Page 6 of Playing it Country

Hell, she already had.

She’d kissed me, really kissed me, and I’d loved every second of it.

Her ties to Clementine Creek should be enough, and if that’s not, fear of being maimed by her Aunt Holly at the Tap and Table if things blow up should have me running for the hills.

Also, Holly makes the best pizza in, like, three counties, and it’s just not something I can risk.

“Well ladies, I think I’ve taken up enough of your time this mornin’. Hannah, you just let me know if you want a personal tour of the greenhouse.” I move forward and drop a kiss on the top of Rhea’s head. “I’ll text you later.”

“I bet you will.” She grins and I ruffle her hair, which earns me a swat to the gut with the back of her hand.

“Hannah, pleasure as always.”

“Likewise.” Her eyes follow me for a moment longer before she returns to her conversation with my sister.

“Hey Case, how are you?”

“Good, Ella, how—”

“So listen, I have thisfriend…” I open my mouth again and she holds up her hands. “Older than me and I just think y’all would really hit it off.”

“Thanks for thinkin’ of me. I’m just not sure it’s the right time.” She clearly doesn’t believe me, but she just shakes her head as she fills the same order I get every time I stop by here.

Iced coffee, milk and like a dash of sugar—the coffee isthatgood—and a chocolate croissant or scone depending on what’s available in the display.

“I’m just sayin’ it wouldn’t hurt you to settle down. Your brothers did.”

“I’ll take it under advisement.” I throw her a wink because even though she’s annoyed with me, she’s still not immune to my charm. “Thanks, Ella.”

“Uh-huh,” she says with forced attitude, and I salute my sister and Hannah with my coffee before walking out into the sunshine.

My first full breath since I walked in there fills my lungs. Shaking my head, I try to brush off the weird energy lingering all around me after that entire encounter. I finally have a plan, and I won’t let Hannah or any well-meaning town folk derail my progress.

3

HANNAH

“Hey Aunt Holly,” I say as I wipe down the bar top for the third time. It’s been slow today aside from my whirlwind meeting with Otto and the sweet plan he has for proposing and marrying his forever girl.

“Hey sweetheart. You doing okay?” She studies me in a way that makes me feel seen instead of analyzed.

I wrinkle my nose. “It’s weird here.”

She chuckles and leans against the bar. “This town takes some getting used to, but I wouldn’t trade it.” She smiles as she looks around. “They’ve never done anything but make us feel like we belong here.”

She and my Uncle Marcus have been here for well over a decade. They brought their favorite parts of Upstate New York south of the Mason-Dixon and never looked back.

I’ve always kind of envied their approach to life and change. While I’ve always been considered a wanderer, they’ve never doubted their move here.

“You didn’t tell me that Case is actually part of the hottest family gene pool.”

“You didn’t ask. Also I heard that we’re invited there for dinner this weekend.” I snort but nod.

“So far I’m photographing Otto’s surprise engagement, having Moscow Mules with that firecracker Miss Thelma who was sporting an off-the-shoulder T-shirt with her cat printed on it, and now I have to socialize at a barbeque with a bunch of sinfully good-looking men.”

“Sounds like a hardship to me.”

“You know how I feel about socializing.”

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