Page 10 of Small Town Sash

"Braden—" She cut him off, her voice soft but firm. "We can't."

"Can't what?" The question hung between them, but his eyes were asking a different one.

"Go beyond friendly acquaintances," she clarified, though the words tasted like vinegar.

"Right, of course." His smile didn't quite reach his eyes this time. "Professionalism above all."

"Exactly." She hated how formal her own voice sounded like she was reciting a rule from a handbook.

"Wouldn't want to get too close to a judge, now would we?" His attempt at humor didn't quite mask the disappointment.

"Especially not judge number..." She trailed off, realizing she didn't know his placement.

"Three," he filled in. "Judge number three."

"Especially not judge number three," she finished, the corners of her mouth lifting in a wry smile.

"Then, contestant number seven," he said with a mock bow, "I wish you the best of luck."

"Thanks, judge number three." She returned the gesture with another curtsy, exaggerated enough to be comical.

They reached the doors of the auditorium, and Hadley stopped, her hand hovering over the handle. She turned to Braden, the air charged with unspoken what-ifs.

"Break a leg out there," he said, and she could tell it wasn't just a saying to him.

"Maybe just a heel," she jested, her laughter contradicting the tightness in her chest.

"Let's hope not," he said, grinning as he gave her a playful salute. "See you inside, Hadley."

"See you, Braden." Hadley watched him go, a laugh escaping her lips despite the knot of uncertainty inside her.

Just then, she noticed her friend, Tina Jones, standing in the doorway, calling out impatiently, "Come on, Hadley. Hurry up. We've got sequins to vanquish."

"Looks like duty calls," Hadley grumbled, trying to shake off her interaction with Braden.

Tina rolled her eyes when Hadley caught up with her. "Did I just catch you flirting with one of the judges?"

Hadley blushed even more and let out an exasperated sigh as she stepped into the flurry of pageant preparations. "No, we just met the other day at the coffee shop, and he was saying 'hi.'" Her attempt at a nonchalant shrug was as transparent as Tina's white t-shirt dress.

"For your sake, I hope the other contestants didn't see," Tina mused, her hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. "You wouldn't want to get a reputation that you'rethatgirl."

Hadley groaned, "Oh, don't even say that. It was a harmless conversation."

Tina smirked and gave her friend a playful nudge. "You say that now, but wait till the pageant starts. I bet he gives you really high marks."

"Stop it," Hadley retorted, dreading the thought of such a potential scandal.

Just then, George appeared with his clipboard in hand, glaring at them. "Have you two been standing here gossiping instead of helping?" he scolded them lightly.

Tina shrugged unrepentantly while Hadley hurriedly assured the pageant director they were just coming in.

"Good," George clapped his hands together briskly, "Now let's get to work. We've got a pageant to prepare for."

As Hadley tried to concentrate on the opening dance moves, she couldn't help but think about Braden's smile and the twinkle in his eyes when he looked at her. The pageant no longer seemed like her biggest challenge. Keeping her attraction to Braden under control was shaping up to be the real competition.

Chapter Four

Braden shuffled the stack of contestant bios, his gaze inadvertently drawn to the stage where Hadley Wilder glided through her paces. Her midnight black hair cascaded in a glossy waterfall, and every time she turned, her blue eyes sparkled like twin sapphires. She was rehearsing her speech, lips moving with mechanical precision, but her voice was drowned out by the hum of activity around him.

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