Page 34 of One Wild Chance

Jaxon’s brow furrows.

“Oh, I’d love to! These are gorgeous.” She holds the bouquet against her side, leans into Jaxon, and smiles for the camera.

And just like that, Jaxon’s unintentionally providing free advertising for Wildflower Farms.

When a mother with two little girls in French braids steps up, I crouch down, offering them sunflowers. “Would you like to hold these for your picture with Jaxon?”

The girls nod, then hold their sunflowers like they’ve been given an important job. I remind their mom to tag me before she walks away, then turn to the next person in line.

My stomach drops when I see her. Mollie Holliday. Senior homecoming queen and salutatorian of Jaxon’s class. She brushes past me, her gaze fixed on the man behind me.

“Jaxon!” she gushes.

“Mollie?” He opens his arms, and she walks right into his hug like they’re old buddies. “How long have you been back?”

“I just moved back three months ago,” she says. “I’m a large-animal vet now. Bought into a practice in Lexington, but I do farm calls out this way twice a week.”

“Wow.” His eyes widen. “You always said that’s what you wanted to do.”

So she’s a vet? How convenient.

“And look at you,” she says, motioning to him. “Back at Lucky Chance, huh?”

He nods. “Still learning the ropes.”

“I heard about your parents. I’m so sorry, Jaxon. They were wonderful people.”

She’s nice. That’s the worst part. Too nice to even hate.

Mollie turns and sees me. “Summer, right? By the way, your flowers are absolutely gorgeous.”

I hold out my bouquet. “Would you like to hold it for your photo?” It takes everything in me not to wish it was a bouquet of poison ivy instead.

“I’d love that,” she says, her smile widening.

He takes her phone, their fingers touching for a second before she moves closer to him. I know it’s probably nothing, but that doesn’t erase the pinch of jealousy inside me as they pose together.

“Don’t be a stranger, okay?” she says to Jaxon before leaving. “If Lucky Chance is going to need a large-animal vet, call me.” Then she waves.

“Old friend?” I ask when she’s out of earshot.

“We hung out sometimes,” he says.

“She seems great,” I say flatly. Attractive, successful, just the kind of woman that would complement Jaxon well.

“Yeah, she’s nice.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “What exactly are you doing over here, anyway?”

“Saw an opportunity. It’s called business.”

“So, you’re using my name to sell your flowers?” His eyes dance. “I should probably charge you for that.”

“Charge me?” I scoff. “You’re taking away all my foot traffic this morning. I should bill you. Everyone’s lining up over here instead of shopping, so I figured I might as well find something about you that’s actually useful.” I press the bouquet into his hands. “It’s either that or shoveling horse manure.”

The corner of his mouth pulls up—the same one he gave the little boy earlier. But this time, that grin is all for me. “Anything else, boss?”

“Just keep smiling,” I say, and head back to my booth before he can see what that smirk is doing to me.

Chapter 11