11. Reese #2
Honestly, it’s easy enough to picture both Weston and Sawyer as elite members of a military team. I haven’t met the other two, and I haven’t seen Zane since I’ve been back, but if they’re anything like Weston and Sawyer, well, I imagine they were plenty deadly as a unit.
“I guess my point is that maybe it’s time for some closure.”
I snort. “I don’t know that that’s in the cards for me. At least, not when it comes to Weston Hayes. Infuriatingly stubborn cowboy that he is.”
Tessa laughs. “Fair enough. Are you planning on coming to the festival tomorrow? Zane and I are going, and it would be great if you’d come along, too.”
“Oh, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Weston doesn’t usually come with us. Come on, it’ll be fun. Like old times.”
Except it won’t be. Because the four of us always went together. And now it will be Zane and Tessa…and me.
“I’ll think about it. Thanks for the invite.”
“You’re welcome.” She leans back. “Now, tell me what else has been going on? Catch me up!”
“Catch you up? How about you tell me how Zane saved your life?”
Tessa grins at me. “That is a pretty crazy story.”
I take a sip of coffee. “I’ve got time.”
This is a mistake.
Even as I recognize it, I still make my way down Main Street, a nervous smile on my face as I walk beside Tessa. She showed up at my mom’s house an hour ago, refusing to take no for an answer, even though I was pretty determined to stay home.
The risk of running into Weston is just too great. Then again, given that he lives only a few miles from me on the same ranch, I suppose the risk of running into him there is just as high. Maybe even higher.
My mom wasn’t any help, either, since she was headed out the door to come join a friend of hers in a booth so the two of them could serve cotton candy together. She insisted I come, practically shoving me out the door.
All while I tried to think of an excuse—any excuse—to get me out of coming here tonight.
All around me, people laugh and celebrate as they shop in booths lining the street and play the same games that have been at the fall festival for as long as I can remember.
The same guy who runs the duck race is even still here, though his signature handlebar mustache is more salt than pepper these days.
“This way,” Tessa says, a bright smile on her face as she leads me down toward the church.
The crowd in front of us parts enough that I can see where we’re headed.
Zane Knox sees me first. He smiles kindly, hazel eyes bright and happy as the boy I used to know.
Even though the man he is now leaves little room for that reminder.
Both arms are covered in tattoos, and he’s filled out in the muscle department. Not quite to Weston’s caliber, but certainly enough to be considered a dangerous soldier.
What was in the Navy’s water?
“Hey, Reese, it’s good to see you.” He pulls me in for a hug then releases me.
“Reese, it is so good to see you again!” Linda Knox, Zane and Anastasia’s mother, claps her hands together and wraps her arms around me in a quick, hard hug.
I smile at her. “You, too, Mrs. Knox.”
“It’s Momma Knox, and you know that.” She beams at me, then turns her attention to a couple who just stopped in front of her booth, which is full of crocheted animals, plants, and some gorgeous handmade coffee mugs.
“You ready to do some walking?” Tessa asks Zane.
“I am.” He leans in and kisses her quickly, then takes her hand. “Mom, I’m going to go and win my girl a teddy bear.”
She smiles at her son. “Sounds great, honey. Anastasia and Sawyer will be here in a few minutes to help, so you’re off the hook.”
“Call if you need me.”
He and Tessa leave the line of booths, and I follow, hating just how much of a third wheel I feel like. I really should have stayed home.
Ten minutes.
I’ll give it ten minutes, then slip away. No one can fault me for that, right? After all, ten minutes is a good college try when it comes to festivals, ex-husbands, and small towns.
Someone bumps into me, and I nearly fall backward. A pair of hands reaches out and steadies me as masculine laughter fills my ears.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you.” I straighten, then look up into a pair of familiar brown eyes I honestly could have gone the rest of my life without seeing again.
The man looks me up and down, his grin spreading. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Reeses Pieces.”
My stomach drops as sick realization settles in. Carey Wells. A boy who bullied me all through middle school.
“Carey. Sorry, I need to keep—” I try to move around him, but he slides into my path once again, his buddies all moving in on either side of him to completely block me.
My heart begins to pound, my palms sweating like I’m that teenage girl again and he’s trying to trap me in the corn maze just to watch the fear in my eyes.
“Where’s the fire, Reese? Girl, you grew up good.” He looks me up and down again in a way that makes my skin crawl. “How about you let me buy you a drink. I can make it well worth your time.”
Eww. “No thanks. Don’t drink.”
“Then I’ll drink, and you can give me something pretty to look at.”
I am not a teenager anymore. I am a woman who is more than capable of knocking him on his own butt should he try anything. “Does that line really work?” Crossing my arms, I glare back at him, hoping that he sees nothing but my irritation.
“I don’t know. You tell me,” he replies, then looks to his friends, who all start laughing.
It figures the guy would be pushing thirty-seven and still acting like a teenager who has never heard the word no. “Not. Interested. Now, please move.”
“Nah. I think I’ll stay right here until you agree. We can catch up. It’ll be fun.”
I roll my eyes and try to move around him again, but once more, he blocks me. This time, instead of just laughing it off, though, he grips my arm with a large hand.
“Let me go.”
“Come have a drink with me. For old time’s sake.”
Is he serious? “I’m not interested.” I ball my hand into a fist, preparing for a fight if it should come to that. He has me on size, but I’ll do some damage one way or another.
A hard body moves in behind me, and every man in front of me pales. Including the one holding my arm. He releases me, holding up both hands and shooting me a glare before turning and leaving with his buddies.
“She’s not worth it,” he mutters just before disappearing into the crowd.
I take a deep breath, hands trembling, as I turn toward whoever chased them off. “Thanks.” I turn to see who stepped up behind me, and my breath leaves in a rush when I find myself staring up at Weston and a man I’ve never met before.
“Don’t mention it,” Weston replies.
I hate that his voice brings me far more pleasure than a voice should. That in a single instant, he has dispelled every single ounce of fear from moments ago.
The man standing just beside him looks from him to me, then juts out a hand. “Garrison Holt,” he introduces. “You must be Reese.”
“I am. It’s nice to meet you.”
While Garrison is built every bit like the soldier Tessa described him as, his eyes are kind, and he has a friendly smile.
“You, too,” he replies, then releases my hand and glances away. “I see my beautiful wife. I’ll see you around, Reese.” With a giddy smile, he rushes away, leaving Weston and me standing in the middle of a crowded street.
Yet it still feels like it’s just the two of us.
The ache in my arm has me running a hand over it, an action that Weston doesn’t miss. His gaze darkens, and his nostrils flare. “Are you all right?”
“Fine. He didn’t grab me that hard.”
“He shouldn’t have grabbed you at all,” he snarls.