All day, I’d caught Ford watching—his gaze moving from James to my mom to me with that careful, calculating glint. I knew that look. I’d grown up under it. It was his ‘I’m about tomeddle’ look. I knew it so well I’d be willing to bet my own ginger locks that he was concocting a scheme to get me to move back to Seddledowne. As if my being here would magically heal my family’s hearts.
But my presence wasn’t going to resurrect a wife.
Sure, it would make my mom happy, but at the sacrifice of my own happiness. It wasn’t that I didn’t love Seddledowne. At times, this place brought out the best in me. But the highs weren’t high enough to counterbalance the lows. And when I was low, I waslow.
For example, last night I undid all the progress Bowen and I had made with one word: Bozo. That’s right. When he outshot me by one clay target, I cussed and called him Bozo.
Thing is, it wasn’t even an accident. When that old dig surfaced, I told myself not to say it—and said it anyway. In front of Jules. I felt like a complete jerk. She said it was just a trauma response and not to be so hard on myself.
But that was the thing: the longer I was home, the more triggered I was and the harder it got to keep it all in.
When Mayor Massey—all five-foot-three inches of him—cornered me by the punch table, I knew for certain that Ford was up to no good.
“Griffin,” Mayor Massey said, enunciating so forcefully that bits of dinner roll escaped with the vowels. The man appeared completely oblivious to the cornbread crumbs in his mustache or the streak of mustard across his forehead. “Long time no see. How’ve you been, son?”
Nothing grated on me like a man who wasn’t my kin calling me son. Still, my Southern upbringing wouldn’t let me snub him.
“Doing well.” I ladled some of the creamy lime concoction Heidi brought to every church picnic into a plastic cup. “And you?”
Mayor Massey patted his ample stomach. “The wife keepsme fed. Can’t complain,” he hummed. “Can’t complain. But look at you.” He grabbed my forearms and shook, making my drink spill down the front of my pants. He didn’t even notice. “When are you going to stop growing?”
I’d quit growing two years ago, but I laughed. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
“While I have you here,” he started. “I thought I might run something past you.”
Here it comes.
“Sure.” I freed an arm to brush off my pants. “Shoot.”
He rocked back on his heels and puffed his chest. “Well, I’m sure you’ve heard that Seddledowne is getting its own paid fire department.”
“Really?” I raised a brow. “How are they funding that?” A paid department came with a hefty price tag—equipment, salaries, benefits—which was why towns like Seddledowne usually made do with volunteers.
“Well, you know,” he hedged, scratching his neck, which had suddenly broken out in raised, splotchy hives. “We’ve received some generous support from a few… very civic-minded citizens.”
I huffed. “Civic-minded citizens.”
More like one citizen. Who was so wildly rich he could fund an entire fire department just to entice his nephew to move back home and still have plenty left over for whatever ridiculous project he dreamed up next.
Would my uncle seriously do that?
I glanced over at Ford, who thought he was so covert—hiding in a huddle of Gramps and his buddies next to us, discussing rabbit hunting. Which was rich, considering Ford hated rabbit hunting. Said the dogs sounded like they were fleeing a chainsaw massacre in the woods, and rabbit tasted like chicken’s deeply disappointing cousin.
Oh yeah, this had Ford Dupree written all over it.
I pursed my lips and gave him a look that said,I’m on to youand I’m not falling for it.
He smirked and blew me a kiss as if to reply,we’ll see.
I narrowed my eyes and lifted my cup in a silent toast.You’re right. We will.
There was nothing he could offer me that would tempt me to come home. I was too happy in Phoenix. Besides, Jules needed to be close to Vegas to commute in for meetings and photo shoots. I couldn’t wait to watch her do her thing at the job she loved.
“—and we simply can’t find a suitable candidate for the position. So what d’ya say?” Mayor Massey said.
Crap. I’d missed his entire spiel, having a silent standoff with my uncle.
“I’m sorry.” I scratched my jaw. “I was distracted. Could you repeat that?”
