Trick - By Lori Garrett Page 0,22

he’d feel if he knew I was so much as thinking of holding hands with Gunner Hunt.

Good thing my daddy doesn’t know I’m constantly thinking about doing so much more than holding Gunner Hunt’s hand. So much more.

I swallow hard as a fresh rush of memories hits my brain, then turn to go to the kitchen and make sure nothing is needed for dinner tonight.

I have a feeling I’ll figure out a way to skip out at the end and make Gunner Hunt my personal dessert.

********

“Clay, this is my daughter Harlow. Harlow, Clay Wilson.”

“Pleasure,” Clay says. He extends his hand and I shake it quickly, but not before running my thumb across his palm and confirming exactly what I suspected. Perfectly smooth hands. Hands that haven’t seen hard work. There’s no doubt in my mind Clay doesn’t know how to please a woman with them. They’re nothing like Gunner’s hands.

Clay is handsome. Charming. I’m sure he’s a perfectly nice guy. And I’m sure when he’s older, he’ll have a beautiful home like my dad owns, and look just like any of the other guests here tonight. He’ll be happy enough, but there will never be any spark in his life. And even though my life would probably be easier if I could, I’ve never been able to accept that as my fate. I want to know that even on the crappy days, I’ve lived so much more than most people. That I loved wholly and crazily. I want that spark. Every day. That’s what dance is for me, and that’s what Gunner is, too.

“I invited Daisy. She’ll be by once she runs home to change. You don’t mind, do you, Dad?” I ask, as we all make our way to the screened in porch where dinner is ready to be served. There are white twinkling lights and handmade menus at each place setting.

Apparently, Dad’s girlfriend has been getting her Pinterest on.

Dad glances up and shakes his head.

“No, of course not. Would have had Clay bring a friend along if I knew we’d be having another guest, though.” Dad laughs and claps his hand onto Clay’s back, but I know he’s not pleased.

Clay is holding my chair out for me, so I sit and he takes the seat next to mine. Clearly my dad has already worked out how he wants this to go tonight. He’s hoping Clay will impress me with his golf score, his stellar education, and solid career plan, and Dad won’t have to worry about me and my crazy plans to move away and dance anymore.

But it’s not going to work.

No matter how many times he tries this same scenario, it never works.

Claire, my dad’s live-in girlfriend, who is everything Dad wishes I was— passive, ambitionless, and accepting of her position in her man’s life—brings the last of the serving dishes to the table. She’s nice, albeit a little stupid, but she makes Dad happy. I know he’s not in love with her, but she’s someone to keep him company, and, most days, keeps him off of my back, so I don’t dislike her too much. I’m grateful to be able to get this meal started and quickly over with, especially without Daisy here as a buffer yet.

“So, your father tells me that you just recently moved back to town?” Clay asks, scooping salad onto my chilled plate.

“Mmhmm,” is all I offer.

“Where were you living before that?”

“Nowhere too long. I mean, my best friend and I have spent the last couple of years traveling.” Trying to forget things and people that will never be forgotten.

“Wow, that sounds incredible. Where was your favorite place?”

The beach cabana that Gunner and I snuck off to that summer and didn’t leave for days.

“Hard to say. Do you travel a lot?” I ask.

Clay shrugs. “No, not really. Been working full time since I graduated college. I’d like to though. Maybe someday once I’m married I’ll take trips like that. Right now, it’s just me, though.”

“Harlow is an excellent tour guide. World traveler since she was just a little thing. You two should pick a place, I’m sure she’d love to have a vacation, show you around somewhere new. What about a little jaunt over to Turks and Caicos?”

“Dad, I hardly think Clay wants to run off to an island with a stranger.” I feel the heat on my face spread, igniting my entire body with anger. Like I want to go on a romantic getaway with some guy I hardly know. He’s