Page 21 of Hometown Girl

Beth glanced at the handsome stranger, who eyed the food. Callie seemed oblivious.

Beth picked up the tray and walked toward the guy. “I take it this is yours?”

The man looked up at her. He had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, complemented by dark-brown hair. “Egg-and-cheese sandwich?”

Beth looked at the plate. “Side of home fries.”

“Yeah, that’s mine.” He didn’t smile, but he didn’t frown either.

“Sorry about my friend. She’s usually a much more attentive waitress.” Beth set the plate in front of him. “Did you need more coffee?”

“That’d be great. Long night.”

She grabbed the pot from the counter and poured him a fresh cup, resisting the urge to ask him why his night had been long, who he was and how he’d managed to find himself here in Willow Grove. “Anything else?”

“Have you done this before?”

She laughed. “Not for a really long time.”

“Well, thanks.”

“If you need anything ...” She pointed at the booth where Callie still sat, anxiously waiting for Beth’s return and far too happy to allow her friend to do her job for her.

“I know where to find you both.” He smiled. Not just any smile. The kind that could make a girl want flowers.

Beth smacked that idea away like a pesky fly and forced herself to smile back, begging herself to play it cool.

But photoshopped-blue eyes. Messy dark hair. The perfect amount of facial hair to accent chiseled cheekbones. “Cool” wasn’t an option.

“Beth, stop gawking and get over here.” Callie’s voice—too loud, too embarrassing—pulled her back to the counter, mortified.

“Gawking? Really?”

“What? I was gawking too. He’s almost as cute as your brother.”

Beth rolled her eyes.

“I cannot believe you bought a farm and didn’t tell me. And Fairwind of all places. Didn’t you have your first kiss in one of those barns?”

Beth gasped. “I had completely forgotten that.”

“You forgot?” Callie looked horrified. “How could you forget Tim Porter”—she said his name with a breathy sigh—“taking your hand and leading you away from the rest of the class”—back to the wistful voice then—“gently leaning you against the wall and covering your lips with his?”

Beth stared at her.

“How could you forget? The rest of us were so jealous.”

“I’m not the one with the faulty memory,” Beth said. “Class field trip. Ninth grade. Tim Porter dragged me behind that stinky barnon a dareand planted the wettest, most awkward and disgusting kiss, half on my lips and half on my chin.” She shuddered at the memory. “I swore I’d never kiss anyone again.”

When Callie shook her head, the messy brown bun on top of her head bobbed from side to side. “That’s not how I remember it.”

Beth glanced at Mr.Handsome, surprised when their eyes met and she detected the slight trace of a smile on his face. Great. He’d overheard that whole thing.

How red were her cheeks?

“Can you get me a vanilla latte to go?” Beth asked.

“Not until you tell me what on earth Dina was talking about. Also, it’s sort of pathetic that you were in the ninth grade before you had your first kiss.”

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