the first place would have to live with the consequences. All because Rachel had hoped the wishes wouldnât follow her here and she had let her guard down.
Everleyâs husky laugh pulled her attention back. She hung up and said, âGood thing I called. He was fixing to deploy a search party for you.â
âOh, God.â Heat rushed to Rachelâs cheeks, and she turned to look for him out the window.
âIâm kidding. He just noticed you were gone. Heâll be here in a few minutes.â
Rachel glanced down at the curled paper in the basket and then quickly turned back to Everley. âThanks.â
âSo, how do you know Ashe?â Everleyâs eyebrow cocked in interest.
ââKnowâ is a strong word. We just met yesterday when I ran out of gas and Catch let me crash at her house. Heâs showing me around as a favor to her.â
âAh, that explains it. I thought I was going to have to give him hell for seeing someone and not telling me.â
âSo the two of you are friends?â Rachel asked. She bumped the water bottle against her thigh and drops of cool condensation dribbled down the skin below her shorts.
âSince we were kids,â Everley said. âMy boyfriend, Jamie, is his best friend, so weâre sorta like family.â
The door opened a few minutes later, letting in a wave of hot air and Ashe a step behind. His eyes swept over Rachel and settled on Everley. âThanks for calling, Ev,â he said.
Everley winked. âNo problem, cutie.â
âYou okay?â he asked Rachel.
âYeah, Iâm fine. Sorry I walked away,â Rachel said, hoping the flush was gone from her cheeks. âJust wanted to do a little sightseeing.â
âCâmon, Ashe, what do you thinkâs gonna happen to her here? Nowhereâs like the safest town ever.â
âHave you looked at her?â Ashe gestured to Rachel. He didnât look happy. âShe looks like sheâs seen a ghost.â
Thereâs no way he knows. Rachel pinched the crook of her arm. Snap out of it. She looked up, his icy-blue eyes narrowing on her. She forced a smile.
âItâs just the heat. I gave her some water. Sheâll be fine,â Everley said.
âYeah, âcause your waterâs about as refreshing as drinking a salad.â
âI gave her bottled water, smartass.â
Ashe grinned at her and turned to Rachel. âYou ready?â
She nodded. âThanks for your help, Everley. It was really nice to meet you.â
âSure thing. Come back and see me sometime, okay?â Everley said.
Ashe cupped Rachelâs elbow and ushered her out into the steamy air. Whether he was trying to steady her or keep her from wandering off again, Rachel couldnât tell.
âPlease donât tell Catch about this,â she said. âI donât want her to worry.â
âWasnât planning to. But are you gonna tell me what happened?â
âItâs not important.â
âSure itâs not,â he said. His voice was a mix of annoyance and amusement. But he didnât push. He turned a corner and gently pulled her with him.
âDo you think we can just goââ Rachel stopped herself. Nowhere wasnât home. It was just a town she was temporarily living in. âBack to Catchâs?â she said.
âWhatever you want to do.â
The thought of lying to Catch about why sheâd left Ashe made her dizzy. She concentrated on the steadying hand on her arm. His palms were calloused, his fingers rough. She stared at the spot of sweat that blossomed on the front of his shirt instead of watching where they were going.
They reached his truck within minutes. Sheâd walked up and down the street and still had no clue where sheâd gone or how sheâd gotten there. She swiveled to look at the ancient buildings and wooden street signs behind her, but it was like seeing
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