The empty bottle joined the others on the floor, and Kris wiped her mouth on her dirty arm before she reached for another from the box at her feet. Charlie and Frank had gone hours ago, leaving her to wallow in her misery. The past few days had been torture, trying to keep her distance from a man she shouldn’t love. She climbed to her feet, wobbling from the beer, and paced around the garage, glaring at the Judge.

Whispers of their voices greeted her, and she shook her head, trying to clear them away as she reached the car. The night of passion spent in this garage flared to life, and she saw them again, making love without holding back, without fear of the future. They just were. She closed her eyes, but that only made it worse. His caresses covered her body again, his lips found her neck and trailed lower. She gripped the beer bottle hard in her hand as she raised her hands to cover her ears and drown out the sounds of Edmund in her life. When they grew too loud, she screamed and flung the bottle at the car. It shattered on impact, and the dam holding all her rage and pain broke.

She grabbed the closest tool she could find and brought it down hard on the hood of the Judge. She’d got in a few swings the other night before Charlie talked her out of it, but she was alone now and no one was going to stop her. As she screamed again, she pounded the hood, denting it. If she erased memories of Edmund, maybe her heart would stop aching. Maybe she could see straight and sleep through the night. She smashed the wrench on the car again and again, each swing unleashing more of her pent-up rage at a woman who judged her based on what she saw.

Kris hated that woman. How could Edmund have come from such a horrible person?

All her life, others had walked on her. Her parents, her brother at times, the men in this town who thought they could own her and control her. All of them tramped into her life and left it messier than before. She’d hoped Edmund would be different, but she’d been wrong. His family was worse than hers. They lied, flat-out lied. Her family was always truthful, no matter how much it hurt. Kris pictured Edmund at home, curled up in his bed with whatever woman his parents picked out for him next, and she lost it. She swung the wrench back like a bat and let loose. It slammed into the windshield the same time the door flew open to the garage.

“Jesus, Kris,” Dennis growled. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

“What’s it look like?” she ranted and picked up another tool, ready to shatter the back window, but her brother was faster. He lunged across the garage and yanked the wrench free. “No! Let me go! Just let me destroy it!”

He tossed the tool aside and carried her bodily away. “What are you doing? You love that car. You’ve been working on it for years.”

She sniffed hard. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not worth it—and what are you even doing here?”

“It’s late, and you weren’t home yet,” he told her. “I do pay attention, you know.”

“I’m an adult. I can stay out as late as I want,” she grumbled and reached for another beer, but Dennis caught her hand in time and shook his head. “Oh, come on!”

“Nope, you’ve had enough. I’m taking you home.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to sink onto the couch but missed in her drunken state and hit the floor hard on her ass. She grimaced, and with a heavy sigh, Dennis crouched down in front of her. She pouted like a kid, refusing to look at him.

“Krissy,” he murmured, calling her by the name he’d used when they were little. “Look at me.”

“No,” she muttered. “I want to drink and forget. Let me do that.”

“Is this about Edmund?” he asked, confused. “I thought you two were in love and all that.”

“Nope, all lies. It won’t work, would never work,” she said sadly. “I don’t know why I thought it could.” Tears burned in her eyes, but she held them back.

“Did he say that?” Dennis asked hotly.

Kris shook her head, sending her messy hair flying. “No, I did. I had to let him go.”

“Why?” he asked, confused. “Krissy, talk to me, please. Charlie came by earlier and said you were on the verge of a meltdown.” He glanced around the garage and his gaze landed on the Judge. “I think we’re past that point.”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s gone and I don’t want to think about him ever again.”

“So you’re taking it out on your car?” he asked quietly.

She stared at her brother with a quirked eyebrow and tilted her head. “Think about it. It’ll sink in eventually.”

Dennis glanced from her to the car then back again, and his eyes widened before he cringed. “I get it, but man, don’t ever tell me about your sex life again.”

“Hey, you asked,” she said and tried to sneak her hand around for another beer.

“No,” he said and shoved the box out of reach. “Tell me what happened to you two.”

She played with a string hanging off her sleeve. “We went to Louisville, and I learned a very valuable lesson.”

“Krissy,” he said sternly, and she threw her head back on a yell of annoyance.

“I met his family, and let’s just say the female grease monkey doesn’t fit in. Happy? I will never fit into that world and was told quite plainly that if I tried, I would regret it.”

Dennis frowned and sat back. “That’s what they said, and he didn’t step in to say anything?”

“He wasn’t there, just me and good ol’ Mom,” she explained. “She said if I told him, I’d regret it. Besides, one day, we would have to choose between his life or mine, and I can’t live with that. So I let him go. I let the only man I’ve ever loved walk out that door, and he’ll never come back.”

Whatever bit of control she clung to disappeared, and she sobbed into her hands. Dennis dragged her into his lap and held her, resting his cheek against her head as he did his best to soothe her.

“You know she was wrong,” he whispered. “What his mom said.”

“No, she was dead right. Look at me! I’m a damn mechanic!”

“Who owned her own shop before the age of twenty-five, owns a house on top of that, and is loved by almost everyone in this town,” he told her. “That’s damn impressive. You, of all people, should be proud of yourself. Edmund was.”

She wiped her eyes on his shirt and lifted her head. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, when you weren’t around, you were all he could talk to people about, asking about you, praising your skills. He told anyone who would listen that he was so glad he broke down here because he met you,” he said and shoved her hair from her face. “He loves you, Krissy. How could you not feel that?”

“He did that?”

“Yeah. It got kind of annoying, honestly, but he never would’ve let anyone hurt you.”

“It’s his mom,” she said. “I can’t ask him to turn against family, not when he actually has one that cares about him.”

Dennis barked a laugh. “If she cared about her son, she would’ve told you to marry him on the spot. She doesn’t matter. What you and Edmund feel, that’s what matters.”

After a pause, she asked, “When did you get so wise?”

He shrugged. “I listened to Grams for all those years, believe it or not.”

Kris stumbled but found her feet with his help. “It doesn’t matter now. He’s gone.”

“Then go after him,” he argued, but she shook her head and squared her shoulders.

“No, it’s finished. Can we go home now?”

He chewed his tongue exactly as she did and nodded. “Yeah, I’ll take you home.”

Kris stepped out into the night as she handed Dennis the keys so he could lock up. On the way to the house, neither said a word, and Kris let the alcohol carry her away into blissful darkness where she dreamt of the day Edmund came to town—except in this version, she took him to another town and never saw him again.

* * *

Edmund thought of going to his place first, but his mom had texted him several times wanting to know if he’d be at the house for dinner. Deciding it was best to get it over with and not drink himself into a stupor, he drove straight to their house. Before he climbed out of the car, he sat and forced his thoughts to anything else but Kris and her face when he’d left. He was willing to give her everything, but she claimed it could never work.

His cell chirped again and he checked the message. His mom had spotted him in the drive and asked what was taking so long. Readying himself for what she would say, he stepped out of the car and marched up to the front door.

“I’m back,” he called out as stepped inside.

“There he is!” Sarah announced and rushed into the foyer, her heels clicking loudly against the hardwood. “I’m so glad you’re back. You’re finally back for good, right?”

“I guess so,” he said lamely. “Where’s Dad?”

She tensed and her smile slipped. “In the den.”

“What’s going on? You two fighting?”

She turned away at his words and cleared her throat. “Why don’t I fix you something to eat? You must be hungry.”

“Nah, I think I’ll go talk to Dad.” He stepped out of her reach as he stalked towards the den, his gut twisting with each step. He knocked, and when Edward called out for him to enter, he stepped inside. “What’s going on with you and Mom?”

Sarah laughed nervously behind him. “Nothing, son. I told you, we’re fine.”

Edward’s eyes narrowed on her from behind his desk. “You can’t keep lying to him, Sarah. Just tell him the truth and be finished with it.”

“Tell me what truth?” Edmund asked.

She glared at Edward and smiled. “Nothing, dear, your father is simply overreacting—”

“The hell I am!” he snapped and jumped up from his chair. “I let you plan our son’s life like it was your own because I thought maybe we were doing what was best for him. But he fell in love—he was happy, and you had to stick your foot in it and ruin everything!”

Edmund whipped around to stare at Sarah as his mouth fell open. “Mom? What did you do?”

Sarah tugged on her suit jacket and clasped her hands in front of her. “I did what any mother would do for her child to be successful.”

“What did you do?” he bit out as he stared her down.

“Tell him or I will,” Edward warned. When Sarah’s lips remained stubbornly closed, he said, “She told Kris to stay away from you or she would find a way to ruin the poor girl’s life and destroy her business. That is what your mother did to protect her son.” He leered as he pointed at his wife. “You—I have put up with so much from you over the years, but this is too much.”

Edmund’s head swam as he slumped into the closest chair. Kris had avoided him because of what his mother told her. “You… you horrible, cruel-hearted woman,” he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. “You made her think she wasn’t good enough for me?”

“She’s not good enough,” Sarah stormed. “She will never be good enough, not for you.”

“That is not your choice!” Edmund yelled as he jumped to his feet. “You picked a woman for me once and look what happened?”

“That was a fluke,” she cried. “It won’t happen again. We’ll find you another wife, a better-suited one.”

“No! I want Kris. I will always want Kris because I love her, damn it, which is more than I can say for you. I can’t love a mother who would rather see me miserable the rest of my life than be happy with a woman who’s a mechanic!” Edward nodded at his son, and Edmund moved for the door.

“Don’t you dare leave this house! I will cut you off from everything, you hear me? You will have nothing! You’ll be as poor as the rest of those people in that town!” Sarah screamed as she chased him through the house.

At the front door, Edmund turned. “I love that town and everyone in it,” he said simply. “Money isn’t everything, Mother.”

“Don’t do it! If you leave, you can’t come back!”

“Yes, he can,” Edward said as he caught up to her. “If you recall, dear wife, my family owns and controls everything. My name, my family, my son.” He shifted his gray eyes to Edmund. “Go get her, son, before it’s too late.”

Edmund ran out the door, not wanting to waste another second, but if he was going back to Green Valley indefinitely, he would need a few things. He’d go home, pack what he could live off and then hit the road after an hour or two of sleep. He grinned madly as he debated calling Kris and explaining everything to her, but another idea formed in his mind and he tucked his cell away. There was only one way to draw Kris out so he could talk to her. When he reached his house, a plan formed in his mind and he packed his bags anxiously, waiting for the first break of daylight to appear on the horizon.

* * *

A very loud ringing sounded in her ear, and Kris cringed, cursing the sunlight hitting her eyes and the throbbing in her head. She heard heavy steps marching around the house and opened one eye to glare at Dennis.

“Out… of my room,” she managed to mumble before closing her eye again.

“Time to get up,” he told her. “Your work cell’s gone off three times.”

She rolled over in bed and dragged the quilt up with her, but her brother yanked it down and tossed it aside. “Seriously? Can’t a girl mope at all around here?”

“Not when she runs a business. Go on. It’ll be good for you to get to work, to get your hands dirty,” he urged. “I’ll get the coffee going and brew it extra strong for you. You might want to take a shower, though, before you tow anybody.”

“Are you telling me I stink?”

“Yeah, like stale beer,” he said and walked away. “If you’re not up and moving, I’m coming back with a pot of ice water like Grams used to do!”

She fumbled for the edge of the bed and staggered to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. The reflection in the mirror caused her to grimace, and she reached over to turn the shower on. She’d passed out in her clothes last night, and sadly, her brother was right. She smelled awful. The warm water did nothing to rouse her or calm the pain in her head. What it did was stir up more memories of her time with Edmund. When she closed her eyes, his hands traced her curves and drew her against his solid body. He tickled her sides, and she smiled under the spray of water until she remembered he was gone for good.

Clean but not even close to feeling better, she found clothes and tugged on a semi stain-free jumpsuit. Dennis held out a thermos of coffee for her along with a sticky note and her cell.

“That’s where the caller is,” he told her. “I figured I’d be helpful this morning.”

“You could be really helpful and just go get the person for me,” she tried, but he shoved her towards the front door. “Alright! I’m going.”

“And when you get there, I suggest you put on your happy face!”

“I’ll show you a happy face,” she muttered and flipped him off.

Dennis smiled wider, and Kris frowned as she chewed on her tongue. What the hell was he up to? Curious, she tried to step back inside, but he closed and locked the door on her. “Get your ass going before that person gets caught in the heat!”

“Fine, but I’m kicking your ass when I get back!” She kicked the front door for emphasis and prepared for the walk into town, but sometime last night, Dennis had brought the tow truck to the house. “Weird,” she muttered as she climbed inside. Once the windows were rolled down, she checked the location written on the sticky note and pulled out onto the gravel drive.

It was barely nine in the morning, and the temperature was pushing ninety-five. She sped up, worried that whomever was stuck in this heat might get sick from it if she didn’t reach them in time. As she climbed a hill, a strange sense of déjà vu hit her and she slowed, but when she rounded the curve and saw the Mustang parked on the shoulder, she slammed her boot on the brake. Luckily, there was no one behind her.

Leaning against the rear of the Mustang was Edmund, his arms crossed over his chest, watching her. Anger rose to the surface at him for thinking he could do this to her, and she left the truck parked in the road, lights flashing, as she jumped out and slammed the door.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” she yelled to him. “What game are you playing?”

“I’m not playing,” he called back. “I need a tow. That engine you put in—something’s not right with it.” His lips twitched, but he didn’t smile as she drew within a few feet and stopped.

“I blame the driver,” she retorted.

“I don’t think so. Maybe it was the shoddy mechanic who worked on it.”

Her mouth fell open. “Shoddy? Did you just call my work shoddy?”

“I did. You see, the mechanic who worked on my car didn’t finish the job,” he said and pushed off the bumper. He stalked closer, and without turning around, Kris knew she would never reach the tow truck in time. “She left it half finished.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she rasped and shoved her hands in her pockets to stop herself from reaching out to him. “It was the best work I’ve ever done.”

“Not even close,” he argued. “The best work you ever did was on me, and you thought you could just kick me out of your life without asking me what I wanted.”

She bit her lip hard. “Don’t do this, please,” she pleaded, but he stood in front of her now, his shadow looming over her. “Edmund.”

“It’s Ed, actually,” he corrected with a crooked grin, making his dimples stand out.

“Edmund,” she reiterated, “this can’t work, alright? Let it go.”

“You think it can’t work, or my mother told you it wouldn’t work?” he asked quietly, the words tinged with anger. She lifted her stunned gaze to his as he breathed harshly out of his nose. “I know what happened. I know what she did to you and it kills me that I let it happen.”

Kris’s heart pounded, her body screaming to move closer. “She was right, though. I’m nothing.”

“Bullshit,” he snapped. “You are the breath in my lungs, you are the moon in the night sky I fall asleep watching, and you are the reason I drove my ass all the way back here to tell you that I cannot live a day without you. I won’t.” He pulled her hands from her pockets and held them. “You are my life, Kristen Rivers, that is what I’m telling you. You stole my heart the first time I laid eyes on you, and I didn’t come here to get it back.”

Her eyes brimming with tears of happiness, she sniffed hard. “No? Then why did you come back?”

“To give you my soul, too,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss her.

Kris melted at his touch and jumped into his arms, hugging him to her as they kissed long and deep. “I’m sorry,” she whispered against his lips. “I’m sorry I made you go. I should’ve told you everything!”

“No, I’m sorry you went through that alone,” he replied. “I want you, Kris. I don’t care about the businesses or the money. I love you.”

She rested her forehead against his as she stared deeply into his eyes. “I love you more.”

He grinned, and their mouths met in a fierce need to be close. A loud car horn honked, and Edmund set her on her feet so they could peer around the tow truck. Dennis’s truck was there, with him driving and Grams in the passenger seat, whistling and cat-calling as she waved a handkerchief out the window.

“Did they know you were coming?” Kris asked through her laughter.

“I might’ve made a few calls this morning,” he said with a shrug.

“Well then, Ed,” she said as he wiped away the last of her tears. “I guess we should get you back into town.”

“Mind giving me a tow?” he asked and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

She glanced from him to the Mustang and laughed. “You were serious? You broke your car again?”

“I told you, the mechanic did some shoddy work,” he teased, and his arm snaked around her waist. He kissed her nose as she sighed.

“Only because she was distracted by you. Come on, then, let’s get you towed into town before we all die of heatstroke or Grams decides to get out here and tackle us both.” She pulled away, but Edmund drew her back for one more kiss. But for them both, one more kiss would never be enough.

* * *