Without a word, July turned and began walking toward town. In several long strides, David was at her side.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“About the kiss?”
He nodded.
She lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. “It was okay.”
“For me, too,” he said with a grin.
He didn’t speak again until they reached the gate leading out of the refuge. “What about church? Will you come?”
July didn’t need to even think about this one. Though she sensed this was important to him, she couldn’t go to church. Not with him. Not with his family. Not until she’d told him the truth. “I—we—don’t belong—”
“If you think I want Adam there because he could be my son, that’s not it at all.” His tone was matter-of-fact and almost believable. “I’m asking because it would mean a lot to Granny to have you there.”
“I’m sorry, David, but the answer is—”
“Don’t decide now.” He reached around her and opened the gate. “Two weeks is a long time. Just think about it. That’s all I ask.”
“You don’t give up easily, do you?”
He grinned. “Not when it’s something I want.”
Strong and determined. July found the qualities appealing. But that personality type usually had high expectations, not only of themselves but of others. Which made July wonder what David would think of her when he discovered that she was flawed and weak?
Though the photo of the majestic grizzly she’d snapped in Yellowstone should have been in the forefront of her mind, all July had been able to think about was David and what had happened in the Elk Refuge that morning.
She pulled the rental Jeep to a stop in the supermarket lot and hopped out. Lowering her head against the brisk north wind she fought her way to the front of the store, wondering exactly when it was that she’d lost her mind.
Was it when she’d put David’s name on the birth certificate as Adam’s father? Or perhaps when she decided to move in with Mary Karen despite finding out she was David’s sister? No, it had to be the kiss. Considering the chemistry between them it was a wonder they’d made it out of the Elk Refuge with their clothes on.
Of course, she reassured herself as she grabbed a shopping basket, she’d stopped it after one kiss…or anyway, before the clothes came off. And if she ran into him tomorrow morning she’d simply turn and—
“July. What a pleasant surprise.” Lexi stood a few feet in front of her, a sack of groceries in one hand and a small girl in the other.
“Hello, Lexi.” July smiled. “I haven’t seen you since I was discharged from the hospital.”
“Yes, well, about that—” Lexi handed her daughter several quarters and pointed to a nearby gumball machine. She waited until the girl had scampered just out of earshot to say more. “Are you angry with me?”
July saw worry in the social worker’s eyes. Though it would have been nice to have all the facts up front, all July felt was gratitude. “Mary Karen is wonderful. The house is nice, the rent reasonable and she’s very good with Adam. Thank you so much for the referral.”
Lexi twisted her purse straps in her hands. “I should have told you she was David’s sister.”
“It was a bit of a surprise,” July admitted.
“Mommy. Mommy. I got me a blue one,” Lexi’s daughter called out. “I hope the next one is red.”
Lexi watched her daughter put a third quarter in the machine. The child’s dark brows were furrowed and her expression intense. It was as if she was trying to will the machine to give her the color she wanted.#p#分页标题#e#
“She looks just like you,” July said.
“That’s what everyone says.” Lexi’s expression softened. “Addie is a mini-me.”
“Granny says Adam looks just like David as a baby.”
“She knows?” The look of shock on Lexi’s face would have been laughable at any other time.
“Suspects.” July glanced down at the shopping basket in her hands. “They’ll all know soon enough.”
“You’re going to tell them?”
“I’m going to tell David…before I leave Jackson.”
“I know it’s none of my business, but I don’t understand why you’re waiting.”
“I have my reasons.”
“Oh my goodness.” Lexi’s eyes widened and July followed the direction of her gaze just in time to see Addie stick her hand—and most of her arm—up inside the machine. “Addison Marie, stop that this instant.”