“Oh, Buck. This is my cousin, Anna. She lives down in Georgia.”
“Hello, Anna.” Buck tilted his head, his gray hair brushing the top of his collar. “I’ve got a guesthouse no one is using. Your cousin is welcome to stay there.”
“Nice to meet you.” She thrust her hand in the air, giggling as she waved, then leapt from the table and practically skipped to his. “Oh gosh, Buck, thank you—”
By golly, she’s flirting.
“Very nice to make your acquaintance, Anna. Where in Georgia you from? Beach, city, or mountains?”
“Outskirts of Atlanta.”
“Ahh. Best of all worlds, I guess. Although I’m fond of the slower pace of smaller towns like this myself. The guesthouse is spacious. Two bedrooms, and room for a Christmas tree too. You could both stay there. It’s just around the corner. You can even walk from Main Street when it’s not too cold.”
“I love this place already,” Anna said.
“It’s a good place to live.” Buck’s smile wiggled his mustache.
“It suits you,” Anna said softly. “You look very happy.”
In all Vanessa’s years she’d never seen her cousin even talk about flirting. Before Vanessa had been born, Anna’s fiancé hadbeen killed in a car accident. She’d always said he’d been her first and only true love. Not once had she been known to go out on a date.
Vanessa turned around in her seat again, facing Buck. Hewasgood-looking. “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind letting Anna use the guesthouse? Itwouldbe fun to have a Christmas tree. I don’t think we could very easily drag one up in the apartment they’ve put me in.”
Buck’s mustache poofed, a grin forming below it. “I heard they had you in the warehouse apartment.”
“Nothing’s a secret around here.”
“Except that you have a beautiful cousin. Welcome to town, Anna.”
Anna flushed, then cleared her throat, looking as if she was struggling to keep her cool. “Thank you.”
“If you like, you two can follow me over once you get finished eating dinner.”
“Well, then please join us, and let me at least spring for your dessert,” said Anna.
“I never turn down dessert.”
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Anna and Vanessa followed Buck over to his house to check out the guesthouse.
Vanessa worried that it might be hard to graciously back out of the invitation if the place turned out to be less than desirable. She didn’t need any more blemishes in this town while she was still working on the project.
Buck’s blinker lit up, and then he turned down a tree-lined driveway that seemed to go on for about half a mile.
When the house finally came into view, Vanessa said, “Holy cow. I did not expect him to live in a house like this in this little town.” Vanessa wondered how many bedrooms were in the sprawling home.
“This is averynice home.” Anna leaned forward over the steering wheel, taking it all in. “I can’t wait to see the guesthouse.”
Landscape up-lighting gave the house a warm glow againstthe darkening evening sky. Through the double glass-front doors, hundreds of colored lights twinkled from a tall Christmas tree.
Buck’s brake lights brightened as he stopped. He got out of his pickup and walked back to their car.
Anna lowered her window.
“The guesthouse is around back. Just follow me. I’ll pull over to the right side, y’all can pull up around me and park in the spot right in front of the door. I’m going to turn on the back driveway lights over on that pole. I’ll leave them on while you’re staying. It’s easier to see where you’re going with them on.”
“Thank you,” Anna said.
