Of all the shit things to happen on a shit day, I had to get a text from Clarabell saying she was sorry to hear Devlin was leaving town. And then I had to walk on into Moonshine and see Devlin making small talk with Callie’s daddy. The man who was about to find out that my father was a person of interest in his daughter’s missing person case.

I swallowed hard, and Devlin crossed the black and white tile floor to me.

“Hey,” he said softly.

I wanted to fall into his arms and press my face into his chest. I’d spent the better part of the night showing Cassidy and then Sheriff Tucker where I found the sweater. In an hour, my brothers and I were going to present a united front at the police station and have our statements taken.

Jonah Bodine Sr. was officially a “person of interest.” And while our names were being kept out of the paperwork, it was a matter of time before forensic investigators tore my daddy’s house apart and the news spread far and wide.

And Devlin McCallister needed to get as far away from me as possible.

“Got a minute?” I asked, shoving my hands in my back pockets.

“Of course,” he said. “My parents are here. Do you want to meet them?”

I shook my head and felt the tail of my hair brush my back. “Now’s not a good time.” I wasn’t lying.

We stepped outside onto the sidewalk into the warm morning sun.

“Clarabell texted and said you’re leaving today,” I said.

Devlin opened his mouth, but I cut him off with a wave of my hand.

“I think it’s good for you to go. You should go.” I said. My stomach flip-flopped, and I felt tears tickle the back of my eyes.

“You want me to leave?” he asked slowly.

I nodded. “We both knew this was temporary, and you’re in such a better place now. It would be silly for you to hang around here.” The words tumbled out in a rush. I had to make him leave before he found out, before he knew. I couldn’t stand the idea of him looking at me like I was the daughter of a murderer. I’d die if my family’s hot mess damaged his reputation.

“Scarlett, there’s no reason I have to leave today,” he began. “If you need me for something, I want to be here for you.”

Always the good guy. Dang it. Here I was kicking him to the curb, and he was offering to stick around for me. He probably thought I was a mental case after the past few days. Everything had spiraled out of control. If Devlin didn’t leave Bootleg now, he’d end up in the middle of this mess with me.

“I don’t need anything, Dev. You gave me the most fun I’ve had in a long time.” I reached out and cupped his jaw, feeling the bristle of his beard against my palm. “I hope you’ll keep the beard,” I whispered.

“This is what you want?” he asked, his hand snaking up to hold my wrist.

“It’s what we agreed on,” I said, skirting the truth. I wanted Dev here with me. I wanted to lean on him. But that was selfish. Someone had to look out for Dev. And if a career in politics, a life in the spotlight, was what he wanted? That’s what I’d make sure he got.

He released my wrist, his expression unreadable. I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out and running my palms over his broad chest.

“I can’t just pack up and leave,” he said. “What about Jonah? My grandmother’s house—”

“Granny Louisa will be fine with Jonah staying on. She trusts my judgment.”

I saw Devlin’s jaw clench once and then relax.

“This is what we’d planned all along,” I reminded him. “A great time and a friendly parting.”

“I thought we’d be saying goodbye in a different way,” Devlin admitted.

I gave him a saucy wink. “Naked, you mean?”

“Well. Yeah. A romantic dinner on the deck watching the sun set,” he said, tracing the back of his knuckles over my cheek. “A good bottle of wine. Candles.”

I was melting into him when I needed to be walking away. I let my fingers dig in to his chest.

“Thanks for all the orgasms,” I said, desperate to keep it light.

I saw a flash of amusement and sadness in his brown eyes, and then he slid his hands around my waist. “Thanks for an unforgettable summer,” he whispered.

I closed the distance between our mouths and kissed him hungrily. This was no sweet goodbye. This was desperation, a need unmet. I felt him thicken and harden against my belly. God, I wanted him. Not one last time though. I wanted him every night forever. I knew for sure that no one else would make me feel the way Devlin Brooks McCallister did. And in that moment, I almost hated my daddy just a little bit.

“There’s an alley six feet from here,” Devlin said, pulling back, his breathing ragged.

I laughed breathlessly. “That’s not a good idea.”

“Right. My parents might catch us,” he said casting a glance in the diner window. Half of the customers had their noses pressed up against the plate glass window.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake! Sit down and eat your breakfasts,” I hollered.

Mona Lisa McNugget, Bootleg’s official mascot chicken, strutted past pecking her little beak at the piece of toast Moonshine staff left for her every morning.

“I’m going to miss this place,” Devlin said, waving to Mrs. Morganson through the window.

“Look at us bein’ all civilized about this,” I said. “You must have rubbed off on me.”

Devlin threaded his fingers through my ponytail. “I think the rubbing was mutual.”

“I sure hope so,” I breathed. He was put back together. That was for sure. Gone was the shadowed, anxious man who’d arrived in Bootleg. In his place was a strong, smart, capable man who had better not take shit from anyone or else I’d have to track him down and give him another lesson.

“Dev, promise me you won’t get back with Johanna,” I said. “I know it’s not fair to try to dictate who you date and don’t date. But she’s no good for you. You can do better.”

“I’ve already done better, Scarlett.”