“This is home.” It was getting easier to express his feelings, at least with Audra. But it still wasn’t easy.
“I love it here.”
Enough to stay? Jack frowned. From where did that thought come?
Jack turned onto Main Street and pointed his truck toward the high school. “You were singing when I came to pick you up. You have a beautiful voice. I still think you should perform your own songs.”
She laughed again. “And I’ve told you, I’m not comfortable singing in public.”
Jack stopped at a traffic light. “Will you sing for me?”
Her teasing look caressed his body and set his blood on fire. “I thought I already had.”
A horn sounded behind them. The light had turned green. Jack swallowed hard, shaking his head to clear the mental images, then drove his truck across the intersection.
“How are your songs coming? Will you make your deadline?” His voice sounded rusty.
“I should.” There was a smile in her voice. “But I don’t want to talk about work. I don’t want the real world to intrude on our fairy tale.”
“I’m just trying to get to know you better.” He pulled into the parking lot at Heritage High School.
She leaned across the bench seat and kissed him, then whispered against his lips. “I’m more than my job.”
“Tell me.” His tongue was thick in his mouth.
“I’d rather show you.”
Jack groaned. His abdominal muscles tightened almost to pain. “We won’t stay long.”
Audra was charmed by Heritage High School’s gymnasium. It had been transformed into a ballroom to host a gathering of friends—a very large gathering of friends. At least a dozen round tables were arranged across the gym’s floor. Each was set with a white tablecloth and ten chairs. Two buffet tables loaded with food framed either side of the room.
Audra raised her voice to be heard above the music playing through hidden speakers. “How many people were invited to this party?”
Jack entwined his fingers with hers. “A lot.”
She let him lead her to the center of the room, where friends surrounded the guests of honor. Conversations stopped as people turned to watch them.
Audra kept looking forward. “Why are people staring at us?”
Jack’s grip tightened on her hand. “Most of them haven’t seen me in almost two years.”
“This is weird.” She really meant it.
“Jack!” Ramona stepped out of the group and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so glad you came.”
Quincy stepped forward to give Jack a man hug. “I didn’t think you’d make it.”
A confusion of voices and half-finished sentences spun around Audra. The excitement was contagious. She couldn’t stop smiling. From the corner of her eye, Audra noticed a camcorder coming toward her. She was about to ask what was going on when Ramona wrapped her in a hug.
“Thank you.” Ramona gave Audra a hard squeeze.
“For what?” Audra hugged her back, despite her confusion.
“For convincing Jack to come to our going-away party.” Ramona looked over her shoulder toward Ean, Megan, Darius, Quincy, and Jack. “I know how much it means to Quincy to have him here.”
Audra was moved by the love in Ramona’s expression as she looked at Quincy. “I didn’t have to convince Jack to come. He invited me.”
Ramona blinked her surprise. “Then that makes his being here even better.”