Page 2 of Pillowtalk

While that part of her was still safe, and always would be reserved for the one love she’d been blessed to have, the attraction she was experiencing toward Austin was unexpected, and her mind wasn’t sure how to handle her body’s responses.

“So what brings you to our small town?” Austin asked, unaware of Kennedy’s internal battle over a simple, friendly conversation.

Her eyes drifted to the urn before returning to the smile lines around Austin’s mouth. “Visiting a friend,” she answered. While it wasn’t a lie, it wasn’t the truth, either.

Austin shifted in his seat, inching his way closer. Whether that was to hear her better or for another reason entirely, Kennedy wasn’t sure, but she was acutely aware of the thick scruff along his cut jaw and the way it made her instantly feel the need to reach out and run her fingers over it.

“Do you mind if I ask which one?” he asked with the air of a complete gentleman. “I’m trying to place your very adorable face, and I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

Kennedy’s mind raced through all the different meanings of the wordadorable,and whether or not she should take it as a friendly compliment or an invitation to flirt. She studied him, eyes lingering over the muscles in his arms. If they had met before, it must have been while she was with Jared. Surely she’d have noticed a man like Austin if she’d been available.

“Chelsea Tea,” she answered. “Do you know her?”

He grinned. “I know everyone in Lyra Valley. But Chelsea? I think I know more of her than I’d like.”

They laughed together, Kennedy enjoying the sound after a year of sorrow. Austin shifted in his seat once again, resting a strong arm up on the headrests. The elderly man next to him scooted toward the window, huffing out an irritated sigh at Austin’s attempts to converse with someone sitting directly in front of him.

“Do you want to join me?” Kennedy offered before she could talk herself out of it. “I know we don’t have long to go, but—”

“Yes,” Austin replied, a noticeable air of relief waving over his expression. “Thank you.”

He pushed out of his seat, and Kennedy quickly reached for the urn. The smooth surface slipped a bit between her suddenly sweaty palms, but she got a good hold before there became a very messy problem. Austin straightened his simple black T-shirt, his grin crooked and beautiful as Kennedy slid over to the window seat, propping the urn on her lap.

His eyes fell to the silver lid, and Kennedy watched as his smile went from sweet, to surprise, and then, finally, to sympathy.

“It’s okay,” she said, trying to cover up the awkwardness of traveling with ashes. “I’m just…doing someone a favor.” It was, again, a half-truth.

Austin stood in the aisle, eyes never leaving the urn. “Jared.”

Her heart flipped up to her throat. “Excuse me?”

Austin slowly lowered into the spot next to her, his gaze finally moving back to hers. “That’s how I know you. Jared’s funeral.”

Her grip tightened on the urn, her brow furrowing as she tried to place him in the very crowded wake that seemed like it was just yesterday. Honestly, she’d been in a complete blur the entire day, running through the motions, giving her eulogy, and then accepting condolences. It was the longest day of her life, and she couldn’t remember a single face—only the one that wasn’t there.

“You wouldn’t remember me,” Austin said, freeing her from reliving it all. “I ducked out pretty soon after and commemorated him in the way he’d told me to.”

A small smile teased the corners of her lips. “He gave you instructions, too?”

“Oh yeah. Very specific and lengthy ones.”

Warmth spread through her as her mouth split into a wide, real grin.Maybe Lyra Valley won’t feel so sad,she thought. Remembering Jared and all his quirks through people who grew up with him might give her the closure she longed for.

“How long did you know him?” she asked, crossing her legs toward Austin.

“Junior high.” Austin angled himself toward her. Her nerves calmed slightly as their conversation grew more natural. Kennedy liked to think that Jared had something to do with it, somehow, somewhere.

She stuck out a finger, realization hitting deep in her memory. “Oh! I think I remember Jared talking about an Austin.” She tilted a scolding eyebrow. “You were responsible for the backward elbow bend.”

Austin let out another gravelly and joyful laugh. “Hey, it was his idea to jump off the rocks. I just gave him a little push.”

“Right into a tree,” she pointed out with a smile. When she’d discovered Jared’s ability to bend his elbow in the opposite direction, he’d told her it was because one of his buddies gave him a nudge while he was holding a rope swing and instead of hitting the water, his arm cracked against a tree. He had crumpled just shy of the lake he’d been aiming for. Luckily, the arm was the only casualty.

“He liked showing that off,” Austin mused. “Always putting a positive spin on things.”

Kennedy nodded, silently agreeing tenfold with that statement. When Jared had learned of the eight-month prognosis, he told the doctor—with a smile—“Phew! I’ll get to see one last Super Bowl.” Unfortunately he didn’t make it that long.

Kennedy felt the train slow underneath her, and the intercom system came on telling them that they’d arrived in Virginia. Austin’s mouth tilted in a grin, and he reached up for the overhead bar and pulled himself to his feet.

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