Page 24 of The Lonely Road

Jay nods as if this is settled.

Mason picks up my grocery bags and his—a gentleman.

We walk out together.

“I’m there.” I jerk my head toward my Wrangler.

“Mine is next to yours.”

I see a pick-up truck with Wyoming license plates—a small indication it’s a rental.

Our cars are parked together. Like destiny intended it.

Taya, this is just the geometry of a small town where everything is within two blocks of everything else. That’s all. The universe is not giving you a sign.

The Lick kids have migrated to the sidewalk and are debating something with the conviction of young people who have never been wrong about anything and know everything.

“The Kincaid thing on Friday,” Mason prods as he puts my bags in the trunk of my car.

“It’s a good time.” I arrange the bags so they won’t fall and spill their contents. “Half the valley shows up. Mav does brisket.”

“And he’s trying a new rub, but Elena is not happy about it,” he interjects.

He is a truly handsome man. Not pretty boy handsome like Kaz, who would hate hearing that, but it’s the truth. No, Mason is…just ruggedly handsome.

God! Next, I’ll be quoting Elsie Silver!

“Elena is Elena Wilder. She and Mav are close.” I pause.

“Maverick Kincaid is married to Aria—she owns Longhorn.”

I let out a soft laugh. “You’ve got the intel on everyone! Yes, Mav is married to Aria, and Elena is married to Duke…Duke Wilder. They own Wilder Ranch, which I think is the largest in the state.”

“Ah.” He closes the trunk of my car and leans against it. He’s holding his bag in one hand and is gazing at me intently.

I swallow.

“I should go,” I mumble.

It’s time to go. It’s chilly, and I’m cold.

No, you’re not. You’re all heated up, you horny bitch!

“I’d like to take you out for dinner. Are you free this weekend?”

His directness is its own form of disarming. No, maybe we could go out—or, if you’re not busy—just the question, clean and placed, waiting.

I am not ready to be involved with a man, not after what I’ve just been through.

I hear my grandmother’s voice then.

“You have to learn to live in the present, Taya. The past is gone. The future isn’t here. All you have is now, so grab it with both hands.”

She advised me just to be where I was at times and not think about every possible consequence of an action.

“Not this weekend.”

He nods, his lips tight.