“Jo, what happened tonight?”
She’s quiet for so long that I wonder if she even heard me. Finally, she says, “I went to Giddy Ups to blow off some steam. Russ Parker was there.”
Enough said.
But she keeps going. “He started talking all kinds of shit about my family. He had something to say about every single sibling, and then, he…”
Her voice trails off.
“He what?”
“Uh, he…brought my mom into it.”
“So, you hit him?”
“Well, I first broke a beer bottle and threatened to end his life with it. Then, when he still wouldn’t quit, I hit him.”
I think for a moment. It makes total sense that Jo would get in a fight because someone was badmouthing her family. Thewoman is loyal to a fault. She will do anything to protect the people she cares about.
I say, “I don’t blame you for hitting him. He’s always been a fucking asshole.”
“I was really trying to be good, but I just couldn’t hear him saying all those things about the people I love. I probably should have just walked away. I’m sure that’s what a mature person would have done.”
“I would have hit him more than once,” I say, only half-joking.
She lets out a small laugh. “I tried, but that damn sheriff stopped me.”
“Russ should be counting his lucky stars because you probably would have fucked him up.”
She smiles. “No probably about it. I would have.”
She wraps the rest of her candy bar back up in the plastic and says, “I’m going to get out and get a better look.”
I watch her as she steps out of the truck and walks to the overlook. With her hands shoved in her pockets, she looks down at our little hamlet of a town. She might be staring at Lilly Leaf Falls, but I can’t stop staring at her.
I’m trying so hard to keep my distance, but every time Jo lets down the thick armor she constantly wears, I’m reminded of why I was so drawn to her. She may be a pistol, but underneath it all, she’s got a huge heart and a kind soul.
I get out of the truck and follow her. She doesn’t look at me but simply says, “I’ve missed this place.” Then, she turns to me, her brown eyes staring into mine. “I’ve really missed it.”
The way she looks at me tells me she isn’t just talking about the town anymore. Part of me wants to tell her I’ve missed her too, but there’s still so much doubt within me that I can’t seem to form the words.
She’s the next one to speak. “Thank you for coming to get me tonight, Beau. I promise to try to stop being such a mess.” Her eyes fall to the ground. “It’s not doing me any favors.”
“Jo, I don’t think you standing up for your family means that you’re a mess.”
“Maybe not, but I probably need to get my life together.”
As I look at her, I get the overwhelming urge once more to kiss her. I want to take her in my arms and tell her that I’ve never thought she was a mess. I always thought she was fucking perfect.
My head screams to walk away. It tells me that I’m a damn fool for even considering this.
But for once, my heart is screaming louder. Fear creeps through every inch of me that she wouldn’t feel the same or that she wouldn’t reciprocate. But as I stare at her lips, I can’t stop thinking about what they would feel like against mine.
Just when I’m about to throw caution to the wind, a pair of headlights blinds us. We turn to see who it is. It takes a moment, but a park ranger finally comes into view.
“You guys need to be heading out of here. Storm is about to hit, so we are closing this road.”
“Will do,” I say.
