Page 32 of Hello Heartbreaker

I giggled, setting the bag of dicks between us. “Does this mean we’re even?”

“For now.” He tipped his hat and then put his hand on my seat while he looked over his shoulder to back out. His fingertips brushed my shoulder, making goosebumps rise on my arm. But he kept his eyes on the road like he barely noticed.

I hated how strongly my body reacted to him, how it craved his touch, even after all these years. It was like he was imprinted on my cells and never left.

“How was work?” he asked as he drove south on Main Street.

I shrugged. “It was good. I’ll be happy when all the regulars see me because I feel like we have the same conversation about me being back in town about five times a day. I’m ready to talk about something else.”

He chuckled. “You always did like to talk.”

“You were just as bad,” I popped off. “Remember Mrs. Leitner separating you and Fletcher? And then you and James? And then you and Jarrod?”

Pretending to pout, he said, “Don’t make fun. My desk was in the corner the rest of the year after that!”

I laughed at the memory. “You know she retired after she had our class.” She taught current events, and that class had all ages in it because one year the administration thought it would reduce bullying between seniors and freshmen. What it actually did was ensure the teachers had to deal with all different levels at once.

“Can’t say I blame her.”

I glanced over at Rhett. He had a hand resting atop the steering wheel and the other leaning on the center console. I was so distracted by him, I almost didn’t notice we were leaving town.

I pointed over my shoulder. “You know town is that way, right?”

He pretended to be confused. “It is?”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re not kidnapping me, are you?”

He glanced my way, his gaze slowly sliding over my body. “Could you blame me?”

My cheeks grew hot. “Wherearewe going then?”

“Just a few more minutes. I want it to be a surprise.”

The earnestness behind his tone had me looking around at our surroundings. He turned off the blacktop onto a dirt road. In the side mirror, I saw dust billowing behind us, contrasting the green ditches. The sky was big and blue, broken up with white puffy clouds. With all the early summer rains, the pastures were green, dotted every so often with cattle and horses.

The tension in my chest automatically eased. “It’s beautiful out here.”

He glanced my way, more gravity in his gaze than usual. “It really is.”

Something about the way he said it made me glance at my hands in my lap.

The vehicle slowed, and I looked back up, seeing we were crossing through an open gate. Rhett guided the pickup over a trail worn in the ground from years of travel. When we crested the hill, a soft gasp escaped my lips.

We must have been at the highest elevation in the county. From here, I could see our little hometown of Cottonwood Falls, a stream passing by with dozens of old established trees lining the water. Every little homestead for miles.

“This is amazing,” I said. “How did you find this?”

He was looking out the windshield too, hazel eyes more green than brown at the moment. “My grandpa owns this land. He bought it as an investment several years back, and he’s been renting it out for cattle to graze. I’m saving to buy it from him so I can build a house right there.” He pointed at a spot not too far from where we were parked.

I looked at the tree near where he pointed, taking in the leathery green leaves and open white flowers. “Is that...”

“A magnolia,” he said, meeting my gaze.

“They don’t grow wild here.”

“I planted it twelve years ago.” His lips twitched before he looked my way again. “Something about you always felt like home.”

My heart pulled and tugged at his words, at what it meant that he planted this tree twelve years ago and never took it down. I swallowed, glancing down at my lap. “Should we eat?”

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