Page 31 of Hometown Girl

“Getting a cup of coffee.”

“No, I mean, you don’t live here. I didn’t think I’d see you here.” She seemed nervous, but he didn’t know if it was because of him or because she and her sister had so obviously taken on more than they’d bargained for.

“Does that mean you thought about me?” He took a sip of his coffee.

Her face reddened and she stuttered, but before she could respond, the girl from the street—Molly—appeared beside her. “I can’t believe you showed up.” She grinned, then looked at the blond one. “Do you two know each other?”

Drew took a bite of a donut and shook his head. “Nope.”

“I saw him at Butler’s the other day, that’s all.”

“She brought me my food.”

Molly frowned. “You waited tables? That doesn’t sound like the Beth Whitaker I know and love.”

The blond one—Beth—stiffened. “I was helping Callie.” She turned to Drew. “All I meant was, I thought we’d only see locals today.”

“He used to come here with his parents,” Molly said. “So he’s practically local.”

Beth raised her eyebrows. “That so?”

He finished the donut and took another drink. “It was a long time ago.”

“So, what? You’re here for nostalgia’s sake?”

He shrugged. “Something like that.”

Molly’s eyes darted back and forth between the two of them. “We should start, Beth.”

She grabbed her sister’s arm and pulled her to the front of the barn, where a makeshift stage had been created. He scanned the space. They might be in over their heads, but they knew how to get people excited. From the looks of it, most of the town was there.

The building had seen better days, but there were flowers on the tables and plenty of pastries and coffee to keep anyone from complaining. He had to admit, he might’ve underestimated the plan to revive the old farm, although donuts weren’t going to rebuild ramshackle barns.

Drew sat in the back row and waited for the room to quiet down. The sisters intrigued him. The younger one reminded him of a girl who’d worked at the ranch for a summer. Amanda had been excited about everything and willing to learn, but she’d also had unrealistic expectations and about as much common sense as a ball of lint. He didn’t have the right to judge Molly based on their two brief interactions, but he couldn’t ignore the similarities.

The older sister, though? She remained a mystery. She was pretty, if a little plain. Blond. Big blue eyes that seemed to look right through him. Probably wondered, even more than she let on, what someone like him was even doing here.

If he had his way, she’d never find out the truth about that. No sense dragging her into the sordid past that followed him around wherever he went, whether he liked it or not.

She stood at the front of the room, elevated just a few inches off the ground. He couldn’t say for sure, but it almost seemed like she was trying extra hard not to look at him. Twice their eyes met, and both times, she quickly looked away.

And that was just fine with him. He didn’t need a connection with a pretty girl who lived in Willow Grove, after all; he wasn’t there for social reasons.

And yet, as she cleared her throat and avoided his eyes, he found himself helpless to ignore a nagging curiosity about Beth Whitaker. And as she began to speak, he kept his gaze firmly on her, oddly hopeful that their eyes would meet again.

Chapter Nine

Beth stood in front of the crowd that had gathered in the old barn, looking out over a sea of friendly, excited faces. She wiped her sweaty palms on the sides of her jeans, realizing she was more nervous than she should be.

She’d lived in Willow Grove her entire life. Most of these people had known her that long—but maybe that was part of what made her pulse race. Would anyone take them seriously if they’d known them when they were little kids running around the playground at Page Park?

Worse, what about the people (person) who didn’t know her then? What was Mr.Handsome from the diner doing here? He sat in the back row, quiet, unassuming. She could feel him watching her, studying her. It made her feel wobbly.

“He’s totally into you,” Molly said as she passed behind her.

“Will you stop it?” Beth waved her off. “We need to start.”

“You’re the pro.” Molly motioned for Beth to take the stage. “His name’s Drew, by the way.”

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