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“I-It’s a given,” Nash spluttered.
“Oh, now my day just got a whole lot better,” Luke said. “Thanks, Luna, you’re pretty hot too.”
Luna giggled, Nash growled, and Luke thought his job there was done, so he walked on after giving the pony a final scratch, leaving them arguing.
“What I didn’t add was no one is as hot as you, Nash Winter.”
Luke looked over his shoulder in time to see Nash pluck Luna off the ladder and kiss her.
“Loved-up people are nauseating,” he muttered. He was surrounded by them, and normally he didn’t mind it—in fact he loved seeing those closest to him happy. But lately it was getting harder to stomach. Possibly because his aunt, sisters-in-law, cousin, and friends had asked him when he was going to find that special someone and settle down.
Never, he’d wanted to reply. Instead he’d simply smiled and said, “Soon.”
Yawning because he’d pulled two double shifts already this week, Luke headed into A.S., his brother’s bar. Apple Sours had been Joe’s first step into becoming the man he was today. Strong, loyal, and a brother he could always count on.
“Hey, Em. Joe in?”
“Sure, he’s working the bar tonight.”
Nodding, he headed that way.
The place was filling up. Tourists visited Ryker year-round, so the businesses thrived. They’d recently renovated in here after a lot of debate. The Trainer family liked to debate and generally interfere in each other’s lives. This had been no different.
Piper, their cousin, had said Joe needed more of a statement with wall colors. She’d suggested teal and tan accents with a wood-paneled feature wall. Joe had gone for cream walls with deep blue trim.
“Luke.”
He nodded to those who called his name. When you were born and raised in a town, you were on nodding terms with most people.
The bar was a huge slab of wood a friend had made for Joe, and it was where he and his family had spent many hours talking and hanging out.
“Bro.” His big brother was behind the bar. Dark like all the Trainers, Luke and Joe were the most alike.
“What’s with the face?” Joe added, reaching over to slap his hand.
“Nothing. Just been a long few days, and I’m on call. So a coffee and burger would be good.”
“Okay, I’ll put your order through.” Joe shot him a look, then headed away to do what he’d said.
Joe was one of his people. Luke had a handful that he trusted, and yeah, in recent years that had expanded, but the nucleus of his support centered around his brothers, his cousin Pip, and his aunt Jess.
The beeper on his belt went off.
“Well, fuck,” he muttered. “Save it, Joe. I got a call out!”
“Come in after!” Joe’s words followed him.
Luke ran out of A.S. and up the street to where he’d parked his Jeep. He did a U-turn and headed toward the station. He was there in minutes. Pulling into a parking spot, he leapt out.
“What’s up, Milly?” he said to the dispatcher.
“Harper place. Shelly Harper said they have a fire in one of their barns.”
Luke grunted something and ran to his locker to pull on his gear. Minutes later, he was in the driver seat of the fire truck, and they were heading out of Ryker Falls.
“Ten minutes,” Mani was saying into his phone from beside him. “Tell her we’ll be there in ten.”
He turned into the drive of Harpers’ Berry Farm and put his foot down on the gas pedal. To the left and right he saw the land the family owned. Ivan Harper had an airstrip and often took tourists on private tours. They also had lots of goats.
