“Well, your parents haven’t been using this room as much for the past couple of years. One day, Maggie stored a couple of boxes in here, just temporarily, and gradually…” He gestured to the clutter.
I spun toward him. “But I’ve already advertised this event. I thought Mom was just too busy to set it up. I didn’t realize things had gotten this bad. Do you guys doanyevents anymore?”
“Uh, well…” He tugged at his beard, which I was already beginning to recognize as a tell for stress. “Sure. Some. But it’s complicated, Noel. Events take time and energy, and it’s a lot to keep up with throughout the season.”
“They’re not up to it, are they?” I said, heart sinking.
“Maybe not as much as when you were a kid, but they do all right,” Hopper said, loyal to a fault. “They’ve got a great farm and a great store. I help as much as they’ll let me, too. I promise.”
“I don’t doubt that,” I said quietly.
But what did it mean that my family farm was dependent on Hopper? He wasn’t their son. I didn’t think that in anger, as when I’d first arrived, but with guilt. It might be easier if heweretheir son. They could hand over some of the burden.
But no, they were stuck with me, off in Chicago, oblivious to how they were struggling.
“We’ll get this room cleared out this week,” Hopper said. “Make it look good as new for your event, okay?”
I blew out a big breath as I took in all the boxes we’d have to haul to the storage shed on the other side of the property. I understood why Mom started shoving stuff in here. It was more convenient.
“That’ll be fun.”
“Well, you did say you liked using my muscle for manual labor. Now’s your chance.”
I chuckled, meeting his eyes with a searing look. “Oh, that’s not all I want to use it for.”
Hopper stepped closer, and I grabbed the front of his shirt, tugging him down for a kiss. He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me up against all that delicious farm boy muscle, and fantasies about slipping to my knees in the dust and blowing him right here and now slipped into my mind.
“Hello?” a deep voice called from the store, making us startle apart. “Anyone here?”
Hopper smoothed his wrinkled shirt, and I swiped at my wet lips before following him out of the event/storage room.
A tall man in dark jeans, a gray T-shirt, and a battered black leather jacket stood just inside the store entrance. He had thick scruff verging on a beard, wavy hair that fell across his forehead, and piercing dark eyes that seemed familiar somehow.
“Are you guys open? Sorry I just barged in.”
“We’re open,” Hopper said. “We were just sorting something out in the back room.”
“Great. Well, we were hoping to pick out a tree. Em is outside, looking for—” He stopped short, cocking his head at me. “I know you, don’t I?”
Hopper chuckled. “I’d hope so. You all were friends, weren’t you? Back in high school.”
I blinked, recognition hitting hard and fast. “Gray? Oh my god, I thought you were long gone!”
Gray stepped forward, enveloping me in a big hug. “Holy shit, Noel.” He gave me a once-over. “You grew up nice.”
“Ha! You’re one to talk. What are you doing these days? Modeling for romance covers? You’re gorgeous!”
Hopper cleared his throat. “Did you want a tree or not?”
“That’s why I’m here,” Gray agreed evenly, even as his eyebrow inched up at Hopper’s tone.
I turned, noting the faint scowl on Hopper’s face. Was somebody jealous? I probably shouldn’t enjoy that. My lips tugged into a smile. Ugh, I was petty and vain, and Ilovedthat Hopper wanted me all to himself, even if it was just for a few days.
Mom came through the door, chattering happily with a slim blond guy dressed in jeans and an expensive-looking wool coat.
“Hey, babe, I found someone to help us.” He paused when he saw us. “Oh, I guess you did, too.”
Gray held out an arm, and the guy—the missingEm, who I’d just assumed was a woman, how hetero-normative of me—stepped in close and leaned against his side. They fit together like two peopleverycomfortable in each other’s space.
