Page 12 of Ignite My Heart

I’m quiet for a minute as I let my sister’s words settle into me. I could do that. But I probably won’t. I just want to see them together. I’ll know if it’s a real date or not if I can see them.

“I know you’re not going to do that,” Daphne says. “Because you’re not that guy. You’re the very best of mom and dad, you know.”

I reach over and grab her hand. “Shit, Daph, don’t make me cry like a damned baby before I get there.”

She squeezes my hand back and then I’m parking in front of Gator’s, home of the best Cajun food you’ll find west of the Louisiana border.

JD and Felicity should be well into their “date” by the time Daphne and I arrive. We’ve barely walked into the door and I already see them. Sitting at a table for two in the window that overlooks the sprawling back of the restaurant grounds where they’ve hosted weddings and other events before.

They’re both laughing and I’m caught in a trance staring at them trying to determine if that man has caught Felicity’s heart. It would break mine to know that, but if he made her happy, I’d be okay eventually.

Daphne and I worked up two plans for tonight. Plan A, we get a table hopefully near there’s so I can be sorta eavesdrop on their date. Plan B, I speak to them briefly and we order food to go.

I grab my sister’s arm. “Plan B. I’m going to need some bread pudding with my order.” Then I turn and head towards Felicity and JD’s table. “Hey, you two.”

“Fancy seeing you here, Garrett,” Felicity says.

She smiles up at me and she’s so breathtakingly beautiful in that moment that I’m nearly at a loss for words. She’s got a slate-colored sweater, shirt thing on that gives a tasteful but delicious view of her cleavage. It definitely brings out the grey in her striking eyes. Her dark hair falls around her shoulders in ebony waves.

“You look so beautiful,” I say before I can think otherwise. Then I try to recover and hold my hand out to JD with what I hope is a genuine smile. “JD, good to see you, man.”

“You too, Garrett.” He glances at Felicity.

I put a thumb over my shoulder. “My sister, Daphne, and I came to pick up some food to go.”

“Best food in town,” JD says.

“Looks like you’ve got the best company in town too,” I say because I am a fucking moron. I knock my knuckles on their table, and step back. “Y’all have a good night. See you around.” I wave to a few people across the restaurant, then make my way over to my sister.

“How’d it go?”

“I am a fucking Golden Retriever.”

chapter seven

Felicity

“So, I take it that Garrett Whitmore is the man that keeps asking you out?” JD asks.

I sigh. “Yes. I didn’t realize y’all were friends.”

“Not friends, but we do know each other. I think I’m closer to his brother, Grady’s age. Can I ask why you don’t want to go out with him? He’s a really great guy.”

“That’s what everyone keeps telling me. And you know, honestly, it’s what I would have said about him too. Before something stupid happened in high school and I guess I’m holding a grudge.” I wince.

“I tried to pierce my ear with a safety pin in high school,” JD says. “We aren’t the smartest creatures at that age.”

I laugh at that. “That is a really good point.”

Maybe I should stop being so stubborn and at least tell Garrett the truth. We don’t have to date, but maybe we could be friends again.

I leave my “date” with JD—which was more like a work meeting—and head straight to the address JD mentioned. Evidently, Garrett bought the old Hightower house and is doing all the work himself.

I remember the Hightower house from when I was a kid, a creepy old Victorian on the corner of a block with a wrought iron fence wrapping around the entire property.

When we were kids, we’d all dare each other to go Trick-or-Treating there. But after old man Hightower died, the house just sat there crumbling under the weight of the hot Texas sun. I always loved this house, even when it was spooky and kids had to dare me to walk past it. Even when it was empty and seemed destined to be torn down.

Even at its worst, the house fascinated me—with its vast wrap around porch, curved glass windows, and third story widow’s walk. There was something about it that seemed equal parts elegant and ridiculous.