“Today, we’ll hear from Mrs. Buchanan about an exciting new program . . .” Ainsley zoned out. Her part of the meeting wasn’t for a good ten more minutes at least, and she was still trying to figure out how to help her kids understand algebra better. True, they wouldn’t start learning it in earnest for several years, but their spiraling curriculum mandated that she introduce the concept now. Maybe if she tried another symbol? A question mark? Maybe even a little box—sort of a Schrödinger’s box situation? If she wrote a little story about a situation with an unknown quantity, maybe it would . . . Oops, her mom was done. She clapped extra loud for her, knowing she preferred to be behind the scenes and not up front. She was rewarded with a shy, glowing grin as Nancy went back to her seat.
Kyle widened his stance in his seat, slumping down, his arms crossed over his chest. But his knee was bumping hers as it bounced. He was usually moving—that wasn’t unusual—but they usually had Daniel between them. He clearly hadn’t wanted that today. It made no sense: Kyle preferred the aisle, didn’t he? She turned back to Councilman Park, who was still talking.
“The Turkey Trot is coming up fast,” he said. “We’re still looking for volunteers to help with the medical tent. Dr. Kyle Durand has volunteered to man it, but if last year’s black ice pile-up on Main Street is any indication, one person won’t be enough.” He looked out hopefully over the sea of faces, and Ainsley felt her hand twitching. She really wanted to run this year; she’d actually been training. But as usual, it was more important that the town have what they needed. With a flat smile, she raised her hand.
“Thank you, Ainsley. We sure appreciate that.”
She nodded, then sat back hard in her chair. It shouldn’t feel like a punishment, helping your community. Why couldn’t someone else step up for once? It was hard not to feel resentful. Someone poked her: Daniel was leaning around his brother. He cupped his mouth so no one else could read his lips. “Thought you were going to run this year.”
“I was.”
Kyle glared at her. “So why don’t you?”
“Because you need help.”
He snorted, and several people around them gave them subtle “shut up” looks. They let it go, and with relief, she sat back in her chair. She wasn’t about to let either of them push her around.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“WE’LL NOW BREAK FOR a few minutes to give people a chance to . . .” Ainsley did not get to hear the rest of Councilman Park’s announcement, because she found herself being dragged outside by two annoyed Durand brothers. Coatless, she wrapped her arms around her middle. Kyle took off his coat and draped it around her shoulders.
“Why did you sign up for the medical tent? You said you were going to run,” Kyle said, hands on his narrow hips.
“I was going to run. Now I’m not. No big deal.”
“You’ve been training, right? She’s been training,” Daniel added.
“She didn’t run last year, either. She said ‘something came up.’” Kyle said, pointing at her.
She narrowed her gaze. Kyle was shivering, but he still looked so stinking solid; how did he manage that?
“I don’t want your help,” Kyle announced. “I want you to run. I’m firing you.”
Ainsley saw Daniel sliding away, back inside, but he gave her a wink as he opened the door. What was he winking about? The sleep deprivation is getting to that boy . . .
She laughed. “You don’t control the sign-up, the council does, so . . .”
“Well, wear your running shoes, because I’m not letting you help me. I’ll draft Maggie or something. Let me worry about it. You do too much; you’re already running the fall festival.” And the PTA, and the playground improvement committee, and I’m doing the bake sale . . .
“Why aren’t you running?”
“I ran last year.”
“No, you didn’t. You were out of town for your grandma’s funeral.”
He waved a hand. “Then I ran the year before. I hardly do any community service. This is my chance to make up for my laziness the last few years.”
“I highly doubt you’re lazy . . .”
“I am where the town’s concerned. I haven’t been very involved.”
She blinked. “Did you want to be? You always struck me as kind of a lone wolf.”
“I don’t mind that description. But most wolves need a pack. I haven’t had one for a long time, besides my family.”
“Why’s that?”
He shrugged, looking toward the door. “Spent a lot of time studying, preparing to be a doctor.”
“That’s important, too.”
“It is,” he agreed. “But there’s a lot of things, a lot of relationships that have been neglected because of that . . .” He wasn’t just looking into her eyes, he was pouring himself into her. The mild frustration he usually carried when he talked to her wasn’t there. He wasn’t somber, but there was a stillness to him, a peace, almost. Ainsley felt as though she were looking into a glassy lake hidden up in the mountains . . . There was a secretive streak to the man, but she felt like he’d just opened the door a crack for her, let the light stream out.
“What kind of relationships?” She played dumb. She had to. Because if she considered what it meant that he’d been steadily moving closer to her, that his breath was warming her face, that he was touching her elbow . . . she couldn’t. He was Kyle Unattainable Durand—there wasn’t a single woman in this town who wouldn’t give her right ear to have his attentions on her. Everyone knew he was a shoo-in for his father’s seat on the hospital board in a few years. He was as much a pillar of Timber Falls as she was . . . but she couldn’t let herself imagine what he wanted from her. Not after what had happened with Shane, her first boyfriend. Or rather, the boy she’d thought was her first boyfriend. Just thinking about that incident was still enough to put her on edge.
“Ains, I—”
“Meeting’s starting again!” Daniel sang out as the front doors popped open. Kyle shuffled back quickly, rubbing his arms.
Ainsley shrugged out of his coat and handed it back to him, murmuring her thanks. He opened the door for her, tipping his head toward the warm interior of the building. There was no time to grab a cookie; they’d spent the whole break talking. No, not talking—bantering. Time was when she could hardly get Kyle to talk to her . . . until that wedding picnic. Ever since she’d mentioned weddings, that day kept floating back to her. She’d seen that moment in her mind a million times since then. It was definitely on her brain’s “greatest hits” list when she was bored or tired.
When the meeting was over, everyone flowed out of the hall to their cars. Kyle and Daniel had walked; their house wasn’t far from the middle of town. So it surprised her when Kyle started into the darkened parking lot.
“Where are you going?”
“Just making sure you get to your car okay.” He spun his keys on his index finger.
“Why?”
He scowled at her. “Because it’s dark? And you’re a woman alone? And we’re friends? Do I need another reason?”