Small-Town Hearts by Ruth Logan Herne Page B

enticed her to take a chance.
    She hadn’t laughed a lot these past nine months. She’d worked, prayed, waited and done her share of whining. It felt good to laugh. Especially good to laugh with a man again.
    Which would be her downfall, no doubt. “You understand the predicament you’re putting me in, right?”
    He nodded. Squeezed her hand. “Oh, I get it. Life’s a risk. I think we all find that out the hard way.”
    â€œDid you?”
    â€œDon’t we all? Hey, if the quilt shop is open on Sundays, can we stop in after church? I need to buy something for my grandmother.”
    Something for his grandmother? The sweetness of that almost turned Meg’s insides to mush. Almost. “Main Street does a lot of Sunday tourist business, and Maude McGinnity is one sharp businesswoman. She’ll be open by the time the service ends.”
    â€œPerfect. One more thing I can check off my list.”
    â€œAnd that list includes…?” Meg left the question open-ended.
    Danny shrugged but looked less than comfortable. “Too many things to ponder on a beautiful Sunday morning. Are we sitting with your parents?”
    Megan sighed out loud.
    Danny grinned.
    â€œThey like you. Ben likes you. The dog even likes you, but he doesn’t count because he likes everyone.”
    â€œShould I be insulted?”
    â€œPossibly. But while I like you, too, I’m not in any way, shape or form inclined to be involved at this stage of the game.”
    â€œYou are holding my hand,” he reminded her.
    Oh, she knew that. Right down to her pretty little hot-pink painted toenails, the warmth of those clasped fingers making her think things she’d thought before. Twice before, as a matter of fact.
    She was an admitted romantic. Who else would dress in period costume to cook and teach people about days gone by?
    But pragmatism took over when she’d waited long, drawn-out minutes at Good Shepherd church, the corset-laced wedding dress tight and heavy as time dragged on, her apprehension building, as she realized her groom would never show up.
    She’d been able to rationalize Brad’s treatment of her after a while. Obviously Denise had been willing to do things she’d refused before their wedding, hence their preschool-aged son, born five months after the wedding. But Michael…
    She’d believed him. Trusted. And yeah, if she was honest, she should have realized it wasn’t a perfect relationship. He’d let things slide she’d never be careless with, he wasn’t diligent to detail, and he wasn’t exactly Mr. Ambitious.
    But he’d been sweet, kind and funny. Very funny. And obviously humor was one of her downfalls because here she was, walking hand in hand with Danny, admiring his quick smile, his beautiful eyes and quick wit.
    Time to draw the line in the sand.
    She wriggled her hand free, tilted her head and angled him a scolding look. “As much fun as this is,” she acknowledged, sweeping their hands a quick glance before raising her gaze to his, “I’m putting the brakes on.”
    â€œBecause?”
    â€œThe whole summer love thing? It only works for teenagers on vacation. Not me, not here, not now. End of discussion. We’re neighbors. Maybe friends, given enough time. But that’sit.” She paused, firmed her gaze and met his look of invitation frankly. “I’ve got my busy season upon me, tourists left and right, a candy-making schedule that keeps me up at night and an ice cream business that makes me just enough extra income now to offset the slower months of winter. I can’t afford to mess things up by chasing rainbows.”
    Danny’s grin said he’d just scored a point. “Chasing Rainbows is the name of my balloon.”
    She paused as they approached the church steps. “Your what?”
    He reached forward and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, tucking the errant