the icing before slicing off another bite.

  He gave her a moment to finish the cake then pushed the empty plate aside, folding his hands together in front of him. “So, do you want to hear my story? The real story? Not Shirl’s version, but mine. All the holes filled in.”

  “I don’t want to pry.”

  “You’re not prying. I’m offering.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “But…why? I mean, why me?”

  “Why not you?” His gaze swept her face as though he were amused.

  “You barely know me.” She swirled her straw in her iced tea. “And Shirl implied you’ve never talked to anyone about what happened.”