Page 3 of Recklessly Yours

My stomach sank. Of course my sister would talk about personal things like that with our customers. Small-town life was lovely. I wouldn’t be surprised if a dozen more of them asked about it before the end of the week.

I shrugged. “Probably not.” The last thing I wanted was to give people I barely knew any more personal information. Clearly, Ashley had told them more than enough.

Hopefully whoever sent them would send me a text, and I’d figure it out. If I didn’t mention it again, Ashley would move on to something else, and the subject of the mystery flowers would be dropped.

After getting stuck chatting for a few more minutes with the regulars, I finally made my escape through the front door. I had to get better at using the side door, because every time I wentthis way, I got stuck talking to staff or customers. And today, I was over it all and ready to be home.

Lucky me, I still had a party to go to. I started my car, and when the low tire pressure warning light lit up on my dash, I cursed under my breath. This was ridiculous. I’d just had Randy, the town mechanic, look at the damn tire. The indicator for the front tire on the passenger side was showing low, even though he swore there was no leak. But seeing as how this would be the fourth time I’d have to put air in it, the guy had to have missed something. It was under warranty, and they’d offered to replace it. I just hadn’t had time to drop it off yet.

Thankfully, it was never so low that I couldn’t drive it, and usually it would go back off once I started driving.

So whatever. I wasn’t dealing with it tonight. I’d call the shop sometime this week and make an appointment.

Chapter Two

DYLAN

There’snothing like realizing you’re the only single person left in a group of friends. I looked around Jackson and Ashley’s large great room and found nothing but couples and a ton of kids.

Jesus, who invites this many kids to a New Year’s Eve party? Are they all staying up until midnight?

God, I hoped not.

I wished the possibility of being surrounded by a bunch of families had occurred to me before I’d said yes to Jackson’s invitation.

He’d guilted me into coming by reminding me that since this would be my first New Year’s Eve off in what felt like forever, I had to show my face at one of his parties.It wasn’t like I had better things to do. Even he knew I didn’t. Since I’d been promoted, working a patrol shift wasn’t an option. If it had been, I could guarantee I wouldn’t be here.

The only other single people I’d spied so far were Rhett’s two youngest sisters, and I wasnotgoing there. Not only were they one of my best friend’s sisters, but Savannah was nuts and Hattie was basically mute. Other than the one party here a few summers ago where she’d had a few drinks and had chatted with me, I’d hardly heard her speak.

That night, she’d been easy to talk to. Refreshing. But since then, we really hadn’t interacted much. I’d started dating Becca a few months after that party, and for the last two years, she had come with me to every wedding and function I could make it to. Until now.

Now I was single and at a party among a sea of couples.

I made my way over to the bar in the corner, shaking my head. Of course Jackson would hire a bartender for a party in his own home. After ordering a beer, I shifted away from the counter so Savannah could step up.

Between the purple streaks in her blond hair, the nose ring, and the outfit made up of fishnets and strips of leather, she wasa lot.

“Shots,” Savannah yelled to the three women standing behind her.

Ah. There it was. Point proven.

Had she not gotten the memo about this being a family event? I wasn’t privy to that information, so I supposed it waspossible. Except she was part of this family. Did she not know all her nieces and nephews plus a bunch of other kids would be here? Even if she hadn’t, she had eyes and could see.

Shots at a kids’ party.

I shook my head and glanced at the other three women, hoping one of them would nix the shots. But seeing only Hattie, Jackson’s sister Brittney, and another woman who looked like she was about to sayhell yeah, I didn’t have much hope.

“Oh, hello, Detective Dylan.” Savannah sent me a wink.

I shifted on my feet, even more uncomfortable than I had been a second ago.

“Celeste, we need four shots.” Savannah side-eyed me. “Make that five. One for the sexy detective.”

I wasn’t sure whether I was less surprised about Savannah being on a first-name basis with the bartender or the flirting. Either way, I’d learned over the years that Savannah did whatever she wanted and she gave no fucks about it.

Brittney sent me a quick wave, and I gave her a nod back.

“She’s married,” Savannah informed me as she handed me a shot glass.

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