“Liar.” Shauna laughed. “God, you guys. I’m so glad to be back home and have you here with me again.”
The conversation continued to flow around her. She gazed out over the area, watching the people dance. For how much she expected to step back into the town she remembered, there were unfamiliar faces and a different feel to the atmosphere. Had everyone moved away or had they all changed so much, she wasn’t recognizing them?
“Shauna, girl, you’ve got to at least look like you’re up for a good time. We’re back together, and we need to attract some attention. This town has turned into oldville while we were gone.” Kate nodded toward Shauna’s almost full glass. “What happened to all the excitement you had going for you last time we met?”
“It’s probably Grayson.” Diana sipped her drink. “When it comes to Shauna’s happiness, it’s always Grayson.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shauna drew on the condensation gathering on the side of her glass. “I’ve been back a week. Even I can’t get into trouble that soon. Besides, this has nothing to do with Grayson. I’m just … ”
“ … right back to worrying over Grayson.” Diana leaned forward. “Come on, we’re your best friends. Don’t keep secrets from us. You’re not the most patient person I know. You must have seen him already.”
“I have a lot on my mind. I do have a life.” She rubbed her hands together. “Lucky me received a ticket to McMillian’s for tomorrow night’s party. I need to buy a dress in the morning, or I’ll stick out like a wannabe. For once, the stress I’m under has nothing to do with Grayson.”
“What?” Diana leaned forward. “How did you get invited?”
Kate elbowed Diana. “I’m going with Jackson.”
“That’s a no-brainer. Jackson’s a McMillian. Of course you’re going, but even you couldn’t sneak me a ticket. I swear you need to know a special handshake or donate a kidney to be invited.” Diana narrowed her gaze on Shauna. “The question is … how did you finagle an invite?”
“Grayson.” Shauna held up her finger. “No, before you ask, he didn’t ask me to go with him. I couldn’t get that lucky. He had an extra ticket, I guess. He doesn’t even know if he’s going to go … he’s got a date.”
“You are too good for him.” Diana lifted her glass and wrinkled her nose. “What you need to do is find yourself a man that’s better than him. One that’s sexier, richer, and can treat you better.”
With an inelegant snort, Shauna curled her lip. “There’s no such man in the whole state of California better than Grayson. Everyone loves him.”
Kate hissed. “I don’t.”
“That’s because you have a boyfriend. But even you have to admit that Grayson lives up to everyone’s expectations. He can’t do wrong.” Shauna slumped in her chair.
“Your problem is you haven’t
allowed
yourself to find a better man. Trust me, there’s one out there for you, you just have to recognize him. Though I still think you should come right out and tell Grayson that you never stopped loving him. Don’t play games with him. Men like women who say what they want. Just go up to him and ask him if he wants to have sex. That’ll get his attention, plus that’s the only kind of language he’ll understand.” Diana pointed to an attractive man on the dance floor. “Take that guy as an example. He’s good looking, moves okay, but you can tell when you get his clothes off he has some serious talent. You should practice on him.”
“I’m not going to lower my standards — not for him or Grayson.” Shauna leaned back in her chair. “Someday Grayson will discover that I’m not sixteen years old anymore and I’m sincere in my feelings. Right now, he can’t think past all the trouble I brought him, and see me for a woman. I’m going to show him, and then you both will be eating your words.”
“Grayson Schyler is too perfect, and he knows it,” Diana added. “He’s always been an ass to you, and in my book that wipes out all the good he does for the community. He could’ve at least treated you special, and not hurt your feelings.”
“That’s not true,” Shauna said quietly. Okay, maybe it was a little true. She sighed.
Grayson’s reputation as a smart businessman and a ruthless opponent on the court only touched the surface of who he really was. Deep down, he was honest, caring, and what others couldn’t see but she could, was that he was a man who needed love in his life. His parents had neglected him for world travel and relaxation, leaving him alone to train and compete. Then they’d left him completely alone when they’d died on an overseas vacation.
“You need someone like Jared Studebaker.” Kate gave her a cheeky grin.
She snorted. “Not on my life. The decision is still out on whether he’s gay or not. He does spend a lot of time traveling to Houston, and I’ve never seen him with a woman. He seems to hang with his pal Irvin, from what I hear.”
“He’s gorgeous. His friend, I mean.” Diana wiggled her brows. “Maybe I should make a play for him. I bet Irvin has a closet of clothes to die for.”
“Bonus.” Shauna laughed.
“The problem is we’re too picky. We don’t give men a chance to get to know us.” Diana fished in her pocket and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. “I think this conversation calls for another round of drinks. We all need to loosen up and have a good time. And I need to bury my jealousy about you going to the McMillian bash in alcohol.”
Shauna drained her glass in two swallows. “Stay. I’ll get this round. It’s my turn to pay. You two bought the other drinks.”
A few minutes later, she’d squeezed her way through the crowd, and found an empty bar stool. She turned around, leaned her elbows on the counter, and rubbed her temples while waiting for the bartender to make his way through the customers lined up to order.
“Shauna!” John Bigstraum leaned between her and the man sitting next to her. “I thought that was you.”
She sat up straighter and smiled. “It’s me.”
“Your dad told me you were back.” He shifted to let the man beside them leave, and then took his place at the bar. “You look wonderful. Wow.”
“So do you.” She patted his arm.
He really did. A few years older than herself, John had always been one of the friendliest guys in Cottage Grove. His compassion and good deeds now included training dogs for the hearing impaired and disabled. According to her dad, John’s dogs were some of the best in the world.
“Congratulations on the new job. Cottage Grove is lucky to have you.” John’s gaze lingered on her hand. “So, catch me up on your life. You’ve got full time employment, you’re looking beautiful … ”
“Thanks.” She leaned in closer. “I’m staying with my dad for the time being, but I hope to settle into my own place in the near future. Right now, I want to concentrate on my job and on getting back in the groove of living here. Sometimes it seems like nothing has changed, and then I start running into people I don’t know and it feels like I’ve come to a brand new place.”
“You’ll do fine.” He lifted his hand to the bartender and waved him over. “Let me buy you a drink.”
“Oh … that’s okay. I’m here with Diana and Kate. You remember them, right?”
“Sure I do. Talk to Diana all the time when I go in for breakfast at the hotel,” he said.
“It’s my turn to buy them drinks. We’re starting a new tradition of girls’ night out now that we’re all back to living in the same town.” Shauna laid her hand on his arm.
“Then let me play the hero and buy you all drinks.” He winked.
“You really don’t — ” He placed his finger over her lips, and she laughed. “Okay, John. I’ll let you buy them.”
“What’s your pleasure?”
“We’ll have cosmos.” She grinned.
“You’ll have to stop by the house sometime and see the picture of Linda’s kids. She’s got two of them now,” he said.
She scooted closer, so she didn’t have to yell. “Wow. That’s great. I’ll do that.”
His sister Linda had only been a grade younger than Shauna in school. Although they weren’t close, it was a small town and they had mutual friends. She was happy to hear Linda was happy and settled.
Luke Torville smacked the palms of his hands down on the counter from the other side of the bar. “Well, well, well, look who came home. I thought I recognized that sexy walk of yours when you came in. You sure have changed.”
She cringed inside while managing to offer a smile. “Hi, Luke. I didn’t know you worked here now.”
“I’ve been serving drinks here for the last four years.” He leaned forward. “I think about you all the time.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“Every time I drive by the school, I read ‘Grayson’s number one!’ on the roof over the gym, and wonder what kind of trouble you’re getting yourself into now.” Luke laughed. “You might’ve been an odd little kid, but you were entertaining.”
“Um. Thanks.” While John ordered the drinks, Shauna took the opportunity to swivel around on the stool in hopes of ending Luke’s walk down memory lane.
How long did paint last, anyway? She’d spent the whole summer picking up litter around the soccer fields to make up for her vandalism.
John placed his hand on her arm. “The coast is clear.”
She glanced over her shoulder and found Luke gone to fill drinks. “Thanks. The way people act around here makes me feel like they’ll view me as a teenager forever. I’m not the same person they remember. I’ve lost all the angsty mood swings.”
“They missed you, that’s all.” He cocked his head. “So, is there a boyfriend in the picture? You’re dad said you weren’t married.”
She rubbed her arm. “Nope. It’s just me.”
He leaned into her personal space, and she willed herself to feel something. A flutter in her stomach, a little heart palpations, anything to signal she was a living, breathing woman. She inhaled the musky scent of his cologne in one last-ditch effort, and tried not to let her disappointment show. She felt nothing.
She studied his blue eyes, the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes, and the straight white teeth. He was handsome, young, and eager. He’d be a great catch for any woman.
“Shauna?” John brushed her hand with his fingers. “I think I lost you there for a minute. I didn’t mean to pry.”
She shook her head and smiled. “You’re a sweet man. It’s been a long day, and I was just thinking about everything I need to do yet before tomorrow’s big event.”
“You’re going to McMillian’s?” He held out one of the drinks to her, and stood up with the other two glasses.
“Yes.” She inhaled deeply. “First time. I’m nervous.”
“Do you have a date you’re going with?”
She sipped the cosmo, swallowed, and laughed. “No. I’m going by myself. I’m still trying to convince myself that I’m really going.”
“Hey, why don’t we go together?” He grinned. “I got a ticket this year too, and I wasn’t going to go because I didn’t want to show up by myself.”
“Oh … I — ” She clamped her lips together. Why shouldn’t she go with John? Grayson had other plans, and probably would skip the entire event, not that it mattered. “I would love to go with you.”
“Great! I’ll pick you up at three.” He motioned for her to lead the way back to her friends. “I’ll follow you and help you carry the drinks.”
She weaved her way across the room, smiling at the lucky turn of events. Tomorrow’s party would be more enjoyable with someone to talk with, and John was a nice guy.
Nice guys are good.
The most sought after party of the year — hosted by Stan McMillian to celebrate the beginning of summer with a friendly fundraiser — gave Shauna the opportunity to see how the other half lived. The Grayson Schylers of the world.
She stood on the edge of the lawn beside John. Rumors of the state senator showing up, along with Cottage Grove’s better-known residents, gave Shauna pause. All the schooling in the world never prepared her to talk about the stock market, oil prices, or the latest grant achieved by the hospital. She was more comfortable talking about oil changes and U-Joint replacements, thanks to her dad owning the town’s only repair shop.
Attending the benefit were Peter Fontaine, a world-renowned heart surgeon, and his wife, Gloria, who headed the children’s society. Next to the champagne fountain — oh lord, was that real crystal? — stood Nickolas Jenson, founder of Top Burgers, a world-famous fast food chain. She didn’t recognize the blond-haired beauty beside him.
“Quite the party, huh?” John held up his glass. “Have you ever wondered how it would be to go through life having everyone cater to you? I imagine this is close to what a celebrity must feel like every day.”
Shauna giggled. “I could get used to the clothes and finer things, but I’m not sure I’m up for such an active social life. You should’ve seen me all day. I could barely sit still, and I almost changed my mind about coming. My dress cost a hundred dollars, not a thousand. I even painted my own nails. I could never keep up with all the women here.”
John slipped his arm behind her, and placed his hand at the small of her back. “I’m the lucky one to be able to claim you as my date. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She scooted closer and leaned her head against his arm. “I’m glad you asked me to come with you. Tonight wouldn’t have been the same if I didn’t have someone to share the memories with or be able to whisper to when I feel out of place.”
“I’m going to get another drink.” He stepped away, stopped, and glanced over his shoulder. “Have you changed your mind about having a glass yet?”
She nodded, and then watched him stride away. He was attentive, polite, and made her feel like he didn’t go out with women as a recreational sport. He honestly listened to her when she talked and for that alone, he made her happy.
Dressed in a navy blue suit, white shirt, and red striped tie, John looked dashing. He wasn’t drool worthy the way Grayson was, but John was handsome. Everybody loved him. He had a gentle soul. Shauna liked him, and she could tell the feeling was mutual.
She walked along the grass on her toes, her heels threatening to sink into the ground. Carefully, she moved closer to the throng of people mingling in small groups dotting the area. Feeling out of place, she found it hard to enjoy the dress she’d splurged on for the event.
The black, shimmering material fell around her legs whimsically. Her shoulders and arms were bare, and she’d accented her neck with a faux diamond necklace on a thin gold chain. She’d added a touch more lipstick to her full lips and curled her hair in soft waves that trailed over her shoulders and down her back. On the outside, she appeared confident and comfortable. On the inside, she was the odd girl who more often than not had a spot of grease on her arm from her dad’s shop and a pair of old cutoffs on.