Page 13 of Rain or Shine

“Says the guy who can use his feet like hands.” My eyebrow hitches, and Shane chuckles.

“Yeah, it’s a little weird.”

I shrug. “I like that it’s weird. The weird things are what tell you the most about a person. But don’t listen to me. I’m no people expert. Hence my… situation yesterday.”

An embarrassing situation at that. Reading people is what I’m good at, so why couldn’t I see what was right in front of me when it came to Zander?

Shane takes a sip of water, not breaking my gaze. “That’s not your fault. You can only ever know a person as much as they want you to. Some people are better at hiding than others.”

“Oh yeah? How well do you let people know you?” I’ve leaned closer, but so has he. Close enough to fill my lungs with his cologne.

He smirks, his gaze falling to my mouth. “Guess that depends on the person I’m talking to.”

I wet my lips, the bar growing warmer by the second. Heat climbs my neck. My cheeks. And when Shane’s eyes snap back to mine, a knot lodges in my throat.

“I guess you’re right.” I stand tall; moving back a step like that will help clear my head of this man.

With a final drink of his water, he shoves off his barstool. “I better get back. But thanks for the water.”

“Thanks for last night. The ride. The drinks. The matches. And thanks for the truck, even though I didn’t ask.”

“Maybe try asking next time.” He pockets the keys, looking me over so slowly I feel the rake of his gaze as intensely as if it were his hands doing the roaming. “Or don’t.”

“I’ll consider it.”

He shakes his head, grinning. “Stay out of trouble, cowgirl.”

Shane turns to walk away, and I can’t take my eyes off him. Trouble is the last thing I need right now. I’ve already got more than I can handle. But as Shane disappears out the bar door and climbs into his truck, I can’t help thinking he makes trouble look really good.

4

HARLOE

Nora drops a pile of clothes on my unmade bed, frowning. “I can’t believe it’s taken you a week to get your things back from Zander. What have you been wearing?”

“Let’s just say I’ve been doing a lot of laundry.” I grab a shirt and begin folding. “At least I didn’t have a chance to rent out my apartment before moving in with him. I’m considering that a win.”

“You could have crashed with me if you needed to.” Nora fixes her ponytail; dark pieces of hair immediately fall free because it’s so short.

Our entire lives, Nora’s hair was down to her waist. Her long locks were practically a part of her personality. Until she ended things with Monty and chopped it off. Since then, she hasn’t let her hair grow past her shoulders.

“There’s no way I’m sleeping on the pullout couch you lost your virginity on when we were in high school.” I scrunch my nose in mock disgust.

“Like I didn’t catch you and Zander having your own fun on there a time or two.” She rolls her eyes, and I try not to gag thinking about how long I’ve subjected myself to Zander’s less-than-impressive bedroom skills. “Besides, even if you had rented this place, you could have stayed with Will if you were really in a pinch.”

“I’m thirty. I’m not crashing with my brother. That’s worse than the virginity-stealing couch.”

Nora chuckles, but I’m serious.

I’ve depended on my dad and brothers my entire life. Even when I left town for a decade, they helped me out whenever I needed it. Sending cash when things got tight, looking out for me. It wasn’t until Dad’s heart attack that I finally returned to Lanceleaf long enough to see how much had fallen apart in my absence. They’d hid all the pressure they were under back home.

As hard as it is being back here, faced with all the reasons I left, I’m not abandoning them again.

For Dad. For my brothers.

For Mom.

My throat tightens, and I clutch a folded shirt to my chest. Mom had big dreams for Ransack. For how it would bring our small town together. I refuse to let that dream die, even if I’m currently struggling more than I’m letting on.