Two days later, Rosa still couldn’t believe she’d kissed him. Planting her lips on those of Ian Stroman had been the source of all her teenage dreams.

And those dreams had nothing on reality.

Maybe she could have gone deeper, because that little taste of him was barely enough. Ian hadn’t said anything, but she’d seen his hands reaching for her when she’d forced herself to head back to her car.

She’d spent the last couple of days running Mom to various doctor appointments. Every quiet moment she had in that time had her reliving the sensation of her lips pressed against his. Strong, firm lips. Not too dry, and not overly clammy. She’d caught herself licking her own lips right as one of the doctors had come into the treatment room. Thankfully, the woman had immediately focused on Mom and Rosa didn’t have to sink to the floor in a puddle of shame.

She parked in one of the last open spots in the library’s parking lot and grimaced as she got out. When she walked through the entrance, the cool blast of air was welcome relief to the humidity that had rolled in overnight.

The library hadn’t changed too much in the years since she’d left. Some of the walls had new paint, but the person manning the desk was the last one she’d expected.

“Lori.”

“Hey, Rosa. How can I help you?”

“I called earlier about using a scanner.”

“Oh, yeah. Come with me.” She got up from the desk and headed to the back room that Rosa remembered being used for book groups and the like.

The public computers had been expanded since she’d left and now took up the entire room. Most of them were occupied, but Lori led her over to one that sat in the corner with a number of peripherals attached to it. Including a scanner.

“I know you don’t have a library card, but I’ll log you in with the visitor pass.” Lori bent down and quickly keyed in a series of numbers. “All set. You’re logged in for an hour. Check back with me when you’re done.”

“Thanks, Lori.”

“You’re welcome.”

She headed back into the main room of the library and Rosa sat down at the computer. Thankfully, the library’s technology was fairly up-to-date so she was able to complete what she needed in minimal time.

As soon as she finished, she found the icon to log her off. She headed back to the main room and found Lori helping some kids. Waiting for Lori to finish, she checked out the cart of books sitting next to the desk.

The kids eventually headed off to a corner of the library, and Lori turned to her with a big smile. Rosa wondered if it was required since Lori worked here and Rosa was, for the time being, a patron.

“I’m all done. I logged off.”

“Thanks.” Lori marked something on the pad of paper sitting in front of her. “Rosa. I know we weren’t friends during high school or anything, but I’m glad you’re back in town.”

Rosa bit back the shocked curse words that wanted to spring from her lips. She and Lori not only hadn’t been friends, but they’d actively hated each other. At least, Rosa had actively hated her tormentor. The fact they went to such a small school meant they had frequently run into each other.

“Anyway, I’m really sorry for the way I acted toward you in high school. Are you moving back home now?”

Rosa blinked. Was she supposed to just accept the apology and move on? Lori Murphy was one of the reasons why she’d plotted so hard to escape Denning. “Uh, I’m just here to get my mom settled with some things.”

“I hope she’s doing okay. Kenzie loves her so much. Things have been crazy with everything going on with Ian, but I know Kenzie and Elaine appreciate him being able to chip in with the fundraiser.”

Confused by the switch in topics, Rosa frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Well, we all expected Ian to be the one to leave town, especially with his new notoriety, but he’s so good at living up to family expectations. Elaine and Roger can’t stop singing his praises when we’re together. I once teased Kenzie about it, but she said she was glad he was the one running the company.”

That weight must be tough to shoulder. Not only family expectations, but community expectations. “I heard he’s getting a lot of attention because of the newsletters.”

“Yeah. The press has had a field day with him. We had the local TV affiliates come to town, and almost everyone tried to have their chance in front of the camera. Most people are supportive of him, especially the ones who work at the plant, but there’s always a few who have to look on the gloomy side. Especially his cousins as you know. They’ve been nothing but a pain in the ass.”

“Yeah, he mentioned something about that.”

“Kenzie told me that she convinced him to take the afternoon off and go fishing. He needs a break from everything.”

“Fishing?”

“Yeah. Out by the lake. I wish I was there right now. A swim would be great in this heat. At least I get to work someplace that has air conditioning.”

“Yeah, a swim would be nice.” A swim in a nice, chlorinated pool would be nice. In Lake Denning? Hell, no. She still had nightmares of the time she’d been a little kid and her feet had gotten caught up in the reeds lining the lakebed. If it hadn’t been for Ian, she would have drowned. That was probably when she first started hero worshiping him. What girl wouldn’t get a crush on the guy who saved her life? Even if she’d been five and him ten.

“You should go out there.”

“Uh, I’ll think about. Thanks again for the use of the scanner.”

“Any time! Let us know what else we can help you with. That’s what the library’s here for.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

She finally extracted herself from Lori’s gregarious clutches and headed back out into the heat. She rolled down her car window because she needed a breeze while the car’s air conditioning jacked itself up to appropriate levels. She meant to go home, but instead of turning down the road that would take her there, she stayed on the one that ran out of town. Straight to Lake Denning.

Ian cast out his line even though it was completely the wrong time of day to get any bites. He should have gone for a run, but he’d wanted the connection to his grandfather. He needed the old man’s advice. It helped that his dad had given his full support, but it wasn’t quite the same as talking with Granddad.

Granddad had always said that bullies should be stood up to and that family was everything. With Larry and the rest of the cousins breathing down his neck, he was beginning to feel like the family was turning into the bullies. He heard a car motor grow louder as it approached the small parking space by the dock. Not that the fishes cared. They were probably sleeping in the depths of the lake, considering how hot it was. That or getting food from the people swimming at the public access beach around the bend.

He probably should just go for a swim. It would be easier to catch a fish that way. He reeled in the line. The rhythmic clicking soothed his thoughts a little.

When he heard light footsteps coming down the dock, he didn’t bother turning around. Whoever it was could stay or go as long as they were quiet.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw slim legs in cargo shorts and feet in battered flip flops. Rosa. He canted his head so he could get a better view of her, but she sat down, legs dangling off the dock.

Her fingers wrapped around the edge, but she remained quiet.

Since she’d sat down on his right, he shifted his body to cast from the left. As usual, the hook and bobber plunked down barely a few feet away. The memory of Granddad’s laughter was sudden and sharp. He’d never been able to teach Ian how to cast from both sides.

Reeling the line back in again, he attached the hook to the bail arm and set the rod down between him and Rosa. “What are you doing here?”

“I was at the library, and Lori mentioned you were likely out here. I’m not sure why I didn’t ignore that information.”

He stared out across the lake. Sunscreen would have been a good idea as there were barely any clouds in the sky. “What were you doing at the library?”

“Sending out stuff for job applications. Mom doesn’t have a scanner and I had to sign some documents and get them in today.”

Drilling her about where she was applying would not be the smoothest move. Even though with every moment she was with him, he wanted to find out how much time he had left with her. “How’s your mom?”

“Okay. Mom had doctor appointments the last couple of days, and she’s got another set next week. She’s trying to take it easy so she can be at her best at the fundraiser.” He heard her breath hiss out. “I hate that it’s come to this.”

He looked down at her. Her gaze was focused on the water. “What? That’s she’s so sick?”

“That, and that she needs the fundraiser in order to meet her bills. I can’t stay here and care for her, not if I want a job that pays well enough. But she’s going to need someone to be around making sure she’s okay. That’s going to cost money.”

“We look after family, Rosa.”

“Yeah, but she shouldn’t need help. Her family left her money, but she spent a good chunk of it on her causes and apparently my college education. She should have saved some for herself.”

“None of us knows what our futures hold.”

She turned her head and glared at him. Her sunglasses didn’t do much to block the weight of it. “My mom shouldn’t have to rely on Denning or anyone else to provide for her.”

Hearing the same words she’d tossed at him when he’d been at Lottie’s, he realized this was an argument he had no hope of winning and turned back to the lake. “Have you gotten any bites on jobs?”

“A few.”

“Where?”

“Philadelphia, DC, Atlanta. I’m still waiting to hear back from a couple out west.”

“Chicago?”

“Maybe. Why?”

He fiddled with the reel to avoid doing something stupid with his hands. Like pull her closer. “They’re all big cities. Have you ever considered staying in a smaller town?”

She snorted. “Denning was more than enough for me. Everyone knowing my business, knowing that my mom could barely afford to care for me? No, thank you. I like the anonymity of the big city. I’m going to make something of myself.”

Frowning, he turned to her. “What are you talking about? You’ve already made something of yourself.” Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. Even with her sunglasses blocking half her face, he understood it was shock he read on it. Realizing she needed to hear this, he continued on. “You not only went off to college, but you’ve got a masters in engineering. I had to take a couple courses for a program I was in through the business school at my college and, damn, Rosa. Those are fucking hard classes.”

She smirked. “Physics kick your ass?”

“Hell, yeah.” He got the basic concepts, and the math wasn’t tortuous, but his brain never seemed to make those final connections that would allow him to exceed. Luckily, he wasn’t routinely quizzed on physics concepts during board meetings.

“What’s going on with you? Lori said your cousins were stirring up shit.”

He lifted a shoulder. “The usual. I still have to make a decision about FSC.”

“Tell them to go fuck themselves.”

Laughter burst out. “Yeah, that’d go over real well with them.”

“Ian, what you’re doing is a good thing. I did some snooping online and while there are definitely cranks and trolls, there are people who are so supportive of what you’re doing. You’re reminding people that there’s good in the world and something worth fighting for. Like Rose says, we win by saving what we love.”

“Rose? Are you talking about yourself in the third person?”

“Man, you need to watch movies more.”

He reached out and cupped her jaw so that her lips were inches from his. “Saving what we love, huh?” Maybe it wasn’t fishing he needed to distract himself.

“Yeah. Novel concept, right?”

Unable to resist the temptation any longer, he bent his head so his lips pressed against hers. The humid air bore down on them, adding to the friction of their bodies meeting. Rosa let out a sigh. He took the opportunity to test the waters and let his tongue slip between her lips.

She sucked on it.

God damn.

He leaned into her and she began to lie down. He went to steady himself with his free hand, but it caught on the fishing reel and he lost his balance. They fell onto the dock, their noses and foreheads knocking against each other. He was just glad she hadn’t bitten his tongue off.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Not even bruised.” She lifted her sunglasses and stared at him. “I’m leaving at the end of the summer no matter what. But, I want to spend the rest of the afternoon with you. Can I?”

She wasn’t a teenager any more, and he wasn’t the ass he had been. “Yes. My place okay?”

A grin bloomed across her face. “Absolutely. I’m not about to try and have sex in my mom’s house when she’s home.”

He hadn’t thought he’d be able to laugh when he’d left for the lake, but she’d gotten him to do it. Twice. Rosa Donnelly was definitely a woman to admire.