Chapter 18
Casper
The whole town smells like cinnamon and woodsmoke. By the time I pull the truck onto Main, the glow of string lights spills across Penny’s face.
She leans forward in the passenger seat, whiskey eyes wide, lips parting as the music drifts through the cool night air, laughter rolling easy and warm.
Penny looks like she’s stepped straight out of a storybook. Pink cheeks from the October chill, the scent of peach and vanilla clinging to her skin, and that wild red hair catching the light like fire.
“This is…” she breathes, almost reverent. “It’s perfect.”
I grin, killing the engine. “Welcome to the Lander Harvest Gathering.”
I walk around and open her door, offering my hand. She doesn’t need help, but hell if I can stop touching her. Not after last night. Not after the way she let me in. I think I’ve found my new favorite pastime: making Penny come undone.
And tonight? She’s in that little country dress she picked herself.
Boots on her legs, fabric swishing just right when she steps down, like she was made for this place.
No one told her to go country; she just said she loved it, loved how it made her feel.
And damn if I’m not all for it. The only thing missing is a white Stetson, and I’m already planning to buy her the prettiest one I can find.
She catches me staring and blushes, ducking her head. God, she has no idea what she does to me.
We weave into the crowd, and the whole Hawthorne clan’s here. Even Jace showed up for a few days. He spots us, lifts his chin from across the square, and starts making his way over. I can’t help smiling.
“So this is the girl who stole my brother’s heart?” Jace drawls, eyes sweeping over Penny with that trademark smirk. Penny blushes, and before I can blink, he’s got her in a bear hug, spinning her around until she squeals.
“Hands off,” I growl.
I’ve never been the jealous type. I know Jace, big flirt, all charm, this is normal. Then why the hell do I suddenly feel like punching him?
“Oooh, he’s possessive,” Jace teases, addressing Penny instead of me. My jaw tightens as I take her hand and pull her back against me, my hands settling at her waist.
“Hello, big brother.” He claps my shoulder and throws an arm around me while I keep Penny tucked close.
“Penny,” I say, giving my brother my best side-eye before looking at her, “meet my little brother, Jace.” I turn back to him, voice edged with warning. “Jace, this is my sunset. Penny.”
Penny smiles. “Nice to meet you, Jace.”
“Likewise, Sunset,” he says with a grin that makes me shove him off me.
“Nope. I’m the only one who calls her Sunset. She’s just Penny to you.”
I jab a finger at him, and he bursts out laughing so loud people start turning to look.
“Damn, my brother’s fallen hard and fast!” he hollers.
I growl again, but Jace just smirks like I didn’t just threaten his life with a look. Then he glances left. “Is that my baby sister?” he shouts, drawing more eyes.
Grace’s cheeks flame red as she walks over, hand in hand with Caleb. My eyes immediately lock on their joined hands, teeth grinding.
“You touching my sister?” Jace booms, glaring Caleb up and down.
“Jace, stop it!” Grace chides.
Caleb, poor kid, just stands there stunned. “Jace Hawthorne?” he blurts, turning to Grace. “The famous bull rider Jace Hawthorne is your brother?”
Grace groans. Caleb faces Jace again, extending his hand. “I’m Caleb, big fan, man. And yeah, I, uh… sometimes touch your sister.” His face goes pale the second he realizes what he said. “I mean…”
“You have a death wish, boy,” I growl.
Jace just stares him down, arms crossed, not even glancing at Caleb’s hand.
“What I meant,” Caleb stammers, “is I hold her hand… and kiss her sometimes. That’s it.” He looks like he might pass out.
“Jace, cut it out!” Grace snaps.
Finally, Jace smiles, slow and wicked, before shaking Caleb’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Caleb. You ever touch my baby sister other than to hold her hand or kiss her, and you’ll find yourself in the arena staring down a bull. Clear?”
Caleb nods so fast it’s almost funny and drops Grace’s hand.
Grace waves behind us, calling over Cassie, our next-door neighbor’s kid and her best friend. Cassie walks up shyly, avoiding eye contact. That girl’s always been quiet, it still baffles me how she and Grace get along like sisters.
“Hi,” Cassie murmurs, voice soft.
“Hey, Cassie. Long time no see!” Jace grins.
Her cheeks turn bright red, eyes dropping to her boots. “Six months.”
Jace’s grin widens. “You counting, Cassie?”
Cassie goes crimson. The girl’s had a crush on him since they were kids racing bikes down the hills. And Jace knows it. The bastard loves to make her blush, even though he’s not into her, he lives for the rodeo and his buckle bunnies.
Grace notices Cassie’s discomfort, leans in, and whispers something in her ear. Then, suddenly, the two of them bolt across the square toward Mom.
Jace laughs, gives chase, and catches Grace first, scooping her up and spinning her around until the crowd bursts out laughing.
“I missed you, little sis!” he yells, ruffling her hair while she squirms.
Caleb stands beside me, grinning.
“I didn’t,” Grace says once he sets her down, brushing her hair back, but there’s a smile creeping across her face. “Well… maybe just a little.”
They both laugh, hugging tight. Those two, only three years apart, always acted like twins growing up.
Penny looks around, taking in the glow of lights and the swirl of people. “Is that your mom over there?”
I follow her gaze. “Yep. Running the cider booth, pretending she’s not exhausted.” Mom’s ladling drinks with one hand and keeping the little ones from climbing hay bales with the other. Dad’s beside her, wearing that proud, peaceful smile he always gets when the whole family’s together.
“And that’s Summer?” Penny nods toward a table piled high with sweets. “She really went all out.”
Summer’s laid out a feast of sweets that nearly blocks the storefront, pumpkin pies, candied nuts, cookies stacked high. Her little girl, Mia, twirls around in a pink dress, laughter bubbling through the air.
Ethan and Asher stand a few feet away in their fireman uniforms, officially on duty for the night. Girls hover around them like bees to honey, but Ethan doesn’t spare them a glance. His eyes keep drifting to Summer like she’s the only fire he’d ever want to put out.
We keep walking, and she points toward the outdoor bar where the music’s spilling from the speakers. “Look! Dex and Jude” Penny waves at them.
The twins are over by Dex’s setup, his bar’s closed for the night, but he’s running the music and the outdoor drinks. Women crowd near them, trying to catch their eye.
Dex laps up the attention, charming and easy as always.
Jude, though, he’s the opposite. Quiet, reserved, uninterested.
Brittany, a woman they went to school with, tries to talk to him, but he just nods once and walks away, leaving her standing there.
I can’t help but wonder if he’ll ever find love like this.
Penny hums, taking it all in. “Cas… why does Asher look angry?”
I glance toward him. Asher’s jaw is tight, eyes fixed on Grace, still laughing with Caleb by the hay bales. My chest tightens.
“He’s not angry,” I say slowly. “Just… protective.”
Penny studies me, unconvinced. “Protective,” she repeats quietly.
“He grew up with us,” I add. “Has to see her like a little sister.”
She hums again. “Right.”
But my eyes drift back to Asher, and something in his expression twists something deep in me.
Right?
◆◆◆
Penelope
The square glows under golden lights, the air crisp with fall. Everywhere I look, there’s something new to take in: kids chasing each other between hay bales, the warm crackle of a bonfire at the far end, couples twirling to the sound of country music.
Lily presses a steaming cup of cider into my hands. “Drink. It’s tradition.”
The heat seeps into my palms, the spiced sweetness curling into my nose. I take a sip and nearly melt. “That’s dangerous. I could drink a gallon.”
She grins. “Good. You’ll need the sugar for all the dancing later.”
My cheeks warm at the word dancing. I glance over my shoulder and find Cas watching me from across the square, leaning against a post like he’s trying to guess the color of my panties.
I blush. The black Stetson hung low on his head and that soft, crooked smile make my chest ache. Damn, he looks so good.
I look over at Cas’s family and feel warmth spread through me. I don’t belong anywhere, not really. But here, with him, with all of them, I start to wonder if maybe I could.
Jace wanders over to Cas, clearly teasing him about something, judging by the scowl Cas gives him. Cas slaps Jace on the neck, then looks back at me. The heat crawls up my neck when his wicked grin flicks in my direction.
Two women, one blonde and one brunette, both beautiful, walk over to them. The blonde puts her hand on Cas’s shoulder, smiling at him, showing off her cleavage.
Hot fire crawls up my spine. Am I jealous? Oh God. I’ve never felt so possessive. I want to look away, but just as I do, I see Cas take her hand and move it away, stepping back. He says something that makes her smile fade.
Then he points at me. The woman’s stare turns murderous as it lands on me. Oops.
Cas turns on his heel without a second glance and comes over to me. His walk is so hot, so self-assured and easy that my fury toward the woman melts away as his eyes run over me. That wicked smirk of his appears as he gets closer, and I feel naked under his gaze. I blush.
“Hey, Sunset.” His voice is low and warm as he pulls me in for a long, slow kiss that makes my toes curl. “Hmm,” he growls against my lips, then leans his forehead against mine. “My favorite taste in the world.”
He kisses my forehead, making me melt, then pulls back and stares into my eyes. “Did I just see your jealous side?” He nods toward where Jace is still flirting with both women.