Small-Town Hearts by Ruth Logan Herne Page A

them down with a firm grasp on reality. Her beautifully planned autumn wedding the previous year had morphed into a town gossipfest. Not exactly the fairy-tale ending she’d sought.
    Fairy tales were fictional for a reason. She remembered that as she slipped into a pink floral dress. She’d play the historic candy maker later that day, but for church she wasjust another modern-day girl meeting the family at weekly services. And if Danny Graham happened to notice, well…
    What had he said about peeking through windows, watching for each other? She’d blushed at the realization, and then doused a spark of hope inspired by his admission that he’d been watching, too.
    If he was watching this morning, she wanted to look good. A quick glance in the mirror said she’d managed that. She smiled and headed out the door, only to run into the man himself.
    â€œNice.” His gaze swept down, then up, his look appreciative. “Very nice. It appears you have no trouble with twenty-first-century garb, Megs.”
    â€œMy name is Megan.”
    â€œI know. Are those shoes okay to walk in?”
    â€œI was thinking of driving this morning.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. The thought popped into her head when she walked out the door and found Danny waiting for her. “Would you like a ride?”
    â€œLet’s walk.” He held out his arm.
    She ignored it and shrugged. “Plenty of time, I suppose.”
    â€œAnd a beautiful morning.”
    â€œIt is.”
    He thrust his hands into his pockets and strolled alongside her, quiet and comfortable, as if he wasn’t making her heart beat a mile a minute at the thought of being seen together, walking through town on a Sunday morning.
    Oh, the gossips would be wagging their tongues. Shaking their heads. Wringing their hands at her expense.
    Danny leaned her way. “We’re just two people walking to church together. Nothing to get all steamed up over.”
    She sent him a sidelong glance. “You’ve never lived in a small town, have you?”
    â€œNot a rural small town, no. But a suburban one.”
    â€œPopulation?”
    He pondered that and nodded. “I see your point. Our high school classes had over four hundred kids.”
    â€œEighty-nine.”
    â€œBig difference, yes, but—”
    â€œThere are no buts. You can’t argue facts and figures. Not only am I ‘small town,’ we’re tucked in a region that’s been knocked around a lot the past twenty years. We’ve got an aging population, little growth influx and our kids are moving away in record numbers.”
    â€œBut not you,” he argued. “And those facts are starting to change, right? Isn’t Walker Electronics expanding?”
    He was right. Alyssa’s husband, Trent, had returned to Jamison to work for Walker Electronics the year before, to help the town. And it was working, but…
    â€œIt’s a long process,” she told him. “It doesn’t happen overnight.”
    â€œMost things don’t, Megs.”
    â€œMegan.”
    He grinned. Winked.
    And suddenly she started thinking Megs was about the cutest name she ever heard. But no way was she about to let him know it. Confident, smug, overbearing…
    He clasped her hand, the touch gentle. Warm. Firm. She started to back off and he swung their joined hands forward, his gaze down. “They’re happier like this, Megs. Don’t you think?”
    He was ridiculous. Endearing. Nice. And he’d gotten up early to walk her to church.
    What are you doing? her inner voice demanded. What are you thinking? Haven’t you had enough? This is a recipe for disaster. Walk away now while you still have a shred of dignity.
    She should listen to herself. She really should. But havingher hand in Danny’s felt good. No, it felt wonderful. And the look he sidled her, a teasing look that made her want to laugh out loud, no words necessary,