Grace eased off the barstool. “I didn’t realize this was a family dinner. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“In a small town everyone is family.” Tabitha plopped down in her seat and pulled out the chair next to her. “Sit next to me, Grace. That way I won’t have to pass the wine.”
Grace chuckled. The surprising melody of it made something tug in his chest. Grace slid into the chair as Tabitha waggled her eyebrows at Sloan.
After everyone’s plate was filled with lasagna, salad and garlic bread, he cut his eyes at his little sister. “So tell me, why do you need my truck?”
“For the annual yard sale next weekend. I need more furniture and I’m sure Grace does too. I’ll trade you my car.”
He grimaced.
“Come on, Sloan. You can drive the chick car for one day,” Tabitha taunted before popping a piece of bread into her mouth.
“Hey, my car is not a chick car.” Allison frowned.
“Yes it is.” Sloan and Tabitha spoke in unison.
“I can barely cram myself into it.” He had cautioned Allison against buying the sporty convertible, but she just had to have it. Cuteness had won out over convenience.
“Come on. Be a sport. Just think how you’ll be helping out your sister and our new girl in town.” Tabitha patted Grace on the shoulder.
Grace flinched under the touch. No one else had seen her reaction and she quickly recovered. Something else was going on with their newest member of Cloverton, Tennessee.
He took a long drink from his beer and leaned back in the chair. “So, Grace, how do you like it here?”
She looked up at him with those large blue eyes. “I’m starting to settle in. Just takes time to get used to a new place.”
“Where did you move from?” Tabitha asked before taking a bite of lasagna.
“Idaho.”
“Really?” Tabitha snorted.
Grace jerked her head toward her.
“Sorry. I just figured you would have come from some place bigger, you know, more exciting.”
Grace smiled and her shoulders relaxed. “Nope. Sorry, just boring old Idaho.”
“So what do you do for a living?” Allison asked.
Grace took her time as she chewed her food. Clearing her throat, she set her fork down. “I teach dance.”
“Oooh, really.” This got Tabitha’s attention. “You mean like pole dancing?”
Sloan choked on his beer and coughed.
“No. Nothing like that.” Grace’s face was as red as a beet.
“Tabitha!” Allison chided.
“I didn’t mean like was she a stripper.” Tabitha sighed and gave everyone a droll look. “There are pole dance exercise classes in Memphis. Those instructors make bank.”
“Those instructors are all probably strippers.” Allison grimaced. “Sorry, Grace, Tabitha doesn’t really have a filter.”
“What?” Tabitha gave Grace an innocent look. “It was a compliment if anything. I mean look at you, you’re drop dead gorgeous. I bet you could rake in the money if you wanted.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind if I can’t find a job.” Grace took a sip of her wine.
Sloan cleared his throat. “What kind of dance do you teach?”
“Usually ballet. I have taught hip hop on occasion.” She studied the food on her plate.
“So you don’t have a job at the moment?” Sloan kept his tone light, his gaze observant. Years of being a police officer had his bullshit radar going off like a siren.
“Not at the moment. I guess I wasn’t sure if I still wanted to teach dance or try my hand at something else.”
“Wow, that is so cool.” Allison cupped her chin in her palm. “I’d love to be able to be that brave to start another career.”
“What do you do, Allison?”
“I’m an interior designer.” She shrugged. “Nothing exciting.”
“Of course that’s exciting. I wish I were that creative. You must be very busy.”
“Not exactly. It hasn’t helped that business has been slow for the last few months. I’ve had to take on another job. Decorating the new preschool with murals of cartoon rabbits and squirrels is not my idea of exciting.”
“I told you that you didn’t have to move out.” Sloan sighed heavily. He couldn’t help but worry about his sister. Since their parents had passed away when Allison was in junior high, he’d taken on the responsibility of being both brother and parent.
“I refused to continue to live with my brother out in the sticks.” Allison’s gaze landed on Grace and she cringed. “Sorry, Grace.”
Grace smiled. “No offense taken. I happen to prefer living in the sticks. It’s very peaceful.”
“Peaceful is code word for boring,” Tabitha interjected before filling her wine glass again. “How do your parents feel about you moving all the way to Tennessee?”
Grace’s face paled. “My parents are dead.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Grace, “Allison said.
“It’s okay.”
Sloan shifted in his seat. The silence grew heavy in the large space. From Grace’s pained expression, she had been close to her parents.