Chapter 9 Lo
Lo
Okay, Lo. Deep breath. You can do this.
I’m not sure if it’s the town stressing me out, or if it’s my stupid heart trying to break through my sternum. Either way, here I am, standing outside The Gilded Lily like I’ve got any idea what the hell I’m doing.
It’s been years. Years.
Last time I was here, Tansy’s grandmother still owned the place, but according to rumors, my old BFF is now in charge.
Before I can head inside, I hear the sound of tires skidding over gravel.
I cringe as I turn, because that is a face I never wanted to see again.
Calvin Rhodes. Class Passive-Aggressive Beta Jerk.
Or should I say Deputy Calvin Rhodes these days.
I’m amazed that he got anyone to marry him. Especially Chloe Quinn. She was always the sweetest when I sat next to her in math class.
“Miss Marsh,” he says, with a voice that feels like nails scraping over a chalkboard.
“Calvin,” I say, politely as I can manage without actually vomiting on him.
His smug smile is still the same, the kind of smile that makes you want to throw your coffee at him just to see if it’ll stick. He looks me up and down as if I’m the most inconvenient thing he’s had to deal with all week.
“You back in town for good, or just playing tourist?” he sneers, hands tucked into the pockets of his stupid uniform.
“Playing tourist,” I snap, because honestly, what else am I supposed to say to that? I’m not here to explain myself to him.
His eyes narrow, and I can already tell he’s about to go full “holier than thou.” I really don’t need this today, but of course, that’s when people like him show up.
“So, what, you just here to visit?” he asks, his tone dripping with that passive-aggressive BS he’s always used. “Or are you trying to work some magic and make the past disappear?”
I grit my teeth, fists curling. Breathe, Lo. “I’m here to mind my business, Calvin. I’m not interested in whatever twisted version of the past you’ve been telling yourself.”
He laughs far too loudly. “You’re a real piece of work, Miss Marsh. Always were.”
Of course I was. How could I forget? I can feel my patience fraying with every word out of his mouth, but I keep my cool even though my fingers itch to do something a little less civilized.
“Don’t worry, Calvin. I’m not planning on sticking around long enough to ruin anyone’s day.”
He steps forward, the stink of his cologne and judgment filling the air. “That’s probably for the best. It’s funny how the Marsh family always seems to find a way to make things more… interesting.”
I narrow my eyes at him, trying to contain the rage burning within me. But I’m not about to let him see how much he gets to me.
“Look, if you have nothing else to say, I’m gonna go find someone who doesn’t still call me ‘Miss Marsh’ and act like I’m still in high school.”
I turn and start walking, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing how much his words have gotten under my skin. As I push past him, I feel his eyes on me, burning holes in my back.
But I don’t care. Not anymore.
Before I can get inside the bakery, before I can even take a damn breath, my day takes a turn for the worse.
A toolbox slams into my foot.
Hard.
The jolt of pain shoots straight up my leg, and I stifle a yelp, hopping back on one foot like a damn idiot, clutching at my now-throbbing toes. Goddamn it, could this day get any worse?
“Shit!” The voice that comes with the toolbox is deep, apologetic, and way too familiar. “You okay? Didn’t mean to—”
But who is this man attached to the face?
I know that face. I know that face. The tall, broad-shouldered guy with the quiet eyes, the kind of face you see every day but never quite remember to look at.
At first, it’s a punch to the gut. Because yeah, it’s familiar, but something’s off. I can’t quite place it.
He’s looking at me as if he’s seen a ghost, or maybe it’s the other way around. His brows furrow with immediate regret. He opens his mouth, probably trying to apologize, but all I can do is blink back at him, trying to connect the dots.
And then it clicks.
Ford Maddox.
I almost groan out loud. Ford. Damn. I should’ve known.
Clearly, my day could get worse.
I saw him a million times in high school, but we were never really in the same circles. He was always there, in the background. One of those guys who never stood out unless you were really looking for him. And I wasn’t.
“Oh, you didn’t?” I snap, cutting him off before I even register what I’m doing. The pain in my foot makes my words come out sharper than they should. “Maybe next time, try keeping your damn toolbox to yourself!”
His face tightens. “Look, I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care if you meant to or not!” I practically bark, the anger still sizzling in my chest, a fire that won’t go out. Why did I even leave the house today? “This shit could have broken my damn toe. And with the day I’m having—”
His eyes flash. “What’s your problem, Lo?”
I don’t like his tone of voice. No wonder we never spoke in high school.
“My problem? Really?” I laugh bitterly, unable to stop myself. “This stupid town is my problem. What do you think?”
Ford’s jaw clenches, and I see the way his body shifts. He’s debating whether to step closer. He doesn’t. But I can feel it: the pull of his presence, that invisible force settling in between us.
His scent swirls around me, pine sap and something like worn leather. It infiltrates my lungs and stops everything in its tracks. And for a moment, I can’t move. I can’t breathe. I can’t even muster the strength to get angry.
It’s as if his mere presence has crawled into my ribs and threatened to stitch the hurt back together, soothing it away.
“I didn’t mean to—”
I grit my teeth. His words hit harder than they should. I have to get away. “Whatever. Have a good—”
His scent hits me again. The sharp Alpha scent of him. Leather and Christmas trees and rain. It grabs me by the throat and threatens to yank me closer. My stomach twists. Desire seeps down my spine, and I can feel a whine bubbling up the back of my throat.
I have to leave.
“Lo…” Ford starts again, more softly.
There’s a tension hanging between us, thick and unbearable. His eyes drop to my lips, then snap back up to my eyes. He’s fighting something.
Like I’m fighting something.
“Don’t.” I take a step back, shaking my head. My voice is more of a croak than I’d like. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” he asks, his own breath catching in his throat.
I want to scream at him, at myself. I want to shove him away, but my body’s betraying me, pushing me toward him when I just want to leave.
This can’t be. He can’t be my scent match.
I would have known much sooner than this.
I raise a hand, cutting him off before he has another chance to speak with that voice of his already raking across my bones.
“Don’t apologize. I’m not interested in hearing it.
Not from you, not from anyone in this godforsaken town.
Try to keep your toolbox out of my way, or it’ll take me and my broken toes longer to get the hell out of here. ”
My chest is rising and falling too fast, too hard. I can feel the need in my veins, threatening to overcome me completely.
There’s something else, deep and raw, that makes me feel exposed. Vulnerable.
He doesn’t speak. Just looks at me with those assessing eyes that seem to darken with every word I speak.
Leave. Now.
I obey the voice in my head.
“I’m done,” I hiss, spinning on my heel.
My breath comes fast, my heart thundering in my ears. My foot still aches, but now it’s the least of my problems. The pressure within me is dizzying, consuming, and I don’t know what to do with it. I just know I need to get out of here.
Need to change my panties, because they’re damn near soaked in slick.
Again.
I storm into The Gilded Lily, my heart pounding, pulse racing with a combination of pain, anger, and a hundred other things I can’t even name.
The bell above the door jingles too loudly in my ear, and it’s almost as if the entire town is in my head, whispering the same damn judgmental crap that I know has been floating around ever since I left this place.
I need air. I need to forget that I just crossed paths with Calvin Rhodes and Ford Maddox in the span of five minutes.
But the second I walk in, I spot her.
Tansy.
She’s in the back of the bakery, moving between tables, her sharp tone cutting through the low hum of conversation. She doesn’t notice me right away, but I’m pretty sure she’s always had some kind of sixth sense for when I walk into a room.
I’m not sure if it’s the years apart or the fact that I’ve been avoiding any kind of human connection, but the sight of her makes my chest feel a little too tight.
It’s like being a kid again, back before everything fell apart, before I became the town’s scandal.
“Lo?” Her voice is full of disbelief, and it stings more than I want to admit. “What the hell are you doing here?”
I force a smile, a little too wide, a little too practiced. Not quite the homecoming of tangled limbs and hugs one would expect from a high school bestie, but who can blame her? I’m a walking pariah, and she’s the one that has to live here after I leave.
Again.
“You didn’t hear? I’m back in town, just for a bit. Thought I’d stop by and see how you’re holding up in the bakery.”
Tansy quirks a brow, her sharp eyes taking in the way I’m standing. Tense, a little too on edge.
Not at all the greeting I expected.
Or hoped for.
“Well, I’m in charge now,” she says, and her body relaxes somewhat. “Grandma’s gone, but the bakery’s still kicking. Hard. And you are… here?” She cocks her head to one side. “The big city chew you up and spit you out or something?”
I chuckle. I know she means nothing by it. It’s just her sassy sense of humor. “It was either this or becoming a hermit in the mountains, Tans. Honestly, I think I picked the lesser evil.”
She laughs, loud and full of the same warmth that reminds me how much I love her. Okay, definitely a much better reaction. I can work with this.
“Fair. I can’t argue with that. So, when’s the pity party start? You here for the rest of your life, or are you just passing through with that amazing I’m broke and need to find myself energy?”
I can’t stop my eye roll. “The second one.”
“Ah, that’s what I thought. Come find me when the self-discovery needs to be drowned in whiskey. I’ll be here, getting paid to put up with half the town’s drama. You know, the usual.”
“I think we can make that happen.”
Tansy winks before adding, “I’ve missed your sarcastic ass. I’m still recovering from you abandoning me like that.”
I give her a pointed look. “You look like you’ve survived just fine.”
She throws a towel at me. “Whatever. Let’s get drunk tonight. This town’s gonna drive you nuts if you don’t.”
Oh, thank fuck. “Deal,” I say, before I turn to walk back toward the door. “What time do you finish? I’ll be back.”
“Five.”
“See you then. The Rusty Bucket Tavern won’t know what’s hit it!”
I shouldn’t go, I know I shouldn’t. All eyes will be on me.
But Tansy won’t let it get weird. She’s always been my fierce protector.
I honestly don’t know how I’ve coped so many years without her.