Wayward Hearts Read Free Page A

she had no idea what to say to him. So she said nothing—and simply stared.
    He looked so different, she almost didn’t recognize him. He’d filled out through the chest and shoulders, giving him a more rugged look. His hair, which skimmed his collar, had deepened into a beautiful chestnut color. His stunning blue eyes, however, remained as intense as ever. Right now they shone with sympathy.
    “Hello, Maxi.” He stepped forward to kiss her cheek. “I’m so sorry about your dad.”
    His breath tickled her ear before he moved back. With that one tiny action, and the familiar scent of his cologne swirling around her, her long-standing crush roared back to life.
    “Thanks. You sure look…different.” The words were out of her mouth before she could think. In order to steady her hands, she crossed her arms over her chest.
    He smiled at her. “I suppose I do.”
    “Jason was one of the first responders here when I called for help. He’s a volunteer firefighter now,” Mama told her.
    Maxi looked down at her mother and blinked. She’d almost forgotten Mama was there.
    “Remember, I wrote about it in my last letter?”
    Maxi couldn’t admit she didn’t remember—that she tried her best not to think about Jason Hanley at all. Instead, she shrugged. “I guess.” She turned back to the intensity of Jason’s gaze.
    “I’m training to be a fireman over in Kingsville.”
    Maybe that explained the fire in his eyes.
    “I never thought you’d leave the auto body shop.”
    Jason tugged at his tie as if he wanted to pull it off. “Guess you didn’t hear that Tony’s garage burnt down. Ironic that I’d choose firefighting because of a fire where I worked, huh? Anyway, that type of work never did anything for me. I want to do something that will make a difference for people.”
    Maxi couldn’t conceal her surprise. When had Jason Hanley grown up? Before she left, he’d been adolescent in his ways, riding motorcycles and running with resident bad boy, Marco Messini. A multitude of questions raced through her brain, tangling her tongue, but now was not the time or place to rehash old issues.
    “How about you? What are you up to these days?” Jason asked.
    “Didn’t Peg tell you?” Maxi always worded her letters to his mother in a careful manner, conscious that every bit of news would be relayed to Jason.
    “She said something about a swanky shop in New York.”
    Maxi smirked. Sounded just like Peg. “Yeah. I’m at Baronne’s on Fifth Avenue. You’ve probably never heard of it, but it’s pretty prestigious.”
    “I’m glad. I know how much you wanted this.”
    An unidentifiable emotion flashed across his features. Features she had to admit were very attractive. For several seconds, she couldn’t tear her eyes from his.
    “I have to go…serve more food.” She waved her arms in the direction of the kitchen.
    “Sure.” He paused. “Listen, can we get together before you go back?”
    She hesitated. Bad idea , her brain screamed. She scrambled for an excuse to say no, but when nothing came to her, she shrugged. “I guess so.”
    “Great. I’ll call you.”
    He kissed her cheek again. Maxi closed her eyes, drinking in the familiar scent of him. Then she forced herself to step away into the safety of the crowd.
     
    ****
     
    After the majority of the guests had departed, Maxi sought a moment of solitude outside on the porch steps. With only the family’s faithful farm dog for company, she stared out over the expanse of their property. Acres and acres of green pasture interspersed with newly growing wheat fields, spread out as far as the eye could see. Good thing they’d have time to hire workers before the crop would need harvesting. If they didn’t sell first. Off to one side, Maxi could see the outline of the barn and the offending tractor parked outside. It sat askew, like no one had bothered to park it properly after finding Charlie underneath it. She wondered who had found him and how they got