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“Sure. The bar’s dirt cheap, the food is swimming in butter, and my best friend lives here. Plus, your brother showed me that swimming hole, and I can guarantee there’s nothing like that place in LA.”

She stiffened, her eyes growing wide.

“Duke took you to our spot? The place through the woods off the backroads?”

I nodded, studying her face as she processed the news. She didn’t look upset. It was more like she was surprised. Shocked, even.

“None of us have been back there since…” She trailed off, clearly lost in thought.

I was about to ask her what was wrong when a huge bolt of lightning struck way too close to us, immediately followed by the loudest crack of thunder I’d ever heard. Molly and I both yelped, the pickup swerving slightly before she corrected course. Heavy rain poured down on us out of nowhere, the wind aiming the drops directly at the windshield. Even on full blast, the wipersdidn’t stand a chance, water totally obscured our line of sight. I definitely wasn’t in California anymore.

“We have to pull over,” Molly said, her voice straining over the downpour.

I groaned.

“But my flight leaves in an hour.”

“Trust me, that plane’s not going anywhere.”

Shit. She was probably right.

As if on cue, my phone chimed with the notification that all flights out of the local airport were cancelled. Leaning back into the headrest, I took a deep breath to try to calm down.Can’t just one thing go right on thispinchetrip?!

We rolled to a stop on the side of the road, the only car on the highway for miles. While Molly frantically typed on her phone, I pressed my forehead to the cool glass of the window, watching lightning flash around us, the thunder shaking the whole car.

I guess Mother Nature doesn’t want me to leave either.

CHAPTER 8

Duke

My phone buzzedin the back pocket of my jeans as a crack of thunder rumbled through the house. My place was totally dark and I didn’t bother turning on a light—the darkness matched my mood perfectly right now.

I closed the door to the refrigerator, the glass bottles of the six pack I’d just bought clinking against each other. I pulled my phone out and leaned against the counter, brows furrowed in confusion. The text was from my sister. My sister who was supposed to be halfway down the highway right about now. My sister who never texted while driving.

Storm is too bad—had to pull over.

A second text rolled in. A text that changed everything.

Valentina’s flight is cancelled.

I quickly texted her back, moving my thumbs as fast as they would go.

Where are you?

She replied that they were fine, but pulled over in a wide shoulder, waiting for the storm to pass, or at least let up enoughfor them to drive again. I shot Molly another text, my stomach sinking.

I’m sure Valentina’s pretty upset about her flight.

When she’d stormed out of the bar the other night, I knew she was walking out of my life forever. Somehow, I just knew. I always knew a girl like her, classy, smart, and beautiful didn’t belong with a redneck like me. Sure I could fix her car with my own two hands, start a campfire, or catch her a fish for dinner, but I didn’t know shit about fine wines or art. And as much as it stung to watch her leave, I couldn’t blame her. Who would want to be with a man who had a ten-year-old son he’d never met?

Why don’t you come down here and give her a reason to stay?

Molly’s text took me aback. It wasn’t like her to encourage me to date anyone, let alone someone she barely knew.

I’m not sure that’s a good idea.

Duke, she told me about the swimming hole. Don’t pretend you don’t have feelings for her.