I held out the pillow to keep him at bay. “Oh, no, you don’t. I’ll punch you in your bad shoulder, don’t think I won’t.”

Ford chuckled but sidestepped me and went for his keys in the dish by the door. “Come on. I’ll buy you an ice cream cone.”

I blinked rapidly at the quick turn of events. “Mint Oreo?”

“As if I would deign to get you anything else.”

I grinned. “Smart man.”

“Remember when that dweeb you dated in middle school brought you regular Oreo instead of mint?”

I bit back my laugh at the memory but tried to arrange my face into a scowl. “He wasn’t a dweeb. He was perfectly nice. One of the few boys you didn’t put the fear of God into.”

Ford snorted. “You certainly sent him packing quick enough when he brought you that ice cream.”

I rolled my eyes. He wasn’t wrong. Jim had only lasted a week after that stunt. I grabbed my sweatshirt, and we headed for the SUV. I made a motion for the keys. “You’re not driving anywhere until you get that sling off.”

Ford’s footsteps faltered. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I held out my hand. “You heard what the doctor said, no driving for two weeks.” Ford didn’t budge. “Don’t make me call Sheriff Raines and have you arrested.”

Ford groaned but dropped the keys into my open palm. “You put a scratch on my baby, and we’re gonna have problems, Trouble.”

I chuckled as I climbed in and started the engine. Ford’s fancy SUV drove like a dream, no…more like driving a cloud. The ride into town didn’t take long, but by the time we pulled into a parking space near Two Scoops, it was almost as if the kiss hadn’t happened. We’d descended back into the normality of our bantering friendship.

I reminded myself that this was good. I needed that normality right about now. Ford wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we walked towards the ice cream shop, and any semblance of normality vanished in a few beats of my heart.

He pressed his lips to my temple. “Breathe, Bell. Just breathe.” I took a deep breath and willed my muscles to relax. “That’s it. It’s just you and me. Things have only changed a little.”

I fought back the urge to laugh. A little? More like my world had been turned upside down.

A bell tinkled as Ford pulled open the door to Two Scoops and ushered me in before him. Mrs. Green looked up at the sound and grinned when she caught sight of me. “Bell, it’s been too long. I’m so glad you came in. Ethan told me what’s been going on. My boy’s worried about you, and I am, too.”