by Debbie Mason
“The accident was sixteen years ago, Hunter.”
“Doesn’t matter. You start having issues when you’re tired or stressed. You have to listen to your body.”
He might not like it if she listened to her body because sometimes, when she looked at him, her body suggested she do some very naughty things. She crossed her arms. “You went too far. You were smothering me and being overprotective.”
He dropped his hands from her shoulders and crouched to gently tug his bootlace from Bella’s mouth. “Fair enough. I don’t think I was, but if that’s how you feel, I’ll back off.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, and since we’re being open and honest, I’ll tell you again, the farm tour is a bad idea, and it’s going to come back and bite Sadie, not you.”
Abby walked to the kitchen counter. “I have things for them to look at and buy. I even dug up and potted some honeysuckle plants to sell. And I found a few jars of honey and some soap in the pantry.”
“The honeysuckle plants you potted are already dead. You cut off the roots. And the honey’s straight from the hive.” At her blank look, he explained. “It’s unprocessed, and it’s been in there for at least a year, so it’s probably gone bad.”
“Really?” She shook her head, refusing to let him discourage her. He just didn’t want a bunch of people traipsing around the farm. “They can pick blueberries and strawberries. You couldn’t have picked all of them. And I have antiques for sale and my baking too. I have enough ingredients to make another batch of scones. I can do a baking demonstration.” She should’ve thought of that before.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s too late for you to back out now. Sadie bumped Owen for you so I can’t see him being willing to take your place.”
“Owen as in Police Chief Owen?” she asked as she lifted the doughnuts from the baking sheet.
“Yeah. He owns the property adjacent to this one. He runs a Christmas tree farm.”
“Does he sell Christmas stuff too?” she asked, thinking that if he did Sadie should’ve bumped her instead.
“No. Liz was always after him to diversify, but he said he was waiting until he retired.”
Abby felt a little better about bumping Owen but not by much. She didn’t want to let Sadie down. If Hunter would just let her show his carvings, the tour guests wouldn’t care that Honeysuckle Farm was no longer a working farm. But she knew he wouldn’t. He changed the subject every time she brought it up.
He gave Bella one last pat before standing and walking over to give the doughnuts a sniff. “They smell great. Save me one.”
“Why don’t you have one now? I have coffee on.”
“Can’t stay. I’m heading into town.”
“Wow, twice in a matter of days. People are going to faint.” She smiled and started spooning the berry filling into each doughnut’s cavity. Some fell off, and she pushed it back in with her finger. “They’ll think I worked my witchy Findlay magic on you.”
He snorted. “Yeah, right. Thanks to you, my mother and sisters have arrived in Highland Falls. I have to be at Shane and Eden’s in twenty minutes.”
“You should’ve invited them here. I’d love to meet—” He didn’t hide his grimace from her. “Sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking.” She ignored the twinge of hurt that he obviously didn’t want her to meet his family and went back to spooning the filling into the doughnuts.
“You should probably put Bella in her crate. Safer for everyone that way.”
She hated that he was right, hated it more that he didn’t try to make an excuse about why he didn’t want his family to visit. It was because of her. She’d seen how he reacted the other day in town when people assumed they were an item. Her throwing herself at him hadn’t helped. She supposed she didn’t blame him. “Okay, bye. Have a nice visit with your family.”
He gave a noncommittal grunt as he opened the door to leave. “Abby.” She looked up. “You were right, you look good.”
She smoothed her hair back. “Really?”
“Yeah,” he said, then started to laugh. “Except you just dragged blueberries through your hair.”
Two hours later, Abby conceded that Hunter had been right. The tour of Honeysuckle Farm was a bust. She blamed it on the man wearing the Hawaiian shirt and orange Bermuda shorts. Out of the eight people on the tour—two seventysomething sisters, a mother with her daughter and two grandchildren, and Hawaiian Shirt Guy and his wife—he was the most vocal in venting his displeasure. He’d also just threatened to leave a one-star review for Highland Tours.
His wife gave Abby and Sadie an apologetic smile while waving her husband away.
They were standing in the strawberry patch, their berry-collecting baskets empty. Hunter must’ve picked every last ripe berry within a mile radius. Abby had spotted a bush of green berries and had triumphantly held up a branch, thinking she’d saved the day, but Sadie had slapped it out of her hand. The berries were poisonous.
“Oh no, the two sisters are looking from Hawaiian Guy to their phones,” Abby whispered. “Wait, we have a chance. They’re looking at us now. Smile and wave like they’re your best friends in the world.”
Abby nudged Sadie, who stood there with her arms crossed. She wore a red T-shirt with a yellow-and-green-plaid kilt with red lines, rolled-down wool socks, and cool black boots that had a Doc Martens vibe.
“I’m serious,” Abby said, noting the expression on Sadie’s heart-shaped face. “They have to feel like they have a personal connection with us and want us to succeed, or they’re going to be sheep and follow Hawaiian Guy’s lead. They’ll leave…They’re doing it right now,” she said when they wouldn’t make eye contact. “I can’t believe they did that. They loved my berry doughnuts and my scone-making demonstration.”
“Hawaiian Guy did too. He was like a vacuum, hoovering up every doughnut, scone, and cupcake in sight. I’m really sorry, Abby. I know you were hoping to make some money off the sale of your baking. I should’ve explained things better. I really suck at this tour operator thing.”
“You absolutely do not. You’re awesome. You’re fun and knowledgeable and great with everyone, even Hawaiian Guy.”
“I’m used to dealing with jerky men. Especially my baby brother, who once again conned me into helping him out. I always fall for his sob story.”
Hunter had filled Abby in on Sadie’s brother. He didn’t have a lot of good things to say about Elijah Gray. Hunter didn’t understand why Sadie always came back to Highland Falls to bail him out. She lived in Charlotte and had a good job as a graphic designer. Although she’d shared with Abby a little while ago that she’d quit her job because her boss had wanted more from her than her designs and didn’t take kindly to the word no.
“You’re a good sister, and you don’t want to see him lose his business.”
“He can’t lose this business. If he does, he’ll blame me like usual, and then I’m the one who has to bail him out. I’ve got enough to worry about.”
Sensing genuine panic in Sadie’s voice, Abby patted her arm. “Don’t worry. We’re going to turn this around right now and make sure Highland Tours gets rave reviews.”
“Let them leave as many one-star reviews as they want. No one looks at them anyway.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as much as you don’t think reviews matter, they absolutely do. Trust me. I drove an average car for Uber in LA when everyone else was driving Beemers and luxury SUVs, but my reviews were fantastic, and I got a ton of repeat business.”
But this was way out of her wheelhouse. Not that she’d tell Sadie. Abby clapped her hands to drag the seventysomething sisters’ attention from their phones, while at the same time racking her brain for an activity to wow the group. “All right, everyone. Let’s put our phones away. We have a very special treat for you today.”
“The bees! We’re going to see the bees!” the little boy and girl cheered. “Can we wear the suit again? Please. Liz let us.”
The c
hildren, their mother, and their grandmother took part in the tour every year. They were almost as vocal about Abby’s failure to live up to their expectations as Hawaiian Guy. The grandmother, who apparently owned an antiques store, had given her professional opinion on every item Abby had for sale, ensuring that the only things Abby sold today were the apron she’d had on and a miniature oil painting to the two sisters for ten dollars.
Although the antique lady’s daughter wanted to buy Abby’s pink-patent-leather Louis Vuitton, and she hadn’t been happy when Abby refused to sell, even when she offered her three hundred dollars. Abby knew she should’ve accepted the offer, but she just couldn’t bring herself to part with the bag.
It would’ve felt too much like giving up on her dream. The pink-patent Louis Vuitton had been the first purse Abby had bought that wasn’t a knockoff. She’d barely been able to afford knockoffs until she’d featured a day in her Hollywood life on her then six-month-old YouTube channel and it had gone viral. For her, the purse was a talisman, a tangible sign that if she’d made it once, she could make it again.
“I’m so sorry, but the hives are off-limits. We’ve had an infestation of killer bees.” She fake-shivered. “Scary, right? But don’t worry, this is way better and not as dangerous.” Thankfully, an idea came to her just in the nick of time.
They’d go on a nature walk. She’d make a game out of it. Whoever spotted the most wildlife would win. She’d figure out their prize later.
“What is it? What are we going to see?” the little boy asked. Then something caught his attention in the meadow, and he pointed. “I want to go to the barn too.”
Abby turned to see Hawaiian Guy opening the barn door.
Chapter Eleven
Hunter stood beside his brother on the gravel drive, waving goodbye as his mother and sisters drove down Mirror Lake Road on their way back to Charlotte. It would take them four hours to get home. He wouldn’t relax until he’d gotten the text that they’d arrived safely.
He filled his lungs with the warm air, laden with the sweet smell of the birch trees that populated this part of the forest, their pale green leaves rippling in the breeze. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing more peaceful than listening to the wind move through the trees. In the distance, he made out the low buzz of a chain saw and the faint smell of cedar mingling with pine. Someone was building a house on the Suttons’ old property, he surmised from the direction of the sound.
Could be wrong though. It was the first time he’d been back here since leaving for his last tour. He’d bought a three-acre lot just up the road from Shane’s. Hunter had planned to build a log house for him and Sloane, with plenty of room for the three kids they’d eventually hoped to have. He should’ve known better. If war had taught him anything, it had taught him not to plan for the future.
The day he’d come home and ended his engagement to Sloane, he’d signed the lot over to her and her mother. From what he could see, they hadn’t made use of the property. He thought that was a shame. It was a beautiful piece of land set in a grove of old-growth pine and had a spectacular view of Mirror Lake.
His brother clapped him on the back as the black SUV’s taillights faded from view. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Easy for you to say. You sat back laughing and drinking beer while I was interrogated for two hours by our mother and our two sisters, who’ve grown up to be even bigger pains in the asses than when they were teenagers.” He rubbed the heel of his palm against his chest. “They gave me heartburn and a headache.”
“That’s what happens when you avoid them for almost a year.”
He stopped rubbing his chest to look at his brother. “It hasn’t been that long.”
“Yeah, it has.”
He thought back over the past year. He’d spent months looking after Liz and then months helping Owen through his grief. The year before that, he’d rarely seen anyone. It was Owen and Liz who’d slowly coaxed him back into society, if only a society of three. Not that his family would think the past year was an improvement over the last one.
Guilt caused the muscles in his chest to tighten, and he tried once again to rub the ache away. They deserved better. “You wanna remind me why I accepted the invite to this get-together?”
“You knew if you didn’t, they’d track you down at the farm, and they wouldn’t care if they couldn’t find you. As long as they had some one-on-one time with your new girlfriend, they’d be happier than pigs in—”
“Yeah, and I wonder who told them about Abby. Your job isn’t keeping you busy enough if you have time to spread…” He trailed off at Shane’s shocked expression. “What?”
“I didn’t realize you guys were really a thing. Wow, that’s probably the best news I’ve had—”
Now it was Hunter’s turn to stare at his brother. “What are you talking about? We’re not ‘a thing.’ I’m helping her with the farmhouse. Nothing more.” The last words he’d said to her mocked him.
She had looked good. Better than good, if he were being honest. But that’s not why he’d told her. She’d been disappointed that he hadn’t been onboard with her meeting his mother and sisters—so not onboard as to rate a no way, no how—and she’d read that on his face because she’d asked him not to hide his feelings from her. She wanted to keep it real so that’s what he’d done.
But he couldn’t make himself walk away knowing he’d put the hurt in her eyes, so he tried to make her feel better. Which made him wonder if he didn’t have a bit of a thing for Abby Everhart after all.
He tried listing everything about her that drove him crazy—the woman never shut up, she talked to perfect strangers as if they were long-lost friends, she never stopped asking questions, she was overly affectionate and upbeat—but all he saw was the smile she gave him today.
It was a smile that could light up the world, and these past few days that smile had been lighting up his. And when she messed up and got that look in her eyes, it messed with his head and made him want to take her in his arms and kiss the hurt away. But no way was he getting that close to anyone again. He wasn’t cut out for relationships. He wouldn’t allow himself to be responsible for someone else’s happiness.
He sensed his brother watching him and decided it was time to leave. He glanced up at the sky. “I should probably get going. We’re in for a storm.”
“You’re so much like Dad it’s scary.”
“Come on, I’m not like Dad.” He’d loved his father. There’d been a time when he’d been honored to be compared to him. Like Shane, their dad had worked for the USDA Forest Service. No one knew the woods like him or could track like him, although Hunter thought the past two years had put his skill level close to their father’s.
“Maybe you don’t drown your guilt in a bottle but you hide away on Honeysuckle Ridge letting it eat away at you. Don’t kid yourself, big brother. You blame yourself for Danny the same way Dad blamed himself for Robbie. The old man didn’t think he deserved to be happy after that, and neither do you. It’s bullshit. There was nothing any of us could’ve done that day to save Robbie.”
He held Hunter’s gaze, a hint of fire in his navy eyes. Shane didn’t lose his temper often, but he was close, so Hunter kept his mouth shut and let him talk. He figured he owed him that much.
“Don’t think I don’t know that you’ve taken on some of that yourself. I get it; there was a time when I thought I could’ve saved Robbie too. We can’t help it. It’s in our DNA. Every Mackenzie comes out of the womb believing they’re meant to save the world. But Danny? Come on, Hunt. There was nothing you could’ve done differently.” Shane put his hands on Hunter’s shoulders and leaned in to rest his forehead against his. “It’s got to stop, big brother. You can’t go on like this. It’s killing Mom.”
Hunter jerked back. “What the hell are you talking about? Don’t try to guilt me, Shane. I was here today. She’s fine. She’s happy. She’s got Sam, the girls, grandbabies on the way, and you and Eden.”
His brother was so in love with his wife that it was almost painful to be around them. “I don’t know about that. She married you.”
Shane laughed, then sobered. “I miss you. The guys do too.” He opened his mouth to say something else but closed it when he saw Eden walking toward them.
She smiled and slipped an arm around Shane’s waist. “What are you guys doing hanging out here? You’re missing out on a great view down by the lake. A group of women hikers have decided to go skinny-dipping.”
His brother laughed. “That’s very thoughtful of you, honey. Should I be worried that you’re encouraging me to check out naked women?”
“They’re not for you to check out. They’re for your brother to. Come on, I have a bottle of Highland Brew’s latest craft beer on ice for you, Hunter.”
“Hey, wait a minute. I thought that was for me.” His brother grimaced.
Something was up. If Hunter wasn’t mistaken, Shane grimaced because his wife pinched his waist. “What’s going on? Don’t lie to me, Eden. You’re easy to read.”
“I’m not that easy to read. Just ask your brother.”
Hunter crossed his arms, fully intending to stay there all night if he had to. He noticed Eden’s white-knuckled grip on her phone. “Who called you? What’s going on that you’re trying to keep me from leaving? It’s Abby, isn’t it? It has to be. I haven’t known a moment’s peace since—”
“No, it’s not…Well, yes, indirectly it involves Abby, but she didn’t do anything wrong.” She glanced at her husband and raised her shoulders. “I couldn’t stop them. I tried.”