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Holly laughed softly. “They’re all romances.”
“Are you ready for your Hallmark night?” I asked her as I randomly chose one and popped it into the projector.
“The entire evening has been magical. From the carriage ride to dinner, and now this.” Holly’s eyes glowed from the reflection of the twinkling lights hanging all around us.
Marley had created an intimate and romantic setting for us.
We used to watch a lot of movies when we were dating, and whenever I’d let her pick, it was a romance or a romantic comedy. Holly was a romantic at heart. She may have been protecting herself over the years, but I knew she had a soft heart underneath.
I moved the blankets and pillows closer to the screen, and we sat close together but not touching.
A few minutes into the movie, Holly said, “It’s a good thing we didn’t get the hot tub date.”
My lips quirked. “You don’t think it’s romantic to be half-naked with someone you just met?”
She fidgeted with the edge of the frayed blanket. “We’re familiar with each other, so it wouldn’t have been awkward.”
My skin heated. If she was in a bikini, I wouldn’t be able to resist touching her to find out if her skin was as soft as it used to be. I’d want to know if she reacted the same way to my touch. We’d both grown up and matured. We’d been torn apart by life and patched back together. We wouldn’t be as carefree as we were back then. But I couldn’t help but think it would be more intense.
Holly chewed on her lower lip, drawing my attention to the motion. “Maybe a date like that would spark something. You’d know right away if you had chemistry.”
Since we’d met so young, ours had started out innocently enough, with passing notes and waiting by her locker to walk her to class. It had naturally evolved into more as we’d gotten to know each other. I couldn’t help but think things would be different now.
We wouldn’t have to sneak time in the bed of my truck or on the phone late at night. We’d have a bed and all the time in the world to rediscover each other. I was game to give us another chance, but Holly wasn’t there, and I wasn’t sure she’d ever be.
Today was supposed to be about gaining closure and healing. Instead, I was wondering about how I could get another chance at a relationship with her.
Holly’s lips curled into a smile. “You’re saying that something might come from Cole and Daphne’s date?”
“Ireland ran from her wedding and ended up staying the weekend in Emmett’s cabin.”
Holly’s lips curled into a smile. “And now they’re married.”
I shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.”
Holly turned slightly so she could see my face. “But Cole and Daphne?”
“Emmett and Heath won’t want them hooking up, even if it’s just a fling. Her family’s our competition.”
“Her family owns Pine Valley Farms?”
I nodded. “I don’t know how their farm is run, but here, all of us have a say in the business. We get paid for our time and contributions, and our opinions matter. In the past, Emmett’s opinion was given more weight since he’s the eldest and the one who monitors tree growth. Now that we all live on the property and are invested in creating a business that will sustain our family for generations, I’d say we’re equal. But I don’t contribute as much as the others.”
Holly shifted her position so that she was turned slightly toward me. “All your brothers have a business on the side.”
“Yeah, but they work more hours on the farm than I do. I like to work by myself in my workshop. I don’t enjoy selling trees or working in the shop.”
Holly gave me a wry smile. “I don’t think Emmett and Heath do either.”
I let out a breath. “But they do it. I use my work as an excuse.”
Holly touched my hand. “I don’t think anyone is upset with you. They understand that you get lost in your work.”
“Am I the subject of conversations around the farm?” I asked, even though I didn’t want to know what my family was saying about me.
Holly’s forehead creased. “They worry about you. But I think it’s done from a place of love. You’re lucky to have them.”
My heart pinged because Holly hadn’t had that same affection from her father. His attention was like direct sunlight, and his absence hurt her. “I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I just don’t want them to worry about me. I’m fine.”
