Page 58 of Somebody to Love

“You did good the other day, Bailey Jones. Just need you to know that.”

“Thanks, but I’m sure most people would do the same thing.”

His smile was slightly lopsided.

“Well, you’d like to think so, but to be fair not everyone has smarts, Bailey. In fact, for some it’s a daily struggle not to show their stupid.”

She laughed.

“I hear you’ve been helping out at the bar, and the stables, while Jack’s laid low, and Joe’s spending time at the hospital.”

“I don’t have anything else on.” She shrugged.

“Not comfortable with praise, are you, which to my mind is weird considering it has to have come your way a lot in the past.”

Bailey found the conversation awkward. “I took that praise because I deserved it. I tried to be the best, and often I was.”

“I like a woman who speaks the truth. So going with that logic, it would suggest because you’re not the best at helping out in the bar, and stables, you can’t accept the praise?”

Bailey narrowed her eyes at Fin in the hope he’d shut up. He simply smiled back.

“Is there a reason we’re having this intense conversation right here on the main street of Ryker Falls, with half the town around us?”

“I like to debate, Bailey. It adds spice to your day.”

“Good for you.”

“Now that there was sarcasm, and I don’t mind some of that too.”

“The Fall Parade is a lot bigger now than it was in my day.” Bailey changed the subject.”

“You were what, thirteen when you left?”

She nodded, looking around her at the smiling faces and fluttering flags. “There were two or three floats, and a handful of sweets. The crowds weren’t this big either.”

“Well, you’re in for a surprise then.”

“It should be interesting, that’s for sure. How long have you lived here, Fin?”

“About eight years. I arrived with Joe when he came home, and never left.”

He wore denim shorts and a faded black T-shirt, and on his feet were sneakers. The few times she’d seen him, he’d seemed relaxed, but after the conversation she’d just had with him, she knew this was a facade. Plus, he was the head ranger around here, not a job for a clueless person.

“So you and Joe met away from here?”

“We did.”

Fin didn’t elaborate, so Bailey didn’t ask, but she wanted to. She’d tried to push thoughts of Joe aside since their conversation over the washing machine, but hadn’t been entirely successful. His kissing her while involved with Angie had disturbed her, because she’d believed him a better person than that—and she still did.

“Come on, the parade is due to start, and I have a spot being saved in the front row.”

Bailey started to protest, but Fin simply took her hand and towed her behind him through the crowds. Bailey smiled, offered apologies as they weaved around people.

“I can stand back there,” she tried to protest. Fin ignored her. Finally, he stopped when they reached the very front. Bailey looked at the people standing behind her, some four deep. “Maybe I should just—”

“This is Cindy, Bailey.”

She nodded to the tall, leggy brunette who wore the shortest shorts she had ever seen. Her top looked like it had been sprayed on, and Bailey wondered if it restricted her breathing in any way.

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