Page 19 of Playing it Country

“Isn’t everyone tired of always being together?” I ask Aunt Holly on a loud whisper, and she chuckles as she shuts her door.

“You’d think that but this is just how they are—how most of the town is.”

“Oh my!” A woman with a striking resemblance to Rhea comes walking toward us and pulls me into a hug. “You are even prettier than they said you are. I’m Flora but they all call me Mama. You’re welcome to if you’d like.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. This is all so lovely,” I say honestly, because like her family, Flora exudes a warmth that is so unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. She’s the kind of woman that you’d offer your secrets to willingly over a cup of tea and piece of cake.

She’s effortlessly beautiful, and I feel in my soul that her beauty is more than skin-deep. Clementine Creek and this family has worked some kind of voodoo on me because I’m starting to think that maybe finding a home wouldn’t be so bad.

After making small talk a little longer, I excuse myself and walk off to find a bottle of water. I’m not standing at the cooler for more than a few seconds when Isla appears beside me with her own bottle of water and a smile.

“Overwhelmed?” she asks, and I nod while I exhale a heavy breath.

“Yes. It’s always just my parents, brother, and me. My aunt and uncle were the only other regulars in our life so this”—I gesture toward the crowd—“is new.”

“I can sympathize. It’s my father,”—she points to a handsome man with salt-and-pepper hair laughing with his arm around a beautiful blonde woman—“and me and hopefully Gwen if he ever gets the nerve to ask her to marry him.” She winks to let me know she’s teasing before taking a sip of her water. “It was just me and my dad for a long time though. My cousin and uncle are close so we’re a weird family unit, but it’s still hard going from that tothis.”

“There’s lots of hugging.”

Isla laughs. “You get used to it, and these are good people. I worked in Chicago and there’s nothing that would make me go back.”

Her confession startles me because I know she’s not just talking about falling in love and getting married. This place is so charming and unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced, and it’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one that feels it.

“Let them love you.” Her words startle me, and I whip my head to look at her. A soft smile plays on her lips.

“What? I mean I’m only in town for a short while and—”

Isla holds her hand up. “You don’t need to explain it to me. I’m just suggesting you don’t try to fight it. It’s actually pretty nice.” She shakes her head and then smiles wide when Hank walks up and takes her hand and brings it to his lips.

Wow.

I didn’t know people did that in real life, but man, am I glad I got to witness it just now.

“Hey Hannah, would you mind if I borrow Isla for a minute?”

“Of course not.” I smile and watch as he leads her over to the side.

“Hannah! Hey, how are you?” Otto’s voice has me jumping and clutching my chest. The guy has a way quieter approach than his personality should allow—that and I was caught up swooning over Hank and Isla.

“I’m good, Otto,” I say but his brow furrows. “You scared me.” He peers around me and nods.

“They are a sight to see, amiright?”

“You are indeed.”

“So listen, are we still on for next weekend?”

“We are all set. I went and looked again at the locations we talked about and took some practice shots. It’s going to be great.”

“That’s so great. I’m nervous.” He bounces from foot to foot as he talks, and God bless Fallon, assuming she promises to love this goofball forever. “Can you tell I’m nervous?”

“It’s going to be amazing. She’s going to be so excited, and you guys will get to do all the newlywed stuff.”

His grin is wolfish as he looks at Fallon. The moment their eyes meet, she blushes like she knows what he’s thinking.

I pat him on the shoulder. “If anything changes just let me know, but it looks like you’re going to be just fine.”

“Thanks, Hannah. Make sure you grab some food. Don’t think we don’t see you over here tryin’ to be antisocial. You get like another fifteen minutes before we pull out the big guns, so ya know, you’ve been warned.”

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