Surprise stole my voice, and I shook my head.
“Sit down before you fall down,” he teased. “Scoot over. We can catch up.”
He picked up my wine glass and sniffed it suspiciously.
“It’s white wine,” I offered lamely.
“Don’t tell me you like that swill now,” he scoffed. “If you’re gonna drink, it should be worth the hangover.”
In a daze that he’d fallen back into our old patter, I held still while he got comfortable on the porch steps next to me. My skin burned where his denim-clad thigh pressed against mine. I exhaled in relief when he stretched his long legs in front of him and leaned back on his elbows.
“I always wanted to return to Sierra Rose Ridge,” he shocked me by saying.
“What? I thought you wanted out of here as badly as I did.”
“Nah. I just wanted away from my dad.”
My heart panged at his words. I didn’t offer my condolences because I’d never hated anyone more than I hated Philip Brown, and I was glad when he died.
“Sierra Rose Ridge is great,” he continued. “I’ve seen a lot of the world since then, and it’s still the best place for a kid to grow up. Despite my parents, this is home. I always planned to come back here when I finished my service.”
Guilt choked me.
“Do you have kids?”
“No.” His voice held a world of sorrow. “I was engaged, but it… didn’t work out. Since I already gave the renter here notice to vacate six months ago, I figured I’d come here and lick my wounds away from prying eyes.”
I snorted, grateful for the lifeline.
“You must have forgotten everything about small towns if you think the whole town wasn’t eager to dissect your life the second you rolled up.”
I patted myself on the back when he chuckled ruefully, and his body relaxed.
“You’re right about that. Earlier, I went to the market to stock up on food. Half the town was there to grill me on my plans. Then I had dinner with Dusty, and his wife had a whole welcoming committee of single ladies for me to choose from.”
His voice was dry as dust, but jealousy speared me.
“I didn’t know you knew Dusty well enough to have dinner with him your first night back.”
“I worked for him as a mechanic before I enlisted. My MOS—military occupational code—in the army was wheeled vehicle mechanic. I’ve got my savings, but I was hoping he’d had some work for me.”
“Well?” I nudged him with my shoulder. “Don’t leave me hanging.”
That sexy smile broke out again, and my breath caught. Damn, that thing should come with a warning label. He was stupidly attractive without it, but when he smiled, I lost my head momentarily.
The single women of Sierra Rose Ridge were going to have a field day with him. If Dusty wanted to increase the number of customers, all he had to do was spread the word that he’d hired Jacob Brown, and they’d beat down his doors.
“Yeah, I start in a couple days. It’s part-time for now, but he says things pick up before summer when everybody goes on vacation.”
“Holy shit, I can’t believe we’re both back home again.” I laughed. “Welcome home, Jake. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“It hasn’t been the homecoming I expected. I thought everybody would bring up my dad, but it’s mostly been stories from high school.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder like I had a thousand times before, but it was different.Iwas different. Why did I have to notice him like that? More importantly, how do I turn it off? I could not find Jake attractive, especially when I was already such a mess about Beau.
Then his comment sunk in.
“Oh my God! You’re the guy.” At his raised eyebrows, I laughingly explained. “I worked at the Tavern tonight. A couple of the ranch hands rhapsodized about some football hero they met tonight. It never occurred to me they were talking about high school football from a dozen years ago.”
