Page 74 of Stuck with my Mountain Daddies

Damn it. Lucy was right.

Something in me lit up when Riley smiled. Like someone had opened a window in a stuffy room. As if I’d been walking around half alive and didn’t realize it until she laughed and pulled the air back into my lungs.

It wasn’t supposed to happen.

We’d talked. It seemed clear.

But that was weeks ago. Weeks of silence. That should’ve been enough of an answer.

And yet…

Shit, I needed a distraction. Maybe it was time for a little chaos.

That, at least, I was good at.

There was a particular kind of joy that only came from watching Riley Brooks get dragged into small-town nonsense against her will. Especially knowing where she’d come from.

Right now, she looked like she’d been ambushed by a cupcake mafia.

“Riley!” two of Aurora’s book club kids shrieked as they zipped past the cocoa booth. “They need you for the pie-eating contest!”

I casually leaned against the booth and took a long sip of cocoa and smirked. I’d bribed those kids and Harriet Cooper to make sure Riley’s name made it onto that contestant list.

“Oh no,” Riley said flatly.

“Oh yes.” Sadie Collins laughed, already filming her reaction. “I think you might win it!”

I caught Riley’s eye across the clearing and gave her my best innocent shrug.

She mouthed,“You didn’t.”

I mouthed back, “Maybe.”

Her glare could’ve melted snow. This was exactly the sort of mischief I needed to take my mind off everything.

“I swear to God, this town needs cable,” Riley muttered as she was ushered into place.

The contestants were the usual suspects: Todd Rivers, bartender atLucky’s, who was still undefeated; Morgan Hayes with fire in her eyes; Colt Marsh, grinning as if he was on a dating show; and Garrett, already rolling up his sleeves, preparing for war.

Beside me, Lila sidled up with Jace strapped to her chest. “Youput her in this, huh?”

“Technically, I just suggested it to the right person,” I said, sipping smugly.

“You’re evil,” she said, clearly delighted. “And she’s going to destroy you.”

“I know,” I said. “It’s hot.”

“You’re worse than Colt.”

“Rude,” Colt called from the stage, face already buried in his second pie.

Riley, to her credit, gave it her all.

By pie three, she was cherry-stained and wild-eyed, muttering curses.

Aurora Bennett and baby Evie were in the front row, cheering. Ethan, Owen, and Mason Grady stood behind her like a security detail. Mason held up a glitter sign that read “Cherry or Bust.”

“She’s gonna puke,” Ryan noted calmly beside Lila, arms crossed.

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