SHE WAS EXHAUSTED from her last shift of this week. Arizona Sky was already dreaming of snoring in her bed, but she couldn’t speed up with a truck that already had a place in the junk shop. It was her dad’s. She lent her car to her father to visit her aunt from the other town.

Her daydreaming was interrupted by Old Bob’s flock of sheep crossing the street. She remembered the old man hired a new and inexperienced shepherd. Then an ear-splitting squealing brake followed by the loud crash in the weeds. Her instant action was to call an ambulance, but then, she was already jumping out of the truck toward the car before she even realized.

She halted midway. The man was already beside the road, his palms pressed against his knees, breathing heavily, throwing curse after curse. He was wearing a white shirt, sleeves rolled up his elbows, too fancy to be working at the local firm, and too late to be still on the road. And then his pants were too perfect on his round butt and strong thighs, which Ari shouldn’t be paying attention to. She couldn’t help it.

With a hard swallow, Ari tentatively gripped the man’s broad shoulder that startled him. She couldn’t blame him for cursing out loud though. She was probably doing the same thing if their positions were reversed.

“Are you okay?” That was the first words that came out from her mouth, concern obvious in her voice.

She realized that the man was tall—way taller than her five feet and two inches height when he stood straight, still shaking. She hadn’t had the chance to see his face, yet his cologne engulfed her, inducing her to make a bold move. And by the scent alone, it screamed luxury.

Who was this man, by the way?

She got the chance to inspect him for possible injury as she held her strong arms, then patted his unbelievably wide chest. When the man didn’t protest, or he was probably still shocked to process what she was doing, she checked for a stained of blood. Thankfully, he wasn’t seemed injured.

Ari could feel the muscles under his shirt clenching against her palm. For an unlikable reason, her heart went erratic as she kept touching the stranger. This man worked out a lot, she even thought.

“Are you hurt?” she managed to ask him again as she rounded to his back. Before she could inspect him further, he turned around.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked, his voice was uncharacteristically harsh.

“A simple thank you would be fine,” she replied shakily.

“If it wasn’t for your fucking truck, I wouldn’t have been in an accident.” The strong and deep voice made her stop—it sounded familiar—too familiar as if she’d talked to him quite often before. Ari also noticed how rude he was.

Feeling insulted, Ari took a deep breath before she lifted her gaze to meet his. Her heart was in an uncontrollable rage—anger, dread, surprise, resentment, longing—those emotions she didn’t expect to feel.

The shock in his deep blue eyes matched hers. His thick brows were meeting together. Now his orbs were burning holes to hers, and as if he was ready to swift her off the road. His glare alone was colder than ice that she felt it penetrated through her chest. Then they were all vanished in a mere second, replacing with some recognition—a warmed recognition, to be precise.

“What the hell?” she recognized her own voice as she mumbled.

His full lips were pressed into the thin line just a few seconds ago, and now they slowly undid and parted. It was ages ago, but she could still feel how soft and how firm they were against hers as he captured her lips for the first time. Her lips started to tingle in anticipation to feel them again. Her lips dried as they continued staring at each other. What the heck?

She needed to get ahold of that butterfly-effect thing in her stomach. She blinked off the jumbled thoughts in her head. Ari wouldn’t want to go to that regrettable part of her life again. Not when she was in front of this asshole.

“Ari?” With his brows falling low, his voice lowered to whisper—a little shock was still there. Wow! He still remembered her. Funny how he still knew her name when he literally ran away as fast as he could after he got what he wanted from her.

With a warning flashed at the back of her mind, Ari stepped back before Tripp could say any further.

So, the rumors were true then that the almighty Tripp Raker Wrylee’s presence was not just a rumor after all. He was the talk of the town for the past weeks—that the best friend of the city mayor had been seen in this town like he was some kind of a royal prince.

“Since you look okay, and your car is not busted, I’m leaving.” With her breathing was going to crap, and she was about to lose her sensible thoughts, she grabbed the door of her truck ready herself to flee.

Her body stilled, almost shuddered when he called her again—her name was still foreign to her ears when it came from him. She couldn’t remember he called her Ari. He used to call her the endearment that made her cringe when she heard it from other people.

“Arizona, wait! I might need a little help here.” She started to hate her name at this moment. She didn’t even bother to stop.

Go frack yourself. She wanted to throw those words at him, but she would not dare let his presence affect her. She moved on. What happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas.

“You’ll be fine.” She groaned, settled in her truck, and drove off, leaving Tripp nothing but the dust behind.

Ari felt a twist of guilt in her stomach. He definitely needed help, but he had the mayor at his disposal. He could call a tow for him, and she didn’t give a crap, Or he could call his sister, too. Anyhow, it was not her concern anymore.

She had no up against his sister who seemed kind. She’d meet her a few times, and Ari was sure Charleigh wasn’t aware of what happened to her and Tripp three years ago.

***

AFTER HER QUICK shower, she was ready to hit the hay when her phone rang. Her eyes grew big to see the name flashing on her phone screen.

Crap!

“What can I do for you, Mayor?” Dax could probably notice her sarcasm. She didn’t care though. She may not be as wealthy and powerful as his family, but he’d been good with her. Dax even pulled a few strings for her application to get the slot at the hospital where she’d been working as an ER nurse.

“You didn’t recognize Tripp Wrylee, did you?”

His name alone made her heart erratic. “I recognized him.” How could she not?

“Then why did you leave him alone in the middle of the road, Ari? His car is still stuck in the weeds.”

She rolled her eyes. “Because I know he will call you, and guess what, he just did. Tell him to drive a monster truck when he comes to visit you next time.”

“Ari—”

“Look, Dax. I’m so exhausted. I just came from an eight-hour shift, and I’m already in bed. I checked him up, and he seemed fine. He was probably shocked and scared, but he didn’t have any broken bone. Trust me.” She rolled her eyes again. She was exaggerating it. “Your friend is still in one piece when I left him. Unless the bear tore him apart.”

“That’s not a good thing to say about Tripp. He just got into an accident.”

“And again, it was not my fault.”

“You were never like that especially when it came to people’s health. Why do I feel that you don’t like him? I thought you had a thing for him back in that day?”

Her heart squeezed painfully. “Back in that day? He helped me, that’s all. And I just thought he was cute.” Cute was not the right description for Tripp. More likely he was ridiculously hot. Based on what she touched earlier, he had a load of what every woman wanted in a man. Dax was also handsome, but Tripp was exceptionally gorgeous. Ugh! She knew she was biased.

“If you say so.” She knew Dax didn’t believe her, and he was probably mocking her right now. She didn’t give a crap. What she wanted at that moment was to disappear in front of Tripp. He probably thought she was a spinster and a loser driving an old truck older than Mater from the Cars.

“If that’s the only reason why your call, I answered your questions, mayor. Can I get some sleep now?” She faked a yawn.

“Fine. And Ari, the next time you two meet, be nice to him, please?”

“Sure, Dax. Good night.” She couldn’t argue anymore because her lids were heavy, and she could barely speak from exhaustion.

***

She decided to visit Cleighry’s for her favorite cake. Bryce’s cupcakes were the best in town. She could smell the sugar and vanilla as she pushed the door wide, and the freshly brewed coffee on the coffeemaker made her stomach grumble instantly.

Before she could step closer to the counter, someone caught her attention at the corner table, and all she wanted was to flee. Too bad, it was too late, Charleigh must have spotted her first when she entered.

“Given Hopes Spring is a small town, news travel fast, Ari.” Charleigh rose from her seat, smiling widely at her. “I heard you helped my brother get out of the car last night. He wasn’t that reckless, you know, but it was probably from the pressure at work. I’d like to properly thank you. Please, join us.”

“Oh?” She widened her eyes. “I didn’t do anything. He helped himself out. You don’t have to thank me if ever. And you know, everyone around here helps everybody. It’s not a big deal, really.” At the corner of her eye, Tripp was already on his feet.

Well, hello trouble.