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Manu handed around loaded forks, grinning as every man seemed to melt.

“Manu’s family is from Fiji,” Connor told her, “and we’re glad to have the man in our department.”

“I can understand why,” Olivia said. “I just don’t understand why you’re not all five hundred pounds.”

The men around her laughed, and she appreciated the response.

“So, how’s the competition looking, boys?” Connor asked.

Olivia listened with half an ear. It was more interesting to watch the rhythm of them talking, and the way they responded to Connor. From the way they hung on his every word, she could almost tell he was an effective leader. There was no need to browbeat a group if you had their respect.

Connor nodded definitively. “I might just go check out the competition myself. Olivia, want to join me?”

Without a word she pushed to her feet, waving at the group as she shuffled through the ring of chairs, careful to place her feet. Just outside the pavilion, there was a small ditch thick with grass. Leading with her good foot, she jumped across it, grabbing Connor’s offered hand. She grinned up at him. “Thank you.”

Damn, that had hurt. She pressed a hand to her ribs, grimacing.

“I should have led you around the long way,” Connor said, frowning down at her.

Oliva shook her head. “Nah, this is more direct to the midway. I can hear the clatter of the set-up.”

“Yeah, I don’t think everyone is here yet, but the competition starts tomorrow. They need to have time to get their smokers up to temp, so a lot of the competitors come early and basically tail-gate all week.”

As they walked toward the bright colors of the tents and awnings, he let go of her hand. Olivia hadn’t even realized she was still holding it, and she felt herself flush. Hopefully, he wouldn’t notice, though.

It was obvious as soon as they started walking through the midway that Connor was a well-known man. People began to wave and call out hellos, and occasionally he stopped at a booth or trailer to say hi. He always introduced her, as well, to make her feel like part of the conversation. Olivia appreciated that. It made her feel like less of a leech.

Yes, she had her purse and money— some dear had delivered it to the hospital for her— but she was still physically stranded. And unable to rescue herself. Actually, she could probably go out and buy a car, but she didn’t want to risk the insurance company not reimbursing her. That option would be the last, if she could wait.

Maybe this was the universe’s way of reminding her that she needed to take some time off, here and there. And lighten up.

She could have done without the rib pain, though.

CHAPTER 5

Connor loved watching Olivia. As they wandered the midway, he could physically see the tension ease from her shoulders. And at some point, it was like someone had flipped a switch. There was a clearness to her gaze, and he realized the worry had disappeared.

It had to be hard, being at another person’s mercy like this. It would frustrate the hell out of him if he had no way of getting around and had to rely on other people. And she didn’t know anyone here. Not one soul. Other than him.

So, he made it a point to introduce her to people he knew would be kind and outgoing. The bruises and stitches on her head drew a lot of commiserating comments, and he hoped she understood people cared.

“There are a series of competitions running for the next three days. The smokers are doing their job, and tomorrow will be a full day of classes and skill levels. If you are a BBQ eater, you might be burned out on it by the time the day is done.”

She snorted. “I love good barbeque, but I don’t know how much I can eat. Won’t it all be for the competition? For the judges?”

Connor shook his head. “The best briskets and delicacies will be for the judges, but most of the pits have meat for sale as well. You can buy a tasting card from the 4-H kids, and you get a little at every pit.”

Smoke rolled through the area, making his mouth water. There was also regular fair food. He bought them each an order of fresh fries, and they wandered the displays. The names of some of the pits were hilarious. Nothing Butt Pork, Rise and Swine, Pork Peeps.

At one point Olivia paused, looking at an older couple sitting in chairs behind one of the smoke booths. The woman wore an arm brace and a cast, and the man wore a cast on his lower leg. Aluminum crutches were on the ground beside him. The couple were a little bruised, but smiling happily, as they waved them over.

As soon as they were close enough, the man took Olivia’s hands in his own. “I have to thank you for what you did yesterday, young lady. It was so hard watching my Mary walk away into the smoke. It seemed like she was gone for a long time, and I know it wasn’t, but you coming back and telling me she was helping, well, it eased my worry. Just a few minutes after you left the paramedics came and got me out of the truck. And they found Mary so that she could ride to the hospital with me.”

“Good,” Olivia said. “That’s excellent. And it doesn’t seem like your injuries are going to slow you down much.”

“Oh, no,” the older woman leaned forward in her chair. “We had to come see Lance dominate his competition.”

Olivia grinned at the words and glanced in the direction of the man working the giant, trailer-sized smoker. He gave a wave and grinned back but didn’t leave his station. Good thing, because Connor would have had to walk him back. He’d seen the curiosity in the man’s gaze.