text: With a death grip on the handles of her seat, Blaine squinted against the dust kicked up by the ATV. She leaned when Kyle did and squeezed her eyes shut each time they hit a bump, but the ATV never tipped on the trip down the mountain, despite the deep grooves in the path and the steep slope. The ease with which Kyle handled the ATV no doubt came from experience. Reaching the level field behind Wyn's house relaxed her shoulders, however.
  
  Next time, she'd pass on the offer of a quick trip just as she'd passed today on Kyle's suggestion she hold on to his waist while riding on the ATV. Hiking down the mountain or taking the long way around wouldn't leave her awkwardly trying to keep space between her body and another woman's boyfriend.
  
  Kyle brought the ATV to a stop in front of his house and cut the engine. "If you want to use the bathroom before we head up to my mom's house, go for it. Otherwise, I'll yell for Ronnie and we can take off."
  
  "On this?" Where would Ronnie sit?
  
  "No." Kyle snorted. "We'll take Ronnie's car. We have to pick up Levi."
  
  "Will there be room for Jack too?"
  
  "We're not stopping for him."
  
  "Oh." She hadn't seen him since their unexpected tryst. They still hadn't finished their after-sex talk. Not that she wanted to delve into that box again. Spur-of-the-moment encounters demanded it, unfortunately. "He's still coming right?"
  
  Kyle climbed off the ATV. He cut a quick glance at her. His brows pinched. "Not sure. All I can say is that when I asked if he wanted a ride as I was bringing you too, he passed."
  
  Frozen in place, Blaine fought to keep her expression neutral. The immediate punch of hurt from Kyle's news churned her stomach.
  
  She pulled the hair tie free and tossed her hair, loosening the strands before an unnatural kink from the elastic band distorted her waves. The deliberate action gave her a chance to slow her quickened pulse and get herself together.
  
  Blaine had no reason to expect anything from Jack Sander. Neither of them even mentioned the sex after her mattress was dropped off. They'd made a second trip down the mountain to get her luggage and a bag of food Iona had prepped for her, then he'd left her to unpack. No kiss. No promise of a repeat performance. Nothing.
  
  "Jack mentioned he was coming tonight. Said something about how he'd be a fool to pass up on his mother's cooking." Blaine smoothed her hands over her thighs. Dust covered her. She brushed at her arms. "I wonder what came up to change his mind."
  
  "I know he's been fighting with Levi a lot lately. Maybe that's it." Kyle shrugged. "Or he could be out with Brenna. Never know."
  
  Pain radiated along her jaw. "Brenna?"
  
  "His date for the wedding."
  
  The front door opened. Ronnie, the woman she'd met briefly on her first day in Sander's Valley, stepped out. Two plastic grocery bags hung from one arm. A purse dangled from the other. And a large cake pan obscured most of her face.
  
  Kyle rushed forward and took the items from his fiancée while Blaine stood completely still. Hands fisted to hide the trembling, she focused on her breathing and fought the urge to claw out Brenna's eyes.
  
  "Is everything okay at the cabin?" Ronnie hurried toward where Blaine stood fuming for no reason.
  
  So what if Jack was with another lover? What he'd done with Blaine had been a spur-of-the-moment thing. Nothing more. She wanted it that way.
  
  "Yes." Blaine eased the pressure in her hands and stretched her fingers. "Everything is fine. The view is absolutely beautiful, and it's so very peaceful up there." If not a little lonely. The cable had yet to be turned on, and her cell phone only worked when she stood on one section of the deck.
  
  "And the well pump worked okay?" Ronnie stepped next to her.
  
  "Of course." Blaine flashed the bright smile required for small talk, though the topic Ronnie chose left a lot to be desired. The weather offered a wider range of responses. What could you say about a well pump other than it worked?
  
  "Good. You looked upset for a moment. I thought something might be wrong."
  
  Darn Jack. He'd unsettled her. Hopefully, he did skip out on dinner. In her mood, simply looking at him would ruin her night. How would she manage small talk while her blood boiled? "No. Everything is fine. Really. I'm just angry with myself."
  
  "Why?"
  
  Grabbing the first reason that came to mind, Blaine linked her hands and dipped her chin. "You sent me an invitation to your wedding, and I didn't respond. I meant to, but honestly, I didn't know where I'd be this weekend. It would've been even ruder to accept then not show up."
  
  Ronnie rounded the classic sports car and climbed into the back. Blaine joined her while Kyle stood texting next to the driver's door.
  
  "Nonsense. It's not too late, if that's what you're worried about. I've planned for late RSVPs and no-shows." Ronnie set her purse on the floor and turned to face Blaine. "But don't feel obligated to come either. It's completely up to you. I'm just glad Iona has you close for a little bit. She talks a lot about you."
  
  Kyle opened the driver's door and slipped behind the wheel. "I texted Jack. He's out at Brenna's place. Said he's busy. Doesn't know how long he'll be or if he's even coming."
  
  The memory of being held between the wall and Jack's hard body flashed before her. They'd been busy too. He'd given up his whole day for her.
  
  A heaviness settled in her chest. Blaine glanced out the window. The car moved, and the house Jack had pointed out as Levi's came into view. A leanly muscled blond man in jeans and an open white dress shirt jogged toward them. He buttoned the shirt as he approached.
  
  The man hopped in the passenger seat and tipped his head in her direction. "Welcome to the valley, Blaine. I'm Levi."
  
  "Thank you." Blaine took in Levi's lighter hair, blue eyes, and defined features. He was beautiful where Jack was rugged with his beard and tanned skin. He could've been a mountain man. "You don't look anything like your twin."
  
  "Nope." Levi laughed, but the bitter sound didn't convey amusement. He faced the front. "We're fraternal. People still mix us up anyway, though."
  
  His tone didn't invite discussion. Blaine didn't push it. Kyle had mentioned Jack had been fighting with his twin. If their disagreements stemmed from working together, she could relate. Avery was the best brother a woman could have. Her love for her sibling didn't translate into blind acceptance of his wishes, especially where her private encounters came into play.
  
  Avery never hesitated to question the reputation or worth of anyone she spent time with. Except Iona. Everyone loved Iona. She didn't even have to fall back on small talk to pass time with people. Everyone treated her as their best friend.
  
  The car moved again. Kyle followed the winding path through Sander's Farm. Tall stalks of corn towered over both sides of the road. The sounds of birds chirping and bugs she had no name for filled the silence that had descended.
  
  Kyle slid his hand over the steering wheel. "Jack's been spending a lot of time with Brenna these past couple of days."
  
  "Yep." Levi propped his arm over the open window. "He has."
  
  Blaine waited a moment, but Levi didn't elaborate. She leaned forward. "Why? Is she his girlfriend?"
  
  Ronnie snickered. "Jack's never had a girlfriend."
  
  "He's a fuck 'em an—" Kyle flicked his gaze to the rearview mirror and caught his fiancée's eye. He coughed into his shoulder. "Jack believes in having fun."
  
  "Hmm…" Blaine focused on the ears of corn outside her window. They didn't have farms in St. Petersburg. Actually, nothing in Sander's Valley reminded her of the city in Russia she called home, or any of the places she'd visited across the world either.
  
  Here it was…quiet. Everything moved slower, including life. Everyone seemed content with existing, not conquering life or harnessing it. Blaine didn't understand that drive, or lack thereof. She had no hope of fitting in here. Of course, she didn't have to.
  
  Blaine didn't belong here any more than she belonged in this car with Jack's family.
  
  Blaine smoothed her thumb over her nails. The worn edges would need to be fixed before she went anywhere she'd be getting her picture taken. "Life's too short not to have fun. I can't blame him."
  
  "Jack needs to pick his lovers better, though." Kyle slowed the car, allowing a groundhog to run across the road. "He's going to end up getting himself in trouble messing with the wrong woman. Maybe knock up some girl he barely knows."
  
  "Or destroy his relationship with his family and friends." Levi's voice hardened.
  
  "Jack's thirty. If he hasn't already left a string of bastard children or done something so unforgivable that he'd alienate his friends or family, I don't think it'll happen now." Ronnie shook her head. "The only thing threatening Jack's future is regret. He's going to grow old alone."
  
  The car stopped in front of a large white farmhouse, saving her from coming up with some response to Ronnie's predications.
  
  Blaine studied the home she'd barely glanced at driving out here. Chickens walked in the front yard. Two large rocking chairs sat on the front porch. And a big fluffy dog lying near the walkway lifted its head. The sheepdog wagged its tail but didn't stand.
  
  "Nope. You're all wrong. Jack faces the same threat I do." Levi opened the car door and got out. "People telling us how we should live our lives."
  
  Blaine couldn't argue with that statement. She'd been fighting the same battle over her two and a half decades of life too. By living in the spotlight, she'd invited the scrutiny, however. Luckily, she'd gotten used to maintaining her image as others expected.
  
  She took one last calming breath and mentally ticked off the list of superficial things she could discuss with the Sander family, then sighed. It would be a dreadfully long evening without Jack. She couldn't help but think small talk would be the death of her one of these days.