Page 42 of Meet Me at Sunset Cove

Daisy scrunched her nose. “That’s really too bad for you.”

And slowly, as they sat in that old house, the tension in his shoulders melted away.

And Daisy felt like something between them was changing.

The air between them felt magnetic, a force that drew them together. Hunter’s gaze dropped to her lips for a heartbeat, and she let herself lean that one breath closer, knowing somewhere inside her head that it was a terrible idea.

Her eyes fell shut when his fingers curled through her hair, drawing her in. And…

Daisy pulled back, placing a steadying hand on his chest as reality broke through her momentary lapse in judgment.

There were a hundred reasons not to kiss Hunter Barrett. Only one of which was the fact that their fake engagement was just that. Fake.

“We should…we should probably call it an early night,” she said, her shaky voice betraying her.

Hunter blinked, looking as dazed as she felt. “Right…yeah.”

He climbed to his feet, reaching out to help her up. His hands were warm and strong and—Daisy needed to get out of there. Like. Immediately.

“Okay, good talk. See you tomorrow,” she said, practically running for the door.

* * *

In what world had it seemed like a good idea to lean in for a kiss?

Hunter groaned, running a hand over the back of his neck as he tried to banish the mental image of Daisy’s shocked expression from his mind. Closing his eyes, he breathed in the scent of coffee and donuts, anchoring himself in Good Day Coffee rather than the cold floor of the house, where Daisy had left him last night.

“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Engaged,” a voice called from behind him. Hunter turned to find Mia Jonathon Franklin behind him. Her dark hair hung loose around the shoulders of a warm fall jacket. Hunter’s mind flashed to Daisy again. She’d been lucky so far with a warm fall, but he was starting to suspect she didn’t even own a jacket.

“Sorry, what?” he asked, trying again to get her out of his head.

“The engagement…?” Mia said, a slight frown creasing her forehead.

Hunter cocked his head in genuine bafflement and then—“Oh! The engagement—Myengagement. Yes. So happy,” he spouted, trying his best to sound convincing.

“Awww. Too twitterpated to even remember you’re engaged?” Mia teased. “That’s cute.”

Hunter stood a little straighter. “Don’t ‘awww’ me, Mia Franklin. I remember when you couldn’t even ride a bike.”

She grinned. “Sure, Hunter. I’ll give you that one.” She gestured to the line ahead of them, and they both stepped forward before they continued. “I’m just glad you found someone who makes you happy. Although I did think it was a little odd that she didn’t mention you at all while she was looking for a house.” She cast him a curious look, one brow ticking upward.

Hunter’s neck heated. “I think she was as surprised by our engagement as everyone else. But…when you know, you know.” He tried to string together enough truth for it to sound believable.

“Speaking of that fiancée of yours,” Lyle Graves chimed in to their right, “whereisthe better half? Or am I just supposed to keep taking everyone’s word for it that she exists?”

“Oh, stop it, Lyle,” Vera chirped beside her husband.

“I’m just making conversation,” Lyle protested. “So, Hunter, when’s the wedding? Vera and I need to know if we should start planning our outfits.”

Hunter nearly choked on air. “Um…I don’t—we haven’t really settled on a date yet…”

“Oohh, playing the long game,” Lyle said, tapping his temple with a wink, as though Hunter should know what that meant.

Vera shot her husband a warning look before turning to Hunter with a sympathetic smile. “Don’t mind him, honey. Lyle thinks he’s a comedian. You two take your time. I mean, the engagement certainly came as a shock to everyone. It only makes sense that you’d have a little longer engagement. Really take the time to get to know one another.”

You mean, before you do something stupid like, say, misread a whole conversation and wind up trying to kiss her?Hunter suppressed another groan and stepped up for his turn at the counter. He ordered two coffees and two cherry tarts and was halfway out the door before he realized what he’d done.

Just in time for him to nearly crash into the very woman he’d been tryingnotto think about.

---