Page 51 of When the Smoke Clears

“Why can’t it be both? On second thought, let’s just shop for you. And Gabe. He needs some serious help as well. Besides, the last time I bought something here, someone tried to run me over.”

“This place is too domestic for me. I don’t know where to start,” I say with an exaggerated shiver. “I’m going to the feed store around the corner. Text me when you’re ready.”

“The feed store?”

“They carry ammo.”

She rolls her gaze. “Of course they do. But you need stuff. Trust me, your cabin is the equivalent of the color brown.”

I tilt my head to the side. “There’s nothing wrong with brown. It makes for great camouflage.”

“You’re hopeless,” she says with a sigh. “I’ll pick you out a few things. Give me your credit card and come back in twenty minutes.”

I blow out an exaggerated breath. Hopefully, she doesn’t go crazy in here. My meager salary can’t handle it.

I start to leave, but then linger in the doorway, one shoulder pressed against the frame. My desire to watch Isla for a few minutes, unguarded, is too strong to ignore.

She sinks back into the plush chair before her eyelashes flutter closed. A shadow falls across her face as the saleswoman approaches, red lips already forming a question. “Cozy, isn’t it?”

Isla blinks and looks up.

“It is,” she replies, sliding out of the chair.

“I have one just like it at home,” the saleswoman says with a knowing smile. “Makes it hard to motivate myself to come to work on days like today.”

“I’d face the same struggle,” Isla says, glancing around at the store’s inventory. “I wish I could just buy one of everything in here.”

“Are you new to the area? I know most people in town.”

Isla responds with a well-rehearsed smile. “No, just passing through.”

“Still, you look familiar.”

It’s not evident to the stranger, but I clock the irritation etched into Isla’s features. “I grew up here but moved away a long time ago.”

The women’s eyes light up with recognition. “That must be it! I went to school with you. I was two years behind.”

Isla smiles politely but offers no confirmation.

The woman places a hand over her heart in a mock-dramatic gesture. “I was so envious of the girl who dated Luke Wild. I always wanted to date a Wild brother.”

Isla’s brows peak. “Did you have your eye on any Wild in particular?”

“To be honest, I dated one briefly, and it was a complete disaster.”

Isla’s eyes narrow. “Which one?”

Her expression shifts to one of distaste. “Chase. I must’ve been in some sort of emotional crisis to agree to a date with him.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Let’s just say you can’t swing a dead cat in Wildhaven or Cedar Hollow without hitting a woman Chase Wild has tried to screw.”

I press my lips together, feeling my cheeks strain with the effort of holding back a laugh. This is my cue to leave, so I slip out and return twenty minutes later with two bags of groceries.

Isla is holding her own bags.

“What’s in there?”