Page 70 of Kiss and Tell

Or maybe it was safer to say she was trying not to.

She’d been young when her parents died, but she recalled her mother enough to recognize that Lucy took after her in a lot of ways. Her mother had a zeal for life, a strong sense of adventure, and more than her fair share of wanderlust. Mom had felt trapped on the farm, and with each passing day she spent there, her light dimmed a bit more.

Granddaddy always used to say Lucy was the spit of her mother, looks and personality-wise. That never felt truer than at this moment, when her own wanderlust was in full force. Lucy loved the farm. Hadn’t she said those words at least a million times in her life? While she knew they were true, it occurred to her now, as she watched Maris and Adele, that it wasn’t so much the place she loved, as much as the people.

She had chosen to work in the brewery after high school because her family needed her. Grandma had just been diagnosed with dementia, and Granddaddy was working overtime to take care of her. As such, Lucy stepped up so that she could be there for her sisters, who were all still in school, helping them with homework, offering them advice about boys—she’d been the one to give them “the talk”—and taking care of the million other little day-to-day things a mom would have.

She’d just turned twenty-two when Granddaddy died, she and her sisters essentially orphans again. By that time, working in the brewery had become second nature to her, something she got up and did every day without giving it much thought, and any dreams she harbored about leaving the farm had long been snuffed out.

If someone had asked her a month ago, she would have said she loved her job.

Now…

Now, the idea of returning wasn’t sitting as comfortably as it should. There was a pit in her stomach that told her she didn’t want to go back.

God, this was why she’d never left to begin with. Ignorance was bliss. And she’d just shattered her unawareness to a million pieces.

“Lucy?”

She blinked when she heard her name, realizing Miles had said it a couple of times.

“Sorry,” she said. “You caught me daydreaming.”

Miles jerked his head toward Hank. “He’s seenKiss and Telltoo.”

Lucy smiled at the handsome cowboy. “Did Macie make you watch it?”

Hank chuckled. “Only the first time. I really liked the episode that featured your grandparents.”

“That’s my favorite too,” she confessed. “I was actually wondering if you and Macie would let me record your story while I’m here.”

Hank grinned. “Oh, I don’t think that would take a bit of convincing. Macie’s a huge fan. I also don’t think I’ll have to do much more than sit there. Not sure if you noticed or not, but my wife likes to talk.”

Lucy pretended to be shocked. “I hadn’t noticed that at all.”

All four of them laughed as they looked toward the bar, where Macie was basically holding court, weaving a tall tale that had no less than seven people sitting nearby enraptured.

“Truth be told,” Hank said, “Macie’s whole family could be on your show. Lots of interesting romances in the Sparks family.”

“Really?” she asked.

Hank nodded. “Yep. I have a feeling that once they find out you’re filming me and Macie, you’re going to have them lining up for their turn.”

If Hank thought that might concern her, he’d missed the mark by a mile. Part of the appeal of this trip was the opportunity it offered to meet and interview more people. If the rest of the Sparks clan was as entertaining and funny as Macie, she’d be set up for a string of great episodes. With the success of Emily and Tate’s show, she was anxious to keep the momentum going.

After they finished eating, Miles and Joey walked to the counter with Hank to pay, while Macie came over to clear the table. “So, what did you think of the food?”

Lucy gestured at the plates, which they had all but licked clean. “So freaking good. Seriously. Have you considered bottling that barbeque sauce? Because I swear you’d make a killing.”

“It’s been discussed many times, believe me. My cousin, Paige, has put out some feelers about how we might get started. She’s the brains of this organization, while my cousins Jeannette and Sydney create their masterpieces in the kitchen. The rest of us—me included—provide the entertainment.”

Lucy had just spent nearly two hours watching Macie and Adele work the room, serving drinks and food, along with a hearty helping of humor. She’d joked earlier that it was almost like dinner and a show, and Hank, who’d been a widower, confessed he’d fallen in love with Macie while eating dinner at the counter, listening to her stories. The more she watched the couple, the more excited she was to record them.

Lucy gestured at the still full dining area. “Can I just say? You’reverygood at your job.”

“So…inquiring minds want to know,” Macie began. “And by minds, I mean mine, because I’m a nosy bitch from way back. How in the heck did you wind up traveling with Joey Moretti and Miles Williams? Are you dating one of them?”

Lucy wasn’t sure how to answer that question. “Um…”

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