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Taylor didn’t respond. Instead, he called the other three over to talk. Tori shrugged. Tobias could run without a number, she really didn’t care. She went to the next team and pinned their numbers on and then headed back toward her restaurant and ticket table. She’d have a good view of the race from there.

“I need my number,” Tobias snapped, cutting off her progress. “Number four. The one who’s gonna cross the finish line first.”

She couldn’t think of a retort. “Stand still.” She handed him the numbers and put the basket down. “Take your sweatshirt off.”

When he lifted a brow, she grabbed the numbers back. “Hurry up, the race is about to start.”

He shrugged off the sweatshirt revealing a tight blue tank top.

When she rounded him to pin the number on his back, immediately the thought of his bare, wide back made her hands tremble just a bit. She’d loved running her hand down the wide expanse of skin. The taut muscles bunched when she touched him.

After hurriedly pinning the number, she went to his front. “Don’t move, it’s too tempting to stab you.”

His lips curved, but he remained quiet and very still.

Under his close perusal, not only did her hands shake but also it became hard to breathe. Damn her stupid body that would always be affected by the idiot. Finally, the job was done.

“There, all done. You best hurry on over to the start line.”

He took one of her hands, not letting her move away, and looked into her eyes as if searching for something.

“You will always be the one that I can’t let go. For that, I hate you.”

With those words, he pressed a kiss to her palm and then stalked away.

Tori remained rooted to the spot, a sensation like that of a boulder on her chest wouldn’t let her take a full breath.

“I hate you, too, Tobias. I hate you so very much,” she whispered.

“We still on for lunch?” George shook her from her thoughts. “I’m looking forward to Italian.”

“Sure.” Tori was glad for the distraction. “Come on, let’s watch the race from over here.” They went to the ticket stand. The few people gathered there were all looking to the gazebo where the mayor was now introducing the teams.

When he mentioned the Hamiltons, what seemed like a chorus of women shrieked. The Hamiltons all lifted their arms in greeting. The next team was introduced, which included several local horse trainers. They would be the strongest contenders against the Hamiltons. Each team was then told they had to have a woman when it was discovered the third team, a group from the pool hall, had one woman running.

Tori laughed as the teams scrambled. Leah was recruited for the Hamiltons’ team and poor Mindy was dragged from in front of the coffee shop to run for the horse trainers.

“I’m surprised you didn’t get recruited,” George told her with a chuckle.

“I’m short and they probably figure I’ll get overtaken easily.”

Soon, a horn blew and the runners took off. Luke was just ahead of Frank, one of the horse trainers, when rounding the corner and handing off to Ernest. Before long, Tori was cheering just as loudly as everyone else when Mindy and Leah raced. Leah had long legs and had always been quick. She reached Tobias ahead of Mindy who lost speed at the end. Tobias exploded out of the start line, everyone let out a collective cheer. He ran so fast that it was obvious the horse trainers’ team member would not be able to catch up.

When Tobias rounded the corner and broke through the finish line, it was a full minute before the next competitor came through.

As the racers all began high-fiving and celebrating, the mayor began announcements for the second race.

“I see your ex just won,” Helen commented, not seeming to notice George was with her. “He’s such a great guy.”

Tori cleared her throat and looked at Helen. “The team won Helen, not just Tobias.”

“It was pretty close until he got the baton,” Helen insisted.

Great, now they were going to have a conversation about her ex-fiancé in front of George. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t planning a relationship. But what if she was? Small towns were annoying.

George laughed at something Helen said. Tori had been too busy being annoyed to hear what she’d said.

“What did you say?” Tori asked the woman whose eyes twinkled with mirth.