Page 33 of One Wild Chance

Jaxon returns and sets the last of the blooms on the table. “That’s everything. You need anything else?”

“Nope.” I focus on the table, the mass of colors and textures in front of me.

He studies me for a moment. “You all set, then?”

“Yep.” I wipe my hands, still not looking at him.

Colleen reappears and takes Jaxon by the arm. “We’re ready for you,” she says, steering him away.

Jaxon shoots me a look over his shoulder that says help.

I give him a little wave. You’re on your own, Chance.

The mayor gives his usual morning welcome, adding the surprise announcement that the oldest Chance brother will do a meet-and-greet directly across from my booth. Jaxon’s head snaps toward me, and I just shrug. That’s Colleen for you. Give her an inch, she’ll take a mile.

Which means I’ll have to watch him all morning.

Women, kids, and men who probably couldn’t name a hockey team if they tried all crowd around him. Colleen tries to get order while Jaxon pastes on a smile and makes small talk like it’s his job. Hockey apparently taught him something about PR.

A little boy runs toward him first, and without hesitating, Jaxon drops right down to the boy’s level like he’s the most important person here. When the mom takes out her phone, Jaxon wraps an arm around his shoulders. The smile is the same one I remember in high school when one of his brothers would make him laugh.

Then he reaches into his pocket, signs something, and hands it to the boy’s mom. Even at a distance, I swear there are tears in her eyes.

Huh.

I would not have guessed that Jaxon Chance, who never struck me as the family type, is actually wonderful with kids.That’s the problem with this man. Just when I’ve built a solid case against him, he goes and does something like that.

“Summer! How’s business?” I spin around to see Leroy standing at my table, his usual fishing hat shading his graying comb-over.

“Good morning, Leroy.” Finally, a customer. “What can I get for you?”

“Actually, I’m not here to buy.”

My heart sinks. “Oh.”

“I was just wondering if Jaxon was going to be here all morning. I’m working at the feed store and my first break won’t be until ten.”

Of course he’s asking about Jaxon. Everyone is. I glance at the line that’s already twice as long. “I believe so.”

“Good.” Relief washes over him. “I can’t wait to get a picture with him.”

I straighten a few bouquets, trying to ignore the crowd gathering around Jaxon. Nobody is even walking by my table. Half the foot traffic that normally wanders past has detoured to stand in line across the street, and the other half is too busy staring at Jaxon to pay attention to anything else.

After the first hour, I add up my sales, and I can tell the number is not what it usually is on Saturdays. People are lingering in Jaxon’s line instead of shopping, and I’ve probably lost a good amount of money because of it.

I rearrange my bouquets into a new display. A woman stops, looks for a second, then keeps walking toward Jaxon’s side of the street.

I stand in front of my table to drum up interest…and get crickets.

Somehow Jaxon Chance has managed to outsell me without selling a single thing. Even on my turf, I still can’t win against him.

I look across the street at Jaxon taking another selfie with a group of people, all of them gushing over him like he’s a celebrity. That’s when I get an idea. If people are going to be taking pictures with Jaxon anyway, then I might as well use it to my benefit.

I grab my most beautiful bouquet, ask a woman at the next booth to keep an eye on my table, and cross the street.

I step to the front of the line. “What are you doing, Summer?” Jaxon asks.

I lean in and whisper, “Just follow my lead.” Then I turn to the teenage girl in line next. “You know what would make your photo with Jaxon even better?” I hold out my bouquet. “Flowers. Would you mind holding this for the picture and tagging Wildflower Farms when you post it?”