Reckless Flames (Steamy Small Town Romances)

1. Sophie

Chapter one

Sophie

“ J esus, Mom, can you hear me now? This signal is shit,” I grumbled, as the scenic beauty of Finch Valley whizzed by. The lush greenery was a lovely contrast to New York’s concrete jungle, but my appreciation had been cut short by the spotty connection. I was speaking loudly, as you do when your phone’s connected to your car, but the strength of the signal trumps volume every time.

“Finally, Sophie! I was starting to think you’d been abducted by aliens on your way here.” My mom's voice crackled through, tinged with both relief and exasperation.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, easing the car around a particularly tight bend. “No aliens, just the never-ending joy of rural cell towers. How’s the madness at home?”

“Oh, you know, your sister is on the verge of a meltdown, and your dad and Uncle Joe argue over who’s going to man the barbecue. It’s chaos.”

I sighed, envisioning the familiar pandemonium that was our family gatherings—on steroids now due to my sister’s upcoming wedding. “Sounds about right. I’ll be there in twenty, assuming I don’t get lost in a time warp.”

There was a brief pause before my mom’s voice softened. “Sophie, it’s been too long. Everyone’s missed you. Who knows? Maybe this trip will bring you a reason to finally settle down.”

I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn’t see. “Mom, let’s not start this again. I’m not looking for anything right now. I’m just here to spend time with you all and see Madi walk down the aisle, not to find a boyfriend, because I know perfectly well that’s what you mean by settling down.”

“But honey, you never know. Finch Valley has a way of surprising you. Remember how you always said this place felt magical?”

“Yeah, when I was twelve. The only magic I believe in now involves coffee and deadlines.”

“Sophie, darling, all I’m saying is keep an open heart. Life has a funny way of throwing us curveballs, especially when we least expect it.”

I wasn’t about to argue with mom wisdom even though I wanted to. I wanted to tell her that my heart was just fine in its current state—guarded and focused on anything but romance. We would just have to see who had the last word on the subject when it was time for me to go back home.

“Okay, Mom.” I said dryly. “See you in a few.” The call disconnected, I turned my attention to the countryside around me—to the way the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden hue over the fields and transforming the valley into a scene from a painting. The beauty of it was almost enough to make me wish I’d never left. Almost.

When I finally pulled into the driveway of my childhood home, the sun was low over the distant hills, bathing the world in the soft glow of twilight. The upcoming wedding and my mom’s attempts to get me “settled down” seemed a world away in that peaceful moment. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the whirlwind of family, grabbed my bags and headed for the front door.

“God, it’s like a zoo in here!” I exclaimed as I stumbled into the foyer, the cacophony of voices washing over me like a wave.

A chorus of “Sophie's here!” erupted, and I was engulfed in a flurry of hugs and backslaps, the scent of home-cooked meals, and my dad’s aftershave, grounding me in the chaos. I smiled. It was really good to be back home again.

“Where am I sleeping?” I called out to mom.

“In your old room. Do you need help with your bags? Jake, help your sister with her luggage,” Mom ordered, not waiting for a reply. He grabbed the big suitcase, the one I’d had to check.

“Jesus, Soph. Are you moving back in? This bag weighs a ton.”

“Of course I’m not moving back, you idiot. But I can write anywhere, so I thought I’d stay a while, and a girl needs her clothes,” I said, as we lumbered upstairs to my childhood bedroom. “Everyone but Madi seems to be downstairs. Where is she?”

“Try her bedroom. She’s here somewhere, I’m sure; she’s just been in a state lately.”

“What about you? Everything going well in your life these days?”

“Yes, but let’s catch up later, okay? I suspect that Madi needs you right now,” Jake said.

We got my bags into the bedroom, Jake went back downstairs, and I took a moment to look around, flooded with a lifetime of memories. Well, as much of a lifetime as you can have at thirty-one years of age. I still remember the joy of getting my own room and not having to share one with Madi anymore. I mean, we’ve always been close—she’s only two years younger than I am, but I loved being able to decorate and organize my room just the way I wanted it. Back in the present, I hung up my jacket and went to find my sister.

I tapped on her door and then slowly opened it to see her sitting by the window, her silhouette bathed in the last glow of the setting sun. She was almost my spitting image, a reminder of our shared genetics though her hair cascaded in gentle waves and mine was straight.

“Madi?” I whispered, pushing the door open further.

She looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, the sight tugging at my heartstrings. Wordlessly, I crossed the room and wrapped her in a tight embrace, feeling her relax against me.

“I heard the noise when you arrived; I just wasn’t ready to go downstairs again,” she murmured against my shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re here, Soph. It all feels like too much.”

“I know, I know,” I soothed, rubbing her back, “but hey, you’ve got the toughest sister in town back now. We’ll tackle this wedding beast together.”

She let out a watery chuckle, pulling back to wipe her eyes. “I've missed you, Soph.”

“Missed you more,” I replied with a grin.

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the chaos of the house below us fading into the background. Then, struck by a sudden idea, I stood up, pulling her with me.

“You know what you need? A break. Let’s get out of this madhouse, just for a few hours. What do you think?”

Her eyes widened, a spark of excitement flickering within them. “Really? But the whole family’s here and…”

“…will still be here when we get back. C’mon, it’ll be fun. A night off from all...this,” I gestured vaguely toward the door, encompassing the wedding preparations and family drama in one swoop.

A smile slowly spread across her face, the first genuine one I’d seen.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

“Fabulous! But I can’t run off when I’ve just arrived. Give me time to mingle and catch up with the family a little, and then we’ll go. An hour max, I promise.”

She must have been watching the clock because Madi came down an hour later with both our jackets and purses in hand and announced our impromptu girls’ night out. The response was a room full of protests and warnings to “be careful” and “not too late.” Ignoring the well-meant admonishments, we headed out, the cool evening air a welcome relief from the stuffiness of the house.

The center of our small town was only about half a mile away, so we decided to walk and headed for Grumpy’s, the bar we liked best. It was buzzing with chatter and laughter, the air thick with the scent of beer and fried food. We found a cozy corner booth, and as I slid in across from Madi, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. This was the place we’d all gone to as soon as we were old enough to buy alcohol—not too formal or too sleazy, comfortable booths big enough for a group of six, good food, good music on an old jukebox, and pool tables in the back.

We ordered our first round of drinks. Madi took a sip of her beer and sighed. “Best wedding prep ever,” she declared, even though her wedding wasn’t for three more weeks. I smiled back at her, so glad I’d come home when I did.

“So, talk,” I told her. “Tell me everything. How’s Theo? How are the wedding preparations going? What’s done, and what’s left to do?”

I’m usually the more talkative of the two of us, but I wanted to catch up on all the wedding stuff, and I wanted to give her a chance to spill any frustrations she was experiencing. At the mention of her fiancé’s name, she got that look on her face. That I’m- so-in-love look that usually makes me cringe, but now it made me happy for her. She proceeded to share all of it: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Just as Madi was winding down, a look of surprise flashed over her face, and she said, “Jake!” I turned around to see our big brother walking into the bar and behind him—Ben Culver. My heart jumped. Jake saw Madi waving and walked over to our booth, followed by his best friend from high school and my secret crush.

Ben was even more handsome than I remembered, with that same disarming smile and eyes that could probably convince you to jump into the river in midwinter. Jake was asking if they could join us, which, of course, Madi agreed to, and my sister and I moved over to make room for them. Jake sat next to Madi, so I ended up with Ben next to me. I felt my cheeks heat at the look he gave me as he sat down. It was a look of assessment and appreciation, as if he liked what he saw. I’d never got much attention from Ben before. He’s Jake’s age, so I was always the little sister and not worthy of notice all those years I was still living at home. Apparently, that had changed while I was in New York becoming a successful author—of my debut novel, at least.

The four of us fell into easy conversation, mostly catch-up topics at first, but then Ben, who was apparently in real estate now, recounted a particularly absurd story about a recent sale that went sideways. He was proving to be quite a surprise. Ben had always seemed a little on the stern side, almost grumpy sometimes. Tonight, however, he responded to teasing with more of the same, and had a store of tales that were funny or strange.

A little later, a couple of drinks in, the room was buzzing just the right amount, the edges of reality softened by the alcohol. Our laughter was louder, our stories more outrageous, and the world outside the bar felt miles away.

Then, Madi yawned and said she was tired and should get home.

Jake asked, “How did you get here?”

“We walked, but I’d love a ride back home from someone,” Madi said, looking at our big brother pointedly but with a smile.

“I didn’t intend to stay long,” Jake said. “Ben, do you mind if I head out. I’ll drop Madi off on my way home, and Sophie too, if you want to come with us,” he added, with a look at me.

Ben jumped in smoothly, “I’m not ready to go just yet. Maybe Sophie will stay and keep me company for one more beer. I’ll drive you home, if that’s okay with you,” he said to me. I managed to keep my cool and said easily, “Sure, that sounds good.”

With Madi and Jake gone, the dynamic shifted, an electric current of anticipation buzzing between Ben and me. The bar’s ambient noise faded into the background, our booth becoming an intimate bubble in the crowded space.

“So, Ms. Bestselling Author, are you going to write a steamy romance set in our little hometown while you’re here?” Ben teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I snorted, nearly choking on my drink. “Oh, please, like this is a good setting for the next great love story.”

“Why not?” he challenged, leaning in closer. “Small town, big dreams, and...hmm, what kind of a romance could it be? I know. What about a very unexpected attraction turning into more?” His voice dropped to a husky whisper, sending shivers down my spine.

The air between us crackled, charged with unspoken possibilities. I was acutely aware of every movement, every breath, as if we were the only two people in the world. Meanwhile, the back of my brain was shrieking, What’s happening here? What am I doing with my much older brother’s best friend? What would Jake think about this? I don’t want to think about this. It just feels right.

We continued to banter, our words laced with double meanings and innuendos. Each laugh, each look, seemed to stoke the fire, drawing us inexorably closer. The world beyond our conversation ceased to exist, the past and future melting away until there was only here and now.

The bartender’s last call echoed distantly, a reminder of the time slipping away even though Grumpy’s closed early midweek. Ben’s gaze held mine, steady and unyielding, as he leaned back, a half-smile playing on his lips.

“You know,” he began, his voice low and inviting, “I’ve got a pretty decent collection of whiskey back at my place. Care to join me for a nightcap?”

The invitation hung in the air, heavy with implication. My heart raced, every rational thought screaming that this was a line I shouldn’t cross. Yet the pull was irresistible, the desire to see where this could lead overwhelming my better judgment.

I hesitated, caught in the whirlwind of my own conflicting emotions. The undeniable attraction, the thrill of the moment, clashed with the nagging voice of caution in the back of my mind.

Ben seemed to sense my hesitation, his expression softening. “No pressure,” he added gently. “I’m not ready for the night to end just yet. But if you want to go home, I’ll take you.”

His sincerity, the hint of vulnerability in his offer, was the final nudge I needed. With a deep breath, I nodded, a mix of excitement and apprehension swirling within me.

“Alright, Culver,” I said, a playful defiance in my tone. “Your place it is.”

The drive to his place was a blur, the cool night air doing little to quell the heat coursing through me. We talked and laughed, the ease between us belying the undercurrent of tension that thrummed just beneath the surface. His place turned out to be an estate on the outside of town.

“Wow. The real estate business has been good to you,” I said.

As we reached his door, the reality of the situation hit me. This was uncharted territory, a step beyond the safe confines of flirtation into something far more intimate.

Yet as he turned the key and ushered me inside, any lingering doubts were drowned out by anticipation of what might come next.