Page 24 of Peach Blossom Hollow

He’d been wondering how long it would take her to tease him about the rows of shiny belt buckles on display on his dresser. He’d won them at various rodeos over the years and they were his prized possessions. Each one represented courage and battle—battles he’d won.

“Nah, I just live like a minimalist.” He glanced around. “Maybe that makes me an accidental one?”

“You’re not tempted to blow your big paychecks on material possessions?”

“Oh, I am,” he said with a laugh. He had a long list of dream items. “I just don’t want to lose it all before I begin, you know? Plus, Miranda told me this story about her granddaddy and how his NHL days ended abruptly. It’s basically my biggest fear at the moment. That it could all end and I’d be caught out—financially.”

“What happened?”

“An injury early in his career, right after he’d overspent. Financially, it broke him.”

“That’s horrible.” Violet filled the kettle from the tap. “Did you do well in rodeo?”

He hitched up his belt with pride. The buckle on it was large and shiny, the equivalent of an NHL championship ring.

“What?” Violet was frowning at him as if he’d offered to take off his pants or something.

“My rodeo buckle…”

“It’s big?”

He chuckled softly. “You didn’t grow up around here, did you? It’s an award. Like a trophy you wear.” Feeling humbled, he turned to the counter and pulled down boxes of tea. “What kind do you want?”

She reached for the ginger peach. “I know it’s an award. I was making sure you hang on to your modesty badge.”

He snorted and shook his head, taking the box of tea from her. “Hot or cold? I have ice, I think.”

“Hot.”

“Again, where did you grow up? Texans like their tea iced.”

“I’m Texan.”

“I don’t hear a twang.”

“Well, I grew up in Chicago, then came out here when I was in high school. I moved to Sweetheart Creek a few years ago,y’all.”

The electric kettle clicked off a minute later, and he poured water into their cups, then led the way into the living room, relieved that he at least had a comfortable couch and coffee table.

“You know…” Violet began, after a moment of blowing the steam from her cup. “For a jock you really aren’t very smooth with women, are you? But you’re serious about me helping you with Christine?”

As they settled on the couch with their tea, Violet could see Leo starting to relax. She loved how nervous he was about her ending up at his place for the night. His efforts to do right and help her endeared him to her all the more.

“So what do you need with Christine? Has she still not noticed you?”

“Not as someone other than a friend who keeps popping up at the same parties and fundraisers. And you’re still searching for Mr. Right?”

“I’m still holding you to helping me find him.”

He turned his cup in his hands so the handle was away from him, then took a sip.

She took a sip of hers, then tapped the cup. “This is good.”

“I like peach.”

“Me, too. Did you know my place used to be a B & B called Peach Blossom Hollow?”

“I saw the sign. It’s a nice spot.” He looked around his apartment with an expression of longing she understood. He wasn’t happy here. It was a holding place, nothing more.

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