Page 32 of One Wild Chance

Jaxon cuts a glance at her, clearly uncomfortable.

“Course I do,” I say with a polite nod. “Especially on market day. I’d be stupid to carry all these flowers myself.”

She leans toward me and whispers, “That man could lift a heifer one-handed if he wanted.”

I bite back a smile as Jaxon ignores Colleen. I bet she’d enjoy giving his bicep a firm squeeze, like testing cantaloupe at the market.

Jaxon glances between us, his arms full of flowers. “If you’ll excuse me, ladies, I need to get these over to Summer’s booth.”

As soon as he’s gone, Colleen lifts a brow. “Is there something we should know, Summer?”

“No, ma’am.” I pick up some bouquets, keeping my eyes averted. “He offered to help unload, that’s all.”

Her eyes twinkle. “Didn’t you two date back in high school?”

I can tell she’s fishing for gossip. “Nope. Just worked together on the farm.”

“That’s always how it starts, honey.”

“Well, it’s not starting here.” I grab another box of supplies under my arm like that settles it. “I’ve got flowers to sell, Colleen.”

“Well, I’ll be watching,” she says with a wink, following me to my booth.

Jaxon is stacking buckets under the table when Colleen pounces. “Jaxon, I almost forgot. We need to make an announcement, and let people know you’re here.”

Jaxon straightens, then rubs the back of his neck. “I’d really rather you didn’t.”

“But the mayor’s about to do his morning introduction. We could add it right in.”

He pauses, looking at me for help.

“Colleen,” I interrupt, stepping forward. “Could you have the mayor mention something about Lucky Chance Ranch? Tell him if anyone has questions about the farm, Jaxon would be happy to answer them.”

She nods. “I don’t see why not. I’ll go find the mayor right now.” Colleen hurries away, and neither of us says anything for a few seconds.

“Uh, that was nice of you,” he says, his gaze landing on some burgundy celosia.

I shrug. “It’s the reason you came today, right? For Lucky Chance?”

“Yeah.” He tilts his head. “I just didn’t expect you to help me.”

I arrange some sunflowers on the table, avoiding his gaze. “I want the farm to make it.”

“Oh.” He pauses. “Well, I’m sorry I picked your best sunflowers.”

“And my zinnias,” I remind him with a smirk. “What’d you do with them anyway?”

He adjusts a crooked zinnia that I missed. “I gave them to someone who’d appreciate them.” His mouth lifts on one side, the movement so subtle, I almost miss it.

I’m dying to ask who he gave them to, but I don’t—it’s none of my business who Jaxon Chance gives flowers to.

“Hey.” I turn toward him. “Could you get one more bunch from the truck?”

He nods, then heads to the truck.

So what if he has another woman? Someone he’s been in contact with this whole time, and he gave her a bouquet as a guess who’s back in town surprise?

I move a bucket. Good for her, whoever she is.