His Hometown Girl

Zach watched as she wrapped her mother in a comforting hug. Mrs. McKaslin looked frail and ashen, but when she glared at him over Karen’s shoulder, she looked as tough as nails.

Mrs. McKaslin didn’t need to say the words. Zach had lived with the same looks from half the town since he was a boy—looks of disdain and judgment. Looks that said he wasn’t quite good enough, even twenty years later. He’d worked hard to become a man of integrity, but he was still Sylvia Drake’s son from the wrong side of town.

“I’m in the way here, Karen.” He grabbed his empty plate and carried it to the sink. “Let me rinse this off and I’ll be on my way.”

“What? No seconds?” Karen released her mother and moved to stop him, her beauty just as bright and her friendship as genuine. “Let me grab the casserole from the fridge and I’ll dish you up another—”

“I’m good, Karen. Thanks anyway.”

“You haven’t had dessert yet.”

Mrs. McKaslin’s gaze grew sharper, and Zach could feel the man he was fade a little. “It’s getting late.”

“Are you sure? Mom, would you mind wrapping up a few of your brownies? If Zach has to go, at least he can take heaven with him.” Karen’s smile shot straight to his heart.

She was heaven.

Good thing she couldn’t read his thoughts. Embarrassed, he set his plate in the sink.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Karen sidled up to him and curled her hand around the hot water tap. “I’d still be sitting on that lonely sidewalk if you hadn’t shown up tonight. Thanks, Zach. I owe you big-time.”