I looked up and had a moment of déjà vu. There, leaning on the side of the silver mile-long car with a brown bag in his hand, Vance raised his other hand in a small wave. Dressed today in a sharp charcoal-gray suit with a teal striped tie, the man would never stop being a sight for sore eyes. I knew he should have been at work instead of hanging out in the library parking lot, but I wouldn’t tell him that.

No, I was tired of running him off and so I quickened my steps just to make sure he didn’t decide to do that on his own. As soon as I was within reach, he hooked an arm around my waist and pulled me close.

Worry and empathy crinkled the corners of his green eyes as a sad smile tugged on his lips but didn’t produce much of a curve. I got it. Grief and anger had mine constantly pulling in a deep frown as of late.

Freeing me from the books and papers, Vance opened the car door, placed them inside along with the brown bag, and closed it. He didn’t look around one time to see who might or might not see us as he threaded his fingers through my hair near the base of my neck. With a gentle tug, he angled my head and leaned down to press a familiar kiss to the corner of my mouth. It was his tender kiss of concern, the one filled with giving and wishing. Tears pricked my eyes as I captured his lips with mine to deepen the kiss and discovered the fruity taste of Razzles candy.

After just one more kiss, we held each other for a while. I’d not been a good person to this man and I wanted to share a million truths to make up for all of the half-truths and omissions I’d told over the years, but his embrace felt like he already knew and didn’t care.

A throat cleared from behind us. I looked over Vance’s shoulder and found Jinx standing there. “What’s wrong, Jinx?” I asked because there was always something wrong.

“Nothing’s wrong. We just got some business to handle.” Jinx and Vance exchanged a nod that did nothing to make me think it was nothing, but I had no choice but to follow them through town.

Vance and Jinx whisked me off to Cumberland Finance without much of an explanation. By the time we were situated in the fancy conference room, I was shaking like a leaf.