Page 3 of Loving You

Andy smiles with a nod like she gets it.

“What’s his name?” Ashley asks, and truthfully, I’m starting to not enjoy hanging out with her. She’s pretty damn nosey.

I take a deep breath, my mind running through all the details I’ve just told them, and instantly one man comes to mine.

He really does hate to travel, and he really is the complete opposite of me. He also lives in the same small town as mygrandmother. The chances of these girls ever meeting him is extra slim.

No one will ever know I’m lying, and after tonight, I can forget all about this moment.

So I hold my head high, smile for real, and I give them a name.

“Miles. His name is Miles.”

CHAPTER ONE

MILES - PRESENT DAY

What tip would you give to someone who lives, or is planning to live, in a small touristy town?

This is an easy one.

Don’t fool around with the vacationers.

Don’t even hit on them, flirt, buy drinks, or ask for their phone number.

Do. Not. Engage.

That would be my answer.

Unfortunately, I never asked this question, so I never got an answer. Last summer … well, let’s just say my plans forthissummer do not include getting involved with someone who doesn’t plan to settle down in my small town of Lovers, Wyoming. Especially not someone who thinks that returning for the summer means we pick up right where we left off.

I’m a small-town lifer, and I can say that with confidence.

“Is the beer stale?”

I glance up to find my older brother, Hudson, glaring at me.

He owns the bar where I’m currently having lunch. In the last year, it’s become a bar slash romance bookstore withSadie, his very new fiancée. I still can’t believe those two are together, let alone engaged. Last summer was one for the books, and Hudson very well might be the only Asher brother who didn’t do something to fuck it up. Hence, even though he’s glaring at me, I know he’s happier than he’s ever been in his entire life.

And yes, I am having a beer in the middle of the day on my lunch break because I own my business, a thriving one, and I can do whatever the fuck I want.

“No.” I proceed to take a sip, trying not to let the stress of my day or the grumpiness of my current life situation shine through my tone.

My brother crosses his arms and nods toward me. “Then why is your forehead all wrinkled and the rest of your face pissed off?”

I avoid his gaze. Along with my brother's newfound happiness comes his rekindled love for his brothers and little sister. That’s me, my twin brother Luca, and Ruby. Ruby doesn’t live here anymore, though, so lucky for me and Luca, Hudson has made it a point this last year to be in our business. And clearly, no matter how hard I try, I can’t hide anything from him anymore.

Considering he pushed us away for years, I have a love-hate relationship with this topic. I missed the hell out of him, but I love my space, and he’s been crowding it with his stupid, smiling face every single day for the last year.

“That’s just the way I look,” I tell him and pop a fry into my mouth.

It’s not a lie. Hudson has always been known to be the serious one of the family. Luca is the goofy one. Ruby is the sweetheart. And me…well, I’m the moody one. You could ask anyone in our town to confirm this, and they would agree.

It’s not a crime that I like what I like and am honest about it.Being blunt or truthful shouldn’t make me a dick, but somehow it does.

He shakes his head slowly. “Sure. Or it’s because tourist season is here, and it’s about to get busy, which means certain people will be back.”

I refuse to look at him.

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