Veer (Clayton Falls) (24 page)

I held back a comment about what Matt had actually been paying attention to. “I’m glad to hear that. I’ve enjoyed my time here so far.”

“Wonderful.”

I spent that morning getting to know Mr. Morgan senior
,
and Matt
behaved
like a totally different person
:
very
profession
al
,
but still nice. The first moment I had alone
,
I
let out
a huge sigh of relief.

With
Jim
in the office,
I found myself actually enjoying work. The days flew as I got used to the feel of a small town
law
firm.
I really liked the casual atmosphere and how I wasn’t afraid to ask any questions. It was so different
from
working in Boston.
Things got done, but the pace was much slower and relaxed.

I spent my
evenings
alone
with Gavin or hanging out with Molly and Kelly and their husbands. I could tell Gavin
loved
that he wasn’t the single one
anymore
. Jake tagged along sometimes, but usually he’d just stop by at random times to hang out.

I
attempted
to keep things from getting too serious too fast with Gavin. He wanted me to stay over all the time
,
but I kept it to weekends an
d he respected that,
although he always tried to make
them
long weekends. Occasionally
,
I gave in on a Thursday night.
The truth was
that
I was falling, and falling hard.

Chapter Twenty-T
hree

Gavin

Becca and I walked down the beach together toward the
Clayton Falls
Festival.
In the distance
,
we could already see the glow of the carnival lights.

She stopped short as the crowds came into view.
“Is it always this
,
uh
,
festive?”

“I wouldn’t know
. T
his is the first time they’ve had it since I’ve lived here.”

“Really? But everyone talks about it like it’s the event of the year.”
Becca looked gorgeous in a pink sundress. Her hair was down, falling in waves around her face. I resisted the urge to reach out and touch it. I didn’t think anyone could have hair that soft.

“They cut it for budgetary
reasons
. I
t was easier than slashing another department.
Clayton Falls was hit really hard with the recession and everything.
The big manufacturing plant in town
closed down about six years back.
”

“Oh…
I didn’t know
.
I guess it’s good news the festival is back.
”

“It definitely is.” I took Becca’s hand
,
and we walked
the remaining distance to the boardwalk
.

“I didn’t know that there were even this many people living in this town.”

“Yeah, I think everyone’s out for the occasion
,
and a lot of people came back
to visit
.”

“I know Molly was disappointed her family didn’t.”

“It’s a pretty big trip from Seattle.”

“Even for the event of the year.” She smiled.

“Hey, guys.” Jake caught up with us.

Becca grinned
.
“Hey, good
,
I needed a local for a guide today.”

“Should I be insulted by that comment?” I teased.
I didn’t actually care, but I didn’t like her thinking she needed Jake for anything.

“Nope. You should be happy for the guide too.”

Glad for Jake’s company? Not exactly.

“
D
o you want the history lesson first?” Jake asked.

“Yes, history first.”

I had to smile at Becca’s enthusiasm.

Jake cleared his throat
as if
he was getting ready to give some important speech. “The Clayton Falls Festival started back in 1910. The first Festival was really the wedding of the mayor’s daughter, but it was such a hit
that
they continued it every year after.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. You’re eating this up
,
aren’t you?” Jake laughed.

“Hey, I love history.” Becca put a hand on her hip and got all pouty. She was so cute when she did that.

“Admit it
,
you’re a nerd
.”
Molly joined us out of nowhere, Ben in tow.

“Whoah, what’s with the tiara?” Becca and I looked
at
each other, surprised to see Molly with a crown on her head.

“Wait, you didn’t know?” Jake grinned. “Your friend here is a beauty queen.”

“What?”

“Oh shut up
,
Jake. It’s nothing that serious. I was just Miss Clayton Falls, my year. It’s not a big deal.”
She brushed o
ff the comment, but she looked
oddly at home
in the tiara.

“No? Tell Ben that. He went around town for weeks bragging about it.”
Jake pointed to his brother.

“Hey, I was proud of her.” Ben smiled, putting an arm around Molly. Evidently
,
he was still proud. It didn’t bother me anymore
.
I had Becca.

Becca laughed. “Wow, Miss Clayton Falls. Pretty
impressive. Were you Homecoming Q
ueen too?”

“No, definitely not. But he was Homecoming King.” Molly pointed to Jake.

“You? You were Homecoming King?” Becca asked incredulously.

Jake pretended to be offended. “What? Does that really surprise you that much?”

“Yes, it does actually.”

“Yeah, that honor usually goes to the quarterback around here
.
”
Ben
grinned at Jake
.

“Quarterback? How did I not know about your high school glory days, Jake?”
Becca laughed.

“You never asked.” He grinned. He was definitely enjoying this. “
W
hat about you
? Were
you
Homecoming Q
ueen?”

“Not exactly. We didn’t even have a homecoming game. I went to an all-girls school.”
Becca
’s
face wore
a far off look. I wondered what memory the conversation had triggered.

“Really?” I guess there was a lot I didn’t know about Becca.

“
Did you wear a uniform?” Jake asked with a smile. “Like those short skirts and stuff?”

I glared at him.

“We had uniforms
,
but the skirts weren’t that short.”
Her eyes were playful. She didn’t seem to mind his question as much as I did.

“Too bad.”

She swatted at his arm playfully. “What about you, Gavin
?
Any high school secrets you’re holding on
to
?”

“Nothing too exciting. But if we’re done reminiscing about high school,
are
you ready to go on some rides?”

“Rides?” Becca’s eyes got big.

“Have you really never been to a
fair
before? Of course there are rides.”

“
Naturally,
I’ve been to a
fair
, but there are
really
rides
here
?”

I leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“
Yes
,
hon, and I think the Ferris Wheel has our name on it.”

“Ferris Wheel?”

I laughed. “Yes, the rides are set up on the other side, over there.” I pointed
to one of the parking lots
.

Molly jumped in.
“The games are fun too.”

“Games? We have to do those first.”
Becca literally bounced.

“All right, whatever you want.”

Becca and I
walked down to the games. I put an arm around
her
, loving how childlike she looked. She was eating it all up.

“
Y
ou’re going to have to win me one of those
.”

We’d stopped in front of one of those knock
-over
-the-bottle games. I checked out the prizes to see what
had
caught her attention. “You
would
notice the one
R
ed
S
ox bear prize in the whole place.”

“How’d you know that’s the bear I wanted?”
She grabbed onto my arm.

“I’d pick the Brave’s one myself, but I doubt that would fly with you.”

“Nope.” She kissed me on the cheek. “
A
re you going to win it for me or wha
t?
”

I laughed
and
pull
ed
a dollar out of my wallet.

“Here you go, sir
.” The
kid running the booth hand
ed
me two
red balls the size of baseballs
.

The first ball slammed against the back wall of the booth after knocking over all the bottles. I probably shouldn’t have used so much force, but I couldn’t resist showing off a little.

“She’d like the Red Sox bear.”

Becca actually jumped up and down. She was serious
ly
far
too cute.

I took the bear from the kid but didn’t give it to
Becca
right away.

She grabbed for it, but I held it away from her. “First
,
you’re going to do something for me.”

“What?”

“
You need to experience the Festival food first.
Eat a funnel cake and cotton candy.”

“Both?”
She sounded excited at the prospect.

“Yes. Then you get your bear.”

“Okay
,
I like sweets. Which one is first?”

“
I guess the cocoa and biscotti obsession should have been a dead giveaway
about your sweet tooth
.”

“
You’d think
.
” She took my hand
and
led me over
to
the
food booths.

She stopped short. “Change of plans
. F
orget the funnel cake.”

I followed her gaze. She’d notice
d
Gail’s stand. “All right. I agree. What should we get?”

“Pecan pie. Definitely
Gail’s
p
ecan pie.”

We waited as a couple in front of us ordered
,
and then it was our turn. “Hi Gail!”
Becca said excitedly.

“Hi
,
you two
. A
re you enjoying your first Clayton Falls
Fest
?”

“Definitely, but it would be even better with a slice of your pecan pie.”
Becca’s eyes were already glued on the display behind Gail.

“Absolutely. You really do love this pie, don’t you
?
”

“
I wish I’d known the extent of your sweet tooth,” I teased.

“
Then you’d have tried
to stuff me full, and I can’t resist.”

“And that would be bad because…”

“You eat everything without gaining a pound
. Y
ou wouldn’t get it.”

“Like you have to worry about—
”

“Gavin, a word of advice?”
Gail handed over Becca’s piece of
p
ie.

“Sure, Gail.”

“You are never going to win an argument with a woman about weight
,
so let it go.”

“All right
.
I’ll take your word for it
.”