Page 20 of Slow Burn

The cashier’s eyes linger on me for a moment longer than is comfortable as she scans the woman’s items–cranberry juice and Preparation H—telling me she’s likely just miserable because she has a UTI and hemorrhoids, so maybe I’ll cut her some slack.

Once the woman is finished paying, she gives the cashier another warning about “setting a precedent for thieves” and is finally on her way.

The cashier wordlessly rings me through. An awkward silence falls between us, punctuated by the beep of the scanner. I hate awkward silences. I always have a tendency to try and fill them, and it’s when I do that I say something stupid. The moment that follows is always weird and tense as whatever I said lands on the person across from me. I can almost predict exactly when they’ll make some excuse to leave.

“I wasn’t stealing, by the way,” I blurt, picking up the opened bag of cat treats I put on the register. “I was always planning on paying for these.”

The woman smiles, her eyes bright. “I know,” she says. “Doreen is a busybody around town. She’s pretty much always accusing someone of something. And I know you have a someone in there.” She points to my tote.

I let out a puff of laughter. “I thought I was being discreet.”

“Your bag is… wiggling,” she says.

I glance down at her name tag. Tessa. The name sounds familiar but I can’t place it.

Tessa scans a few more of my items, pausing briefly when she picks up the Biscoff cookies.

“It’s Lyla, right?” She casually points toward me. “Austin’s sister?”

“Yeah. Sorry I…” My voice trails off as I think of a polite way of admitting that I have no idea who this woman is. The back of my neck starts to itch.

“Tessa,” she says, and I nod as my eyes drop to her name tag and she realizes I already know that. “Beck’s girlfriend.”

“Oh.” Oh.

Something that feels like shock and surprise lands heavy in my gut. Not at the fact that Beck has a girlfriend–he is arguably one of the most attractive men in Sage Valley. It’s just that… yeah, I guess I’m surprised that Beck has a girlfriend. He’s so closed off. Stoney. Prickly. I try to imagine him in a relationship, talking about feelings and being affectionate and my mind is blank.

But if Beck was going to have a girlfriend, I’m not surprised he’d go for someone like Tessa. She’s so nice. Soft-spoken. Sweet. I bet they never argue. I bet she never says things she doesn’t mean. I doubt Tessa has opinions that oppose Beck’s.

“You’re staying at the ranch?” Tessa bags my oat milk and my can of chickpeas. “I heard you’ve moved into the guest house.”

Beck must have filled her in on this new arrangement. I’m sure he also reassured her that I’m just an old family friend and that the deal is strictly professional.

I nod, keeping my expression open and neutral. “Yep. I’m doing a bit of consulting for Beck as a favour.”

“That explains the Biscoff cookies,” Tessa chuckles. “I keep telling Wade he should ease up, that it isn’t helping his health issues.”

I give Tessa a tight-lipped smile. Of course she concerns herself with Wade’s health issues. She probably cooks for him when she stays there. I bet she makes fresh salads from the garden with lightly seasoned salmon and all kinds of delicious, heart healthy foods.

The thought never even crossed my mind that Wade probably shouldn’t be having Biscoff cookies dipped in whiskey.

“Gotta have some enjoyment in life,” I say. I try to keep my tone light, but even I can hear the hint of jealousy in my voice.

“Of course.” Tessa smiles again, warm and genuine, as I pick up the brown paper grocery bag and turn to leave.

The hot, burning feeling in my gut that I haven’t been able to place since running into Tessa at Foodmart is finally starting to subside as I pull into the drive of Wild Sage. I stop in front of the main house to see if Wade is there, and muffled footsteps shuffle around when I knock on the heavy wooden door. After some time, Wade swings it open.

“Morning, Wade,” I greet him with a smile.

“Mornin’ sunshine’,” he says, his weathered face wrinkling as he smiles back. “You’re just the kind of chipper face I needed to see. What a way to start my day.”

I think about how Wade’s reaction contrasts with Beck’s when he saw me out on the lawn. Wade is warm, friendly, and kind. Beck had nothing but disdain behind his eyes as he scowled at me. Still, even the thought of his gaze on me now is enough to make a flush spread across my chest.

I quell the feeling, having a better understanding of Beck and why he might want to keep his distance from me. Even though Tessa didn’t strike me as the jealous type, I’m sure Beck is mindful of how the rumour mill will turn once the town catches wind of me staying on the ranch.

I hold up the grocery bag. “Then you’ll be even more pleased at what I’ve brought you.”

His face lights up when I pull out the package of cookies and he takes them from me.