“Yeah, I promised my sister I’d manage the dessert table. Parks and Rec is the main sponsor. Hey, you want to help?”
Dillon gladly agreed, then nodded over to Atwood’s. “Looks like the hardware store is open today. I think I’ll go take a look at those outdoor chairs out in front,” she said. “I could use some outside my trailer.”
“Then I’ll see you at one,” Chelsea told her.
As Dillon walked to Atwood’s she knew that she was looking for more than just a cute lawn chair or two. Maybe she was a glutton for punishment, but she hoped to see Jordan. And she was determined not to act overly friendly this time. She would simply thank him for his help yesterday—and be on her way. That is, if he were here.
As she examined the outdoor furniture more closely, she was pleasantly surprised to see they were having a one-day-only Fourth of July sale. When she saw their selection of all-weather chairs in the color she wanted, a bright coral orange that would look perfect outside of her trailer, she decided to get them. She found a few other outdoor things as well—feeling really glad she’d stopped by.
“Can I help you?”
She looked up from a side table she was considering to see Jordan looking at her with an amused expression. She smiled politely. “No, I think I’ve decided on the pieces I want to get. Do I just go inside and tell the cashier?”
“Or I can write them up for you out here.” He pulled out a little pad.
“Thank you.” She pointed out the coral chairs and a few other things she wanted, and as he wrote it all down, she thanked him for helping with her pickup yesterday. “I really appreciated it. And I was sorry you got your good clothes dirty. You looked like you were going somewhere special too. I hope that didn’t make a problem—”
“Actually, I’d just come from a chamber meeting.”
“Chamber?”
“Chamber of Commerce. I don’t usually get that dressed up, but they’d elected me as the new president, so I thought I should try to look the part.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Was that meeting out at McLaughlin’s?”
“Yep. In fact, I saw you and Brandon out on the deck. Looked like you were having a pretty good time.”
She studied his expression, trying to discern whether she was imagining it, or if he was actually jealous. “Brandon only asked me to lunch in order to tell me goodbye,” she said in an even and hopefully disinterested tone.
“Looked more like he was saying hello.” Jordan’s smile looked fixed.
“Well, I’m sure he was hoping for something more, but I tried to make it clear that the past was the past . . . and that I want to move on.” She looked down at the sidewalk, hoping she wasn’t being too obvious.
“So, is this all you want?” He held up the slip of paper.
“I, uh, I guess so.” She glanced around. “I plan to put these outside my trailer. You know, to create an outdoor living space.”
“Nice.” He pointed to another section out front. “All our outdoor lighting and grills and everything are on sale today too. Good time to pick up some bargains.”
“Oh?” She went over to look at a rack. “These are cool.” She picked up a box of outdoor lights. “I could string them outside my trailer.”
“Do you have an awning?” he asked. “They’d look great hanging from that.”
“No. But I hope to get one. I’ve seen some pretty cute ones in my vintage trailer books.”
“You should check out this website.” He wrote something down on a card and handed it to her. “They’re well-made and affordable.”
“Thanks.” She had several items in her hands now.
“How about if I take these inside for you,” he said in a friendlier tone. Had her words about cutting ties with Brandon made a difference? Or was he just helping a customer?
Once her selections were made, Dillon was paying for her purchase at the cash register when Jordan reappeared. “Need any help getting these things loaded up?”
“I was hoping I could pull the pickup up to the store, but looks like there’s no room out there.” She explained where she was parked.
“I’ll help you get it over there,” he offered.
After two trips, everything was loaded in the pickup bed. “Looks like you cleaned up the old truck.”
“Yes, I wanted to get Jack looking good. Couldn’t let Rose show him up.”
Jordan grinned. “So you named him Jack. That’s nice.” He ran his hand over the recently polished hood. “This original paint job is holding up alright. But then Uncle Jack usually parked it under cover.”
Dillon jumped at the sound of a loud bang nearby. “Oh—that must be a firecracker,” she said with relief. “I forgot it’s the Fourth.”
“Did you see the parade?” he asked, obviously in no hurry to get back to the store.
“Yes. And I saw your nieces too. I’d forgotten how sweet a small-town parade could be. Did you see it?”
“Yep. From in front of the store. Wouldn’t miss it. Are you going to any of the other festivities?”
She told him she was planning to help Chelsea with the picnic. “And she and I are going to the dance together. Stag.” Hopefully that didn’t sound like a hint . . . or like she was desperate.
“I thought I might check it out too. I hear the band’s supposed to be good.”
“Cool.” She nodded, trying to think of something else to say.
“Well, I better get back to work. We’re only open until four today. But campers always appreciate being able to pick up whatever it was they forgot at home.” He tipped his head. “See you later.”
She smiled and thanked him again for helping her. And she continued to smile all the way back to the farm. Maybe she had given up too soon on Jordan Atwood. Maybe he had simply been scared off by Brandon. And really, who could blame him?
By the time she got her hardware store purchases unloaded, she was sorely tempted to get them all set up—and play “outdoor house.” But it was almost time to return to town and she wanted to put on something cooler. With the hope of seeing Jordan again, she decided to freshen up some. And since the day was growing hot, she decided to pamper herself by taking her car—and turning up the AC.
As she drove back to town, she hoped she wasn’t setting herself up for heartache again, but Jordan appeared to be back to his old self. She wasn’t sure if it was explained by her grandpa’s theory about jealousy—and she hoped not—but she did feel that Jordan had needed some reassurance. And she planned to give it to him.
Dillon was just entering the city park, which was already getting crowded, when Brandon came over to join her. Like the other day, he was dressed in casual Western wear again. But it still looked totally out of character for a guy like Brandon. “Hey, Dillon. Are you here for the picnic? I hear the barbecued chicken is killer.”
She explained that she wasn’t here to eat. “I’m volunteering with Chelsea. But I hope you enjoy it.”
He frowned. “So they don’t let the volunteers eat?”
Her smile was polite. “I really don’t know.” She pointed to the food tables. “But I see Chelsea. I better go help her.”