The town square was alive. Bunting of red, white, and blue curled around light poles and storefronts. Booths lined Main Street—grilled corn, funnel cake, lemonade, hand-carved crafts. Laughter echoed across the green where kids ran with sparklers and old-timers tuned…

Posey’s pink bikini is soaked, her popsicle is dripping, and she’s in the mood to tease someone who knows better.

The sun filtered through the high cabin windows, warm and quiet. A slow breeze crept through the open screen door, fluttering the edges of a flannel shirt draped over a chair. Jack stood shirtless by the stove, frying bacon in…

The light through the cabin windows was golden and soft, filtering through the trees and spilling across the floorboards in wide slats. The fire from last night had burned down to glowing embers, but the air still carried the thick…

Charlene didn’t leave that night. Not after the table. Not after the second round on the bearskin rug in front of the fire, when Jack had bent her over with her heels still on, his hands gripping her hips like…