Page 32 of Hometown Hottie

16

CARSON

Iwas about to kiss her when the light changed. Both of us saw it happening in our periphery and it shattered the moment. Nova broke eye contact with me, sat back in her seat, and faced forward.

Internally, I cursed and ranted. Why does our timing always suck so bad?

I swore, this girl and I could never catch a break. Not ten years ago and apparently not now either.

For the rest of the drive to the ranch, neither of us said much. I was lost in thought, wondering if the universe was trying to tell me something, and Nova stared out the window, also seeming deep in thought.

Our bad luck continued. Ryan was there when we arrived at the bakery. Whoop-dee-doo. Thanks, universe. Just keep piling it on, why don’t you?

He eyed Nova in the truck with me and came over. “What’s going on, guys?”

“My truck’s in the shop. Carson gave me a ride to pick up an order of strawberries.” She jumped out of the truck, rolling her eyes at her brother. Then she walked around the back and picked up the crate. “Thanks for all your help today.”

She aimed the last sentence at me, then spun around and headed inside. I reeled a little bit as I watched her go. She couldn’t exactly acknowledge what had almost happened between us with Ryan right there, but I was baffled about how she could be acting like it hadn’t happened at all.

“Grab one of those, will you?” I said to my friend, struggling but eventually managing to tear my gaze away from Nova’s back as she disappeared into the bakery.

“What happened to her truck?” He lifted two of the crates and waited for me to do the same before we followed her.

“She got a flat on her way out of town,” I explained. “I ran into her at the auto shop and offered to give her a ride.”

“As long as it was just a ride in your truck and she wasn’t riding you, I guess that’s okay,” he muttered.

Nova must’ve heard him from where she’d already deposited the first crate of strawberries in the kitchen, and her eyes narrowed at the comment. I could sense her frustration and I had no doubt she could feel the sudden tension between her brother and me.

For fuck’s sake. She’s twenty-seven now. Not seventeen anymore.

Either way, it seemed he was just as protective as ever—which meant I really had no chance with her. I dropped off the crates I’d been carrying in the kitchen, lingering inside with her when Ryan headed back out to collect more.

“I’m sorry he’s so on edge when it comes to me,” she murmured, those blues filling with real remorse as they held mine. “He’s just protective. Don’t take it personally, and really, thank you for your help today.”

“You’re welcome.” I was annoyed with Ryan for being an ass, but if I had a hot younger sister who my friends were sniffing around, I probably would have been the same way.

Swallowing the frustration, I took a deep breath, shook it all off, and smiled at her instead of brooding about her brother. “If you ever need a product tester, call me. I’d love to taste the magic you’re going to make with those.”

She grinned. “See, I would, but I don’t have your number.”

Instantly, my hand shot out, palm up, and I curled my fingers. “Hand it over and I’ll give it to you.”

“You shouldn’t let my brother hear you saying stuff like that,” she joked, but also not really.

Part of me was already bracing for him to come flying at me and smash a strawberry crate on my head. Just for trying to give her my number.

When that didn’t happen, she handed me the device and I keyed it in. “There. Now you have it. Call me, okay?”

“I’ll think about it.” She smiled. “I’d better put all these strawberries away. Goodbye, Carson. Thanks again. For everything, I mean. I’m starting to wonder what we did around here without you.”

Blood pounded in my ears when she said it. Her eyes lingered on mine for a beat before she walked outside. I followed her. My heart was doing a really weird hop-skip-jump thing as I stared at her back on our way out.

“I’ll see you guys around.” I started toward my truck but stopped when Ryan glanced at me and held up a hand. “What’s up?”

“Moe’s later?” he asked. “I need a beer after this.”

I chuckled. “Same here. Let me just go get cleaned up and I’ll meet you there.”