Page 79 of Playing it Country

“Seriously, I hope you sanitize all the surfaces regularly.” I shrug but I can feel the blush crawling up my cheeks. Hannah and I fooled absolutely no one the night of the housewarming. We got a little carried away and met more than a few knowing looks when we emerged from the bedroom.

In my defense, it was hot as fuck driving her crazy without even touching her.

“Like you’re one to talk. Tell me you haven’t christened every inch of your house with Fallon.”

He grins for just a minute before his expression sobers. “You’re in deep, brother.”

“I know.” I take a pull from my bottle and sigh. “I just don’t understand whythisgirl—the one who can’t go a damn minute without reminding me this is all temporary—is the one I have to fall ass over teakettle for. It makes no sense.”

Otto snorts. “It’s because it’sus.We spent so damn long runnin’ that we have to chase the girls with commitment issues. I mean,”—he takes a long drink and smiles—“it’s kind of poetic actually.”

“What is?” I grumble because I can find no joy in this conversation. He has his girl, and mine has one foot always out the door—a girl I’m fallin’ more for each and every day.

“That the two playboys in town would fall hard and fast for women barely giving them the time of day.” He’s teasing, but he looks down at the beer in his hands as he clears his throat. “I never thanked you for what you did.”

The bottle is halfway to my lips when our eyes meet, and I lower it back into my lap.

“I could lie and say you didn’t have to fall in line with makin’ us somethin’ we weren’t but,”—he swallows hard—“I needed you and I needed that. Us. I’m just sorry you gave up your happiness to give me mine.”

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” I say even though the lump in my throat makes the words come out like gravel.

“I know.”

“On the bright side, I got a built-in nephew and sister and another brother out of the deal.” I give him a wry smile as I try and lighten the mood.

“Right? I mean, who knew we needed Tanner.”

“Guy is way more easygoing than I expected,” I agree. “To be fair, you kind of bulldozed over any and all resistance he was holding on to.”

“It’s part of my charm.”

“Amen, brother.” I hold my bottle out, and he clinks his against it and we drink before staring out across the orchard.

“What are you gonna do if she stays?” Smiling, I take a slow drink before looking at my twin.

“I’m gonna build her a bookstore.”

“You gotta plan?”

“Yup.”

“I’m in.”

“I know.”

Finishing my beer, I clasp my brother on the shoulder and he pulls me in for a hug. Mason and Bodhi took off an hour ago, but being at Darling Farms is not just a job. I’ve done more than my fair share of thinking in this orchard, and it’s nice knowing it still provides the same sense of peace so many years later.

We clean up our mess and then look at the work we’ve done. I know he feels it too. We’ve done a lot of work and we always give our clients our best, but this is different.

“Think Gran and Pop would like it?” he asks and I swallow the lump in my throat.

“Yeah, I think so.”

When we discussed the color scheme, I made sure to add some purple flowers for Gran. Even as a young kid, I was always picking flowers for the ladies in my life. Back then, it was mainly wildflowers, but Gran always took them with a smile and put them in a vase on her table.

She’d touch delicate purple blossoms with the tip of her wrinkled finger and tell me they were her favorite—no matter how many times I brought that same bunch. It was a memory burned into my brain, and I prayed I’d never lose it.

“She’d love that purple.” He motions toward the flowers we have set aside to plant in the morning.

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