Page 9 of A Match Made in Montana

Too late! I’ve seen your message. So if we ignore body parts, will you let me help you?

Her fingers were flying over the small keyboard before she could think.

For someone who talks in one-word sentences, your messages are quite lengthy.

She didn’t have to wait long.

I talk a lot at work. Do we have a deal?

Sighing, Annie typed her reply.

Dinner tomorrow 7 pm. Anything you don’t eat?

Those freaking three dots appeared and disappeared a few times. Finally, she got a reply.

Sounds great, thanks.

Another ping.

Fed up, she closed her phone and switched off the light. Moments later, she groaned out loud. She was smiling and there was definitely beading happening!

*

Thursday evening atseven on the dot, Craig knocked on the door of Annie’s B and B. He’d picked up his phone numerous times throughout the day to cancel. At some point, he’d even considered going back to Portland. But here he was, feeling like a schoolboy on his way to pick up his date for the prom.

The door opened, but it wasn’t Annie welcoming him. Instead, it was her brother Mitch and the way he was scowling certainly wasn’t very welcoming.

“O’Sullivan,” he said shortly, putting out his hand.

Craig eyed the big hand warily but there wasn’t much else he could do but to shake hands with the big guy. “Hello, Mitch,” he got out before his hand was just about crushed.

“I hear there’s another Irishman sniffing around one of my sisters and I have to—”

Before Mitch could finish his threat, though, Vivian appeared at his side. “Oh, shush, Mitch. He’s here to help Annie, not woo her. Isn’t that right, Craig?” Vivian asked, her eyes twinkling. “Come on in, we’re eating in the dining room tonight. Annie has pulled out all the stops. My mouth has been watering since I got back from the hospital today. The smells are divine.”

Craig made sure to give Mitch a wide berth. “Is Aiden around?” he asked Vivian trying not to think about the wordwoo. That was so not what he was doing; he’d have to try and put Mitch’s mind at rest at some point. He liked Annie’s brother, but remembered all too well Mitch was the one who’d punched Aiden.

“He’s around, busy on his laptop, chasing a story at the moment, but he should be down in a moment. Mitch, will you get us something to drink?”

Muttering something about Irishmen, Mitch stomped into the house while Craig and Vivian remained at the front door.

Vivian laughed. “Mitch is just being his overprotective self. He’s always been a very caring person but ever since Mom and Dad passed away, he’s taken it to the next level. Aiden survived his brusque manner, though. I’m sure you will, too.”

“I understand why he hasn’t welcomed Aiden with open arms. But our situations are different.”

“Different how?”

“Aiden wanted you and, well, I don—”

A movement on the steps caught his attention. He turned just as Annie reached the last step. He didn’t remember making a conscious decision to move, but as she reached the final step, he was right in front of her to help her down. His eyes took in everything about her.

She looked gorgeous. Instead of her usual ponytail, her brown hair was loose and hanging down her back, a few strands curling over her shoulder. The wide skirt of the turquoise dress she was wearing ended just above her knee. But it was the nude-colored high heels, making her gorgeous legs look even longer than usual that nearly brought him to his knees. He’d never seen her legs before, she usually wore jeans or pants.

“Annie,” he got out, his tongue strangely heavy. “You look… amazing.”

He had to have said the correct thing, because she finally smiled at him—one of those big, beautiful smiles that lit up her face.

“You were saying…” Vivian chuckled behind him, but for the life of him he couldn’t remember what they’d been talking about.

---