Page 2 of Reckless Flames

She let out a watery chuckle, pulling back to wipe her eyes. “I've missed you, Soph.”

“Missed you more,” I replied with a grin.

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the chaos of the house below us fading into the background. Then, struck by a sudden idea, I stood up, pulling her with me.

“You know what you need? A break. Let’s get out of this madhouse, just for a few hours. What do you think?”

Her eyes widened, a spark of excitement flickering within them. “Really? But the whole family’s here and…”

“…will still be here when we get back. C’mon, it’ll be fun. A night off from all...this,” I gestured vaguely toward the door, encompassing the wedding preparations and family drama in one swoop.

A smile slowly spread across her face, the first genuine one I’d seen.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

“Fabulous! But I can’t run off when I’ve just arrived. Give me time to mingle and catch up with the family a little, and then we’ll go. An hour max, I promise.”

She must have been watching the clock because Madi came down an hour later with both our jackets and purses in hand and announced our impromptu girls’ night out. The response was a room full of protests and warnings to “be careful” and “not toolate.” Ignoring the well-meant admonishments, we headed out, the cool evening air a welcome relief from the stuffiness of the house.

The center of our small town was only about half a mile away, so we decided to walk and headed for Grumpy’s, the bar we liked best. It was buzzing with chatter and laughter, the air thick with the scent of beer and fried food. We found a cozy corner booth, and as I slid in across from Madi, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. This was the place we’d all gone to as soon as we were old enough to buy alcohol—not too formal or too sleazy, comfortable booths big enough for a group of six, good food, good music on an old jukebox, and pool tables in the back.

We ordered our first round of drinks. Madi took a sip of her beer and sighed. “Best wedding prep ever,” she declared, even though her wedding wasn’t for three more weeks. I smiled back at her, so glad I’d come home when I did.

“So, talk,” I told her. “Tell me everything. How’s Theo? How are the wedding preparations going? What’s done, and what’s left to do?”

I’m usually the more talkative of the two of us, but I wanted to catch up on all the wedding stuff, and I wanted to give her a chance to spill any frustrations she was experiencing. At the mention of her fiancé’s name, she got that look on her face. That I’m- so-in-love look that usually makes me cringe, but now it made me happy for her. She proceeded to share all of it: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Just as Madi was winding down, a look of surprise flashed over her face, and she said, “Jake!” I turned around to see our big brother walking into the bar and behind him—Ben Culver. My heart jumped. Jake saw Madi waving and walked over to our booth, followed by his best friend from high school and my secret crush.

Ben was even more handsome than I remembered, with that same disarming smile and eyes that could probably convince you to jump into the river in midwinter. Jake was asking if they could join us, which, of course, Madi agreed to, and my sister and I moved over to make room for them. Jake sat next to Madi, so I ended up with Ben next to me. I felt my cheeks heat at the look he gave me as he sat down. It was a look of assessment and appreciation, as if he liked what he saw. I’d never got much attention from Ben before. He’s Jake’s age, so I was always the little sister and not worthy of notice all those years I was still living at home. Apparently, that had changed while I was in New York becoming a successful author—of my debut novel, at least.

The four of us fell into easy conversation, mostly catch-up topics at first, but then Ben, who was apparently in real estate now, recounted a particularly absurd story about a recent sale that went sideways. He was proving to be quite a surprise. Ben had always seemed a little on the stern side, almost grumpy sometimes. Tonight, however, he responded to teasing with more of the same, and had a store of tales that were funny or strange.

A little later, a couple of drinks in, the room was buzzing just the right amount, the edges of reality softened by the alcohol. Ourlaughter was louder, our stories more outrageous, and the world outside the bar felt miles away.

Then, Madi yawned and said she was tired and should get home.

Jake asked, “How did you get here?”

“We walked, but I’d love a ride back home from someone,” Madi said, looking at our big brother pointedly but with a smile.

“I didn’t intend to stay long,” Jake said. “Ben, do you mind if I head out. I’ll drop Madi off on my way home, and Sophie too, if you want to come with us,” he added, with a look at me.

Ben jumped in smoothly, “I’m not ready to go just yet. Maybe Sophie will stay and keep me company for one more beer. I’ll drive you home, if that’s okay with you,” he said to me. I managed to keep my cool and said easily, “Sure, that sounds good.”

With Madi and Jake gone, the dynamic shifted, an electric current of anticipation buzzing between Ben and me. The bar’s ambient noise faded into the background, our booth becoming an intimate bubble in the crowded space.

“So, Ms. Bestselling Author, are you going to write a steamy romance set in our little hometown while you’re here?” Ben teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I snorted, nearly choking on my drink. “Oh, please, like this is a good setting for the next great love story.”

“Why not?” he challenged, leaning in closer. “Small town, big dreams, and...hmm, what kind of a romance could it be? I know. What about a very unexpected attraction turning into more?” His voice dropped to a husky whisper, sending shivers down my spine.

The air between us crackled, charged with unspoken possibilities. I was acutely aware of every movement, every breath, as if we were the only two people in the world. Meanwhile, the back of my brain was shrieking,What’s happening here? What am I doing with my much older brother’s best friend? What would Jake think about this? I don’t want to think about this. It just feels right.

We continued to banter, our words laced with double meanings and innuendos. Each laugh, each look, seemed to stoke the fire, drawing us inexorably closer. The world beyond our conversation ceased to exist, the past and future melting away until there was only here and now.

The bartender’s last call echoed distantly, a reminder of the time slipping away even though Grumpy’s closed early midweek. Ben’s gaze held mine, steady and unyielding, as he leaned back, a half-smile playing on his lips.

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