Page 33 of Secret Southern Promises

She nodded, a little frown pulling at her lips. “Yeah, Seth’s sick, and Marvin isn’t scheduled to come in until two. I need to get over there and cover.” She looked at me with genuine regret. “I’m so sorry, Boone.”

Without thinking, I leaned over the center console, and my hand gently cupped her cheek as I pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Don’t even worry about it, honey. You can make it up to me later.”

Her eyes softened, and she smiled as her hand cradled my cheek in return. “I like the sound of that.”

I leaned in for one more kiss, lingering just a second longer this time before pulling back and settling into my seat. I started the truck again and turned it around to head back toward where we’d parked.

As we neared her car, she called out, “Hey, wherewerewe headed?”

I glanced over at her, a smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Bleachers.”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Are you planning on touring all the places we used to sneak away and make out at?”

I shrugged, pulled up behind her car, and put the truck in park. “I mean, can you blame me?”

Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “You’re shameless, Boone West.”

“Only when it comes to you, Dolly Hanes,” I whispered against her lips, feeling her smile widen against mine.

“I’ll call you later, yeah?”

I nodded. “You better, honey.”

Chapter Twenty

Dolly

It was half past four, and Nash was late. I glanced at my phone for what had to be the fiftieth time, hoping for a call or at least a text, but there was nothing. My stomach tightened, a familiar unease creeping in. “Come on, kid,” I muttered under my breath, keeping my eyes on the front door of the store. “Where the heck are you?”

The bell above the door jingled, and my eyes widened, and my heart skipped a beat. But it wasn’t Nash—just another customer. I let out a breath, trying to focus as two people made their way to the register. I rang them up absently, barely registering their purchases. My mind was elsewhere, running through every worst-case scenario.

After they left, I couldn’t wait any longer. I grabbed my phone and fired off a text.Nash Tyler Hanes. Where in the world are you?

My heart pounded as the seconds ticked by with no response. I was on the verge of panic, and my finger hovered over the call button to 9-1-1 when my phone buzzed. The text finally came through, and the words made my stomach drop:I crashed my bike on Meadow Lane. Can you come get me?

“Oh god,” I whispered, and my heart raced. I didn’t even stop to think before yelling, “Marvin!” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t have time to explain. “I need to leave. Watch the store!”

I didn’t even know if Marvin heard me as I bolted for the door. The moment I was outside, I sprinted to my car, barely registering the concerned looks from a couple of customers lingering nearby. I jumped into the driver’s seat, started theengine, and peeled out of the parking lot with my hands trembling as I gripped the steering wheel.

I drove fast, too fast, through town, my heart in my throat. Meadow Lane wasn’t far, but every second felt like an eternity. All I could picture was Nash, hurt and alone, maybe worse than he was letting on in his text.What if he’s really hurt? What if—No, I couldn’t go there.

He hadn’t said where exactly on Meadow Lane he was, so I started at one end and drove the length of the road, scanning for any sign of him. My mind was racing. Meadow Lane wasn’t very long, but it felt like it went on forever. I had almost reached the dead end when I spotted them.

Nash was sitting on the sidewalk and his friend Kevin standing next to him. My heart clenched at the sight of Nash holding his arm like it was hurt. But then my eyes shifted to the figure crouched in front of him. Boone West.

“Oh shit,” I whispered, pressing my foot harder on the gas as I pulled up. Of course, Boone had to be here. Because the universe couldn’t just give me a break, Nash had crashed in front of Boone’s house. Now, on top of worrying about whether Nash was hurt, I had to deal with the fact that Boone and Nash had finally met.

I parked and jumped out of the car, my heart pounding. “Nash!” I called as I rushed over to him, my eyes darting between my son and Boone.

Nash looked up at me, his face pale but trying to act like it was no big deal. “Hey, Mom.”

I kneeled down beside him, my hands hovering for a moment before I gently touched his shoulder. “What happened? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Nash mumbled, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. “I just... I hit a rock or something and flipped the bike. It’s no big deal.”

“It’s a big deal if you’re hurt,” I said, my voice softer now. “Where are you hurt?”

He shrugged with his good shoulder. “Just my arm, I think. It’s probably just bruised.”

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