Page 64 of Peach Blossom Hollow

“I’m glad you’re having fun again. Especially today.”

She felt the familiar, unpleasant tug in her gut when she thought about her failed wedding. Today would have been her third wedding anniversary. Long enough that it was time to fully let it go—something she felt like she was finally succeeding at.

“Of course I am,” she said. “Let’s hear it for Armadillo Day!”

“Did you see the giant paper mâché statue of Bill?” Daisy-Mae said with a laugh.

She had. Bill, the town’s wild and cranky armadillo had become a bit of a mascot for Sweetheart Creek, and a local artist had recreated the creature at about twenty times life size for one float. It was hideous, and she loved it dearly.

“Who doesn’t love a huge armadillo?” she asked, giggling. She’d bought the Bill T-shirt and ball cap that Brant and April were selling to raise funds for the new animal shelter they were building. “Life is for living, right?”

“It sure is. And it always helps to move on with a tasty crush?”

Violet groaned at Daisy-Mae’s hinting tone. “There are no tasty crushes happening. And lower your voice. You know how easily rumors start around here.” Plus, Leo was only a few feet away from Daisy-Mae and might overhear.

“Well, whatever’s going on, I remember how last year on the anniversary of you and Wyatt…” Daisy-Mae let her voice trail off.

Right. Last year she’d been crying into a drink at the Watering Hole with April and Daisy-Mae, her usual sunny it’s-okay attitude irretrievable for a full eighteen hours while she’d wallowed.

Sure, she’d decided to stay in town and had found a beautiful home, the friends she’d made sticking by her side, but she’d still held so much anger. Why couldn’t Wyatt have expressed his doubts instead of making such a fool out of her in front of everyone? Why had he stolen their day like that? It was supposed to betheirmoment. It was the event she’d longed for since she was a kid.

Yet she also knew her ex had done her a tremendous favor by running out of that church. Most days she thought she’d forgiven him and moved on, his leaving her stunned and heartbroken at the altar no longer her first thought in the morning when she woke up. But some days it still caught up with her, knocked her down at the knees, reminding her what a failure she was when it came to love, and how that dang curse flowed through the generations with unrelenting determination.

Well, it wouldn’t get her down any longer. Not worth it. She was out searching for love, putting bandage after bandage over her broken heart.

Each day was better and soon she’d be fully healed, if that was truly a possibility. And sure, itlikely wouldn’t be today, as it was filled with too many memories not to cause some bumps.

“So what’s going on?” Daisy-Mae prompted.

Oh, man. She’d been incredibly foolish telling Leo she hadn’t minded their kiss. Just because he didn’t seem to be actively pursuing Christine any longer didn’t mean he was ready for true love and a happily ever after with her.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t play innocent. I know that tone.”

“There’s no tone.”

Telling Daisy-Mae would make things messy. Her friend would either try to help or she’d be full of warnings about how busy hockey players were, and how the media could swarm the two of you and ruin it all.

Case in point, Leo had endured a lot of speculation and fuss over him rescuing her—even though nobody knew she had been the one inside the costume. If they started dating and people found out he’d gone all hotheaded to protecther...

Well, she probably wouldn’t be the only weak-kneed woman in the state of Texas.

“You were talking to Leo,” Daisy-Mae prompted.

“Yup.”

“You organized this for him.”

“Yup.”

“You’re trying to help him like I’m helping Maverick with his image.”

“That’s going well, isn’t it?” The parade was moving forward, Leo off to one side, thumbing through the player cards she’d given him. “He’s getting attention from brands and stuff, right?”

“So? Are you going to ask him out?” Daisy-Mae pressed.

“What? Leo?No. Not his type.”

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