Page 10 of Forever Found

“When a door closes, open a window,” she muttered. David certainly piqued her curiosity. Maybe she should pay more attention to this small town…

He stopped short. “What did you say?”

“Huh?”

“Just a second ago.”

She scrunched her brow. “You mean when a door closes, open a window?”

“Yes. I haven’t heard that in a long time…”

“It’s a saying my mom used a lot. Then she would go on and on about how we were saved by a stranger who shoved us out of the way of a truck when I was a little girl.”

Sucking in a sharp breath, David stepped back. He was a mysterious, intriguing man.

“It’s all right,” she said. “It was a long time ago. I don’t even remember it happening. I only remember what my mom shared with me.”

His eyes darted around, looking everywhere but at her. “Sorry, I shouldn’t pry.”

Lyndsey nodded, focused on the fire. She hadn’t thought of the incident in an exceptionally long time. Her mother had been the one who had kept alive the memory of the man who had died to save them. Goose bumps rippled over her flesh while thinking about it. She wasn’t entirely sure if things happened by coincidence or fate, but she did know the person she was today was a direct result of those openings and closings. And she’d had a few doors slammed in her face so hard they had shaken her to her core. When her mother had died, that was the hardest. She missed her mom so much.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

“No.” His question surprised her. Had her silence been that noticeable? Why would he even care? She glanced at Justin, who seemed distracted as he watched the women dancing. Watching Solis, she amended.

Val came over, then clapped David’s shoulder. “Another year. Another fire. Want to grab some food with us?” he asked his friend, indicating the woman beside him.

Justin rotated, making quick introductions. “Lyndsey, meet Val Langdale, sheriff of Terror, and Twyla McGuire, a local florist and horticulturist. This is my cousin, Lyndsey. She’ll be hanging at my place for a while.”

Lyndsey nodded in greeting, offering a warm smile. “Pleased to meet you both. And Twyla, I suppose there’s not much growing this time of year.”

“I have a fabulous greenhouse that keeps me busy.”

“McGuire? Are you related to Solis? I met her earlier at Justin’s. She has a way with animals.”

“Solis is my sister. Our youngest sister, Luna, and my mom, Nora, are right over there.” She pointed to the still-dancing group.

“I’ve been watching them. They get into this.”

“The entire town does,” Twyla said.

David crossed his arms, then angled his head toward Lyndsey. “Have you two eaten dinner? Want to grab a bite with us?”

It was sweet of him to ask. “Yes, we have, but thank you.”

He nodded. “Okay.” His voice seemed to soften. “See you around.” He smiled then, the firelight warming his features.

Geez, he was a handsome man. A lot of the men here could make the A list. Her gaze slid to David, and before she could start drooling, she spun around to hook her arm around Justin’s. “You live in a remarkably interesting town, cuz. Just saying.”

He drew her in the opposite direction of the crowd. “You don’t know the half of it.”

David followed Val without paying attention to where they were going. He was too stunned by what he’d just learned. Could Lyndsey honestly recall that incident when he’d saved her as a child all those years ago?

They headed into a burger place, then landed a table near the window as another group left. David snagged the chair that had the best view of the crowd outside. He ordered quickly at the counter, paid, and returned to his spot.

“Interested?” Val asked.

David jolted. “What?”