Page 72 of Love to Hate You

Uh-oh.I turn my attention to Tanner who looks pale. Sierra must not know anything about Tanner’s ill-fated love affair with Addison that happened a couple of years ago. Not that I know any of the dirty details. I just know he loved that woman so damn much and she took off, leaving him with a broken heart.

“What about me?” he asks warily.

“Are you seeing anyone?”

“No.”

“Ooh,” she exclaims and rubs her hands together like an evil genius matchmaker. “I know this girl-”

“Not interested,” he says, interrupting her.

Sierra’s blue eyes widen and then narrow. She’s very perceptive, even when she's drunk. “Hmm, well alrighty then. Someone is grumpy.”

“Knock it off, Sierra,” Sawyer says. “Not everyone here is ready to get married and start popping out babies.”

“I’m just trying to be helpful.”

“What about you?” Sawyer asks. “How many broken hearts have you left trailing behind you?”

Sierra flushes. “None of your business.”

“Oh, now hold up! You want to know the details of our love lives and won’t share anything about yours?”

“Let’s just say I’m single and ready to mingle.” She crosses her arms and sticks her pert, little nose up in the air.

“Uh-huh.”

“I don’t think love is something you go looking for,” Charlie says. “It just kind of shows up one day and finds you.”

“Whether you want it to happen or not,” I add, and everyone chuckles.

Charlie turns to face me and lays a hand along my face. “And it’s the best kind of surprise.”

We smile at each other and the moment our lips meet, a couple of whistles and “aww’s” fill the air.

Charlie is right, I realize, and pull her into an embrace. The best love stories can begin in the most delightful and surprising kind of way.

Ours certainly did.

24

EPILOGUE

CHARLIE

Nine Months Later…

My phone is ringing, the baby is crying, and the car is already downstairs waiting. As I lean over to grab my boots, I swipe the bar on my phone over. “Hi, babe,” I say, my voice instantly dropping. It has this way of turning husky every time Nash calls.

“Hey, baby,” he responds and there’s no missing the smile in his deep voice. “Lewis has the car there.”

“I know. I’m just running a little behind.”

“No problem. Hang on and I’ll text him you’ll be down shortly.”

As Nash texts the driver downstairs, I step into my warm, furry boots and then slip my coat on. The diaper bag is already packed and sits on the floor beside my purse. I have snacks in there, bottles, toys, a blanket, lotions, potions and, of course, extra diapers. We go through them like crazy.

Who knew a baby needed so much crap? I sure didn’t.

---