Page 44

A ding echoes from the kitchen, and Sophie excuses herself to see to dinner. Ginger and I remain at the bar, discussing gettingcoffee and breakfast together sometime soon. Hunter and his father talk quietly at the opposite end of the bar; Ryder stands nearby but doesn’t participate in any conversation.

He's an interesting man, Ryder. His sheriff badge is clipped on his belt next to an empty gun holster, no doubt being careful and professional not having it near while drinking. He may not be talkative, but at least he’s responsible.

Ginger shifts topics from coffee to alcohol, specifically drinks served at the bar in town, Blue Moon. I have a sinking feeling I know where this is leading.

“Saturday night is karaoke night. You should come,” she holds up her hands in supplication before I can argue. “I promise you won’t have to sing. Just come, hang out, play some pool, and have some drinks. It’s a great way to get to know the rest of the town. Pretty much everybody goes.”

I gnaw on my lip, unsure how to decline politely. Looking up, I see Hunter watching me from down the bar, still conversing with his father but with one ear perked in my direction. He wants to know if I’m going to agree to go.

“Everybody goes?”

“Yup.Everybody. Even grumpy Ryder over there comes in for a few beers and a game of darts. There’s more to do than just sing out of tune.”

Ginger watches me from over the rim of her glass and then follows my gaze, which keeps lingering in Hunter’s direction. She inhales deeply and smiles before taking a sip of wine.

“You know, Hunter usually shows up, too.”

“What?” I ask a little too loudly, drawing Hunter and his father's attention.

Ginger waves them back to their own conversation and turns her back to them, ignoring their twin looks of interest.

“I don’t know why you think I would care if Hunter attended. He already mentioned it to me before. It didn’t sound like hecared much for it. Said he couldn’t stand to hear Dottie sing anymore.”

My attempt to brush off her keen eye fails, and her expression grows more intrigued. Damn it. Should have feigned ignorance and kept my mouth shut.

“Is that so? Well, I think he might change his mind if you were there.”

The wine I was just drinking to cover my blabbering nearly comes out of my nose. I cough to clear my throat of the blockage before trying to speak again.

“Why would you say that?” I finally manage around a horse throat.

“Oh, just a feeling. Plus, he stares at you a lot.”

“He does?” I can’t hide the astonishment and interest in my voice, but I try to anyway. “I mean, he’s just curious about me. Being the new girl in town.”

“Sure, he is.”

I can tell Ginger doesn’t believe me, but she doesn’t push it. Thankfully, our conversation is cut short when her mother announces that dinner is ready. We all file into the open dining space connecting to the kitchen, where a spread fit for a Thanksgiving feast covers the large family table.

A roasted chicken is surrounded by mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, macaroni and cheese, grilled Brussels sprouts, and biscuits, each place set and waiting.

The family arranges themselves in their seats while Ginger directs me to sit. I expect her to sit down next to me, but instead, she rounds the table and takes the seat across from me next to Ryder, leaving the one at my side available for Hunter. Ginger gives me a conspiratorial wink, and I glower at her mouthingtraitor.She laughs and ignores the telepathic berating I’m giving her.

Hunter sits down next to me, fidgeting and shifting his chair to put a few inches of space between us. Not even allowing for an accidental grazing of our thighs. Bummer. I want to feel that surge of electricity I felt in the flower gardens at Daisy’s. It was shocking but extremely pleasurable. Even just thinking about it has my core clenching.

Next to me, Hunter takes a deliberate inhale, and his fists clench where they rest on the table next to his plate. He’s facing forward, and I can’t get a good look at his expression, but it looks pained.

“Dinner smells delicious, Mom.” The words rumble out of his chest, and he clears his throat when Ryder gives him a puzzled expression.

Well, I think it’s a puzzled expression. That’s my best guess, anyway. It’s subtle, the slight raising of one eyebrow and direct glare in his direction. I could be wrong. He could be agreeing with his brother because dinner does smell delicious.

Sophie sits to my right, and she smiles at her son warmly. “Thank you, Hunter. Everybody dig in. Food's only gonna get cold.”

Everyone eagerly reaches for dishes and serving spoons to fill their plates. I pick out a biscuit and wait to fill my plate until the others have first.

Hunter turns to me, holding a mac-n-cheese-filled bowl in one hand and a serving spoon in the other, looking down at my single lowly biscuit on my empty plate. “Would you like some mac-n-cheese?”

“Yes, thank you. I was just waiting my turn.”