Last Chance Rebel Read Free Page A

supposed it was what made it an attractive tourist destination now.
    Funnily enough, when he left he hadn’t sought out a bigger city. Hadn’t cared at all about chains or entertainment. Instead, he’d stuck to the back roads, spending his time in various small towns in different parts of the country.
    But nothing was quite like this.
    Somehow there was no comfort in that for him. The town brought back too many old memories. In fact, he resented the fact that it was so distinct. He had been to enough places that everything started to blur together eventually. Nothing was unique.
    Except Copper Ridge. And that felt like adding insult to damn injury.
    He took a deep breath, daring the air to feel familiar. Daring it to push him down that rabbit hole of memories he didn’t want to have.
    Gage West was home. And he would rather be anywhere else.

CHAPTER TWO
    R EBECCA FELT BOTH exhausted and emotionally scarred by the time she turned her open sign around. She needed to get home. She needed to figure out how to deal with the fact that Gage West was apparently back in town and intent on forcing his guilt on her.
    No, guilt might make her feel good about herself. She didn’t believe for one second he felt guilty. Not in any real, contrite sense.
    Not that she would care either way. His guilt, his overall contrition, didn’t matter. It never had. It didn’t change a damn thing.
    She turned, walking back toward the register, feeling weary down to her bones.
    The bell sounded behind her and she turned again, about to let whoever it was know that she was closed. But it wasn’t a customer. It was Alison, carrying two boxes that Rebecca knew would be filled with pie. And following closely behind her was Lane, two bottles of wine in her hand. The door closed behind them and opened again as Cassie walked through also carrying a pastry box.
    She had managed to forget entirely. Tonight was the weekly girls’ night, and the Trading Post was hosting this week.
    â€œHi,” she said, feeling even more tired. She wasn’t sure she had it in her to do the socializing thing tonight. The little group of friends, comprised of the female business owners on Main, had become an important source of companionship in her life over the past few years. But there were some things she had always felt most comfortable dealing with on her own.
    Or not dealing with at all as she hid away in her mountain cabin. Whatever. It was her drama, her prerogative.
    â€œHello,” Cassie said, her voice chipper. “God bless Jake. He’s up to his neck in diapers and is at least pretending to be completely cheerful about it.”
    Of the group, Cassie was the only one with a husband and children. The rest of them had become pretty confirmed bachelorettes. But if anyone could entice Rebecca into thinking that maybe a husband and kids wasn’t the worst idea, it was Cassie. She was always disgustingly happy.
    â€œWhat’s the plan for tonight?” Alison asked, walking to the back of the store and setting her box of pies down by the register. “We are not watching another male stripper movie,” she said, directing this comment at Lane.
    â€œI incurred the entire rental expense for that atrocity,” Lane said.
    â€œBut my life , Lane. I want my life back.”
    â€œIt was two hours,” Lane said. “Calm down.”
    â€œTwo hours when I could have done anything else.”
    â€œAnd yet, I notice you didn’t get up and leave during the movie,” Lane replied.
    â€œI was waiting for the payoff. I assumed that at some point someone would get naked. Instead, there was so much talking,” Alison groused.
    â€œWell, whatever we decide to do, there are snacks,” Cassie said, lifting the tops of the boxes Alison had brought, and also the box she’d brought, and revealing two different pies and an assortment of pastries.
    â€œSnacks are good,” Rebecca said. “Of