Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to answer before another man slapped his shoulder, pulling his attention as Faye spoke up.
“I’m sorry, Reece.”
What?My brows pinched with a sharp turn of my head. “What do you mean?”
“About Laken and you,” she carried on, offering a sympathetic smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “He used to ask about you every day. For years, in his letters. Each time, I told him you were still away, but he always asked.” Despite thepity in her tone, her chuckle of an exhale somehow sounded calming. Familiar. It took all of two seconds for her features to turn conniving. “He’s single, you know?”
Clearing my throat, I tried to hide my discomfort. “I’m surprised, you know. Considering his way with people and the way the girls in town still swoon over him.”
Faye rolled her eyes, wiping dirt off her floral skirt. “I think he’s been holding out for something…” she teased, knowing I knew exactly what she meant.
How do you tell your ex’s sweet, caring mother that you’d rather see her son dragged through a field of flaming poisonberry thorns than love him again?
Saved by a wide-eyed Mia skipping across the field, I dodged that conversation all too gladly.
“Mia…?” Her name dragged off my tongue, suspicious from the giddy look in her eyes.
Mia came to an abrupt stop. Her bright smile ignited, and I knew something would follow. “They’re about to start the Mayhelm dance and I need a partner.”
Even watching her enthusiasm, I shrank into my body a bit. “What about your friends?”
Her face dropped into a deadly glare. “We’re a friend group ofthree.”
It took me no time at all to understand what she meant. Swallowing my pride and probably better judgment, I tossed my hand out, waiting for her to help me up. I needed the rescue as much as she did. “It was good to see you,
Mrs. Augustus.” I turned to see Faye standing as well. “It seems I’ve been called to the dance floor.”
“Oh, of course, Reece.” She smiled, and it immediately brought my mind back to Laken’s grin.Damned good genes.“It’s good to have you back.” A twinkle of something like peace glinted in her eyes.
With a quick nod, skip, and a hop—I stood across Mia on a makeshift wooden dance floor lit with strung-up lights and lanterns. It’d been years since I participated in the Mayhelm dance, but when the music began, it felt as if I were right back at eighteen and being spun around in Laken’s arms, young and naïve.
Mia’s a much better partner. “Thank you,” she mouthed as the violins started in.
She barely rose to my shoulder, but she knew the steps. Our arms locked, we spun, stomped, and clapped before time came to rotate partners.
Goldie twirled into me first. “You smell much better than Hickory down the line.” She nodded to old Hickory, an older man missing teeth and wearing his fishing overalls.
“I’d hope so.”
George Bartins came next. A few years older than me, tall, dark hair, tanned skin. “Reece McCarthen, I didn’t know you were back in town.” His light eyes glanced down at me, and a flirtatious smile tugged at his lips, reminding me why I hated most men in the first place.
“Well, now you do.”
“You’ve grown up,” he said—and I couldn’t hold back my laugh.
“Goodbye, George.” Spinning out of his arms, I prepared for one last partner.
I used to like this dance, and I could see the pros of it, but there was not a part of me that wanted to dance with some random stranger who knew everything about me because they’d been in this town too long. Coincidentally, I didn’t land with another stranger. I landed right into the chest of Laken Augustus.
Of course.
I didn’t need to look up to see he stood there; I knew by his smell. Honey and mint, sweet yet crisp. Little dark-blond waves flowed with his movements. Unlike George, his hands gripped me as if they belonged there, as if they were meant to be there all along. His fingers pressed into my skin like he felt scared to let go.
Raising my chin, I poured my heated gaze into his, fueled by my anger and grudge. I couldn’t clench my jaw any harder if I tried, not without chipping teeth. My body tensed so hard my lip quivered. I hated having such a reaction to him, no matter the type.
His face reflected my fury, but if mine was burning, his was hungry. Ravenous.
“Well, if it isn’t Honey Brooke’s golden child,” his velvety voice cracked through the air between us.
