Page 29 of Country Charm

“Franny, I told you at the market I would be busy showing someone around the cookout,” Hunter says, his voice clipped and authoritative. I can only imagine the kind of power he can really hold in his tone.

“I know, I thought I could help you show whoever it was around. Nobody knows this town like us, we’ve grown up here our whole lives.” She’s mimicking the puppy-eyed look Mary and Trent had exchanged earlier. My eyes are growing tired from rolling so much. I don’t want to stand here and listen to all their history for another minute, let alone a whole night. My annoyance level has hit an all-new high.

“You two can have your evening, I was about to turn in.”

“Cassidy,” I hear Trent, Mary, and Hunter all say at the same time.

Mary pulls in her lips a pinch and squints her eyes. I know that face. She’s piecing things together. She’s wondering when I told this guy my name, and why he is bringing me flowers.

I let out an exacerbated breath and turn on my heel to head back to the B and B.

“Cass!” I hear Mary yell.

I don’t get ten steps away before a strong hand grabs mywrist. He pulls me until my back hits his chest. He drops his head low and gently rubs his scruff against my ear, whispering to me.

“Don’t go. It’s not every day the girl I can’t stop thinking about is in my hometown.”

I turn my head to face him, and he kisses me before I can say a word.

In front of Mary.

In front of Trent.

In front of Franny.

In front of everyone.

He kisses me and I kiss him back. Eagerly. I turn my body to face him, and he puts a hand behind my head, kissing me like his life depends on it.

When we come up for air, I look into those crystal eyes, and can see he feels sorry. He shouldn’t, he didn’t do anything wrong. I shouldn’t have any sort of feelings toward everything that’s happened. I have no say over what he does or who he talks to. No less, he can tell I was bothered, and he feels bad for that.

“These are for you.” He lifts the flowers.

I look down at them.

How could someone call these weeds?

They are perfect. I don’t know a thing about flowers, but these have this appeal to them. Their simplicity only adds to how unique they are. The blue ones get lighter, almost white toward the center, and they remind me of Hunter’s eyes. The yellow ones are bright yellow, almost orange, not a faded yellow. Then the purple ones are more like indigo, now that I’m getting a closer look. The blend has me smirking, I would probably smile if I let down some of my walls. Too bad that’s not my style.

“Thanks, you didn’t have to do that.”

“You hungry?” He doesn’t even hesitate, asking me almost before my last word is out. He’s worried I’m going to bolt. I should, too; I know I’m in over my head where Hunter Hill is concerned.

I must be a masochist, because I nod, and a perfect smile crosses his lips. He slips the flowers into my right hand and then his right hand into my left. His thumb rubs over mine and I blush at the simple contact.

We just made out in front of his entire town and now I’m blushing.

“What kind of cuisine are you in the mood for?”

“The best this Podunk town has to offer.” I raise my chin. I need to gather myself and gain some ground. I’ve never been this far out of my element before and I can’t say I particularly like it.

“I don’t think you can eat that much. This town has some of the best BBQ, burgers, tacos, and pizza. Those were the options last weekend, right?”

“Sans BBQ and add hot dogs.”

“We got dogs, but you have one dog you’ve had them all.”

“Tell me about it,” I mutter, and he grimaces.

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