“Wait, wait, wait a second. I can explain. I met Erica, then saw Emily at the resort and thought they were the same person. Obviously, they’re not.” He shrugs like none of this is his fault. To be fair, it’s not. Just one of those things that happen when there’s someone else walking around with your face.

I jump in to save him . . . after I’ve had a little more fun at Shay texting on her phone and Brody trying to look over her shoulder. “Why aren’t I getting those messages?”

“Because I removed you from the group so we could talk about you behind your back. I’ll add you again when we’re done . . . maybe.”

“We’re all good here, guys. The important thing is that Emily and I know who we are, and more importantly, Brody knows who we are. And who we’re not.” I pinch his nipple through his shirt, twisting it hard in teasing punishment for the confusion.

He flinches away. “Shit, Erica. Stop. I said I want your hands on me, but I didn’t mean for you to rip my nipples off.”

I realize a moment too late that touching him like that implies a level of intimacy I maybe wasn’t ready to shout from the rooftops yet because Mom is looking between us as though she’s mentally picking out wedding venues. At least she’s on board with my never marrying Reed. She understood back in high school why I didn’t want that then, even if she hadn’t wanted me to enlist to get out of it. But her interest in my future is perking right back up like she got a caffeine injection right to her sentimental heart.

Mom leans in to Emily, a tiny smile on her lips as she stage whispers, “He calls her Erica, did you hear that?”

Emily hums as she concurs. “Yep, and he’s still alive and standing. This could be serious.”

Mom suddenly yawns, exaggeratedly fake. “Oh, dear, I’m feeling so tired. I’d best be getting home. Emily, dear, do you think you can drive me?”

“Yeah, Mom. No problem,” Emily answers as Mom basically drags her away.

“Nice to meet you, Brody!” Mom calls out as they disappear, probably already discussing the whole Rix-met-someone situation.

I turn to Shayanne. “Sorry for messing up your sale with my Mom, but I’ll take two of each of the jellies and order a cake too. I love carrot cake. It’s my favorite way to eat vegetables, but I promise to share. Or you know, shove it in Mom’s mouth so she’ll stop asking me questions about the last five minutes of my life.”

She somehow glows even brighter. “Wait until you have Mama Louise’s zucchini bread with chocolate chips and you’ll be singing a different tune. You should come out to the ranch sometime because it’s best when it’s fresh outta the oven.”

Brody stiffens beside me, and not in the good way. He stays quiet and stoic while Shayanne rings up my purchases and puts them in a bag with her business card. “Call or text me anytime . . . about anything.” She pauses and adds, “Oh, and for real, let me know if there’s a specific date you want the cake. Or if my soonest availability works for you, that’ll be about four days from now.”

Brody grabs my hand, asking Shayanne, “Think you can handle teardown on your own?”

She raises an eyebrow. “Yeah, asshole. I can fold a folding table and shove it in the back of the truck. I’m almost sold out of everything, anyway.”

And before I can tell her goodbye, Brody is dragging me away.

I let him for a few steps, understanding the need to escape family sometimes even though you love them, but quickly, my strides become no match for his and I have to pull at his hand. “Slow down, Cowboy.”

He spins in place, pulling me against him. I have to look up and he has to look down, but somehow, he doesn’t make me feel less-than or weak.

“Lil Bit, that whole thing was weird as fuck, but the main thing I picked up on is that Emily seemed fine with this. True?” His jaw is clenched, tension woven through his muscles as he waits for me to agree.

“True.”

“You didn’t call. You still good with this?”

“I thought about you last night. Got a few ideas. Maybe more than a few . . . if you’re game?”

Heat flickers across his face as his eyes dart to my lips like he wants to taste those words. I think he’s going to do it, kiss me right here to learn all my dirty thoughts, but he growls and starts his speed-walking again.

Now, I can see it for what it really is. He’s not escaping his family. He’s desperately trying to get us alone to pick up where we left off.

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