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road Hayes Rubber Plant would probably remain in business, which made her question the recent rumor her grandmother had shared with her that he was thinking about going into politics.
    Fluffy tugged on his leash drawing April’s attention and when Fluffy began trotting in the opposite way of home, April figured the dog wasn’t ready to settle in for the night just yet and decided neither was she. Evidently Pebbles had the same notion and began trotting beside Fluffy, which made Griffin join April in what had to be a somewhat comical stroll.
    “So when did you come home?” Griffin asked, glancing over at her.
    She glanced back at him and wished she wasn’t so hopelessly conscious of how handsome he looked tonight and how good he smelled. “A couple of days ago.”
    “Does Erica know you’re in town?”
    “Of course. We had dinner together at Ryder’s tonight.”
    He laughed and the sound carried through the trees. “That means the two of you only had a salad.”
    She couldn’t help but laugh as well, since his remark had been right on the money. She’d always been one to watch her figure, and over the years Erica had fallen in line right along with her. She was surprised that he would remember something like that.
    “I saw your spread in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition earlier this year. It was nice.”
    “Thanks.”
    The thought that he’d seen her in that skimpy swimwear made her bite down on her lips. What had he thought when he’d seen it? She really shouldn’t care since modeling was her life and she enjoyed what she did. She had been a Victoria’s Secret model for a few years before being asked to pose for that issue of Sports Illustrated. She’d agreed without batting an eye, so why was she suddenly feeling like she should have added a wrap to the bikini she’d posed in?
    She drew in a deep breath as she looked over Griffin and decided to take the conversation off herself for a while. “What’s this I hear about you thinking about running for mayor?”
    He glanced over at her and smiled. “Yes, that’s my plan. Do I have your vote?”
    She shrugged. “Not sure I’m still considered a legal resident.”
    “Sure you are. You own property in this town.”
    Yes, she certainly did. Although she’d bought her grandmother the house, the property was in April’s name. And the house where she’d been born still belonged to her, too, although she had fixed it up and was renting it out. She’d wanted to tear it down but Nana hadn’t let her. “Well, we’ll see. Does Erica plan to vote for you?”
    “By the time the election comes around she’ll be married and moved out of town.”
    April studied his reaction. Erica had always sworn she and Griffin didn’t love each other, but for some reason April needed to know for certain. She had to know just how Griffin truly felt about Erica marrying another man.
    “I know. It’s hard to believe she’s going to marry and move to Texas,” she said.
    He went quiet, as if he was considering what she’d just said. “Yes, it is hard to believe. I’m truly going to miss her,” he finally responded.
    For a moment April felt an uneasiness in the pit of her stomach. And then Griffin added, “But maybe now the town will finally accept what Erica and I have been trying to tell everyone for years.”
    April swallowed. “Which is?”
    “That the most we could ever be is friends. We love each other but we’re not in love with each other. There’s a big difference.”
    April didn’t say anything as they continued walking. Yes, there was a big difference and she would be the first to agree on that point. How could she not? She’d been married three times. She hadn’t loved Mark although she’d liked him. They had gotten along well but then Mark voiced regrets over their union less than a year into their marriage.
    She’d married Campbell less than a year later because it had seemed the right thing to do at the time. He was her friend, gay and