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“Homer it is. You’re getting the hang of it. How about one for Jack Farrow?”

“That’s way too close to Captain Jack Sparrow, so Jack?”

“Hook.”

She laughed again and Ford figured he could do this all day long. “I think Knox said you worked in teams of six. Who’s left?”

“Richard Gomez.”

“Gomez. Like the Addams Family. So Adams?”

“That was too normal. He ended up with Morticia.”

They were still laughing when Ford rounded a new curve and another valley opened up in front of them, dotted with farms and farmhouses. Corrals for animals, too. It was like a postcard.

Another few hills and valleys and then the town of Phail appeared.

The GPS had them drive down Phail Way and park in a small lot beside Phail Phoods.

Along the road, they could see Phail General, Phail Phoods, the No Fail Diner, and Phail Way Park. Pots of coordinated spring flowers sat outside all the businesses.

Jolie grinned as she turned to him. “I feel like we just landed in the middle of a movie set. This is amazing.”

Ford studied her happy face and smiled. “Perfect.”

He wondered if she’d realize he wasn’t talking about the town.

Jolie reminded herself it wasn’t a date as she hopped out of the truck. The trip to town had passed quickly as they’d talked. No awkward silences at all.

Now she had to keep her attraction under control while they shopped. Unless she wanted to take a risk.

No. She wasn’t making a mess of this, no matter how attracted she was to him.

Ford walked around the truck to stand with her. “How about we leave picking up groceries until just before we head home?”

She nodded. “Good idea. That way, they won’t sit in the coolers too long. Should we head to Phail General first and talk to your friend?”

He nodded, and they crossed the street to the general store. Ford opened the door for her and placed his hand on her back to usher her inside. Tingles shot through her body at the simple touch.

She was falling hard and fast.

Phail General was crammed full of shelves, and those shelves were loaded with goods. Baking soda, hammers, batteries, rakes, pet supplies, and so much more. It was like stepping back in time to a pioneer general store. The old-fashioned cash register on the counter set it all off perfectly. “This is wonderful.”

They moved past the aisles and spied another door in the back. Through it she heard banging and spotted Troy Phail hammering a shelving unit into place.

Ford lifted his voice. “Need any help, Epic?”

The man turned with a grin. “Dodge. It’s great to see you.”

Ford placed his hand on her back. “Troy, you remember Jolie Malssum?”

Troy smiled. “From the screening of Annie out on the farm a while back. Nice to see you again, Jolie. Welcome to Phail.”

She couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled out of her at the phrase. “Thanks. It looks like a great town.”

When she didn’t finish the thought, Ford spoke. “But it sounds awful when you say it out loud. Why haven’t you changed the name, Epic?”

Troy laughed. “Not a chance. It’s memorable and a lot of fun. My ancestors named it back in the eighteen hundreds. I’m not going to change it and imply they did a terrible job.”