Page 18 of Landry

Ava shook her head. “No, thank you, I’ve had one. But I don’t think Billy Ray has ever had a lollipop. Can I get one for him?”

“Sure,” Camille capitulated.

Ava ran behind the counter and carefully extracted a heart-shaped lollipop wrapped in clear cellophane from the collection on display and returned with a smile. “I can’t wait to show Billy Ray what we made today.” She laid her bear and doll on the floor, shrugged out of her backpack and carefully slid the bright red sucker inside. Once she’d zipped the pack and settled it on her back, she regathered her doll and bear.

Gisele leaned toward Camille and whispered. “Have you met this Billy Ray, yet?”

Camille shook her head. “I was thinking he’s imaginary. Think it’s a bad idea for her to have an imaginary friend?”

Gisele shrugged. “You’re asking a woman who doesn’t have a child.”

“Honey,” Camille started, determined to get to the bottom of Ava’s Billy Ray. Was he real or imaginary? “About this boy, Billy Ray?—”

Ava’s eyes widened, and her face paled. “Mama, look,” she pointed toward the front door.

Camille spun to find a man standing with his face pressed to the glass, peering into the candy store.

“Isn’t that the guy you danced with last night?” Gisele asked.

Camille nodded. He wasn’t Todd, the thin, wiry one.

Her brow furrowing, she walked to the door and twisted the lock, opening it. As Camille stood in the doorway, Ava hid behind her legs. “May I help you?”

The man smiled. “Do you remember me from last night?” he asked. “We danced together. I was about to ask for your name and number when you left.” He held out his hand. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be stalkerish. My name is Mark Sands.”

Reluctantly, she shook his hand. “Camille.” She waved toward Gisele. “And this is my friend, Gisele. Did you come for candy? I don’t like to disappoint, but I’m afraid we’re closed.”

He shook his head. “No. I came to say thank you for dancing with me last night. You’re a good dancer, and you were nice to this stranger.”

“You’re welcome,” she said. “I enjoyed it. You were pretty good yourself.”

“Thanks,” he said. “I’ll be in town a few days. I don’t suppose you’d care to go out with me?”

A finger poked Camille in the back. She turned toward the irritant.

Gisele gave her a crooked grin and whispered, “Prime of your life.”

Heat rose up Camille’s neck, filling her cheeks. She wanted to tell Gisele to zip it. She wasn’t sure she was ready to jump back into the dating scene. And, though Mark had proven to be a good dancer, she knew nothing else about the man, nor had he inspired any kind of spark of desire.

Not like Landry Laurent had with the simplest touch.

Camille’s pulse quickened. Now, if it were Landy asking...

As if her thoughts conjured the man, he appeared walking along Main Street. Toward her. Or at least to the candy store.

Dragging her gaze away from the man approaching, Camille tried to focus on the one in front of her. “What was it you were saying?”

Mark gave her a brief smile. “Would you go out with me?” He hurried to add, “If not for dinner, there’s a fair in town.”

Gisele poked Camille in the back again and whispered. “It’s a public place. Tell him you’ll meet him there. Ava can stay with me and Rafael.”

With her heart racing and Landry Laurent mere seconds from stepping up behind Mark, Camille’s breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t form a coherent thought with Landry so close. That fact scared the bejeezus out of her. She sure as hell wasn’t ready to date a man who gave her body electrical surges. Her psyche would be much better off with the man who could dance but didn’t turn her mind to swirling much.

“Okay,” she blurted. Over her shoulder, she hissed, “Are you happy?”

“I’m not the one who needs to get happy,” Gisele said.

“Let me be clear,” Mark said, with a slight frown of confusion. “Is it okay you want me to leave, or okay you’ll go to the fair with me?”

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