Page 47 of Colton’s Inferno

“I got away tonight. But really, there’s always things to do on the ranch.” A strand of hair had come loose from her braid. She tucked it behind her ear. “Tomorrow we’ll have to start bringing livestock down from the summer pasture. That’ll take days.”

“I can help,” he offered. “I’m off for the next two weeks.”

She folded her arms across her chest. The fabric of her shirt pulled tight over her breasts. Aiden had to force himself to look away.

“You ever been on a cattle drive?” she asked, her tone both challenging and playful.

“No,” he said. “But I’m a fast learner.”

“Maybe you can come out for dinner one night. Grandpa Rusty would love to see you again. You can talk about documentaries.”

An invitation to dinner was promising. He took a step forward and reached for her hand. That same spark from before filled his palm and surged up his arm. To his shoulder. To his chest. His heart pounded, beating in triple time. “I’d love that,” he said. “When?”

She laughed, even though he was being serious. “I’ll get back to you.”

He let his hand slip from hers. Then, he opened the car door. “I really did have a good time.”

Lucy stepped toward the car and stopped. “My grandfather is on a video call with a lady friend. Who knows how long they’ll be talking, and I don’t want to interrupt them by coming home. We can keep hanging out,” she said.

Aiden couldn’t keep the smile from his lips. “What do you want to do?”

“This is your town,” she said. “What would you be doing tonight if we weren’t out?”

“Well, that depends. This was my weekend to be at the fire station. So, if I hadn’t gotten the concussion, I’d be at work.”

“And if you weren’t at work?”

“I’d probably be at my apartment,” he said. “Watching some old-man documentary.”

She laughed. He loved the sound.

“We could still go to Prime,” he suggested. “They have a rooftop bar. The bourbon list is supposed to be impressive.”

“I’ll pass on the bar,” she said. “I don’t want to get tipsy since I still need to drive home.”

“We can go wander around downtown, then.”

“Sure,” she said.

For half of a block, they walked without saying anything. Aiden’s arm brushed the back of her hand. His fingers itched with the need to touch her. But he didn’t want to push for something Lucy wasn’t ready to give.

In an instant, Ted’s words from last night came to him.

Stay away from Lucy Harris. She has a past. Trust me, that woman is damaged goods.

Was the warning because of the panic attacks? Her brother’s overdose? Both?

Ted had a pessimistic streak. But even for him, that seemed mean-spirited.

A breeze blew up the street, sending a crumpled piece of paper skittering. Aiden picked up the litter and shoved it into a garbage can. A fat raindrop fell onto the sidewalk. He held up his palm. Another raindrop fell into his open hand. “I think there’s going to be a storm. Want me to walk you back to your car?”

She shook her head. “I’d rather not drive home in Grandpa Rusty’s car if it’s storming. It’s not great in bad weather.”

“I’d suggest going to a movie,” he said. There was a theater at the other end of Main Street, about four blocks away. “But the last showing always starts at eight thirty.”

Lucy glanced at her watch. “Whatever is playing would be halfway through.” And then, she asked, “Where do you live?”

From where he stood, Aiden could see his apartment. It was in a brick building, just like all the other buildings on Main Street. He pointed on the diagonal. “See Pixies?” he asked, mentioning the beauty salon.