want to move us into intimate territory before we were ready.
Me: Good. Do me a favor?
Shelby: Sure!
Me: Tell your rheumatologist you’re signed up for a triathlon.
And cue the crickets. I waited a minute, noting my mom was holding the front door of the shop open for a man. Jimmy Bob Prosser, hardware store owner and flannel connoisseur.
Me: Stop pouting. Just ask him or her if they have any specific advice on how to proceed with training.
Shelby: Fine.
She included an annoyed emoji.
Me: Jimmy Bob Prosser is putting the moves on my mother.
Shelby: Which Bootleg eligible bachelor is he? Oh no. He’s not the one with the taxidermy hobby, is he?
Me: No. Thank God. JBP owns the hardware store.
Shelby: Oh! He’s very handsome. I approve this match.
Me: He’s also Misty Lynn’s father.
Shelby: We don’t know for sure if that’s a nature or nurture problem. He could still be a nice stepfather for you. What’s their body language saying?
Me: What would body language say?
There was another minute of silence from Shelby while I watched Mom laugh at something Jimmy Bob said to her.
Shelby: Uh-oh. George needs me at his and June’s place. Some kind of emergency. Keep me posted.
Me: You too.
I looked up from my phone to see Jimmy Bob Prosser give my mother a sample of his ice cream cone.
“What the hell?”
“You glaring at anyone in particular?” Gibson scared the hell out of me, and I almost dropped my frozen yogurt.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“You stupid? It’s summer. This is an ice cream shop.”
“Sorry. I’m distracted. Tell me everything you know about Jimmy Bob Prosser,” I said, pointing my spoon in his direction.
Gibson followed my gaze. “Huh. You got a problem with your mom being human?”
I blinked. “No. I wish her a happy and healthy sex life that I hope to never know anything about. I just want to make sure he’s good enough.”
“He took over the hardware store from his parents. His wife, Misty Lynn’s mama, skipped town a few years back to follow her dreams of being a singer or an actress. Some shit like that. Heard she never made it farther than one of those restaurants where the servers sing and dance.”
“Is he the reason Misty Lynn turned out the way she turned out?”
Gibson shrugged. “Some eggs are just hatched rotten.”
My mom threw her head back and laughed at something Jimmy Bob said. She brushed her hand down his arm.
“Uh-oh,” Gibson said. “That’s definitely female interest there.”
“I want her to be happy,” I said, reminding myself it was true. “But is it too much to ask that I get to pick who she’s happy with?”
“They’re just flirting,” he cautioned. “No need to freak out.”
“Why is he getting out his phone?” I asked. “What the hell? Did she just give him her number?”
“Okay, a slight reason to freak out. Want me to have Cass run him for you? Background check, known priors?” he offered.
My phone buzzed.
Shelby: Bigger emergency than I thought. Can you get over here?????
“Shit. Five question marks. That’s not good.”
“What’s up?” my brother asked.
“Shelby has an emergency. But I can’t leave my mom in the clutches of someone named Jimmy Bob.”
“I’ll hang,” he volunteered. “Keep an eye, make sure she gets back to the inn.”
“Alone?” I pressed, already backing away.
He cracked a smile.
“Alone,” he promised.
“Thanks, man. I owe you.”
Me: On my way.
22
Shelby
I was wandering around June and GT’s front yard whistling and clapping my hands when Jonah pulled up. My body was still stiff, still sore, but at least I was ambulatory. Another hot bath was definitely in the cards for me tonight, I decided.
“What’s the emergency?” he asked, climbing out of the car looking six shades of delicious. I’d had breakfast with the man this morning, let him talk me into bed—alone, unfortunately—for a nap before lunch, and I still got the little dip and slide in my stomach when I saw his gorgeous face, concern written all over it.
“Oh, thank God, man,” my brother said jogging around the side of the house. “I fucked up. Big time.” GT shoved his hands into his hair.
“This doesn’t involve a body, does it?” Jonah asked.
“Oh, God. Shel! What if she makes a run for the road?” GT said, letting his imagination off its leash.
“She’ll be just fine, GT. Calm down,” I said, scouring the underbrush.
“Did you maim someone and hold them captive?” Jonah asked.
“No, she just got loose. Marshmellow scared her, and she just bolted right out the door. Oh my god. June’s at the office for