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And they’d kissed. Once. West had meant for it to be a friendly kiss, one to thank her for acting as his date and helping him celebrate the final events of their school years. Instead, it had turned hot and heady.

He’d never forgotten it. Or her.

Smiling, he made his way toward her. She slid from the booth. Her long, raven hair was swept back in a high ponytail. Those large, gray eyes drew him in. She still had a knockout figure, with curves in all the right places.

“Hey, West,” she greeted, her voice low and musical.

“Hey, yourself, Kelby.”

They moved toward one another, and he gave her a good hug. Warmth filled him. Kelby had been one of the friendliest, kindest girls in their senior class. She was smart and dependable.

And sexy as hell now.

Before, she’d had that small-town, girl-next-door glow to her.

The years had been kind to her, though. Where she was once pretty, she was now beautiful.

And single. He recalled Chance telling him a few years ago that Kelby had divorced her husband, a journeyman NFL player who never made it in the big leagues, thanks to both injuries and addiction.

Chance hadn’t mentioned Kelby in a long time.

Then again, they hadn’t been in touch with each other much, something West was ready to change now that he would be a fulltime resident of Hawthorne.

He released her. “You look good. Better than good.”

She laughed, and it was like a chorus of angels. He laughed with her.

“Have a seat,” she said, and he slid into the opposite side of the booth, drinking her in.

Miss Caroline appeared, setting down an enormous banana split. “Why, West Sutherland. What are you doing here?”

“Catching up with Kelby, Miss Caroline.” He glanced at the ice cream. “And I’d like to get one of these.”

“No, you don’t,” Kelby corrected. “This is ginormous. Miss Caroline, if you could bring another spoon, West can help me with this one. There’s no way I could finish this by myself.”

Quickly, another spoon was brought, and they both dug in. For a moment, they simply looked at the huge banana split and then sighed.

“Is there anything better on the planet than ice cream?” she asked.

“Sex. Sex is better,” he quipped.

She laughed, deep from her belly. “You haven’t changed a bit, West.”

“Well, I hope I’ve grown up some. What are you doing in Hawthorne?”

“Dad had a stroke.”

As they shared the banana split, Kelby told West about Big Jim’s rehab and how Chance was assuming a lot more responsibility on the ranch.

“I’ll definitely give him a call. It’s been too long. And I’m back here permanently. I just accepted a job as a football coach and teacher at the high school for next August.”

“Really? That’s great, West. A hometown boy returns in triumph. It’s not many small towns that can claim to have a Super Bowl winner on their staff. I can see good things coming your way.”

He studied her a moment. “You don’t think it’s foolish for me to want to coach here?”

“Here is where you can make a difference,” she said firmly.

“The kids on the team have grown up on stories about you. They’ve cut their football teeth learning about your legend.

Friday night football in Texas is magic.

Besides, college football is a business these days, with NIL now.

And the pros are so sterile.” Her mouth turned down.

“I’m sorry about your marriage,” he said quietly.

She sighed. “It’s the only thing I ever really failed at. Bax was never a partner to me. I see now how self-centered he was. He was in everything for himself. And when his magical run dried up, I got all the blame.”

West frowned. “Verbal? Or worse?”

“Lots of verbal, which I stupidly took. The drinking, which I shouldn’t have tolerated, but I did. When I found the drugs, though, I was done and washed my hands of him.”

“Are you seeing anyone now, Kelby?”

She looked at him, tears welling in her eyes. “No. I decided I didn’t have good judgment when it came to men. I’ve focused on my career these past five years, and now that’s circled the drain.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was let go. Because of the whole Bax thing.”

Confused, he asked, “I’m not following.”

Kelby shook her head. “You’re worse than Chance. Do either of you ever turn on the TV news? Or read any online news?”

“Not if I can help it,” he admitted. “The so-called news lies about every woman I’ve gone out with. They’ve made up stories about my contract negotiations and my injury last year. I don’t trust the media. But what is it that I should have seen on the news?”

“Bax killed a guy over his gambling debts. And then yesterday, another prisoner in the jail stuck a shiv in Bax. He’s dead,” she said flatly.

Immediately, West left the booth and slid in beside her, wrapping an arm about her.

“I’m so sorry, Kelby. That had to hurt like hell. Even if you left the guy years ago, you loved him once.”

She leaned into him, pressing her cheek against his chest. “It’s pretty bad.

It’s messed with my head. I lost my job over Bax because my employer didn’t want to be associated with any scandal.

My picture with Bax was everywhere a couple of weeks ago.

I had to stop looking, especially once I came and stayed by Dad’s bedside day and night.

I’m at loose ends today only because he’s just been transferred to a rehab center, and they’re evaluating him today. They don’t want me lurking around.”

He pulled her closer to him. “You’ve had it as rough as anyone can imagine. But you’re such a positive person. Good is going to come out of this. Either you’ll land a new job, or you’ll start your own company.”

“My own company?” She looked up at him. “I’ll bet you don’t even know what I do for a living.”

West kept her close, feeling as if she fit perfectly, exactly where she was. Their gazes held.

“It doesn’t matter. Because I think you can do anything you set your mind to, Kelby Blackstone.”