“I’ve got a good crew at the store.” Tom slanted a smile at July. “Most nights I’m out of there by five.”
“Doesn’t Teresa expect you home?”
July lifted a brow. “Teresa?”
“His wife,” David said. “And they have a beautiful baby girl. What’s her name…Sarah?”
“Samantha,” Tom said stiffly. “I was just about to pull out the pictures when you walked up.”
From the skeptical look in July’s eyes, she didn’t believe the lie any more than David did.
“It’s been great visiting with you, July,” Tom said. “But it’s time for me to mingle. Stop in the store sometime.”
July offered up a noncommittal smile and lifted a hand in farewell.
“I didn’t mean to chase him away,” David said.
July waved a dismissive hand and David experienced a surge of satisfaction.
“I thought you came to take pictures,” David said in a conversational tone. “From the little I’ve observed that camera on the bar isn’t getting much action.”
July set down her glass and gazed over the throng of people. “I took quite a few at the beginning but then everyone started to pose. I thought I’d give it a rest for a while. Tom approached me and we got to talking about marathons.”
“You could have asked me if you had questions about running.” He inhaled the clean, fresh scent of her and his body stirred. “Did I mention I’m looking for a new running, ah, walking, partner?”
If she was surprised by the change in subject, it didn’t show. A thoughtful look crossed her face. “When do you go out?”
“Early morning. Before I head to the hospital.” He took a sip of beer. An early morning run had been his habit for as long as he could remember. Celeste had run with him several times when they were dating, but had lost interest after they’d married.
“I need to get back into shape,” July admitted.
He jerked his attention back to her. Placing his glass on the bar, David let his gaze linger. “You look pretty good to me.”
A becoming shade of pink cut a swath across her cheeks. “You know what I mean…back in running shape. If I have to walk for a while to build up, that’s okay, too.”#p#分页标题#e#
“There’s nothing like knowing someone is waiting for you to help get you out of bed in the morning,” he said in his most persuasive tone.
To his surprise she appeared to be considering his proposition when her phone rang. It was an odd ring—a theme from some musical—but one she seemed to instantly recognize.
She pulled the phone from her bag, her lips lifting in a smile. “I’m sorry,” she said, not looking sorry at all. “It’s my friend A.J. We’ve been playing telephone tag today.”
A band of steel wrapped around David’s chest and began to tighten. He hadn’t known the two were in contact.
She flipped the phone open. “Hey, you. We finally connect.”
With a tiny wave she stepped out of earshot, cradling the phone lovingly in her hand. David knew he should look away, but it was like watching a train wreck. Even when she turned her back to him, he couldn’t pull his gaze from her. Her laughter floated above the conversational din and the tightness in his chest made breathing nearly impossible.
They’d been making progress. For a second he actually thought she was going to agree to meet him in the morning. Spending time with her would have been a good thing, a way to get to know her better. Because if it turned out they did share a baby, there would be all sorts of details to work out, like custody and visitation.
The strong desire to be with her didn’t have a thing to do with how much he enjoyed her company or how alive he felt in her presence. Not one thing.
The sky was awash in shades of orange and yellow as the sun began to rise over the flat range lands of the National Elk Refuge just outside of Jackson. July could see her breath in the barely-above-freezing temperatures but in Mary Karen’s running jacket and microfiber pants, she wasn’t the least bit cold.
David, keeping pace beside her, showed no signs of chill, but that didn’t surprise her. When their paths had crossed he’d said he’d already run five miles and was ready to walk. He hadn’t looked winded, much less cold. He’d told her he normally ran this route but this was her fourth day out and yet the first time she’d seen him. When he’d asked if he could join her, it seemed rude to say no. And this could be her opportunity to tell him…if she could only get up the nerve.
She glanced sideways at his classically handsome profile and experienced an unexpected surge of yearning. For what she wasn’t sure.