Page 5 of Playing it Country

“Only sister by blood.” I wink and turn to Hannah. “And my savior from crazy ex-not-girlfriends.”

She takes them from my hand and then brings them to her nose and inhales. Her eyelids fall shut and a small smile graces her lips.

“These smell incredible, but I’m not sure you’re as charming as your brothers.”

“What?” I gasp dramatically, “No. Who have you met? I’m clearly the best. Tell her, Rhea.” I throw my sister under the bus knowing there’s no way she’s picking a favorite.

“Waylon, Hank, and Otto,” Hannah says anddamnI like that mischievous glint in her eyes.

“I’m the best looking though, right?”

She laughs and I can only hope it’s because she thinks I’m impossibly charming.

“I mean…” She gives me a noncommittal shrug.

“I am offended.” I make sure to lay the accent on thick as I punctuate each word.

“No, you’re not.”

I’m really not. I know we have good genes and it’s helped us all out a time or two. Also gotten us into our fair share of trouble, but that’s not important right now.

“You always bring the girls flowers, Water Boy?”

“The ones I grow, sure.”

I can play coy about a lot of things, but I don’t mess around when it comes to my greenhouse and what I grow in there. At least not to people I care about—not that I have any reason to be concerned about what Hannah thinks of me.

Isla thinks I can patent my greenhouse design, but right now it’s somethin’ I do for me, and I’m worried if money gets involved I’ll lose some of the peace I crave so much.

“You grew these?” There’s more interest than disbelief in her tone, and it has my pulse kickin’ up a notch.

“Sure did. Gotta greenhouse if you want a closer look at the goods.” I wink and she laughs.

“I’m not sure anyone has used that line on me before.”

“To be fair, his greenhouse is really awesome,” Rhea says, and I almost forgot my sister was sitting there. “It’s not a euphemism if that’s what you were thinking.”

“Small towns are so weird,” Hannah says, and we all crack up. She’s not wrong. If I were an outsider, I wouldn’t believe half the stuff people say around here either.

But I’m not an outsider. I love my town and the people who live here. I love the stories and the history and the general nonsense that makes Clementine Creek home.

Hannah’s gaze drops to my dirt-covered boots and drags up the length of my body. She’s interested—probably in something casual—but I can’t. I really can’t.

The only things keepin’ me in check all these years have been the rules I put in place.

No relationships.

No one from Clementine Creek, if I can help it.

No more than three,possiblyfour weeks with the same girl.

No promises of forever and no expectations beyond what I’m willing to give—also clearly stated.

Mila got caught up on that last part. She thought she’d be the one to tame Case Thayer but she didn’t understand. No one understands that this is all self-inflicted.

I made a choice all those years ago, and I never looked back. Family comes first and I’ll never regret doing what I had to do for mine.

Hannah looks like she’d be down for a good time, but there’s something about her that makes me think she’d give me a run for my money.

---