His eyes followed her fingertips as they skimmed across her cheek and down her neck. Her skin was pale, with pink cheeks; straight, dark eyebrows; a small chin; and a strong nose. Taken separately, the features didn’t belong on the same face, but together, they gave her a captivating beauty.

He cleared his throat, which was all of a sudden raw and parched despite the water he was drinking. “Do you teach around here?” It was foolish to hope she’d say she taught somewhere close by, so there’d be even a remote chance he could see her again, but he couldn’t help it. Hope was a balloon rising stubbornly in his chest.

“I do. I teach sixth grade at Sugar Bend Academy.”

“Sugar Bend Academy,” he murmured. “That’s great.”

“Yeah. It is.”

The bartender leaned over the sticky bar and shouted over the music, “Can I get you two anything else?” Frank shook his head no and Mary did the same. When he walked away, Mary dipped her head. “My name’s not actually Mary.”

“It’s not?”

“I don’t give guys like Lawrence my real name.”

“Probably a smart move. Are you going to tell me your real name?”

“Can I trust you?”

“You can.”

“Good. Then it’s Violet.”

“Violet.” He held his hand out to her. “I’m Frank.” Her hand in his was sturdy, warm, and pleasantly rough. “It’s good to meet you,” was what he said, but what he meant was, “Where have you been all this time?”

While they’d been talking, they’d moved closer together to better hear each other over the music, and it was only now that Frank realized mere inches separated their faces. The balloon in his chest stretched so big, he was afraid she’d see it.

She pulled her hand away. “So you know about birds too?”

“I know a little.”

“Right. Only a little. Yet you knew about a tropical bird that doesn’t even live in our country.”

He shrugged. “It’s in one of my books. It caught my eye because the tail feathers remind me of a stingray. And that red bill is striking.”

She didn’t respond but just looked at him, pensive.

“What?”

“Nothing. I just don’t meet too many guys my age who have an interest in birds. They’re usually decades older than me.”

“My grandfather was the one who got me interested in birds.”

“Ah. See? My point.”

“I know. Trust me, I get it. I don’t usually tell the other guys at the precinct I’m an amateur bird-watcher.”

“Do you do any bird-watching around here?”

He nodded. “Sometimes.”

She opened her mouth to say more, but a woman came up behind her and gently squeezed Violet’s shoulder. “Come on, you, the band’s taking a break. I want to introduce you to Kevin.” The woman eyed Frank. “Hello.”

“This is my friend Emmajean,” Violet said. “Emmajean, this is Frank.”

“Hi, Frank.” Emmajean cocked an eyebrow at Violet.

Violet laughed. “I’m supposed to be meeting a friend of Emmajean’s tonight.” She met Frank’s gaze and rolled her eyes just slightly. “She tells me he’s cute and single.”