Page 9 of Reckless Flames

Madi reached out, squeezing my hand. “Hey, don’t let them get to you. This is about my wedding, not your love life. Besides, you’re doing amazing things, Soph. They just don’t get it.”

Her words, meant to comfort, managed to take the edge off my irritation. “I know, it’s just...overwhelming, you know? Feels like I’m the odd one out.”

Madi smiled, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, you’re the most interesting person here. And who knows? Maybe there’s a chapter in one of your future bestsellers sitting right here in this room.”

We shared a laugh, the tension easing as we prepared to rejoin the party. Madi was right; this was her day, her moment. My personal life—or lack thereof—was just a side note, a fleeting topic of conversation for those looking for something to talk about.

I waited until all the gifts had been opened and then drifted away from the shower to go for a walk. I needed a little alone time, and the party was almost over anyway, so I didn’t expect anyone to miss me. There was a dense forest nearby with lots of trails—one of my favorite places to walk.

A voice called out just as I reached the gate, the familiar timbre sending a jolt of surprise through me. “Escaping the madness?”

Turning, I found Ben leaning against the side of his car, an amused smile playing on his lips as he watched my attempt at a stealthy exit from the backyard party. His unexpected presence, right there in the driveway next door, momentarily stalled my thoughts.

“Something like that,” I replied, my attempt at nonchalance faltering under his gaze. “Needed a breather. This bridal shower stuff is intense. But what are you doing over there. I heard the Jenkins sold the house. Did you buy it?”

Ben pushed off from his car to close the distance between us. “Yes, I did. Just closed on it a few days ago.”

“Oh?” I arched an eyebrow, curiosity piqued in spite of myself. “What are you going to do with it?”

“It will be a rental or a flip—I haven’t decided yet.”

“So will we be seeing a lot of you then?”

“Looks like it,” Ben confirmed, his smile widening at my reaction. “You’ll be seeing a lot more of my crew, but I’ll be around too.”

The implications of his words sent a flurry of thoughts racing through my mind, each more intriguing than the last. “Well, isn’t that interesting,” I teased. “I’ll have to come up with some good welcome-to-the-neighborhood pranks.”

“I’d expect nothing less,” he shot back, the light in his eyes sparking a familiar warmth within me.

Our laughter mingled, a comfortable silence settling over us. It was strange, this dance of flirtation and familiarity, as if the line between acquaintance and something much more was blurring right before our eyes.

“So,” I started, leaning against the fence, “how do you feel about a celebratory drink?”

Ben’s gaze held mine, a depth of emotion flickering beneath the surface. “I think that’s the best offer I’ve had all day.”

“Then wait right there. I’ll be back in a second,” I said and returned shortly with two glasses of white wine.

The decision to join him felt as natural as breathing, the pull between us undeniable. As we made our way to his front porch, the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the promise of what was to come.

“So, where were you headed when I stopped you at the gate?” Ben asked after approving my choice of wine.

“I was going for a walk in the woods. They’re close enough that I can do a short hike without it taking too much time, and I love being there. It’s one of the things I miss the most, living in New York. I mean Central Park is great, but it’s so often crowded. It’s hard to find any space to be by myself and think.”

Ben looked increasingly concerned as I talked. “I had completely forgotten about those trails. I haven’t gone for a walk in there since I was in high school. Sophie, if you go for a walk in those woods, please don’t go alone.”

“Ben, I’ve been walking in there ever since I was old enough to go off by myself. Is there some reason I shouldn’t go alone anymore?”

“I don’t know for sure,” he sighed. “But I saw someone who seemed to be watching your house the other day, and it worried me. They were wearing a gray hoodie that hid their face, and they walked by your house twice that I saw, staring at it both times.”

“Okay, that does seem a little odd, but I can’t make the leap from that to someone wanting to cause any of us harm.”

“Well, what would it hurt to play it safe? Can you just walk around the neighborhood or what about the little park onCrescent Hills Road? You know the one I mean, right? It’s got that circular path that, if you walk the circle seven time, it’s the same as walking a mile.”

I agreed to play it safe on future walks and the conversation moved on to other topics. Sitting there, the soft hum of late afternoon around us, our conversation flowed freely. We talked about everything and nothing, from the mundane details of our different jobs to the shared memories that seemed to weave themselves more tightly around us with each passing moment.

The laughter came easily, the connection between us deepening as the day wore on. It was in these moments, with the barriers of the past and the uncertainties of the future momentarily forgotten, that I found myself truly savoring the present, the simple joy of being here with Ben, on the cusp of something new and entirely unexpected.

“Want to see the inside of the house?” he asked, a playful challenge in his eyes. “I’d like to know what you would do with it.”

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