Page 343 of One More Kiss

“You, too,” Anna says. “It’s been so long. You look great.”

I wave away the compliment. “No, you look great. You haven’t changed a bit.”

She rolls her eyes. “Tell that to my ass,” she says, making me laugh.

I glance around to see if there’s anyone with Anna, but I don’t see anyone nearby. I’m about to ask her to join me for dinner when a man shouts her name from across the bar. Anna stiffens slightly before making a sound of irritation so low that only she and I hear it. Then she pastes on a smile and waves in the direction of a man standing near a table full of people.

“Is that your husband?” I ask, surveying the man.

I can’t tell much about him from this far away. He’s clean-cut, wearing a button-down shirt and a pair of khaki shorts with boat shoes. He has an impatient look on his face as he looks over at me and Anna, who visibly shudders at my question.

“God, no,” she says. “Just a date. First, and last date. He just doesn’t know that yet.”

I smile in sympathy. “Not your type?”

“Nope,” she says, still shooting a fake smile at the guy. She holds up one finger to indicate that she’ll only be a minute more. “Friend of a friend setup thing. I should have said no. I could be at home with ice cream and Netflix right now.”

I laugh. “Sometimes that’s a better option.”

Anna turns to me with a curious smile, her date seemingly forgotten for the moment. “So, what brings you back here?” she asks. “How have you been? Tell me everything!”

I laugh at the rapid-fire questions. She’s still the same Anna. I open my mouth to answer, but I’m cut off before I can speak.

“I guess wonders never cease.”

I turn at the sound of a deep male voice to my left. I see a vaguely familiar grin and a pair of friendly brown eyes set into a handsome face covered with a dark beard. The man stands there for several seconds, as if waiting for me to recognize him. But it doesn’t take me long to place him.

“Deacon?!”

His grin widens and he shakes his head as if still shocked to see me. “Julia Scott.”

My smile is immediate and the rush of happiness I feel at seeing another link to my past is almost overwhelming. Deacon pulls me in for a brief hug. He’s a giant of a man, easily a foot taller than me. We stand there, looking each other over for a few seconds before I speak. I’m hit with a wave of nostalgia that’s so intense it nearly knocks me over.

“None of that Julia crap,” I say, still smiling. “I’m still the same old Jules.”

He narrows his eyes as he looks down at me. “You’re still the same height, that’s for sure.”

I laugh. “Not all of us grew up to be giants, Deac.”

“Guess not,” he says with a grin. “When did you get into town?”

“About an hour ago. I’m staying in one of the cabins across the street.”

Deac glances over at Anna and gives her a nod. “Anna Banana,” he says.

Anna rolls her eyes, but there’s a hint of a smile on her face. It’s obvious Deac’s old nickname for her doesn’t annoy her like it once did. When we were teenagers, it used to drive her crazy to hear him call her that. I guess she’s gotten used to it over the years.

“Don’t you have a drink to pour or something?” she asks him in a falsely sweet tone.

He shrugs. “Perks of being the owner. I don’t have to pour the drinks anymore.”

I blink over at him. “You own this place?” I say, looking around the room in a whole new light. “That’s amazing.”

Deac nods and I can see a sense of pride rise in him as he follows my gaze. “Opened it a few years ago. It keeps me busy.”

“It’s a great place,” I say. “Busy, too.”

He grins. “Business is good.”

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