By late June, hades had decided to visit Magnolia and settle its blistering heat on us so thickly that the simple task of walking out to the mailbox would require a trip to the altar of the deep freeze afterwards.

I wonder if it’s empty enough I could wedge my entire body inside.

Those thoughts abated at the sight waiting for me at the end of the drive. While the sun scalded my neck, I stopped by the mailbox and contemplated what to do with the little surprise tied to the post. Round as it was tall, with a cookies-and-cream color pattern, it squealed at me to decide already. Before I could, the familiar rumbling of a car engine came from a ways down the road. Sure, it could have been someone besides him, but not with my luck.

“Shoot!” I grumbled. The pig agreed with another squeal as I fumbled to untie the knots in the rope so we could get out of Dodge. My heart leapt when the car approached and slowed, making it clear there was no getting away from having to speak.

The sound of a window smoothly whirring down and then, “Whatcha got there?”

Without looking away from the rope, I gestured toward the pig and then went back to unraveling a stubborn knot. Whoever left the stumpy little creature sure didn’t want it getting loose. A pink bow dressed its neck, indicating that perhaps it was female and a pet and should certainly not be tied to a random mailbox.

The glossy black car crept past me and parked by the chapel. Moments later, a long shadow fell on the other side of the mailbox. The scent of his cologne grew stronger as his tanned arms circled around me and replaced my shaky hands to take over freeing the rope. I gave in and stole another inhale of his scent. The crisp freshness of it was so much more appealing than the sharp, spicy scent of Pa’s Old Spice. It was another thing about Vance Cumberland I wished I didn’t like so much.

“You got a secret admirer leaving you a potbelly pig?” Vance teased. His heated chuckle brushed the side of my neck, sending a tingle along my shoulders.

I ducked under his arm to put a little distance between us and readjusted my ponytail that had gotten knocked askew in the process. “So now that your date duty is fulfilled for your adoring public, you can come talk to riffraff again?”

Vance finished undoing the last knot and turned to meet my glare head-on. “You told me to leave you alone, so don’t go blaming me.”