Running Home (Warm Springs Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  Jenny’s cheeks heated and she felt like a seventeen year old again. Glancing at Vera, she was glad to see that her expression remained neutral and her eyes were still on her cards.

  “It’s your turn,” Honey said, still smiling.

  Jenny threw down her measly two pair, only half aware of what she was doing. “It’s possible that I left Adam stranded at one of the houses we went to see.”

  This time Vera did smirk and Honey laughed out-right while scraping in her winning chips from the center.

  “What’d he do?”

  She wanted to crawl under the table, but she was the one who’d gone there. Obviously, his grandmother was going to ask what had happened. Jenny hung her head and mumbled, “He kissed me.”

  “Ooh, I bet that made you hot.”

  “Honey,” she said her voice high and face burning like fire.

  “No, not like that,” Honey waved a hand. “Mad.” She shook her head. “You kids and your expressions these days.”

  Jenny let out a nervous laugh. “Sorry.”

  Vera dealt the next hand and they changed the subject to things going on around town and a few tidbits of gossip like they used to do.

  “I’ve missed you, girl.”

  “Me, too.” Pressure surged behind Jenny’s eyes as she squeezed Honey’s arm. “I’m sorry I stopped coming by. I just didn’t know what my place was anymore, and with the pictures everywhere and all the memories . . .”

  “I understand. You don’t have to explain yourself to me, but I want you to know something. Leaving was hard for him, too.” Honey set her cards down and looked Jenny in the eyes. “It didn’t happen the way he wanted it to.”

  Jenny tilted her head to the side. What did that mean?

  “Hello?” Adam’s voice called from the front of the house. “Anybody back here?”

  Jenny’s stomach dropped. It looked like groveling was going to be happening sooner rather than later.

  “Well, look who’s here. If it isn’t my realtor.” Adam removed his baseball cap and bent to kiss his grandmother on the head, all the while staring a hole through Jenny. “Hey, Vera, watch out for this one.” He jerked a thumb toward Jenny. “She’s crazy.”

  “Um-hmm,” was all Vera said on the matter.

  “I’m going to grab some tea. Anybody need anything? I mean, it’s pretty hot today. I wouldn’t want anyone to get dehydrated.” He smiled when Jenny squirmed in her chair. “But, I will say this, getting outside, taking in the land, it really gives a man time to think.”

  “Are you going to sit down and join us or just keep needling Jenny for giving you what you deserved?” his grandmother eyed him over the top of the red glasses she used when playing cards and reading the newspaper.

  Some of the wind left his sails. So, she’d ratted him out. And, to his grandmother no less. “Deal me in.” He took the seat across from Jenny who was doing her darnedest not to meet his eyes.

  “Hold ‘em,” Honey called as she dealt the new hand. “Now, are you kids about done fussin’ or do we need to get a switch from the bush in the backyard?”

  Their gazes locked and they both smiled. It was the same threat Honey had been using on all the kids in the family since they were children. And, the perfect way to drain away some of the tension.

  “I don’t know, Hon, it was pretty hot.”

  Jenny’s mouth changed into a firm line. “Well, you’re the one—”

  “Kids, kids,” Honey held up a hand. “Let’s settle this like adults.”

  “Sorry, Honey.” Jenny slouched into her chair.

  “No need to be sorry. Adam did ask for it.” She shook her head when he opened his mouth to object. “Why don’t you two bet on it?”

  “I can live with that,” Adam shrugged, a plan already forming in his mind.

  After half a second, Jenny nodded. “So, Adam, if you win the hand, what is it you want?”

  He tapped the top of his cards while he thought about what he could ask for, reasonably, without Jenny bucking. “You have to have dinner with me.”

  She straightened in her chair and eyed her cards once, before nodding in agreement. “You have to keep me on as your realtor.”

  He grinned and agreed. No reason to tell her he was already going to keep her. He was well aware he’d overstepped a boundary by kissing her. It hadn’t exactly happened the way he’d wanted it to, but after touching her, he couldn’t help himself. Between the magic of being back in their woods and having her there looking sexy, he’d lost the war with his self-restraint.

  That didn’t mean he wasn’t gunning for a little payback after she’d left him stranded. After all, it was summertime in the South. And, he’d had to walk four miles back to town to get to the hotel where he’d had to re-shower and change clothes. It was only fair to make her sweat a little.

  As they each took turns trading in cards for replacements, Adam’s grandmother broke the silence. “How are Earl and Betsy treating you over at the hotel?”

  “Like a king.” As he picked up his two new cards, he made a conscious effort to hide his delight at what he now held in his hand. Get ready for date night Jenny Fillmore. “Betsy’s been feeding me constantly, or trying to at least.”

  “She always did like to cook.” Honey said. “I heard from Avery yesterday. She’ll be here tomorrow.”

  Jenny’s head popped up. “Avery’s coming to town?”

  “Yep, she’s finished up her summer semester and is going to pay us a little visit before fall classes start.” She tossed her cards down revealing a full house. “Bout time she came home. Girl’s always running off getting into some sort of trouble.”

  “That’s probably why she left town to go to school. She’d already done everything she could think to do to make trouble here.” Adam nodded to Jenny to signal her turn and smiled when she, too, tossed down a full house.

  “I wonder who she learned it from,” Honey said with a disapproving cluck of her tongue.

  Vera tossed down two pair and shook her head. “I’m getting terrible cards today.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Honey. I was the perfect older brother. Speaking of perfect . . .” He laid his cards on the table and laughed when Jenny’s mouth fell open. “Sorry about that.”

  Jenny narrowed her eyes at him. “No, you’re not.”

  “You’re right. I’m not. Dinner tonight, then?” he flashed her a winning grin.

  She shook her head, but couldn’t stop her smile. “Fine. Tonight. James is out of town, anyway.”

  He kept a neutral expression at the mention of James, even though it felt like a knife was twisting in his heart. He wasn’t looking for another fight. In fact, he needed the night to go smoothly. There were only so many chances he’d get to win her back. And, if she had anything to say about it, very few where they’d be alone now that he’d kissed her.

  “Good. Now that you two kids have that worked out, I think I’m going to go lie down for a rest.” Honey stood and everyone else followed her lead, Vera moving to her side.

  Jenny hugged her, inhaling the scent of her familiar lavender lotion. “It was so good to see you.”

  “You, too, sweetie. Don’t you go being a stranger anymore, you hear?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  They watched his grandmother make her way out of the kitchen. She didn’t move as fast as she once did, but she didn’t miss a thing. He’d have to remember to thank her later when Jenny wasn’t around.

  “I guess I’d better get going.” She picked up her purse from the counter and looped it over her shoulder.

  Adam pulled his cap back on. “I’ll walk you out.”

  On the porch outside, the atmosphere between them shifted. Adam could feel it as soon as he was standing close to Jenny.
Without his grandmother and Vera there to serve as buffers, the same snap of electricity simmered between them. It was as though their bodies remembered what it’d been like to be together. Unfortunately, Jenny’s heart wasn’t ready to comply.

  Jenny descended the stairs, taking two at a time. He wasn’t sure if she felt the change between them and was trying to escape or if she was in a hurry.

  He cleared his throat. “You heading back to the office?”

  “Um, no. I’m actually heading to my parents’ house.”

  He shoved his hands in his back pockets and kicked at a weed daring to poke through a crack in the sidewalk. The Fillmores. Once like a second set of parents to him, but not anymore. Just like everything else in his life in regards to Jenny, he’d had to sever all ties. Following one dream had slammed the door on others, even if it hadn’t been what he wanted.

  “So, tonight?”

  He focused on Jenny and forgot the rest. “Tonight at seven? Will you be ready by then?”

  “I can meet you somewhere.”

  He kicked at the weed. It wasn’t exactly the arrangement he’d had in mind, but he better not push it. “Sounds good. I’ll text you an address later.”

  “Okay then.” Jenny left him standing in the middle of the sidewalk, where he watched her hurry off toward her car, slowing when she passed by their initials in the concrete. She’d only slowed down a little, but it was enough. He could tell she’d looked down, remembering the summer they’d carved their relationship in stone.

  Chapter 7

  “Hey, Mom.” Jenny closed the back door and slipped out of her shoes. By her estimation, they had about half an hour before the other ladies on the committee showed up for the planning meeting.

  “Hey, busy day?” her mom called.

  The question made Jenny smile. It was the same one her mom used to ask every day after school. Of course, now she lived in her own apartment and was long past her school days, but going to her parents’ house still felt like going home.

  “Sort of.” She kissed her mom’s cheek at the same time she stole a carrot off the platter she was preparing. “I will say it was interesting.”

  Her mom glanced up from where she was slicing bell peppers, one eyebrow raised. “Oh? How so?”

  Sliding onto one of the stools at the counter, Jenny proceeded to tell her mom all about the events of the last few days, starting with Adam’s return and ending with her visit to his grandmother’s house.

  “I see,” a moment passed while her mom processed the news. “And, are you okay? I know it’s been a long time, but . . .” A crease formed between her eyes.

  Her mom knew better than anyone how much Adam’s sudden departure had hurt her. After he’d taken off, she’d moved home for the summer and moped around the house for weeks.

  It was during that same summer her mom had roped her into helping out with some of her favorite charities. She hadn’t given Jenny a choice and at the time she’d resented it. Looking back now, she understood. Her mom made her start living by giving her something else to focus on.

  “I’m dealing with him.”

  Her mom’s concern ebbed and she grinned. “It sounds like it.”

  Jenny believed she saw a hint of pride in her mom’s eyes, but being the nice person and classy lady she was, she wouldn’t outright condone Jenny for leaving someone stranded. But, of course, if it had to be someone, Adam was a good choice.

  “Are you sure it’s a good idea for the two of you to be spending time together? What about James?”

  Jenny huffed in exasperation. “Since when do you like James?”

  After setting the knife in the sink and wiping her hands on her apron, Jane Fillmore turned to look at her daughter. “It isn’t that we don’t like James—”

  “You’re joking.”

  “Jennifer, please. Your father and I like him, if you like him. He just isn’t who we pictured for you, is all. He’s from a different world than you are.”

  “New Jersey is hardly a different world.”

  Pointing a finger at Jenny, her mom shook her head, “That just proves you’ve never been to New Jersey. Don’t eat all the veggies.” She swatted Jenny’s hand as she reached for another carrot. “You know those ladies expect food. If I don’t feed them, they won’t offer to help with the benefit.”

  “Sure they will. You have a way with them.” It was true. Jane Fillmore would’ve made a wonderful First Lady, or at least that’s what Jenny’s dad always said. She had the ability to delegate and lead with a gentle hand, knowing when to press people and when to recede. Her mom was a master puppeteer. And, the parent Jenny acquired her sales abilities and looks from.

  “Come help me set up the chairs.”

  Jenny slid off her stool, grabbed another carrot off the tray, and followed her mom to the living room. Her mom’s eyes narrowed when she saw the orange stick in Jenny’s hand. She popped the rest in her mouth and grinned. “What?”

  Shaking her head, her mom lifted the first of two straight-backed chairs sitting in front of the bay window. Jenny paused with her hands on either side of the second, the view of the backyard too beautiful to ignore. It held a pool, a flower garden that her mom changed with the seasons, and beyond the fence, a large pasture sloped down to a lake. Growing up, she’d always taken her surroundings for granted, but as an adult, she understood how hard her parents worked to create such a warm and welcoming home.

  “How’s my girl?”

  “Hey, Dad.” She crossed the room to wrap her arms around her dad’s waist and inhaled his comforting smell.

  “Jenny was just telling me Adam Hamilton’s back in town. It seems he’s moving back.”

  Jenny felt her dad’s body grow rigid at the mention of Adam’s name and she took a step back to study his face. “Dad, it’s fine. I’m fine.”

  Her parents exchanged a pointed look.

  “Seriously, you two.” Her head swiveled between her parents. “I’m not a little girl anymore. I can handle Adam.”

  Her dad pulled her into another hug and kissed the top of her hair. “You’ll always be our little girl.”

  Jane straightened from where she was rearranging furniture. “If you two could lend a hand, I wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.”

  “Sorry, Mom.”

  Soon after they’d finished setting out hors d’oeuvres, the doorbell rang and Jenny’s dad made a quick exit out the backdoor. He served on the board, but left the planning to the women. Besides, he was going fishing.

  Familiar faces filtered through the front entrance in twos and threes, all ladies Jenny had known most of her life. Their chatter filled the house as friends caught up and spoke excitedly about the upcoming event.

  “Hello, everyone, and welcome.” Jane stood behind a small wooden podium and smiled while the noise died down. Only Jane Fillmore would have her own podium. “I hope you’ve all had a chance to have some refreshments and visit before we get down to business. I’m thrilled to see so many of you here because, as you know, it’s time to start planning for our dinner and silent auction. It is, of course, our biggest fundraiser of the year, so we’ll need everyone’s help.”

  Nods of approval and smiles could be seen throughout the room. When Jenny glanced around, she decided her mother was right. As far as she could tell, most of the members were there including a large number of ladies from the Red Hat Society, the Gardening Club, and the church.

  “First, let’s assign responsibilities and then we’ll break into small groups, if that works for everyone?” Her mom paused to look around the room. “Good. Now, Laura said she and the other ladies from the Gardening Club would take care of tables this year and we’re thrilled.” Jane smiled at Laura, whose face reddened at the attention.

  It looked like her buddy, Sam, and the ladies in the Gard
en club had more in common than just flowers. They all seemed to share a certain amount of shyness. According to Sam, the members were helping her with the flowers for her wedding on top of the auction. It was going to be a busy month for everyone.

  Jenny half-listened for the next few minutes as her mom moved through the rest of the key points on her list. She’d already glanced over her mom’s notes and knew who was taking care of what. Her part wasn’t until the end. She shifted in her chair and glanced down at her watch. Only three hours until her date.

  She tore her gaze away from her wrist and ground her teeth. It was not a date. It was dinner. With Adam. Guilt twisted inside her as she thought of James.

  Her mom was right; he wouldn’t be thrilled if she told him about her evening plans, which was why she was going to use the opportunity at dinner to talk to Adam about making a decision on a house. Between the award and needing to stop spending time with him, she was starting to feel like she was trapped inside a pressure cooker.

  Turning her phone over in her lap she glanced down at the message icon and saw it was still blank. Adam said he would text the address of the restaurant, but so far, nothing. She wondered if she needed to run home and change. Glancing down at her outfit, which was starting to show end-of-the-day wear, she decided she’d better.

  The sound of her mother clearing her throat made her look up and that’s when she noticed that all eyes were on her.

  “Jenny, if you’re ready?” Her mom stepped to the side and motioned to the podium.

  “Yes, of course.” Jenny moved quickly and opened her notes to the appropriate place. “Good afternoon, everyone. For the silent auction, so far, we have the following donations . . .” She read off the list and explained about setting up a side group to assemble pretty baskets to display the items. “We have a good start, but we still need a couple of big items. Any thoughts?”