Page 2 of Merry & Wild

“I did.” She shrugs and taps her foot as Madonna starts to sing about dressing up. “But I’m back. It’s funny because I thought I wanted to be a city girl, but it turns out the city isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It was fun for a while, and I like to visit, but Montana has my heart.”

I nod and can’t help but notice that Joy looks amazing in a simple green dress, her feet in heels, and her dark hair pinned back on one side with a clip. Her green eyes are happy and flirty, and it’s all starting to come back to me.

Yeah, Joy was always pretty as a teenager. But now, she’s absolutely beautiful.

“I’m glad you’re home,” I reply, and clink my glass to hers.

“Are you still out at the ranch?” she asks casually.

“Oh, yeah. I was born there, and I’ll probably die there. But that’s not a bad thing. What are you doing these days?”

“I’m a bookkeeper,” she says. “For Bitterroot Pediatrics. It’s not a bad thing, either, really. I like the doctors.”

“Is Doc Simpson still there?”

“He is, and he’s about a hundred years old.”

I laugh with her and notice that Joy isn’t wearing a ring on an important finger. “No husband?”

“Nah, I’m single. What about you? Are you still with Sandy?”

“No.” I shake my head, thinking about my high school girlfriend. “We broke up not long after graduation, actually.”

“So, you’re single, too, then.”

I nod, and Joy’s smile spreads. “That’s pretty convenient, because I have a confession to make.”

“I can’t wait to hear what it is.” I wave back at a friend from across the room and then give Joy my undivided attention. “Spill it.”

“I’ve had a massive crush on you since the sixth grade.”

CHAPTER 2

JOY

Iswear to God, I’ve broken out in a cold sweat, and I can no longer hear the music blaring around us. Did I just say thatout loud? To the sexiest man I’ve ever seen in my entire life?

I’m solame.

“Is that so?” John leans a shoulder on the wall, looking so tall and casual in his jeans and button-down, so calm and collected as he watches me with humor-filled brown eyes that I could just get lost in.

“You know what? I think I’m done embarrassing myself for one night. It was good to see you, John. I’m sure I’ll run into you around town.”

I nod and try to walk away, but he catches my elbow in his grasp.

“Hey, there’s no need to be embarrassed. I’m sorry if I made you feel like that. It’s just not every day that a woman says something like that to me.”

“Right,” I mutter, looking down at the gorgeous shoes that I wish I hadn’t worn. They’re killing me. “I’m sure you hear it a lot.”

“What’s that? I can’t hear you over Huey Lewis and the News.”

I laugh at that. “I didn’t say anything.”

“John!” A teenager who looks alotlike John comes running up to him and tugs on his shirtsleeve. “Hey, can I just stay with Sarah Beth tonight? We can just walk to her place later, after the dance.”

She bites her lip, watching him hopefully.

“Yeah, that’s fine, but be sure to call home to let the parents know. Just call me tomorrow when you’re ready to come home.”

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