Devin Shanahan. Grace rolled his name over in her mind as she dressed for dinner. He had changed over the years since she had seen him last. He had grown a couple more inches, now standing about six two, and his shoulders were much broader than they’d been in high school. A faint scar trailed up the side of his left temple before disappearing beneath his dark red hair, which was cut stylishly short. It irritated her that she wanted to know the origin of the scar.
She hadn’t seen Devin since he had graduated high school a year ahead of her. They had shared a number of classes over her two years in Sedona, despite their difference in grade. Grace had been a year ahead of most students in math and science when she moved from Virginia to Sedona at the beginning of her sophomore year. Two seasons of running track together beneath the Arizona red rocks had given them the foundation of a friendship. When he had asked her out the first time, she’d thought she’d stepped into glass slippers and a fairy tale. Unfortunately the fairy tale had lasted only twenty-seven weeks.
He had tried hard not to break her heart. She could give him that. Their talk had ultimately been about his concern that they were getting too serious. She couldn’t deny that at the time, she had started thinking of herself as half of a couple instead of as an individual. She had also recognized how much stock everyone in school had put in the fact that she had lasted longer than any of his other girlfriends—Devin had been known for breaking things off before he ever reached a one-month anniversary.
That knowledge hadn’t stopped her from falling in love with him before the end of their first date. It hadn’t simply been her infatuation with the handsome senior or that her friendship with Devin had developed into a crush long before he’d asked her out. No, what had captured her heart had been his innate kindness.
That first date hadn’t gone as expected. Their picnic at Grasshopper Point had been interrupted by a terrified three-year-old who had approached, tears in her little eyes and very much alone. They learned later the little girl had managed to wander off while her mother was changing her baby brother’s diaper.
Devin had given the child a water bottle to drink before leaving her in Grace’s care and going in search of the mother. His presence of mind had been admirable, as had his sensitivity and reassurance when the mother and daughter were finally reunited.
Grace shook away the memories and slipped her hotel key into her purse.
“Are you about ready?” Molly called from the bathroom, where she was reapplying her makeup. The girl had flawless skin, yet she was always powdering something.
Grace ran her fingers through her hair, raking it into place. “Yeah.”
Molly emerged from the bathroom, and her gaze swept over Grace’s black evening gown, the hem of which grazed the top of her knees. The cap sleeves and scoop neck were more modest than what she knew most women her age tended to wear, but Grace had always loved the classics in everything from movies to fashion.
“You look great.” Molly wiggled her perfectly plucked eyebrows. “You’re going to have the men eating out of your hand tonight.”
“I doubt that.” Thirty minutes with her straightener had helped tame her naturally curly hair into smooth waves, and she couldn’t deny that moving out on her own had benefited her waistline. The extra pounds she carried during her teenage years had slowly melted away once she was no longer tempted by the cookies and other desserts her mother had often baked for the family. None of those changes convinced her that the guys would suddenly start noticing her tonight.
Her heart squeezed a little at the thought of her parents, and she drew a deep breath to push away the memories. She was here in Vegas to make happy memories, not to dwell on what she had lost.
“I can’t believe I’m getting married in five days,” Molly said.
“Neither can I.” Grace tucked her purse under her arm and offered her cousin a smile. “You’re going to make a gorgeous bride.”
“Do you think my mom will get over the whole Vegas wedding thing?”
“She just wants you to be happy,” Grace assured her. Aunt Marie might be a little over the top with a lot of things, but she had a good heart. When she slowed down long enough to listen, she could usually be persuaded that other people were entitled to their own opinions too. “Come on. Caleb is probably downstairs pacing the lobby, waiting on you.”
The two women left their hotel room and started down the hall. “So what’s the deal with you and Devin?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Grace said, reluctantly admitting to herself that she looked forward to seeing him again at dinner.
“He looked pretty excited to see you. How do you know him?”
“Same way I know Caleb. We all went to high school together. You know that.”
They stepped into an empty elevator, and Molly turned her green eyes on Grace. “And?”
“And nothing.” Grace deliberately turned to face the front of the elevator so she could avoid her cousin’s scrutiny and that reporter’s intuition she had honed during the past year working for the local television station in Phoenix. Feeling Molly’s gaze still on her, she added, “Sorry, Molly, but there’s no story here.”
“In my profession, I know better,” Molly insisted. “There’s always a story.”
* * *
Devin scanned the interior of the comedy club as he entered. Round tables stood throughout the room, the chairs angled so everyone could see the stage along the far wall. The comedy show had been Cody’s choice. Caleb’s older brother and best man had flown in from LA the day before and had taken it upon himself to arrange for the entertainment this weekend.
Cody waved at Devin and Caleb from a table in the center of the room, where he sat beside Sean, Caleb’s old college roommate. Devin thought it odd that except for the happy couple’s parents, all of the attendees at the wedding on Saturday were also in the wedding party. Caleb and Molly had wanted simple, and that was what they were getting.
“Hey, bro.” Cody clapped his hand on his brother’s back and gave him a hard hug.
“About time you got here,” Sean said.
“Yeah, well, not all of us have Daddy’s private plane to fly us wherever we want to go,” Caleb said.
“What can I say? It’s tough being a rich kid.” Sean’s father owned several car dealerships around Arizona and had done well for himself over the years. Sean extended a hand to Devin. “Good to see you again, Devin.”
“Yeah, you too.”
They all settled into their seats, and Devin took a spot with an empty chair on either side of him. He didn’t realize he was watching for Grace until she appeared in the doorway, her hair falling in waves past her shoulders. A jolt of anticipation shot through him, and he frowned slightly. Where had that come from?
“Is that Gracie Harrington?” Cody asked from across the table.
Devin shot an irritated glance at Cody. He knew Grace hated it when people called her Gracie. “Yes, that’s Grace.”
“Wow. She looks great.”
She’s always looked great, Devin thought to himself. Sure, she’d been a little overweight in high school, but she had always been pretty. Her straight nose and expressive hazel eyes were set in a perfectly oval face. Then and now, he found her attractive enough to capture his attention regardless of her waistline. The sequins on her black dress reflected the overhead lights and shimmered as she moved.
All four men stood as the women approached. Devin had been so focused on Grace, he hadn’t noticed the other two women following her and Molly until they’d wound their way through the tables and were nearly to them. He now recognized one of them as Caleb’s younger sister, Ellie. Her blonde hair was cut short, fringy bangs wisping across her forehead. He didn’t recognize the other woman, a willowy redhead wearing a fitted blue dress.
He saw the interest in the redhead’s eyes when they approached, but his gaze shifted to Grace and held there.
Molly greeted Caleb with a kiss before offering introductions. “Elyse, this is Cody, Sean, and Devin. I think everyone else knows each other.”
They all exchanged greetings, and Devin pulled out the chair to his left intending to offer it to Grace. Elyse beat her to it.
Grace clearly read his intentions but gave only a slight shrug before taking the only other available seat between Sean and Cody.
Sean immediately turned to Grace. Devin couldn’t hear him, but Grace’s responding laughter carried to him. Distracted from whatever Elyse had said, Devin tried to focus on her now. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Elyse smiled and scooted closer. “I asked where you’re from.”
Swallowing an inward sigh, he focused on his end of the conversation. He learned that Elyse had attended Arizona State University with everyone else there, and even though he was disappointed he hadn’t been able to sit beside Grace, he could admit that Elyse was easy to talk to and appeared to be genuinely nice. She was even the sort he would consider dating if his attention hadn’t already strayed elsewhere.
When Elyse mentioned studying accounting with Grace, Devin looked across the table.
How was it that he had never run into Grace on campus while he was completing his undergraduate degree before moving on to Stanford? Come to think of it, how had he missed her every time he’d gone home to Sedona to visit?
He wanted to ask her what she had been doing since high school, but with the din in the room, conversation with Grace wasn’t feasible unless he wanted to shout. He considered the possibility.
When Elyse started chatting again, he wondered how long the comedy show would last. Even though it hadn’t started yet, he was already looking forward to it ending so he could spend some time with Grace.
* * *
Grace could feel Devin’s gaze on her. She lifted her eyes to meet his, and she saw the interest reflected there. Was she seeing things, or was it possible there was still a spark between them after all these years?
The lights dimmed, and the host walked on stage. The first comedian engaged the crowd and used the perfect balance of self-deprecating humor and a slanted look at life to have the crowd roaring with laughter.
The second comedian started out with a commentary on his relationship with his parents and the past twelve years living in their basement. Images of the past crashed over Grace, an unexpected reminder of what she had lost when her parents had died in a car crash a few days after high school graduation. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and fought against the familiar well of emotions.
When the topic shifted, the short, wiry man on stage related his attempts to attract the right woman, describing his view of exactly what she would look like. When the jokes went from raunchy to downright crude, Grace decided it was the perfect time to take a walk.
She collected her purse and whispered to Molly, “I need to get some air.”
Molly nodded briefly before turning her attention back to the show.
Grace reached the lobby, not sure what to do next. She wasn’t ready to head back to her room, but she didn’t care to watch the show any longer. Even before the jokes had turned edgy, she had been more than ready to put some distance between herself and Elyse.
She was pretty sure Devin had been about to offer her the seat next to him when Elyse had claimed it. Watching the way she had poured on the charm had felt just like the first time she had seen Devin with Bethany Whitaker only a week after he had broken up with her.
“Not interested in comedy?”
Grace turned to see Devin standing behind her. “Not that particular brand anyway.” She motioned toward the club entrance. “What about you? Why aren’t you still in there?”
“I thought maybe I could convince you to go for a walk with me.”
“What about Caleb and Molly?”
“I’m sure they’ll be fine without us.” He held out a hand. “Come on. Let’s go see what’s outside.”
She automatically put her hand in his. “I’d like that.”
When his hand closed around hers, her heart experienced the same little lift it had when he had hugged her earlier. She remembered the sensation well from their dating days. Come to think of it, she couldn’t remember feeling like that with anyone she had dated since.
Odd, she thought to herself, that she could still feel a connection to him after so many years.
“Molly said you’re finishing your MBA,” Grace said.
“Yeah. One semester left.” He released her hand so he could push open the glass door leading outside. “What about you? I assume you’ve graduated college.”
“I’m finishing my MBA too.” She shivered when she stepped outside into the crisp December air. “We’ll graduate around the same time.”
Devin shrugged out of his jacket and draped it around her shoulders.
“Thank you.” She pulled the jacket tighter around her, appreciating the gesture.
“You’re welcome.” Devin guided her forward. “Where are you studying? ASU?”
“Yes.”
“How is it I didn’t see you the whole time we were going to school together there?”
“I actually did my undergraduate work at Colorado State.”
He turned a curious gaze on her, taking her hand in his once more. “I thought you went to Arizona State like everyone else here.”
“Not until I started my master’s.” She knew she should tell him the circumstances of her quick departure from Arizona and the events that had changed her life so drastically once she had moved to Colorado, but with the neon lights flashing overhead and his hand warm in hers, she decided such heavy topics could wait for another time.
She pointed toward the roller coaster that cut through the New York– New York Hotel, a replica of the Statue of Liberty beside it. “What do you think? Are you up for it?”
He gave her a crooked grin. “I am if you are.”
“Then let’s go.” She tugged on his hand, and they left the wedding party behind in search of their own adventure.