Chapter One

Dolly

I stood in the produce section, my fingers moving absentmindedly over the bananas as I stocked them on the shelf. The routine was second nature by now—lifting the yellow bunches, placing them neatly in rows, making sure none were bruised. My mind wasn't on the task, though. It rarely was when I was doing something so monotonous.

Magnolia Mart had been in my family for four generations, and I was the latest to take over. My great-grandfather had started the store, and it had passed down through the years to my grandfather, then my father, and now me. It was a point of pride, really—having something like this stay in the family for so long. But it also meant I spent a lot of time doing things like stocking bananas.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my trance-like state. I wiped my hands on my apron and fished it out. A small smile already tugged at my lips when I saw who the message was from.

Can I go to James' house after school?

Oh, Nash.

I quickly typed my response. Do you have any homework? You know the deal.

Not five seconds later, my phone buzzed again.

I just have to read a chapter for English. I can do that after dinner.

I smiled, shaking my head. Fine, but you better be home by six. I typed back, feeling a warmth spread through me as I thought about how easy it was to be Nash's mom. He wasn't perfect, but he didn't give me much trouble. At fourteen, that was saying something.

Thanks, Mom!

I tucked my phone back into my pocket and chuckled softly to myself. Nash always said thanks, too. That boy had his manners nailed down.

I turned back to the bananas and grabbed the two empty boxes from the floor. I stood up just in time to hear the bell above the front door jingle. That sound was a constant in my life—people coming in and out, living their lives, needing groceries, catching up on gossip. It was small-town life at its finest.

Magnolia Grove was the epitome of Southern charm. Oak trees lined the streets, their branches hanging low like they were welcoming every passerby. The churches were historical, each with a story older than most of the town's residents. And the people? Friendly as all get out. Everyone knew everyone's business, which could be both a blessing and a curse, depending on the day.

But Magnolia Grove was home. It always had been. I'd been born and raised here, went to the same high school Nash was in now, and Magnolia Mart had been part of my life for as long as I could remember. I couldn't picture myself anywhere else. This place was my life.

"Afternoon, Dolly!" a voice called from the front.

I turned to see Mrs. Linda, one of the town's unofficial gossip queens, and she was making her way toward me with her cart. She was pushing it with the same authority she pushed her opinions on everyone.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Linda. How are you?" I asked, stepping around the display to greet her properly.

"Oh, just fine, honey," she said, pausing to peer into her cart. "I was just pickin' up a few things for dinner. I saw you had cinnamon buns on sale. I had to grab some even though my hips don't need them. You know how it is," she said with a wink.

I did know. I had a pan in the back that was missing two rolls from my breakfast this morning.

"You been keepin' busy with store?" she asked, her eyes glinting with a curiosity that never dimmed, no matter how old she got.

"Always," I replied with a smile. "There's always something to do here."

Mrs. Linda leaned in slightly, lowering her voice like she was sharing a state secret, though we were the only two in the store. "Did you hear about Olivia and Landon?"

I nodded with a small smile. "I certainly did." I was a bit surprised, but I liked it. Landon could use someone like Olivia to shake things up in his life. He'd always been a bit rough around the edges, and from what I'd heard, Olivia was nothing but sweet. A good match if you asked me.

Mrs. Linda tsked, pushing her cart further into the produce section. "Not too sure how I feel about it, but they seem to be very much in love. He's got that look in his eye, you know, the one that means he's a goner."

I chuckled softly. "Love'll do that to you."

The truth was, I didn't know Olivia all that well. She'd only recently moved back to Magnolia Grove, and I hadn't spent any time around Landon since high school. He and I ran in different circles—always had. But it wasn't just that. I tended to keep to myself, especially in a town where everyone knew your business.

Sure, Nash was in school, and I did all the usual parent things—sports practices, school events, and the like—but I was always on the fringes and never dove too deep into the social side of things. I preferred it that way. The less I put myself out there, the less likely people were to ask questions or, worse, talk about me.

Because heaven knew I'd had my fair share of gossip back when I was pregnant with Nash. Fourteen years ago, the whole town had buzzed with whispers about me and who the father was. It wasn't something I ever wanted to relive.

"Are the nectarines ripe?" Mrs. Linda asked, cutting into my thoughts.

I nodded, gesturing to the bin. "Yep, they're good to go."

Just as I spoke, the bell above the door jingled again. I glanced at the clock—getting close to four o'clock. The after-school rush was about to start, and the store usually picked up around this time.

"Welcome to Magnolia Mart," I called, though I didn't bother looking up. I had banana boxes to drop off, so I headed to the back room. With the empty boxes out of the way, I made my way to the register, knowing I'd have to get ready for the small crowd that was bound to trickle in.

As predicted, a few more people wandered into the store. I smiled and greeted them out of habit, though I stayed behind the counter. I grabbed the latest issue of People magazine from the stack we kept up front and began flipping through it. One of the perks of running Magnolia Mart was staying up to date on all the celebrity gossip without having to pay for it.

I thumbed through the pages, half-reading the headlines. Some movie star had gotten divorced. Again. Someone else was caught in a scandal. Typical Hollywood drama. I chuckled softly to myself, thinking how different the problems in that world were from what we dealt with in Magnolia Grove.

Here, scandal was more about who was dating whom and whether or not someone had stepped out of line at Sunday service. It was simpler, though, it didn't always feel that way when you were the center of the gossip.

The bell jingled again, and I glanced up just in time to see two kids I recognized from Nash's school walk in. I gave them a polite nod, but they didn't seem too interested in chatting, which was fine by me.

I returned to my magazine, letting myself get lost in the celebrity drama for a while. It was a nice escape, even if it was just for a few minutes. There was something comforting about knowing that no matter how messy things got in my own life, someone out there in California was probably having a worse day than me.

The door chimed again, and I quickly tucked the magazine under the counter, putting on my practiced smile as I sensed someone approaching the register.

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt the blood drain from my face. It was like staring at a ghost—one I never thought I'd see again, not here. Not in Magnolia Grove.

He didn't belong in this town anymore. He'd left years ago to become a famous bull rider. And now, here he was, looking older but just as rugged, his dark hair a little longer, his beard a shadow on his face. His eyes, though, were the same—sharp, intense, the kind of eyes that could pull you in and leave you wondering what the hell you were doing.

Boone West stood at the register and placed a case of beer and a loaf of bread on the conveyor belt.

Boone-freaking-West.