Page 81 of Sweet Like Whiskey

Marigold gives me a wide smile. “As if I would ever.”

I chuckle. I might not have known Marigold for long, but I know a meddlesome mother when I see one.

“Did you know our town has a fall festival?” she asks, tone even.

I raise a brow. “Does it?”

She hums. “The Darling Autumnfest. Jackson hasn’t been in years. He used to love it, you know. The distillery sells whiskey cider. One time a year only. It’s his favorite.”

“Uh-huh,” I say slowly.

“They do moonlight carriage rides, too. For the adults. Pretty romantic, if you ask me.”

“You’re not subtle. You know that, right?”

“Never said I was trying to be,” she counters, standing up. “Have a good rest of your afternoon, Ashley.”

“Marigold.”

As Mrs. Darling walks out of sight, I kick my rocker into motion.

“Trouble,” I mutter, smiling to myself. “All of ’em.”

Chapter 20

Jackson

If there’s one thing you can count on in Darling, Montana, it’s for everybody to know your business. Regardless of whether or not you want them to.

“How’s that new hire doing?” Louise asks, thinking she’s being clever. “What’s his name again? Arnold?”

“Ash,” I answer, transferring a crate of milk out of the back of the refrigerated truck. I don’t normally make the weekly milk deliveries, but our usual guy, Marshall, has a sick kid at home. Which means, today, I’m the runner.

I head into Louise’s sandwich shop, the woman herself at my heel.

“Ash,” she parrots. “That’s right. Sweet guy.”

“Mhm.”

“Looker, too.”

I set the crate down and stand up straight, giving her alook. “Really, Louise? Are we on this again?”

Louise Harper is one of my mother’s oldest and closest friends. Her eldest son is my age and her youngest is Remi’s. She’s always had a vested interest in our lives. For the past couple decades, that’s included mylovelife.

“I’m not sure what you’re alluding to, Jackson,” she says, feigning innocence. The woman is far from innocent. “I’m just stating facts. Are you telling me you don’t agree that he’s a handsome young man?”

Young is subjective, I suppose. But there’s no way for me to answer that question that doesn’t land me square inside Louise’s trap.

With a sigh, I decide to give her a truth. Frankly, I’m shocked the news hasn’t traveled to her already. My mom is showing restraint.

“I do think he’s handsome, Louise. Which is why I’m dating the man.”

That’s not the only reason, of course, not even the first reason. But I can tell my little bomb landed just fine. I step around Louise, who looks too shocked to manage gossip. Of course, she rallies quickly.

“Jackson Darling!” she says, storming after me. We both slip past one of her employees, who’s prepping for the shop to open. “Are you telling me you went and got a boyfriend, and you neglected to mention it to me?”

“Louise…”

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