Firefly Lane (Briar County 1)

Goddamned sexy, bighearted man. Holden wasn’t sure how the thing fit in his chest.

“Why you grumbling?” Marilee asked, coming into the kitchen.

“I’m not.”

“Sounded to me like you were grumbling.”

He’d probably been grumbling, which didn’t make sense as he felt so fucking good, but he’d always been a bit of a complicated man anyway.

“What do you like about this town?” Holden found himself asking, rather than replying to what she’d said.

“The sense of community, I guess. The fact that there are people like Monroe Covington here. He didn’t press charges against Adam when he stole from him, let me move in here for cheap.”

“So Roe is the draw?” he asked, and she giggled.

“Yes and no. There are good people in Harmony. I know it has its downfalls. All places do, but…no one at work has ever said anything negative to me about Adam, not even after he came into the store high one time. I’m not foolish. I know there’s gossip. You can’t ever escape it but…I don’t know… I feel comfortable here. Safe. I never felt like this anywhere else I’ve lived. I know you look at Harmony and see Huntington, but it’s not the same for me. One time I got a random delivery of groceries to my house after Adam lost a job. Don’t know who sent it. My boss works with my hours. There are nice kids, even if Sean has pulled away from them. Yeah, there are brats too, but you have that anywhere. I want him to feel like he has roots, Holdy. I don’t want him to ever feel alone in the world.”

“And he can’t feel alone here? I felt alone in Huntington.”

“Times were different back then. People turned a blind eye. It was wrong, and we suffered for it. They ignored bruises and fights and shit that never should have been ignored, especially in a house with kids, but…Lindsey asked me to go get my nails done with her. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve done something like that? At first it was because Adam didn’t want me to have friends, but he’s gone, and I don’t want to start over. I don’t want Sean to start over. Even more so now that he and Wyatt have become friends. If it was best for him, if he wanted to go, I’d do it, but I don’t think it’s best for him, and he hasn’t told me he’s not happy here.”

Holden nodded, unsure why he’d asked in the first place. “You’re right. You know what’s best. Don’t mind me.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m going to run next door to talk to Roe. We’re supposed to go to Covington Acres to see about some work I might do there. We said this morning but didn’t mention a time.” Holden plucked the box of doughnuts off the table.

“You’ve already been out?”

“Yeah, I got up early. I left a few on a plate for you and Sean. I’m taking these over to Roe’s.”

Marilee smiled. “I like that the two of you are friends. And I didn’t tell you, but Vince is great. I liked him a lot.”

Holden opened his mouth, almost told her that he and Vince had broken up, but he didn’t. He couldn’t put his finger on why exactly. “You’re right, Vince is great. I’ll see you later.”

He made his way to Roe’s house and knocked. As soon as he did, Zeus started barking like crazy inside. It was a deep sound, and if he didn’t know the animal wouldn’t do much more than lick and play with a person, he would have been nervous.

Roe opened the door, shirtless and in jeans. “Mornin’.”

He held up the box. “I brought doughnuts.” Which suddenly felt like a ridiculous thing to do. Why did Roe make him feel upside down all the time? It wasn’t something he was familiar with.

“I think I love you,” Roe said playfully, plucking the box from Holden’s hand.

“Doughnuts are the way to your heart?” he joked back, following him inside. “Hey, Zeus. How are you this morning?” Holden asked as the dog jumped all over him.

“Probably the fastest route there, yeah.”

Holden chuckled, admiring Roe’s back muscles as he walked into the kitchen. His skin was sun-kissed, and Holden wanted to travel the landscape of his torso with his tongue—well, his whole body, actually. “I wasn’t sure what time we’re supposed to head over to the farm today.”

Holden leaned against the bar while Roe set the box down and opened it. “Anytime, really. The earlier, the cooler it is, obviously, but I’m easy.”

Oh, the jokes Holden could make about that.

“I see those wheels turnin’. You wanna tease me about bein’ easy?”

That surprised Holden. He hadn’t expected Roe to read him so well. “If the shoe fits…”

“You leave me and my doughnut alone.” Roe plucked a cinnamon roll out of the box. “You got my favorite.” He took a bite, then licked his lips, and damned if Holden wasn’t thinking again about his tongue on Roe. The man had gotten into his head and under his skin in a completely unfamiliar way.