“That’s it? No argument?” Taylor asked, obviously impressed by Kyle’s good-naturedness.

“No, he’s pretty good at things like that.”

When Kyle reached her, she picked him up and gave him a hug. “Good job playing catch.”

“Yes,” Kyle said happily.

“Would you like to play on the slide?” she asked.

Kyle nodded, and she lowered him to the ground. Kyle immediately turned and headed toward the play area.

Once they were alone, Denise faced him.

“That was really nice of you, but you know you didn’t have to stay out here the whole time.”

“I know I didn’t. I wanted to. He’s a lot of fun.”

She smiled gratefully, thinking how seldom she’d heard someone say that about her son. “The food’s ready if you want to go grab something,” she said.

“I’m not all that hungry yet, but I would like to finish my beer, if that’s okay.”

His can was sitting on the bench, near the edge of the play area, and Taylor and Denise walked that way. Taylor picked it up and took a long pull. From the angle of the can, she knew he’d barely been able to touch it. She could see beads of perspiration dripping down his cheek. His dark hair peeked out from under his hat, curling slightly, and his shirt was tacked to his chest. Her son had kept him busy.

“Would you like to sit for a minute?” he asked.

“Sure.”

Kyle, meanwhile, had turned his attention from the slide to the jungle gym. He climbed up, stretched his arms as high as they would go, then began to cross the monkey bars.

“Mommy, watch!” Kyle suddenly yelled out. (Money, wash!)

Denise turned away and watched Kyle jump down from the bars, a fall of three or four feet, landing with a crash. He stood up quickly and brushed the dirt from his knees, a big grin on his face.

“Be careful, okay?” she called out.

“He jumped,” Kyle responded. (Ee jumped)

“Yes, you did.”

“He jumped,” Kyle said again.

While Denise’s attention was focused on her son, Taylor could see her chest rising and falling with every breath, and he watched as she crossed one leg over the other. The movement, for some reason, seemed oddly sensual.

When she turned back to him, he made sure to keep the conversation on safe ground.

“So, did you get a chance to meet everyone?” he asked.

“I think so,” she answered. “They seem like good people.”

“They are. I’ve known most of ’em since I was a kid.”

“I like your mom, too. She’s been a real friend lately.”

“She’s a sweet lady.”

For the next few minutes they continued to watch Kyle as he made the circuit through everything the playground had to offer. Sliding, climbing, jumping, and crawling, Kyle seemed to have saved an untapped energy source for something like this. Despite the heat and humidity, he never seemed to slow down at all.

“I think I’m ready for a burger now,” Taylor said. “I take it you already ate.”

Denise checked her watch. “Actually, I haven’t, but we can’t stay. I’ve got to work tonight.”

“You’re leaving already?”

“In a few minutes. It’s almost five, and I’ve still got to feed Kyle and get ready for work.”

“He can eat here-there’s plenty of food.”

“Kyle doesn’t eat hot dogs or chips. He’s kind of a picky eater.”

Taylor nodded. For a long moment he seemed to be lost in thought.

“Can I give you a lift home?” he finally asked.

“We rode our bikes here.”

Taylor nodded. “I know.”

As soon as he said it, she knew it to be a moment of recognition for both of them. She didn’t need the ride, and he knew it; he’d asked despite the fact that friends and food were waiting just a few steps away. It was obvious that he wanted her to say yes; his expression made that clear. Unlike his offer to bring her groceries home, this time, she knew, his offer had less to do with being kind than it did with what might happen between them.

It would have been easy to say no. Her life was complex enough-did she really need to add something more to the mix? Her mind was telling her that she didn’t have the time, that it wouldn’t be a good idea, that she barely knew him. The thoughts registered in quick succession, making perfect sense, but despite them all, she surprised herself by saying, “I’d like that.”

Her answer seemed to surprise him as well. He took another drink of beer, then nodded without a word. It was then that Denise recognized the same shyness in him that she’d seen at Merchants, and she suddenly acknowledged the very thing she’d been denying to herself all along.

She hadn’t come to the festival to visit with Judy, nor had she come to meet new people.

She’d come to see Taylor McAden.

Mitch and Melissa watched as Taylor and Denise departed. Mitch leaned toward his wife’s ear, so that others wouldn’t overhear him.

“So, what did you think of her?”

“She’s nice,” Melissa said honestly. “But it’s not just up to her. You know how Taylor is. Where this all goes from here will really depend on him.”

“Do you think they’ll get together?”

“You know him better than I do. What do you think?”

Mitch shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

“Yes, you are. You know how charming Taylor can be when he sets his sights on someone. I just hope that this time he doesn’t hurt anyone.”

“He’s your friend, Melissa. You don’t even know Denise.”

“I know. And that’s why I’ve always forgiven him.”

Chapter 14

“Monster truck!” Kyle exclaimed. (Monstew twuck!)

A Dodge four-by-four, it was black with oversize wheels. It had two spotlights mounted on a roll bar, a heavy-duty tow cable hooked to the front bumper, a gun rack mounted above the seats in the cab, and a silver toolbox in the bed.

Unlike others she’d seen, however, this one was no showpiece. The paint job had dulled, with deep scratches throughout, and there was a dent in the front side panel, right near the driver’s-side door. One of the rearview mirrors had been torn off, leaving a hole that had rusted around the edges, and the entire lower half of the truck was crusted with a thick layer of mud.

Kyle wrung his hands together, excited. “Monster truck,” he said again.

“Do you like it?” Taylor asked.

“Yes,” he said, nodding enthusiastically.

Taylor loaded the bikes into the bed of the truck, then held the door open for them. Because the truck was high, he had to help Kyle scramble inside. Denise was next, and Taylor accidentally brushed against her as he showed her where to grab to pull herself up.

He started the engine, and they headed toward the outskirts of town with Kyle propped up between them. As if knowing she wanted to be alone with her thoughts, Taylor didn’t say anything, and she was grateful for that. Some people were uncomfortable with silence, considering it a void that needed to be filled, but he obviously wasn’t one of them. He was content simply to drive.

The minutes passed, and her mind wandered. She watched pine trees whistle by, one right after the other, still amazed she was in the truck with him. From the corner of her eye, she could see him concentrating on the road. As she’d noted initially, Taylor wasn’t typically handsome. Had she passed him on the street in Atlanta, she wouldn’t have given him a second glance. He didn’t have that pretty look some men had, but there was something about him she found ruggedly appealing. His face was tan and lean; the sun had carved small lines in his cheeks and around his eyes. His waist was narrow, and his shoulders were heavily muscled, as if from years of heavy load bearing. His arms looked as if he’d pounded thousands of nails, which no doubt he had. It was almost as if his job as a contractor had molded his appearance.

She wondered if he’d ever been married. Neither he nor Judy had mentioned it, but that didn’t mean anything. People were often reluctant to talk about past mistakes. Lord knew she didn’t bring up Brett unless she had to. Still, there was something about him that made her suspect he’d never made the commitment. At the barbecue, she couldn’t help but notice that he seemed to be the only one who was single.