The Rescue - Nicholas Sparks [59]
“Do you think you could do anything with this place?”
“I could make it look brand-new if you wanted. It depends on how much you wanted to spend.”
“Well,” she said gamely, “I just happen to have ten bucks burning a hole in my pocket.”
Taylor brought his hand to his chin. “Mmm.” His face assumed a serious expression. “We might have to eliminate the Corian countertops and the Sub-Zero refrigerator,” he said, and they both laughed.
“So how do you like working at Eights?” he asked.
“It’s all right. It’s what I need right now.”
“How’s Ray?”
“He’s wonderful, actually. He lets Kyle sleep in the back while I work, and that takes care of a lot of problems.”
“Has he told you about his kids?”
Denise raised her eyebrows slightly. “Your mother asked that exact same question.”
“Well, once you live here long enough, you’ll find out that everyone knows everything about everyone, and in time, everyone’s going to ask the same questions. It’s a small town.”
“Hard to stay anonymous, huh?”
“Impossible.”
“What if I keep to myself?”
“Then people will talk about that, too. But it’s not so bad, once you get used to it. Most people aren’t mean, they’re just curious. As long as you’re not doing anything immoral or illegal, most people don’t really care, and they certainly don’t dwell on it. They’re just passing the time because there’s not much else to do around here.”
“So what do you like to do? In your spare time, I mean?”
“My job and the fire department keep me fairly busy, but if I can get away, I go hunting.”
“That wouldn’t be popular with some of my friends back in Atlanta.”
“What can I say? I’m just a good ol’ boy from the South.”
Again Denise was struck by how different he was compared with the men she used to date. Not only in the obvious things—what he did and how he looked—but because he seemed content in the world he’d created for himself. He wasn’t yearning for fame or glory, he wasn’t striving to earn zillions of dollars, full of hungry plans to get ahead. In a way, he almost seemed to be a throwback to an earlier time, a time when the world didn’t seem as complicated as it did now, when simple things were what mattered most.
While she was thinking about him, Kyle called out from the bathroom, and Denise turned at the sound of his voice. Glancing at her watch, she saw that Rhonda would be by to pick her up in half an hour and she wasn’t ready yet. Taylor knew what she was thinking, and he finished the last of his glass.
“I should probably be going.”
Kyle called out again, and this time Denise answered.
“I’ll be there in a second, sweetie.” Then to Taylor: “Are you going back to the barbecue?”
Taylor nodded. “They’re probably wondering where I am.”
She gave him a mischievous smile. “Do you think they’re whispering about us?”
“Probably.”
“I’m going to have to get used to this, I guess.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they know that it didn’t mean anything.”
Her eyes leapt to his, and under his gaze she felt something stir inside, something sudden and unexpected. Before she could stop the words, they were already out.
“It meant something to me.”
Taylor seemed to study her in silence, considering what she’d said, as an embarrassed blush began to surge through her cheeks and neck. He looked around the kitchen, then toward the floor, before finally focusing on her again.
“Are you working tomorrow evening?” he finally asked.
“No,” she said a little breathlessly.
Taylor took a deep breath. God, she was pretty.
“Can I take you and Kyle to the carnival tomorrow? I’m sure Kyle would love the rides.”
Despite the fact that she’d suspected he would ask, she still felt a rush of relief when she heard the words aloud.
“I’d like that,” she said quietly.
Later that night, unable to sleep, Taylor mused that what had started as simply an ordinary day had turned into something he hadn’t anticipated. He didn’t really understand how it had happened . . . the whole situation with Denise had just sort of snowballed, almost beyond his control.
Sure, she was attractive and intelligent