Playing for Hearts (5 page)

She spotted Kate, her platinum blond hair severely pulled back into a tight bun. Kate's exotic almond-shaped eyes she'd inherited from her Korean mother lit up and she waved. Shauna grinned and worked her way through the crowd. Kate grew more beautiful each time Shauna saw her.

Beside Kate, Diana lifted her glass in the air and laughed about something Kate said. Diana's short, curly hair framed a heart-shaped face that always had a hint of attitude. Shauna relaxed. Without her friends, she would have a lonely life. They accepted her and there were no judgments aimed in her direction.

Having grown up together, they had each gone their separate ways for college, but kept in continual contact and often came together whenever they could afford a weekend away to meet at the beach. Although she'd seen them last month, tonight was exciting because they were all home for good.

Kate had dropped out her sophomore year, and come back to Cottage Grove and to her boyfriend, Jackson McMillian. Diana had graduated last year and returned to Cottage Grove as the new manager at the hotel, not far from the Chamber of Commerce building where Shauna worked. Together again, Shauna truly felt at home.

Voices mingled with a Nickleback song. Laughter echoed as one rather outgoing brunette woman danced suggestively on the dance floor in the middle of the room. Shauna flipped her long hair over her shoulder and edged her way around the room.

Kate and Diana sat in the back corner of the room, by the window.

“About time you got here.” Kate hugged her before scooting over and giving Shauna the closest chair to the aisle.

“Sorry.” She sat and accepted the glass of wine Diana moved in front of her. “I got tied up at work, and then I needed to run back home and throw my blouse in the washer. I dropped a bite of salad on my shirt during lunch and I didn't want the stain to set in.”

“What's it like being back in the house you were raised in, having your dad watch your every move?” Kate's eyes widened. “I think I'd go crazy if I moved back home. I know my sex life would suffer.”

Shauna laughed. “You're such a liar. That didn't stop you from sneaking out in high school and meeting all your boyfriends down at the abandoned railroad track on the edge of town.”

“True.” Kate sighed. “I can't believe how long ago that was. Independence is wonderful.”

“How do you like your new job?” Diana clinked her glass against Shauna's. “Isn't it wild to run into people you haven't seen in years? The talk around the hotel is you're making quite the impression. People hardly recognized you.”

She laughed. “That's a good thing. I'm still ticked off at you two for not telling me how awful I looked growing up.”

“Don't blame us.” Kate smiled. “We knew you were gorgeous under all that hair — we didn't want you getting all the attention so we let you continue being the Jane of the group.”

“Although, we had no idea your boobs would keep growing.” Diana nudged Kate. “Do you think they've stopped?”

Shauna gasped. “Oh, you are not going there! I'm not the one who got the boob job the second I moved away.”

Kate shrugged. “I'm proud of my yingyangs.”

“Apparently, so is Jackson. He sent me a picture of them on the phone when I called to see how you were doing after surgery.” Shauna grinned, and held her hands out in front of her.

“Figures.” Kate rolled her eyes. “That's what I get for letting him pay for half the bill.”

Diana slapped the table. “He owns one of your boobs?”

Kate widened her eyes, glancing back and forth from Diana and Kate. “Oh my God. I never thought of that. He does.”

“Which one are you giving him?” Shauna raised her glass and sipped.

“Hm.” Kate ducked her chin and studied her chest. “This one, I think. It's closest to my heart.”

“That's exactly why I don't have a man in my life.” Diana leaned back in her chair. “I'd kill myself if I acted that way.”

“Jealous much?” Kate tilted her head and raised her brows.

Diana waved her question off. “Nope. I'm perfectly happy being single.”

“Liar.” Shauna laughed. “God, you guys. I'm so glad to be back home and have you here with me again.”

The conversation continued to flow around her. She gazed out over the area, watching the people dance. For how much she expected to step back into the town she remembered, there were unfamiliar faces and a different feel to the atmosphere. Had everyone moved away or had they all changed so much, she wasn't recognizing them?

“Shauna, girl, you've got to at least look like you're up for a good time. We're back together, and we need to attract some attention. This town has turned into oldville while we were gone.” Kate nodded toward Shauna's almost full glass. “What happened to all the excitement you had going for you last time we met?”

“It's probably Grayson.” Diana sipped her drink. “When it comes to Shauna's happiness, it's always Grayson.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Shauna drew on the condensation gathering on the side of her glass. “I've been back a week. Even I can't get into trouble that soon. Besides, this has nothing to do with Grayson. I'm just … ”

“ … right back to worrying over Grayson.” Diana leaned forward. “Come on, we're your best friends. Don't keep secrets from us. You're not the most patient person I know. You must have seen him already.”

“I have a lot on my mind. I do have a life.” She rubbed her hands together. “Lucky me received a ticket to McMillian's for tomorrow night's party. I need to buy a dress in the morning, or I'll stick out like a wannabe. For once, the stress I'm under has nothing to do with Grayson.”

“What?” Diana leaned forward. “How did you get invited?”

Kate elbowed Diana. “I'm going with Jackson.”

“That's a no-brainer. Jackson's a McMillian. Of course you're going, but even you couldn't sneak me a ticket. I swear you need to know a special handshake or donate a kidney to be invited.” Diana narrowed her gaze on Shauna. “The question is … how did you finagle an invite?”

“Grayson.” Shauna held up her finger. “No, before you ask, he didn't ask me to go with him. I couldn't get that lucky. He had an extra ticket, I guess. He doesn't even know if he's going to go … he's got a date.”

“You are too good for him.” Diana lifted her glass and wrinkled her nose. “What you need to do is find yourself a man that's better than him. One that's sexier, richer, and can treat you better.”

With an inelegant snort, Shauna curled her lip. “There's no such man in the whole state of California better than Grayson. Everyone loves him.”

Kate hissed. “I don't.”

“That's because you have a boyfriend. But even you have to admit that Grayson lives up to everyone's expectations. He can't do wrong.” Shauna slumped in her chair.

“Your problem is you haven't
allowed
yourself to find a better man. Trust me, there's one out there for you, you just have to recognize him. Though I still think you should come right out and tell Grayson that you never stopped loving him. Don't play games with him. Men like women who say what they want. Just go up to him and ask him if he wants to have sex. That'll get his attention, plus that's the only kind of language he'll understand.” Diana pointed to an attractive man on the dance floor. “Take that guy as an example. He's good looking, moves okay, but you can tell when you get his clothes off he has some serious talent. You should practice on him.”

“I'm not going to lower my standards — not for him or Grayson.” Shauna leaned back in her chair. “Someday Grayson will discover that I'm not sixteen years old anymore and I'm sincere in my feelings. Right now, he can't think past all the trouble I brought him, and see me for a woman. I'm going to show him, and then you both will be eating your words.”

“Grayson Schyler is too perfect, and he knows it,” Diana added. “He's always been an ass to you, and in my book that wipes out all the good he does for the community. He could've at least treated you special, and not hurt your feelings.”

“That's not true,” Shauna said quietly. Okay, maybe it was a little true. She sighed.

Grayson's reputation as a smart businessman and a ruthless opponent on the court only touched the surface of who he really was. Deep down, he was honest, caring, and what others couldn't see but she could, was that he was a man who needed love in his life. His parents had neglected him for world travel and relaxation, leaving him alone to train and compete. Then they'd left him completely alone when they'd died on an overseas vacation.

“You need someone like Jared Studebaker.” Kate gave her a cheeky grin.

She snorted. “Not on my life. The decision is still out on whether he's gay or not. He does spend a lot of time traveling to Houston, and I've never seen him with a woman. He seems to hang with his pal Irvin, from what I hear.”

“He's gorgeous. His friend, I mean.” Diana wiggled her brows. “Maybe I should make a play for him. I bet Irvin has a closet of clothes to die for.”

“Bonus.” Shauna laughed.

“The problem is we're too picky. We don't give men a chance to get to know us.” Diana fished in her pocket and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. “I think this conversation calls for another round of drinks. We all need to loosen up and have a good time. And I need to bury my jealousy about you going to the McMillian bash in alcohol.”

Shauna drained her glass in two swallows. “Stay. I'll get this round. It's my turn to pay. You two bought the other drinks.”

A few minutes later, she'd squeezed her way through the crowd, and found an empty bar stool. She turned around, leaned her elbows on the counter, and rubbed her temples while waiting for the bartender to make his way through the customers lined up to order.

“Shauna!” John Bigstraum leaned between her and the man sitting next to her. “I thought that was you.”

She sat up straighter and smiled. “It's me.”

“Your dad told me you were back.” He shifted to let the man beside them leave, and then took his place at the bar. “You look wonderful. Wow.”

“So do you.” She patted his arm.

He really did. A few years older than herself, John had always been one of the friendliest guys in Cottage Grove. His compassion and good deeds now included training dogs for the hearing impaired and disabled. According to her dad, John's dogs were some of the best in the world.

“Congratulations on the new job. Cottage Grove is lucky to have you.” John's gaze lingered on her hand. “So, catch me up on your life. You've got full time employment, you're looking beautiful … ”

“Thanks.” She leaned in closer. “I'm staying with my dad for the time being, but I hope to settle into my own place in the near future. Right now, I want to concentrate on my job and on getting back in the groove of living here. Sometimes it seems like nothing has changed, and then I start running into people I don't know and it feels like I've come to a brand new place.”

“You'll do fine.” He lifted his hand to the bartender and waved him over. “Let me buy you a drink.”

“Oh … that's okay. I'm here with Diana and Kate. You remember them, right?”

“Sure I do. Talk to Diana all the time when I go in for breakfast at the hotel,” he said.

“It's my turn to buy them drinks. We're starting a new tradition of girls' night out now that we're all back to living in the same town.” Shauna laid her hand on his arm.

“Then let me play the hero and buy you all drinks.” He winked.

“You really don't — ” He placed his finger over her lips, and she laughed. “Okay, John. I'll let you buy them.”

“What's your pleasure?”

“We'll have cosmos.” She grinned.

“You'll have to stop by the house sometime and see the picture of Linda's kids. She's got two of them now,” he said.

She scooted closer, so she didn't have to yell. “Wow. That's great. I'll do that.”

His sister Linda had only been a grade younger than Shauna in school. Although they weren't close, it was a small town and they had mutual friends. She was happy to hear Linda was happy and settled.

Luke Torville smacked the palms of his hands down on the counter from the other side of the bar. “Well, well, well, look who came home. I thought I recognized that sexy walk of yours when you came in. You sure have changed.”

She cringed inside while managing to offer a smile. “Hi, Luke. I didn't know you worked here now.”

“I've been serving drinks here for the last four years.” He leaned forward. “I think about you all the time.”

She frowned. “Why?”

“Every time I drive by the school, I read ‘Grayson's number one!' on the roof over the gym, and wonder what kind of trouble you're getting yourself into now.” Luke laughed. “You might've been an odd little kid, but you were entertaining.”

“Um. Thanks.” While John ordered the drinks, Shauna took the opportunity to swivel around on the stool in hopes of ending Luke's walk down memory lane.

How long did paint last, anyway? She'd spent the whole summer picking up litter around the soccer fields to make up for her vandalism.

John placed his hand on her arm. “The coast is clear.”

She glanced over her shoulder and found Luke gone to fill drinks. “Thanks. The way people act around here makes me feel like they'll view me as a teenager forever. I'm not the same person they remember. I've lost all the angsty mood swings.”

“They missed you, that's all.” He cocked his head. “So, is there a boyfriend in the picture? You're dad said you weren't married.”

She rubbed her arm. “Nope. It's just me.”

He leaned into her personal space, and she willed herself to feel something. A flutter in her stomach, a little heart palpations, anything to signal she was a living, breathing woman. She inhaled the musky scent of his cologne in one last-ditch effort, and tried not to let her disappointment show. She felt nothing.