In the Market For Love releases March 6 and I can’t wait for you to read Ransom and Kelly’s story!
It’s been a long time coming, and I hope you’ll love this story of redemption, hope, forgiveness, and second chances.
I thought you might enjoy a first chapter preview today!
“You’ve got this, man. You’re smart. You’re good-looking. You’re charming. Nothing is going to go wrong.”
The pep talk would have held more motivation if Ransom Kressley hadn’t been staring at his reflection in his rearview mirror, attempting to convince himself he could survive lunch with his soon-to-be sister-in-law’s best friend.
Despite Celia McGraw’s plans to marry his twin brother, Kash, in a few weeks, Ransom was certain the woman still didn’t like him. Which was fair. After all, he’d given her a truckload of reasons to detest him.
Yet she’d reached out to Kelly Truman and asked the woman to meet him for lunch as well as offer him some pointers in regard to living in Oregon’s biggest city. Kash had threatened to drive all the way to Portland from the family ranch in Twin Falls and dismember Ransom if he did anything to upset Kelly.
The old Ransom would have pulled on his best swagger and made his way into the restaurant with a chip the size of Texas on his shoulder, intent on ruffling Kelly’s feathers. If she was cute, he would have stolen a kiss or two before insulting her and going on his way.
But Ransom wasn’t that guy anymore.
He was doing his best to turn his life around. Part of that effort was to treat women with kindness and respect instead of acting as if they were placed on earth merely for his amusement.
Ransom had no idea what Celia had told Kelly about him, but he doubted it was a rosy picture. Honestly, he was shocked Kelly had agreed to meet him for lunch.
Then again, she had chosen a restaurant next to a shopping mall that was busy even though it was only a few minutes past eleven. She’d asked Ransom to meet her at a quarter past the hour, and he intended to be early instead of late, as his previous persona would have done.
Ransom still felt like his entire life was an ill-fitting coat he’d accidentally shrugged into. However, he hoped as time passed, he’d develop new habits and thought patterns that would set him up for success instead of letting his failures shove him further down a destructive road.
With a final glance in the mirror, Ransom blew out a long breath, grabbed his keys, and got out of his SUV. It was one more change he’d made in the past few weeks. After arriving in Portland in a little sports car that had cost him two years’ worth of wages, he’d realized the first day he was there, when he caught two thugs trying to break into it in the parking lot at the hotel, he needed a more suitable vehicle to drive.
He’d sold the sports car and purchased an SUV that would serve him well for his job. It made him feel a little more responsible and less like the rebellious idiot he’d always been. The leftover cash from selling the car had come in handy for settling into the apartment he’d found near his job.
Today, he intended to dip into the money left from selling his car to shop for clothes befitting his new position as the promotional manager of a popular arena football team. It was time to stop dressing like a cowboy who’d spent his entire adult life working for his family’s rodeo stock company.
Ransom crossed the parking lot in a few long strides, opened the restaurant door, and stepped inside.
The young woman at the hostess station smiled at him in greeting. “One for lunch today, sir?” she asked, reaching for a menu and a roll of silverware neatly wrapped in a napkin.
“There will be two of us,” Ransom said in a polite but not too-friendly tone. He was still working out the kinks in being approachable but not flirtatious.
The girl gathered another menu and bundle of silverware before leading him to a booth at the back of the restaurant.
Old Ransom would have offered her a seductive grin and laid on the charm, drawing out her smile. A few fake compliments, and he likely would have gotten her number, then gone out on a fun date or two before moving on to his next conquest.
The jerk.
Ransom took a seat facing the entry and nodded his thanks to the hostess when she placed the menu in front of him and set the other across the table. He pulled his phone from his pocket and sent Kelly a text, letting her know he was seated in the back by the restrooms.
He stopped short of describing what he was wearing when he texted Kelly. He’d spent far too much time this morning debating if he should wear jeans and boots or his one and only suit. Finally, he’d settled on a pair of newer jeans, polished his boots, and donned a button-front shirt. He left the cowboy hat at his apartment and his coat in the SUV.
Even without a hint of what he was wearing today, it shouldn’t be hard for her to find him.
Nerves made him jiggle his foot as he gave the menu a quick perusal. A glance was all it took to decide what he’d order, and he set the menu aside as a server brought two glasses of water.
“Anything to drink today, sir?” the young man asked.
“A root beer for me. I’m not certain what the other member of my party would like.”
“I’ll get your soda and be back shortly.”
The server had barely stepped away from the table when a buzz from Ransom’s phone drew his attention to where he’d left it on the table by his napkin roll. He read the text from Kelly, half expecting her to cancel on him.
Almost there. Traffic is heavier than expected.
Relieved she hadn’t stood him up, not that this was a date by any means of the word, Ransom returned his phone to the table and took a drink from the glass of ice water.
Old Ransom would have been hanging out at the bar while he waited for Kelly, already into his second shot of booze.
Ransom crunched an ice cube, realizing some things were going to be harder than others to give up. If he wasn’t already an alcoholic, he’d been on the fast track there. Now, instead of drowning his self-inflicted and often imagined sorrows, he wanted to be clear-headed going forward.
The door opened, and sunlight created a halo behind a woman’s golden head of wavy bobbed hair. She tugged off her sunglasses, smiled kindly at the hostess, then looked around and hurried toward him.
Ransom stood and wiped his suddenly damp palms on the legs of his jeans before he reached out a hand in greeting. He’d seen Kelly with Celia from a distance and in a few photos on Celia’s phone, but they didn’t do justice to the beautiful woman who looked at him with an understandable mix of curiosity and caution.
“Hi! I’m Kelly Truman.” Her smile was genuine and warm as she shook his hand. “I’d ask if you’re Ransom, but Celia wasn’t kidding when she said you and Kash are identical twins. The resemblance is remarkable, which I’m sure you’ve heard many times before.”
“Once or twice,” Ransom said good-naturedly, then motioned for her to be seated at the booth. “Thank you for making time to meet me today. I hope it didn’t disrupt your work.”
“Not at all.” Kelly set her purse in the booth and removed her coat before she slid onto the bench seat. “I actually have the day off. Work is busy this week, though, with people getting ready for New Year’s Eve parties. We’ve also had a lot of tastings with people off between Christmas and the new year. Will you be heading back to the ranch for New Year’s Eve?”
Ransom shook his head as he resumed his seat across from her. “No. I planned to stay in town. With my new job beginning soon, I thought it best to remain here.”
“And when does that happen?” Kelly picked up her menu but kept her attention on Ransom.
For reasons he couldn’t begin to understand or identify, her intent gaze made him fight the urge to squirm. “Next Monday. I’ve already let my boss know I’ll need time off for Kash’s wedding, though. He was really cool about that.”
Kelly nodded and perused her menu. “I suppose it helps that the arena football season hasn’t yet begun.”
“True. Have you ever been to an arena football game?”
Kelly shook her head, and her hair swayed enticingly around the defined curve of her cheeks. “No, I haven’t. I don’t know much about the sport—arena football, I mean.”
“It’s a little different from regular football, but all the basics are there.”
The server returned with Ransom’s root beer and set it in front of him. “May I get you a drink to start, miss?” the server asked Kelly.
“I’d like a sunset lemonade, and for lunch, I’ll have the winter salad, please.”
“Great selections.” The server took the menu from Kelly, then looked at Ransom. “And for you, sir?”
“The club sandwich, with the house-made chips, please.”
“I’ll get your orders in and be right back with the lemonade.” The server hurried off with the menus.
Ransom watched him go, feeling uncomfortable and out of his element. He could schmooze a group of business investors, flirt with half a dozen girls, or wallow in a good ol’ boy routine, but having a meaningful one-on-one conversation wasn’t exactly in his wheelhouse.
Nevertheless, it was a skill he needed to master in his new life.
Unwilling to let the conversation idle, he forced himself to look across the table at Kelly. She really was quite lovely. He found himself intrigued with her rich, warm brown eyes and high-wattage smile. Regardless of how pretty she was, Kelly was in the center of the off-limits pool.
“So,” he said, scrambling for any topic to distract him from her full and entirely entrancing upper lip. “Celia mentioned you work at a winery. Have you done that long?” At that moment, he couldn’t recall any details about Kelly’s job, other than the winery was south of Portland.
Kelly smiled at the server as he set her lemonade on the table before he rushed off again. She took a sip of the ombre drink, appeared pleased with the flavor, and took another before she leaned back in the seat. “I’ve been at the winery several years. I graduated from college with a hospitality management degree and a minor in business administration. I never intended to work at a winery, but when the job opened up, I applied, and here we are.”
“Do you like the work? I’d imagine you get to drink your fill of great wine.”
Kelly shook her head, then offered him a playful, conspiratorial look. “Can you keep a secret?”
In the past, the answer to her question would have been a resounding no, but Ransom was willing to try. He nodded. “Sure.”
Kelly leaned closer to him and whispered. “I don’t drink. The tannins in the wine give me migraines, and I never liked the taste of beer. Hard liquor isn’t my thing either.”
“What?” Ransom sat back, surprised by her revelation. “But aren’t you one of the managers or something?”
“Tasting room manager. I get detailed notes about the wine from the winemaker and listen to our clientele when they are tasting the wines. It enables me to speak about the wines and offer recommendations. At least my employers don’t have to worry about me sneaking glasses of the product.”
“Well, there is that.” Ransom grinned at her. “What do you like best about your job?”
“Meeting really great people from all over the world. The winery offers a place for picnics, and we have a venue for parties as well as weddings. It’s a popular place in the warmer months. I truly enjoy connecting with the people who stop in. Just before Christmas I met the nicest couple who were here visiting from France. They gave me a little box of chocolates they’d brought with them. The candy was divine.” Kelly placed her hands beneath her chin and looked upward, like she was remembering something purely blissful.
Ransom could have watched her animated features all day. “Was? Did you eat all the candy already?”
She shrugged. “There were only three pieces in the tiny little box, but it was so good.”
Ransom took a sip of his fizzy root beer, then grinned at her again. “Other than being plied with candy and meeting international travelers, what else does your job entail?”
Kelly smiled and took another sip of her lemonade. “I oversee the tasting room staff as well as working in the tasting room. When we have events, I help with the organizing and implementation of plans. I order additional products to sell in the tasting room, like nuts and crackers and gift items. I arrange special tastings and send out newsletters to our clientele. It keeps me busy, but I really do enjoy it. Cleaning up in the tasting room can be gross. Some people taste their wine and spit it out but miss the container—that sort of disgusting thing. The drunks are unpleasant, but we don’t get too many of them. If a troublesome visitor pops up, our facility manager is good at keeping things under control. Dave has been there quite a while and makes us feel like we’re all one big family.”
Ransom could have piped up about how much he despised working with his family but wisely kept his mouth shut. “That’s nice, Kelly. Do you live near the winery, or do you have a long commute?”
“I rent a little house that’s about three miles from the winery. If I ever had to, I could walk to work, but it isn’t high on my priority list, especially this time of year.”
Ransom nodded and leaned back as their server arrived with their meals. At the sight of the triple-decker sandwich stuffed with turkey, ham, bacon, and cheese, Ransom’s stomach rumbled. He chose to ignore it and watched as Kelly draped her napkin over her lap.
“May I get anything else for you?” the server asked, eyeing Kelly.
“This looks fantastic. Thank you.” She smiled in gratitude at the server. The light that filled her smile seemed to encompass everyone in its radius, which was mostly Ransom and the server.
“If you need anything, please let me know.” The server offered Ransom a quick nod and hustled to the next booth.
“That’s quite a sandwich,” Kelly said, picking up her fork and pointing it at his tower of stacked meat and bread. “I dare you to get your mouth around that whole thing in one bite.”
Ransom chuckled. “I’m not taking that dare, Miss Truman. I’ll be doing good to slide this apart and manage to eat it without spilling something on my shirt.”
Kelly’s left eyebrow hiked slightly upward at his comment, but she speared a forkful of fresh spinach, pear slices, and chicken and took a bite.
Their lunch conversation covered the excellent food, the relaxed atmosphere despite the packed restaurant, and the best places to shop for groceries and household goods. Ransom had no idea how the time had passed so quickly, but before he knew it, they’d been at the restaurant for more than an hour.
“Celia mentioned you needed to purchase some clothes for your job,” Kelly said as she took the last sip from her lemonade and set the glass on the table. “Do you need help?”
“Help? In picking stuff out or knowing where to shop?” Ransom asked, uncertain what she was asking or offering.
“Both.” She motioned out the window toward the mall. “I chose this location because there’s a less expensive department store as one anchor and a high-end store on the opposite end. There are also a few men’s clothing stores inside. If you’d like help choosing some things, my afternoon is open. If you prefer to shop alone, no worries. I just thought I’d offer. Sometimes it helps to have someone share an opinion or make suggestions when you’re picking out a wardrobe that is different than what you usually wear.”
“Thank you,” Ransom said, surprised by her willingness to spend more time with him. He was convinced she’d be in a rush to get away from him based on what she knew of his past transgressions. “If you’re sure you wouldn’t mind, I’d love to have the company. I need to buy at least one really nice suit and maybe another middle-of-the-road suit, as well as slacks, shirts, and a pair or two of shoes.”
“Wow! That’s quite a list,” Kelly said, wiping her hands on her napkin and setting it on her plate. “I thought you were going to work for a football team, not as an investment banker.”
Ransom grinned. “As the promotional manager, I’ll also be the person in charge of marketing, advertising, publicity, and appearing on the field during games to give away prizes and talk up our sponsors. I need suits for when we have important meetings with sponsors or potential sponsors, pants and shirts for everyday wear at the office, and everything in between.”
“So, you’ll be wearing a lot of figurative hats in your new position. How does your past experience translate to that?” Kelly asked as the server appeared and carried away their empty plates.
“I’ve always had the gift of gab and could schmooze my way into or out of anything. My dad knew that and played off that strength. It became my job to travel ahead of the rodeo stock, meeting with rodeo committees and key personnel. I also worked to get people interested in signing the Rockin’ K Rodeo Company to provide stock for their rodeos.” At least he had until he’d grown so angry and bitter that he hadn’t cared if the company floundered or not and went out of his way to cause trouble. There had been a point, not all that long ago, when he would have been thrilled to see his dad and Kash lose the business they’d both worked so hard to keep going.
“This is right up your alley, then.” Kelly smiled and stood, lifting her purse in her hand. “If you give me a minute to freshen up, I’ll be ready to hit the mall.”
While she was in the restroom, Ransom paid for their lunches and thanked the server. He’d refilled Ransom’s soda and Kelly’s lemonade without asking and had even offered to bring Ransom extra chips when he’d eaten all of his. Although Ransom wasn’t accustomed to being polite without some ulterior motive, it felt good to utter a simple thank you without expecting any payback.
Ransom stood when Kelly returned and held her coat as she slid her arms in the sleeves, drawing on all the manners he’d once learned. It was time to dig them out and dust them off, even if he had no interest in dating Kelly.
Truthfully, he had a whole lot of interest in dating her, but Kash would gut him like a trophy fish if he did anything to upset one of Celia’s friends. Besides, right now Ransom was in need of friends, not romantic entanglements, and Kelly was the first person he’d met who might actually become a friend.
“Ready to go?” he asked as she began reaching into her purse.
“I owe you for lunch,” she said, pulling out her wallet.
Ransom shook his head and motioned for her to precede him toward the door. “I figure I owe you lunch for driving into the city and spending the afternoon helping me shop. It might even be a buy-two-meals-for-you kind of day.”
Kelly smiled at him over her shoulder and Ransom felt his heart trip in his chest.
Focus! he mentally warned himself.
No heart-tripping allowed. No thoughts about delectable lips or luscious perfume, and definitely not about the way the sunlight gilded Kelly’s hair the moment they stepped outside.
“Walk or drive?” he asked as they started across the parking lot.
“I’ll meet you over there, by the door,” she said, pointing to the far end of the mall parking lot where he could see a sign for the high-end department store. “Let’s find the spendy suit first; then you’ll know how much of your budget is left for everything else.”
“That’s smart. Thanks. I’ll meet you over there.” Ransom walked over to his vehicle but waited until Kelly got into a compact SUV to open his door and slide behind the wheel. It only took a moment to drive around the mall to the high-end store. He ended up parking right beside Kelly. It wasn’t entirely intentional, but there were two empty spaces together not all that far from the door.
“Perfect timing,” she said as she hopped out and tossed her coat on the seat. She locked the door and slipped the strap of her purse over the shoulder of her pale yellow sweater that looked so soft, Ransom shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from placing a hand on her shoulder as they started toward the entry door. She glanced over at him. “Did Celia warn you that I love to shop?”
Ransom frowned slightly. “She did not impart that tidbit of wisdom.”
Kelly grinned as Ransom pulled open the door and held it for her. “Prepare to have your head spinning, cowboy.”
Ransom rolled his eyes, making her laugh, but gamely followed her into the store.
He had no idea what to look for or even where to look, but Kelly took charge. She led the way to the men’s department and located an older salesperson who seemed knowledgeable as Kelly explained what Ransom needed. The three of them browsed through racks until Ransom had half a dozen suits to try on.
Kelly plopped down on a chair outside the dressing room and waited as he tried on each suit and modeled it for her.
Old Ransom would have had a great time preening in front of a pretty girl.
New and improved Ransom was starting to find the whole thing torturous, especially when the sales associate kept adjusting his sleeves and the hem of the jackets. When the older woman, whose nametag read Nelda, reached back and tugged on the seat of his pants, Ransom jumped.
“Hey! What was that for?” he asked as he glowered at Nelda.
The older woman smirked. “Just making sure you’re still paying attention, young man.”
Kelly hid a laugh behind her hand.
Before Ransom could retreat to the safety of the dressing room, Kelly held up her index finger and made a circular motion with it.
Ransom turned in a circle, then looked at Kelly, waiting for her to wrinkle her nose and find something wrong with this suit as she had the others he’d tried on.
“What are the team colors?” she asked, cocking her head to one side.
“Navy blue, silver, and pale blue. Why?”
“Because if you switch that orchid tie for silver, I think we’ve nailed the winner.” Kelly hopped up and found a tasteful, understated silk tie in a perfect shade of silver to match the football team’s colors.
Ransom removed the orchid tie and lifted his chin as Kelly slipped the silver tie around his neck. It looked nice with the pale blue shirt and the dark navy suit that fit him exceptionally well. Other than the fact that the hem of the pants needed to be let out another inch, it fit great, especially across his shoulders and broad chest.
“Now you’re talking,” Kelly said, brushing a speck of lint from his shoulder. “That’s the suit that will tell potential sponsors to buy what you’re selling.”
Ransom thought he caught a glimmer of admiration in her eyes before she smiled at Nelda and nodded in approval. That was all the recommendation he needed to purchase the suit. Although he was afraid to ask what it cost, he looked at the tag after he took it off and returned it to the hanger in the dressing room. The price was a few hundred dollars more than he’d planned to spend, but the cut and style were traditional. Both Kelly and Nelda had emphasized the suit would serve him well for many years to come with proper care.
Proper care for a suit was one more thing Ransom mentally added to his list of things to learn.
He picked up two pale blue shirts he intended to purchase, as well as the silver tie and the navy suit, then walked out to where Kelly chatted with Nelda.
“Would you like to look at anything else today, handsome Ransom?” Nelda asked, batting her sparse eyelashes at him in a way that made Ransom want to laugh in the worst way. He tamped down the urge and shook his head.
“I think the suit, shirts, and tie will do for today.”
“Suit yourself,” the woman said, then winked at Kelly, who laughed at the terrible pun.
When Nelda gave him the total, Ransom stared at her in disbelief for a long moment.
“The suit is on an after-Christmas clearance, and the shirts are buy one get one half price as are the ties. I added a second silver tie in case you accidentally stain the first one since the color is so perfect with your suit.” Kelly motioned to the second tie Nelda wrapped in tissue paper.
“Wow! Thanks for that, and for finding such great sale prices.” Ransom wasn’t quite so worried about spending money on more clothes now that his suit had been five hundred dollars less than he’d anticipated spending, not to mention the sale prices of the shirts and ties. He considered shopping for a second suit there but decided to see what else they could find in the mall. He could always come back tomorrow and get another suit from Nelda.
After thanking the older woman and accepting a small shopping bag with the ties and a garment bag holding the suit and shirts, Ransom and Kelly walked toward the door.
“Why don’t you check out the next store or look at the women’s clothes while I run this back out to my SUV? It will only take a moment.”
“Great. I’ll make a pass through the clearance racks and meet you by the store’s entry into the mall. Just text me if I’m not already there.”
Ransom nodded, rushed outside, and made his way back through the store to the entrance into the mall just as Kelly approached from the other side through the women’s department.
“Find anything?” he asked, noticing her empty hands.
“Nope, but this store is a little rich for my blood.” She strode out onto the mall’s tiled hallway. “What’s next on your list? Didn’t you mention something about pants and shirts and maybe a less expensive suit?”
“Yep. You have a store in mind?”
Kelly nodded and led the charge through three more stores. Thanks to clearance sales, Ransom was able to purchase a dozen pairs of pants and an equal number of dress shirts. He selected half a dozen polo shirts and a handful of ties. Kelly added a box of nice handkerchiefs to his pile at the register, and he paid for them, knowing if she’d chosen them, he needed them. It was then he realized that somewhere through the afternoon of shopping, she’d gained his trust, and they’d become friends.
His arms were loaded with bags as they entered the main hallway of the mall once again.
“One more store,” Kelly said, leading the way into a shoe store with half-price signs in the window.
Ransom found three pairs of shoes he liked. One would work well with suits, and the other two could be worn with pants on game days or to work in the office. None of them looked like what he would refer to as sissy shoes, but they were far dressier than anything he’d ever owned.
“I’ll carry those. Your hands are a bit full,” Kelly teased as they made their way outside to his SUV.
Grateful he no longer had the silly sports car that would have maybe had room to hold one bag of clothes and a shoe box, he loaded all his purchases and shut the back, then turned to Kelly.
“If you worked up an appetite shopping like I did, I’d love to buy you dinner as a thank you for your hard work this afternoon.”
“We go Dutch, and I’d like that. I know just the place.” Kelly took out her phone and texted an address to him. “You can follow me, but just in case, at least you’ll know where you’re going.”
“Thanks, Kelly. I’ll meet you there.”
Ransom held her car door for her, then jogged around to get in his SUV.
Two hours later, he and Kelly were still talking at a cozy table at a German restaurant, and he had no interest in leaving. Despite his initial nerves over meeting her, he found himself enjoying her company far more than he’d anticipated.
They’d long since paid for their meals, with Kelly refusing Ransom’s insistence on buying her dinner. Although their plates had been cleared away an hour ago, they still lingered.
“It’s really getting busy,” Kelly said as another family was seated at the table behind Ransom. She glanced at her watch and gasped. “How did it get so late? It wasn’t even five when we came in.”
“Time flies, I guess,” Ransom said, knowing this was the end of his day with a fascinating woman he’d found to be witty and intelligent as well as easy to talk to. “Thank you for today, Kelly. It really meant a lot to me that you’d spend your afternoon helping me after …” He paused, not certain what to say.
Kelly stood and pulled on her coat, grabbed her purse, and offered him a look of understanding. “After you did everything you could to make Celia despise you, or Kash, or both of you. I’m still not certain of all those details.”
“Kinda the same thing since she didn’t know at the time there were two of us.” Ransom followed Kelly out into the chilly evening and walked with her to her SUV. “I really am sorry for what I did.”
“Celia mentioned you’re determined to turn over a new leaf. I think it’s admirable and a great way to start out the new year. If you ever need someone to offer a word of encouragement, I’m here.”
“Thanks, Kelly. I appreciate that and the friendship you offered today.” Ransom shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from doing something he shouldn’t, like brushing the silky strands of her hair behind her ear, or kissing her smooth cheek.
“Have you heard much about wedding plans?” Kelly asked, not seeming to be in a hurry to leave.
Ransom shook his head. “Nope. Other than it’s the third Saturday in January, and I am expected to be there on Friday in time for the rehearsal. My boss told me I could have the Thursday before the wedding off, and I don’t have to be back to work until the following Tuesday—without pay, of course.”
“Of course. That’s nice you have the extra days off, though. It won’t make the trip feel so rushed. I’ve driven to Boise many times from here, but not to Twin Falls. It’s a couple more hours, isn’t it?”
Ransom nodded, and then words blurted out of him before he had time to consider them. “If you want, we can ride together.”
“Actually, I’d love that, Ransom. Trips always pass much faster when you have someone to share the journey. I was dreading driving on potentially bad roads by myself, but I need to be back on Monday for a thing at work.”
“We can definitely make that happen. Why don’t I pick you up at your place so you won’t have to worry about your vehicle sitting somewhere while you’re gone?”
“That’s great. I’ll text you my address, and I’ll see you in a few weeks.” Kelly looked like she was about to say something more, then appeared to change her mind and got in her vehicle.
Ransom smiled and backed away. As he walked over to his SUV, he wondered what had just happened. Although he lacked the ability to accurately describe it, he was sure something profound had just taken place.
