She nodded. Her insides swirling again. “I remembered.” He dated Erica for a week. It hadn’t been long, but Erica shouted it from the rooftop. It was one of the only arguments she had with Julia. Their oldest sister hadn’t loved having Jonah Bannon dating their littlest. She kept claiming it was because he was a bad influence. Everyone knew it had nothing to do with that, and everything to do with her own jealousy.
“You didn’t think Erica was funny?” Dani remembered his earlier words. “Everyone thought Erica was funny.”
“Erica thought she was funny. That’s good enough for most.”
“But not you?”
His grin slipped a notch. “Are you trying to trip me up? Is that what this is?”
“I just want to hear some truth. Everyone raves about my sister. I didn’t think there existed a person who didn’t.”
“Besides you?” Jonah searched her face. “And no, I didn’t think Erica was funny. That’s my truth.”
“You just went up a notch, but only a notch.” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning as she passed him to the checkout counter. “And I’m still not selling you my car. That’s my truth.”
He groaned, falling in line behind her. “A ride? One ride?”
They heard a gasp, and both looked over. The clerk had her hands pressed over her mouth, but she slapped them on the counter and came around. “If it isn’t… Oh my goodness. I heard you were in town, but I didn’t quite believe it. If it isn’t little Dani O’Hara!”
Dani paused, eyeing the clerk for a moment. She was in her forties and it took a little bit for Dani to recognize her. “Mrs. Tatums.” She taught piano to all three O’Haras. Julia and Erica excelled. Dani quit.
She grasped Dani’s face in her hands and shook her. “I cannot believe it! It’s been ages! How are you?” She pulled her in for a hug.
“I’m good.” Dani’s mouth was pressed into her shoulder.
“Oh dear!” She gushed again as she pulled back and held Dani at arm’s length. “Mmmm mmm mmm. The rumors are indeedy true. You, my dear, left an ugly duckling and returned a swan. I can’t get over this.”
Then her eyes fell on Jonah, and went flat. “What are you doing here, Jonah?”
His grin was easy. “Early morning breakfast, Karen. I loved that coffee cake so much I ate it in one sitting.”
“Stop playing with a married woman.” Her cheeks reddened. “I have my mother’s talent. The best coffee cake in seven counties now. It won champion at the fair last year, you know.”
“Let’s hope it wins again.”
Mrs. Tatums tried to look disapproving, but the coffee cake won out. “Oh, you, Jonah. So charming.” She returned behind the counter and began ringing Dani’s things up. Her eyes slid to Dani. “You better watch out, Dani. If you’re seen with the likes of Jonah Bannon, there’s going to be other rumors spread around.” She winked at her. “If you know what I mean.”
She didn’t, but she could guess. Dani’s smile was a little more forced as she waited to pay for her things. She held her tongue, waiting as everything was bagged up. After paying, she waved to her old piano teacher, and headed for the door. She muttered under her breath, “Now I remember why I quit after five lessons. You old bat…”
She trailed off, seeing Jonah right behind her.
His smile spread a little wider and he held his hands up. “I didn’t have anything to buy, and I have some advice for you.” His head leaned forward an inch. “If you want to get out of a conversation with her, just bring up Mr. Mells. You can say anything about him, but he was her competition in town. Both taught piano lessons and she hates him. If she thinks you’re going to start gushing about him, she’ll end that conversation real quick.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
She stowed her things in the back seat, and reached for her door. She paused. “Um.” She looked back up. “You haven’t said anything to make me think this, but just in case your interest really isn’t about my car, I’m not here to compete with either of my sisters.” Before she knew what she was saying, she heard herself being more honest with him than anyone else. “I left a really great man behind and I didn’t come back to find a replacement for him. I’m not home for any of that.”
She got inside, or attempted to. Jonah stopped her. Just as she was about to close the door, he caught it. “Hey. Wait.”
Before he could say anything more, she added, “That might not be what’s going on here. I know. I could be speaking out of turn and you might really only want to drive my car, but it doesn’t matter to others.” She pointed around the street and sidewalks. “They’re already talking about me, and as much as I hate to give that Old Bat some credit, she is right about one thing. If people see us talking, or you driving my car, you know what they’re going to think. I didn’t come back to deal with any of that either.”
He shifted closer to the door, lowering his voice. “I know what my reputation is and sometimes it’s earned. Other times it’s the furthest from the truth. I get what you’re doing, but here’s my advice to you—you don’t have a reputation yet. People can’t figure you out right now because you’re not the same as when you left. That could be bad for you. They’ll give you a rep you might not want. Your ex, for one. People are going to assume you’re here for him, until you show them you’re not.”