Page 28 of Finding You

“Figured you’d be home with MacKenzie,” he replied with a grin. “Word around town is the two of you are living together.” Then he winked. “Or are you just bringing home dinner for the two of you?”

“Uh…we’re not living together,” he said with a hint of defensiveness. “We’re just…”

“Tommy! Knock it off!” This came from Nancy–Tommy’s wife. “Devin’s on his own tonight. I heard there’s a big girls’ night thing going on over at Billie Donovans. She was in here a little while ago picking up a couple of pies.” She gave Devin a sympathetic smile. “So you’re on your own tonight, huh?”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he let out a long breath before smiling politely. “I am. I was in the mood for some pizza and I’m going to go home and binge something and just relax.” He glanced around. “Is my order ready?”

Nancy gave him a knowing grin. “Sure. Hang on a sec and I’ll ring you up.”

Five minutes later, he was back in his truck and swore that it didn’t matter if he wanted or needed anything else, he was going straight home.

Which he did.

At home, he was torn between taking his shower before or after he ate, and ultimately opted to do it first. He’d have to reheat his pizza, but it would be worth it.

Which it was.

By the time he was sitting on his couch with his piping hot dinner in front of him, he felt completely relaxed. Yeah. This was exactly the kind of night he loved. Flipping on the TV, he pulled up one of his favorite true crime docuseries and made himself comfortable. And for an hour, it was total bliss. And just when he tossed the crust back into the box from his fifth slice, his phone rang.

Smiling, he reached for it. “Hey, Mom! This is a surprise! Isn’t it like…three in the morning where you are?”

Diane Maxwell gave a soft laugh. “It is, but I couldn’t sleep and I thought I’d check in on you.”

“I would think with all the roughing it you and Dad are doing in Africa that you’d sleep like a baby. Tough day?”

“Not really. We’ve got a good system here with the clinic and I think we’ll be back in the states in three months. Maybe four.”

“Wow! That’s great!” Reaching for his glass of sweet tea, he took a sip before asking. “So then, why are you up at three a.m.?”

“Because my phone has been blowing up all day with friends telling me about all the news in Sweetbriar Ridge.” She paused. “Anything you want to share with me?”

Groaning, Devin’s head lolled back against the cushions. “Um…”

“You’ve got a woman who you picked up on the side of the road staying with you?” she mildly accused. “What on earth has gotten into you?”

“I’ve got the Maxwell do-gooder gene running through me,” he countered. “I was driving home in a bad storm and MacKenzie was stuck on the side of the road in the middle of that deserted stretch of 81. There was no way I could just drive by without stopping and lending a hand.”

“And that’s very commendable of you, but you could have just had the car towed to the shop and sent her to a hotel. I get that you’ve got a good heart, but you really need to be more cautious.”

So he explained about the reunion, the festival–which she was already aware of–and the fact that all the hotels and B&Bs in the area were booked solid. “If you were me, Mom, what would you have done?”

A sigh was her first response, followed by, “I would have given her a place to stay,” she murmured. “But you have to realize you’ve set tongues wagging all over town! This is slightly out of character for you.”

“I know, but…”

“You have shown no interest in a woman in far too long, and from what I’m hearing, you’re positively smitten with this girl.”

“I wouldn’t say smitten…”

“Devin?”

“Hmm?”

“Is she a nice person?” she asked with motherly concern.

“She is. Possibly one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. And…I don’t know. There’s just something about her that I’m drawn to. She’s really had a run of bad luck and I guess…I just…”

“You always did look out for anyone who was down on their luck.”

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