When his mother stood, Stack took the leashes from Vanity. “We can walk out together.”
Lynn stopped them with a hand to Vanity’s arm. “Will you visit again?”
“I’d love to.” As if they were old friends, Vanity said, “I’ll call you tomorrow to see what works.”
“Thank you.” His mother shot him a look. “Since Stack won’t let me go home and Tabby works all the time, I’ll enjoy the company.”
Holding up his arms, Stack asked, “What am I? Chopped liver?”
“You’re wonderful, that’s what you are. Now come here.” She hugged him close, then made him bend down so she could kiss his cheek. Being sly while trying to act innocent, she said, “Maybe the two of you could visit together next time?”
Vanity busied herself unnecessarily with the dogs.
Shaking his head, Stack told Vanity, “Subtlety is not her strong suit.”
“No,” Lynn agreed. “It’s not. So, what do you say?”
He turned to Vanity. “You free?”
She looked surprised, then more than willing.
Now if he could just keep her in that frame of mind.
“I’d love to visit again, thank you. My schedule is a little nuts tomorrow, so how about Stack and I see what we can work out, then one of us will let you know.”
Just like an official couple, Stack thought. “Well, Mom? Does that work for you?”
“It’s perfect.”
It took them a few more minutes to finally get out the door. Each day the weather got more bitter, and now a strong wind whistled through the barren trees.
Stack watched her walk, enjoying her long stride and the sway of her hips. “How is it a California surfer girl isn’t shivering in this weather?”
She glanced at him with bright eyes and a wide smile. “I love it. It’s so different from what I’m used to.” Hands in her hoodie pockets, she watched as he let the dogs sniff a tree; Norwood chose to piddle on it.
“My parents were well traveled. We used to go everywhere. By high school, though, I usually chose to stay behind. It got too disruptive trying to keep up with my studies from abroad.”
“How is that even possible?”
Whenever she discussed money, she wrinkled her nose—as she did now. “Dad hired private tutors. That was never a problem.”
Stack was eternally grateful that she hadn’t been with them when the private plane had crashed. It made his stomach feel like lead to even consider it.
They reached her car and she opened the back door. When the dogs immediately jumped in, she praised them. “Such good puppies.”
“They’re learning.”
“They do really well with consistent instruction.” She closed the door, then leaned back on it. “I used to love the travel, but I hated missing my friends.”
Stack tucked aside a long tendril of silky hair that kept blowing past her face. “I bet you made friends everywhere you went.”
“I was shier when I was young.”
He gave her a “yeah, right” look.
Laughing, she ducked her head. “Okay, so I’ve never really been shy. Maybe stuck-up was a better word.”
“I’m not buying that either.” He kept his fingers at her cheek, enjoying the smoothness of her skin, how she leaned into his touch.
“My parents insulated me from a lot.”
“They were protective?” He hoped so. Vanity deserved to be well loved, and guarded.
“With some things. Like, I’d meet their business associates’ kids, but they were different from me. The people I wanted to hang with, the guys I thought were interesting, they barred from getting anywhere near me.”
“What type of guys?”
A grin teased over her mouth, twitching her lips as she tried to suppress it, then finally breaking free. Laughing, she admitted, “Musicians. Artists. A few athletes.” She looked at his mouth, then moved against him. “Those guys were nothing like you. If my parents were alive, they’d like you.”
He slid his hand inside her hood, cupping the back of her head. “What about you, Vanity? You like me?”
As he drew her closer, she tipped her face up to his, meeting him halfway. “I like you a lot.”
“Good to know.” He kissed her, but kept it light.
Patting his chest, Vanity said, “I have to go.” One more kiss. “I’ll see you soon.”
Right. At the rec center, with all the men she admired around her.
But after that, she’d be all his. He drew a breath and nodded. “Drive carefully.”