Page 6 of Keep My Heart (The Haydon Falls #1)

I look up and see Lyndsay standing there, holding her phone, looking up at me with the same beautiful blue eyes that I used to gaze at as she asked me questions about her algebra homework.

‘Hey.’ I smile at her. ‘We meet again.’

‘Yeah.’ She takes a step back. ‘Sorry I bumped into you,’ she says with a laugh. ‘I was looking at my phone and didn’t see you.’

‘Same here.’ I hold up my phone. ‘Matt’s wife sent me here to get something and I keep forgetting what the name is. She texted it to me.’

‘You’re staying with Matt?’

‘I’m just having dinner there. I’m staying with Sawyer tonight.’

She smiles and I get those feelings again, the ones I felt for her in high school.

I had such a huge crush on her. She was one of those girls who was gorgeous but didn’t know it, or she did, but didn’t let it go to her head.

She was also really sweet. She didn’t fit the stereotype you see in movies of the mean cheerleader.

She wasn’t mean to anyone. I remember the first day of our sophomore year, this girl who was new to the school was sitting alone at lunch and Lyndsay went over to her and invited her to sit at her table.

How does a girl that nice end up with an asshole like Chris?

‘I heard Sawyer opened a brewery,’ Lyndsay says, bringing my attention back to the present.

‘It’s not really open yet. Well, it is, but not every night and he’s not doing any promotion to let people know. This week is more of a soft opening so he can work out the kinks before he has the official opening.’

‘I’ll have to go check it out while I’m here. Maybe we could go together.’ She seems nervous, her voice breathy, her eyes darting around. ‘I mean, just as friends, since he’s your brother and it’s his place and—’

‘I’d love to,’ I say, trying to figure out what’s going on here. Did she just ask me out? And why is she so nervous? It’s like we’ve switched roles from back in high school and now she’s the nervous, awkward one instead of me.

‘You don’t have to,’ she rushes to say. ‘I know you’re busy and I don’t want to take up your time.’

‘You’re not. I’ll be there anyway. Sawyer’s insisting I try all his beers. He’s having a tasting on Sunday. You’re welcome to join us.’

‘Um, yeah, sure, Sunday works. Or tomorrow. Either one works.’

‘I have a family thing tomorrow. My dad’s having a surprise party for my mom’s 60th birthday. That’s why I’m here.’

‘He’s throwing her a party? That’s so sweet.’

‘Yeah, he’s not really the romantic type, but now and then he does something like this and surprises us all. Anyway, the party’s tomorrow night but he wants us all there early to help set up.’

‘So when are you leaving? ’

‘Monday. I need to get back to work. I’ve only been gone a few hours and I’m already behind.’

‘Diane said you’re a lawyer,’ Lyndsay says, glancing down at my suit. I was going to change into something more casual but didn’t have time. I left for the airport from work and didn’t want to change clothes in an airport bathroom.

‘Yeah, I’m hoping to make partner one of these days.’

‘I’m sure you will. You were always really smart.’ She looks away, then back at me. ‘So how do you like New York?’

‘It’s good.’ I pause. ‘How did you know I live in New York?’

‘Diane told me.’

I smile, still confused what’s going on here. ‘You were asking Diane about me?’

‘No,’ she says, her cheeks turning a slightly deeper shade of pink. ‘I mean, we talked about you, but only because I told her I saw you at the airport.’ She looks at her phone, then at the row of salad dressings beside us. ‘She’s waiting for me in the car. I should probably get going.’

‘Yeah, me too.’

We both turn toward the shelves and I search for the marinade.

‘Oops!’ Lyndsay says, dropping the bottle of dressing she was holding. She seems really flustered today.

I reach down to pick up the bottle. As I give it to her, our hands touch and I swear I feel a spark, or maybe I imagined it.

My body’s doing some strange shit right now.

I’m not sure what the hell’s happening. My heart’s beating way too fast and I can’t think straight.

My mind keeps flashing back to high school, then returns to the present, looking at Lyndsay and wondering if she’s really here or if this is all a dream.

Damn, she looks good. She’s got on these sexy little jean shorts and a pink tank top with a cropped white hoodie over it. It’s unzipped and my gaze keeps lowering to her breasts, then her tan legs, down to her painted pink toes peeking out of her flip-flops.

Lyndsay puts the bottle back on the shelf and continues to look for whatever she’s here to get.

‘Can I help?’ I ask.

‘I got it.’ She takes a bottle of dressing from the shelf, then turns to me. ‘How about you? Need some help?’

‘Um, yeah, I’m looking for this.’ I get out my phone and show her Tessa’s message.

‘Oh, I’ve used that one before. It’s good.’ She finds it on the shelf and hands it to me. ‘Need anything else?’

‘No, that was it.’

‘Okay, well, I better get going. Good seeing you again.’ She smiles at me, pausing a moment before going around me to leave.

Shit, I didn’t get her number. We’re supposed to meet on Sunday.

‘Lyndsay!’ I call after her.

She turns back. ‘Yeah?’

‘Would you want to come to dinner tonight? At Matt’s house?’

What the hell? Did I seriously just say that? I was supposed to ask for her number, not invite her to dinner.

She walks back to me. ‘I’d love to, but I already told Diane I’d have dinner with her and her family.’

‘Yeah, of course.’ I laugh a little. ‘I wasn’t thinking. But I do need to get your number for Sunday. I’m not sure what time I’ll be there.’

We exchange numbers, then walk together to the self checkout.

‘Have a good night,’ I tell her as she leaves.

‘You too!’ She turns back and gives me a smile, and damn, I feel something again, those feelings from the past coming back .

When I get to Matt’s house, I find all of them in the kitchen. Matt’s holding Mia, the three-year-old, and Bella’s on a stool by the sink, helping her mom wash potatoes.

They have such a different life than I do.

I kind of envy Matt when I see him like this, looking so damn happy with his kids and his wife.

It’s not that I don’t like my life, but going home to an empty apartment every night in a city full of strangers isn’t exactly how I imagined my life at 33.

I thought I’d at least be married by now.

‘You’re back,’ Matt says, smiling at me. ‘You pick up some beer while you were there?’

‘No, sorry, I should have.’ I set the marinade on the counter.

‘He’s kidding,’ Tessa says, glancing back at me with a smile. ‘We have plenty of beer, or wine if you prefer that.’

‘Beer is for daddies,’ Bella says as she washes the potatoes with her tiny hands. ‘Wine is for mommies.’

Tessa laughs. ‘That’s not true for all mommies and daddies. Some mommies like beer.’

‘Are we gonna go to your brother’s brewery this weekend?’ Matt asks, setting Mia down. She toddles over to her mom.

‘We can. I’m planning on being there Sunday. Sawyer wants me to try the new brews he’s planning for fall.’

‘It’s only June.’

‘He’s not serving them yet. He’s just getting the recipes figured out.’

‘Would he care if I joined you?’

‘He’d actually like that. He’s looking for more opinions than just my brothers and me.’

‘I’m sure if he asked around town he’d get plenty of volunteers,’ Matt says.

‘I’m sure he would, but he doesn’t want many people knowing what he’s planning now that there’s that other brewery opening up.’

‘When’s it opening? Do you know?’

‘I’m not sure. I think later this summer.’

‘And Sawyer still doesn’t know who the owner is?’

‘Not yet. Isn’t that something you could find out? You see all the real estate sales.’

‘It wasn’t a sale. The person inherited the building.’

‘That’s right. I forgot about that.’

‘I’m sure they’ll both do well,’ Tessa says. ‘Plenty of people in town like beer, and tourists love going to breweries.’ She takes the marinade from the counter. ‘Thanks for going to get this.’

‘Sure. Anything to get Matt out of the doghouse.’ I smile at him.

‘She’s used to it,’ he says. ‘I forget shit all the time.’

‘Daddy said a bad word,’ Bella says, pointing at Matt.

‘I said mint ,’ he tells her. ‘I forget mint all the time. Your mom uses it in recipes.’

Bella folds her arms over her chest and eyes him like she doesn’t believe him.

He looks back at me. ‘You see anyone you know there?’

‘Just Lyndsay,’ I casually say.

‘You ran into Lyndsay?’ he says, like he can’t believe it. ‘Again?’

‘Yeah. She was in there getting salad dressing. It’s next to the marinade. I went down the aisle and there she was.’

‘No shit? That’s crazy.’

‘Mommy, he did it again,’ Bella says. ‘Daddy said a bad word.’

Tessa looks over at Matt. ‘Why don’t you guys go out back and talk? I cleaned off the patio furniture.’

‘Yeah, okay.’ He walks to the door that goes out back.

‘I need to go change first,’ I say. ‘I need to get out of this suit.’

‘In a minute.’ Matt opens the door. ‘Get out here.’

I follow him outside to the patio. ‘What is it?’

He gets the same goofy grin on his face that he had in high school when he’d talk about girls. ‘So what happened?’

‘When? What are you talking about?’

‘You and Lyndsay. What happened?’

‘Nothing. We just got our stuff and left.’

‘That’s it? You didn’t talk?’

I wasn’t going to tell him this, but now I want to. I need to get another opinion about what happened because I still have no idea.

‘We talked.’ I look around, making sure his girls didn’t sneak out here.

‘And? What’d she say?’

I look back at Matt. ‘I’m only telling you this because I need a second opinion. I think I’m reading meaning into something that was probably nothing.’

‘Yeah, so what is it?’

‘She was talking about Sawyer’s brewery and asked if I’d go there with her.’

‘Like on a date?’

‘I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to figure out.’

‘What exactly did she say?’

‘She said she wanted to go check it out and then said maybe we could go together.’

‘Huh.’ He rubs his chin. ‘That kind of sounds like she was asking you out.’

‘I know, right? But then she said we’d be going as friends, but she got all flustered when she said it. She kept talking and getting more flustered so I interrupted her and told her I’d do it. I’d meet her there on Sunday.’

He nods. ‘She asked you out. ’

‘You think so? But she made it clear we’d be meeting up as friends, nothing more.’

‘She said that, but it’s not what she wants.’

I shake my head. ‘I think the friend thing is what she wants. She just got divorced. She’s not looking to date someone. And she knows I’m leaving on Monday.’

‘Maybe she wants you for something else,’ he says, giving me that goofy grin again.

‘Yeah, that’s not happening. Even if I was open to that, I wouldn’t do it when she’s fresh off a divorce.’

‘Why the hell not? The marriage is over. She’s free to do whatever she wants.’

‘It’s still not happening.’

‘So did you agree to go out with her?’

‘I told her I’d meet her at the brewery on Sunday, and now you’ll be there too, so it’s definitely not a date.’

‘Make it one. Take her to dinner after we’re done at the brewery.’

‘I’m not taking her to dinner. I can’t believe we’re even talking about this. I’m leaving on Monday. Nothing’s going to happen.’

‘Did you say anything else to her?’

I hesitate, then just tell him. ‘I might’ve mentioned dinner tonight.’

‘Here?’

‘Yeah, but only because you talked about inviting her. I threw it out there, but she already had plans. She’s having dinner with Diane and her family. Maybe her mom will be there too. I’m not sure.’

He laughs. ‘You invited her to dinner. But you’re not interested in her.’

‘I’m not. Are you saying I can’t invite an old friend to dinner without it meaning something more? ’

‘Not when the old friend is a girl you have the hots for.’

I sigh. ‘I’m going to go change out of this suit. And then I’m having a beer.’ I walk back to the house.

‘You’re gonna need it,’ Matt calls out, laughing, ‘to calm your nerves before Lyndsay gets here.’

‘She’s not coming,’ I yell back.

But I wish she was, because I really want to see her.