Page 75 of Sugar & Shadows

I looked back over my shoulder, noting the way Sabrina was laughing as Ethan carried on.

“Are you really going to dance on TikTok?” Josh teased. “If so, could you not do it on our family farm? We’ve got multiple generations of ancestors I’d like not to offend with your dance moves.”

The conversation swirled around me, the guys going on about how great Sabrina was and how Harper Fleury was some kind of social media genius.

But I could not stop checking on my former archnemesis. There was a pull. Low and constantly vibrating inside me. Drawing me toward her.

It wasn’t protective. Sabrina could take care of herself. It was possessive.

And that was not cool. I wasn’t a possessive guy. I prided myself on being logical rather than some meathead with a hair trigger who would go off when someone talked to my girl. Not girl. She’d hate that. My woman?

No. She wasn’t mine.

And I certainly didn’t want her to be.

So why couldn’t I focus?

A sharp elbow jabbed me in the ribs. “Dude. Stop staring,” Logan whispered, not drawing the attention of the rest of the table.

“I’m not,” I said reflexively while still fixated on her.

“Liar. Stop it. It’s weird.”

Maybe I should step in. Tell Ethan to get lost. Offer her a ride home.

My heart pounded at the idea.

The second elbow was a lot harder.

“Cut the shit. You’re acting like a weirdo.”

I glared at my friend.

He only cocked a brow. “So that’s what this is?”

I dragged my hand over my face and forced myself to breathe. The people here wanted to talk to me, to discuss the new plans. More than one had given me a head nod that silently conveyed they’d like a word, and some had already tried to wave me over. I’d dreamed of this kind of engagement. I needed to do my damn job and be a professional. Not obsess over a woman.

“It’s nothing,” I said, eyeing Mark Fitzgerald and Curtis Long across the room. I’d stop over there first. Thank them for consenting to the maple cams and offer to help with harvest this year. Make everyone feel included in the plans to save Maplewood.

Because of Sabrina, we had a real shot at this. I needed to get my head out of my ass and get to work.

Making conversation was the right thing to do. Yet my feet thought otherwise. One second I was standing next to Logan, a fully rational adult, and the next I was standing next to Sabrina, looking into Ethan Calloway’s piercing blue eyes.

“Sabrina,” I said a little too sharply.

Her response was an annoyed purse of those red lips.

I cleared my throat and willed my voice to stay even. “Good meeting.”

“You survived,” she said, not even bothering to look at me.

“I always do.”

Ethan awkwardly sipped his drink, his attention flitting between us.

Sabrina didn’t have one. Instead she’d brought the massive black water bottle she always carried around.

“Mayor Harding,” Ethan said formally, offering his hand. “Good to see you.” He was speaking to me like we hadn’t played in the woods together as kids.