Thatcher laughed and patted my back. “You’re only saying that because I give you a good discount.”
“Don’t forget the free coffee.” I hugged him harder.
“Thanks for the compliment, but I didn’t do anything. Her agent set it up. Said they were doing a small-town tour.”
“Thank God I live in a small town!” I’d never been happier to live in Mossy Oak. This news was exactly what I needed to forget about Beckett Vinroot for a while.
I cracked open the book, eager to meet my new book boyfriend.
Chapter 6
The next day my phone rang while I was walking Aslan. It was Pressly, and she needed a favor.
“Is there any way you can pick up Summer from school today?”
I could hear the tears of frustration in her voice. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I don’t have anyone else—”
“Absolutely,” I said, cutting her off. “But what about your brother? Can’t he help you?”
“I think Beckett’s in New York, or maybe Los Angeles. I can’t keep up with his crazy schedule.”
Curiosity flooded me. “What exactly does your brother do?”
Pressly paused. “Nobody knows,” she said. “If there’s a problem in the company, Beckett fixes it. He’s a genius. Did you notice how the entire house is electronic?”
I’d noticed. I’d had a hard time finding the refrigerator the first time I was in the kitchen. A keypad on the wall controlled seamless cabinets that opened to reveal all the appliances. His kitchen was like a stark spaceship decorated in shades of white.
“Beckett wired the house for fun one weekend because he was bored. I think he changes the security code for the same reason.”
“Sounds riveting.”
Pressly laughed. “He’s the same annoying little brother he used to be, except now he towers over me.”
Aslan tugged me to a halt at the top of the hill. We were in the habit of stopping here. Aslan had his favorite tree, and while he peed I looked out on my favorite view of the rolling valley of grapevines.
“Summer gets out at three thirty,” Pressly said. “And ballet class is at four o’clock at Blossom’s. I’ll pay you for your time.”
“No need,” I said. “What are friends for? I just need to check with my boss and make sure I can leave to go get her.”
Pressly sighed. “I would send the hotel courtesy van, but Summer threatened to stop talking to me if I did that again. Things are difficult enough as it is between us.”
“It’s no big deal. My boss is a sweetheart. He won’t mind.”
“Thanks Lacey,” she said. “Let’s get drinks this weekend. First round is on me.”
“Sounds good.”
“There’s a live band at the Inn on Friday. We could meet there. Bring your book club friends. It’s time I met some new people in this town.”
“Damn right.” I was proud of Pressly for making the effort. Since I’d known her, she’d been immersed in work or mom life.
“Gotta go,” Pressly said. “Summer’s ballet bag is in the mudroom. Don’t forget to grab her snack.”
“Okay, as long as I can figure out how to open the fridge.”
We shared a laugh and then hung up. I stood staring out at the view for a long moment, watching a patch of smoke rise from the rows of grapevines. Crews of workers crawled through the valley, trimming vines and stacking the prunings on trucks.
I’d come to Mossy Oak on a whim, craving small town life. After a year of living in Cincinnati, Ohio, I’d become restless. The man I’d been dating casually had wanted more, but I couldn’t give it. My job at a college bookstore had paid peanuts, and the weather was too unpredictable to have a good dog-walking service on the side. I’d needed a change, and Mossy Oak had been the perfect choice.
