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“You make that barbecue sauce?”

He puts the tongs down and wipes his hands on the apron. Taking a sip from his own beer, he nods. “Yeah, and don’t ask for the recipe. Family secret.”

“I’m aware.”

“And I’m aware you just deflected the conversation away from Callie. Why? You having doubts? Because I’ll tell you, she’s charming the socks off everyone here. If you don’t keep her, maybe I will.”

I feel a sharp pain rip through my gut at the thought of him going after Callie. I know he’s just joking around. We’ve been friends for years, and he’d never go after another man’s woman, but the mere suggestion makes me feel ragey. I drink down half my beer to avoid ripping him a new one.

He points at me. “You’ve got it bad. As I said, it’s good to see.” Why do people keep saying that? It’s like I’m some musty relic who just resurfaced and joined the living.

“Yeah, whatever.” I look past him to where Callie is chatting with Jenny’s sister. Leave it to the most cheerful woman I’ve ever met to find common ground with a woman Jenny described as the devil in a designer romper.

“Maybe I should go rescue her,” I say, not wanting to hear about how I left her to fend for herself in a group of strangers. Elizabeth hated it when I left her alone for even a minute. She thought the people from around here were boring farmers who couldn’t talk about anything but the weather.

On the way, I’m intercepted by Harold, a retired cop who runs the coffee shop in town. It used to be a frozen yogurt shop, and before that, a mystery bookstore. Harold regales me with a different version of how Callie and I met. “I hear you were supposed to be at work, but you saw Callie walking down the street by the courthouse and couldn’t control yourself. Parked in a red zone and honked to get her attention.” He shakes his head at the infraction. “Then you bought her coffee so she wouldn’t think you were a stalker. I’m frankly surprised she didn’t pepper spray you, but maybe that’s normal in LA.”

I wonder how it is that in each version of the story, I’m making an ass of myself.

Scout is tearing around the grass, picking up beanbags for the cornhole game and talking a blue streak to anyone who will listen about his victory on the giant Connect Four set. I intercept him as he runs at my legs, lifting him and spinning him around the way he loves.

“Daddy, will you be my partner in cornhole? I can give you strategy, and you can throw.”

I nod at his enthusiasm and chuckle at his confidence. “What kind of strategy is there for cornhole? Don’t you just throw the beanbag and aim for the hole?”

“Yes, but it’s all about how you throw. Callie taught me.” Of course she did.

“I see. Well, give me a minute to let her tell me what she knows, and then you’ve got me for a partner.”

Scout runs off to find a worthy opponent while I weave through the crowd and find Callie listening intently to a story Jenny is telling. With her hip cocked to one side and her chin resting on one knuckle, she nods and keeps her focus on the story, which must be a fascinating tale of political intrigue from her level of interest. When I get close enough to hear details, it sounds like the story has more to do with an angry shoe salesperson than politics. I owe her one for listening and pretending to be entertained.

It’s only when I get nearer that I see she and Jenny aren’t alone. Some guy I’ve never seen before approaches Jenny on the left, and she introduces him to Callie. I watch them shake hands, and I feel a pang of jealousy when she laughs at something he says, tipping her head back the way she does.

I watch him move slowly up and down her body, taking extra time to appreciate her rack. Fucker. He takes a step closer to her, definitely intruding into her personal space, but she doesn’t back away. Leering at her like he’s getting ready to eat her for dinner, the guy puts his hand on her back in a friendly way that’s just a bit too friendly.

My fists ball at my sides, watching this guy who doesn’t even know her try to work an angle. I know I have no right to be jealous, but I can’t help what I feel. Why hasn’t Jenny set him straight by now? Why hasn’t Callie moved away from this handsy jerk?

Coming up behind Callie, I wrap my arms around her waist, pull her against my body, and talk against her ear. “Hey, darlin’.”

I can tell I’ve startled her, but she settles in, looking at me over her shoulder and smiling, playing her part. “Hey, cowboy. Been missing you.” Soft voice. Gorgeous smile. Hair that smells like flowers.

Of course this guy next to me was getting big ideas. I’m here to kill those thoughts before they take root.

“Mind taking your hand off my fiancée?” My possessiveness is clear as I wedge between them and extend my hand. As though I have the slightest interest in meeting this cocky asshole who still hasn’t taken a step away as he should.

His eyes move from Callie, then to me. He extends his hand and shakes mine. “Ben. Friend of Reed’s. We were in 4H together. Didn’t know she was taken. No ring.” He points at her finger. This ring thing is becoming a problem, but nothing I can do about that today. And I have different ideas.

“Now you know.” I could be nicer about it, but I’m not in the mood. He’s touching what’s mine, even if he doesn’t know we’re not for real. I don’t give a shit. When she’s out with me, we’re as real as anything.

A twinge of desire rips through my body. No question that I’m all in for the kiss I’m about to give her, and I can’t deny that I want it. Want her.

“Hope you don’t mind. I need some alone time with this one,” I tell Jenny.

“Aw, aren’t you sweet. Are there more where you came from? I keep hoping every time I come to visit Reed, but so far, he hasn’t introduced me to anyone who looked like you.”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Callie flashes a coy smile, and I fucking love that they were talking about me.

“You sure did. Come on, Ben. Let’s go find Reed and get you a drink!” She drags him away, but I don’t ease my grip around Callie’s waist.