Page 44 of A Match Made in Montana

“Can’t wait.” She smiled. “Oh, and I’ve posted on Instagram this morning. My video is not as professional as the photos Riley has posted, but I’m willing to give it a go.”

“And? Any reaction?”

“I haven’t checked, probably not. I’ve followed a few foodies as Riley had suggested, but I have the sum total of two followers when I posted the video.”

“Let’s see,” he insisted.

“We can do it later…” she began but he kept holding out his hand. “Okay, but…”

Ignoring her, he opened the Insta icon and watched the two-minute video with her where she explained the basics of making scones. “This is great, Annie.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. How many followers did you say you have?”

“Two…”

“Well, you now have five hundred and look here…” He showed her how to check insights into her post. “If you click on this, you see what kind of traffic your post generated. Wow, four hundred people viewed your video. Some of those you followed shared your video and your hashtag #annieisbaking seems to have been repeated a number of times.” He handed back her phone. “You’re good at this, Annie. As I’ve told you, you are the brand, the secret to Annie’s success. You just may start trending one of these days.”

Her brilliant smile stayed with him until he parked in front of Java Café where he was supposed to meet his potential client. As he got out of his car, he chuckled. He still had a stupid grin on his face in spite of the disappointing breakfast he’d had with his parents.

The tightness around his chest had eased a bit. Annie could do that with her warm smile and sweet kisses.

Chapter Fourteen

Late afternoon, Mitchstormed into Annie’s kitchen, eyes blazing. “Is it true?”

Rubbing her temple, Annie sighed. All this shouting was getting to her. “What now? Is what true?”

“That Ted freaking Harris knocked on your door this morning?”

Stunned, Annie stared at Mitch. “How on earth do you know that?”

“Marcus Baker, the science teacher, who is always asking about you? Well, he had coffee at the diner before school this morning where he ran into Carol Bingley. He wanted to know from me why you haven’t told anyone you’re still engaged.”

“Of course, I’m not engaged to him…”

“And why was Craig O’Sullivan kissing you at the front door for everyone to see?”

Annie had had enough. “Seriously, Mitch, this is getting so old. We like kissing each other. In fact, I may just sleep with him before he goes back to Portland.”

Mitch turned red, his mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out, thank goodness.

Quickly, she touched his arm. “I appreciate you looking out for me, Mitch, but I do this with eyes wide open. I don’t want to get married again, but I enjoy being with Craig. He’s been very honest right from the start. He has his own reasons for not wanting to ever tie the knot and I’m not expecting anything. Also, because of his help with my website, I’ve been getting more and more bookings during the day, all visitors who’ll be here for next weekend’s Spring Arts and Crafts Festival. So, for the next few days, he and I will be together.”

“And what happens when he leaves, Annie? I know you. You have feelings for him, he’s going to break your heart.”

At least her brother had stopped shouting. “Hearts break, brother dear, they also heal. Stop growling and be happy for me, please? Craig is picking me up at seven, we’re going on a date, and you are not going to shout, okay?”

Mitch’s frown only deepened. “I don’t like it. What about the rest of the family when you two break up? Can you imagine how awkward family gatherings will be?”

“We’re friends first, we’ll go back to being friends, no awkward gatherings, I promise you. You don’t have to like it, Mitch, but we are together for the moment. Come on, stop frowning. I’ve made your favorite—brandy-fried chicken. You can just heat it when you’re hungry.”

Finally, the corners of Mitch’s mouth lifted ever so slightly. Hugging her, he sighed. “Thank you. You don’t have to cook for me if you’re going out. I don’t mean to shout, it’s just… I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

“I don’t know what has gotten into you. You’re my soft-spoken, always smiling brother.”

“You and Viv are my family. I have to look out for you.”

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