Laura smiled. “Yes!”
It was nice talking with someone who actually had a kind word for her. And seemed to be as excited as she was.
“This town doesn’t have a flower shop, you know. Since your dad stopped selling, everyone has to go to Lincoln City,” Hannah said with a wink. “You can corner the market.”
“That’s the hope,” Laura said. A twinge of excitement raced through her.
“Yeah, I’ve had to look around for flower crap and arrangements or whatever the hell they’re called, and it’s annoying going all that way.”
“You’re looking for flowers? For an event?” Laura asked. “You didn’t tell me about this.”
“It just came up this morning,” Hannah said, plopping a lime wedge in a Corona and sliding it down the bar to a random man. “My boss is dumping the planning for this event on me. It’s this party—”
“Can I get shot of Jack over here, Hannah!” a man yelled from down the bar. Hannah wiped her hands on her apron and nodded.
“Duty calls,” she said to Laura. “We’ll talk more later, but enjoy your admirers . . .” Hannah gave a wink that made Laura wonder what the hell she was talking about. With a devious smile, she scooted down to wait on the other customers.
Laura stood with her drink in hand to find a table. When she turned around, she was met with a wall of man and effectively spilled her pink drink down the front of . . . oh God . . . a police uniform.
“I’m so, so sorry,” Laura said, swiping at the stained chest now right in her face. The shiny badge and name tag read CLEARY.
Laura frowned up at him.
“Cleary? Gabe Cleary?”
She was met with dark eyes and the same blond-haired, boy-next-door smile she remembered from ten years ago.
“Welcome back, Laura. I see you’re as graceful as ever.”
Laura laughed, and he hugged her. She hugged him back. They’d been good friends back in school, and she patted his back platonically. He was holding on tighter, though, giving a gentle squeeze before releasing her. Gabe hadn’t changed much. He’d been the quarterback of the football team and her prom date back then. Even though they’d never dated. And today he was an officer of the law and still looked the part of all-American guy.
“You look amazing,” he said, standing back to look her over.
“Thank you, and you . . . are the sheriff?”
“Deputy. Old Bill Sandoval is still running the town, but he’s set to retire soon.”
She nodded. “Wow, that’s great. So how are you?”
“I’m good. And you? Married? Babies?”
Laura laughed, and it was more awkward than humorous, so she had to take a drink of her half-spilled vodka.
“No, I’m divorced. No kids.”
He nodded. “Living back here for a bit?”
“More like long-term.”
“Well, then, I should take you to dinner,” he said instantly. He pulled out his phone, and before Laura could think of her no-dating rule, she gave him her number. But she had to make sure expectations were clear.
“Dinner with a friend sounds nice,” she said, emphasizing the friend part.
Gabe smiled and put his phone back in his pocket. “Yep, that line didn’t change, either. Made me chase you back then, and I see I’m still in the friend zone.”
The way he looked at her made her think Gabe had a mind to change that. But boy, she didn’t not need that right now, especially since a pair of blue eyes were staring her down from the corner of the bar.
Jake Lock.