Page 62 of Burn the Wild

“Ford?”

Our heads swivel at the deep voice.

Charlie and Ruby stand on the street corner, staring at us.

I clear my throat. “Hey, C. Long time.”

A grin quirks Charlie’s bearded lips. “Surprised to see you out and about after the way you tore up Nowhere last night.”

I suppress a groan. Fantastic. The gossip mill is already in full swing.

“This is Reese. I’m, uh, showing her around.”

“We haven’t met,” he says, offering a big hand. “I’m Charlie.”

Reese takes it. “Nice to meet you.”

“How’d the flower shop hunt go?” I ask Ruby.

Ruby shakes her head. “It already sold.”

“Damn,” I say. With the burgeoning small-town boom, Resurrection’s real estate gets snapped up quickly.

“Ford Montgomery, you forgot some things.” Rita steps onto the sidewalk, smirking. “You’re all set.” Before I can say anything, I have six bright pink shopping bags in my hands.

Charlie and Ruby trade amused looks.

Reese’s mouth bounces with an almost-smile.

“We’ll let you get back to your shopping,” Charlie says, a sly look in his eye.

Ruby claps her hands together. “You should come to dinner tonight,” she says, her hopeful gaze pinned to Reese. “At the house.”

“Oh, uh…” Reese’s eyes flick to mine. So do Charlie’s.

“Please,” Ruby presses. “Everyone’s coming.”

“Sure,” Reese agrees.

Ruby beams. “Great. Six o’clock supper.”

After they walk off, Reese turns to me. “I don’t have to go,” she says quietly.

It feels like a warning, a way out so I don’t have to spend more time with her.

And yet, what do I fucking do?

I give an easy shrug. “Gotta eat, don’t you?”

“I ate already. Breakfast, remember.”

“More than once a day, honey,” I say, softening the scold with a smile.

My chest tenses when she hesitates. I nudge her shoulder with mine. “You’re from Georgia. You like peaches, don’t you?”

Reese tips her head, her cheeks turning a sweet shade of pink. “Yeah, I do.”

“Okay. I got a peach pie with your name on it.”

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