Page 98 of Blue Jeans in Low Beams

“I don’t know how I didn’t know this—I guess maybe because I just wasn’t ever paying enough attention—but Mr. Hovland does indeed own Hickory Hills Drugs. Like the whole store. And he is interested…willing…whatever you want to call it, in having me take over.”

“Define take over.”

My voice is calm and steady. An alarm is going off in the back of my brain, activating protector mode, wanting to make sure she’s not going to be taken advantage of. She’s a smart, capable woman, but she’s also new to these kinds of dealings, and I won’t let someone think they can get away with something because of that.

“Sell me the business.”

Okay then. Didn’t see that coming.

“Seriously?”

I lean back against one of the barstools, crossing my arms. I quickly uncross them, not wanting to give off a vibe that I don’t believe her. Brenna laughs, stepping into me, placing her hands on my chest and kissing me.

“Yeah, seriously. I went to talk to him after Doc told me all this, because it just seemed too good to believe, and it’s legit.”

“And he what…was going to tell you when he handed you the keys?”

I regret my question as soon as I say it. That was not very supportive of me. This whole thing doesn’t make very much sense, but there are better ways to word it. Ones where Brenna isn’t going to think that I don’t believe her. Or in her.

“That was my first thought too,” she tells me, which eases my worry. “Apparently, he’s had this grand plan in the back of his mind since I got into pharmacy school, which is why he’s been pushing for me to come home and work with him. He thought that if I came back and became his right hand and all that, with the idea of then becoming the town pharmacist, he could then spring the whole ‘oh yeah and it’s the entire store’ thing on me too. And since I would have already planted roots here, that I’d capitulate.”

“Rather than just being like ‘hey, how about taking over the business and making it yours’ kind of thing from the get-go?”

“Basically. He thought that would scare me.”

I nod. I can see that. Not sure I agree with his tactics, but his logic isn’t entirely unsound either.

Grabbing hold of Brenna’s hips, I squeeze, loving the feel of them in my hands. “For someone who was worried at the beginning of the summer that she wasn’t going to have any job offers, you have quite the decision. Big Box USA, Well Nest, and ownership of Hickory Hills Drugs. So, whatcha thinkin’, beautiful?”

“I’m thinking…in the words of my dad…it’s absolutely crackerjacks, but I might just buy a drugstore…”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah!”

Capturing her lips in mine, I kiss her, softly at first, then deepen it. Slow, steady, and unhurried. Brenna is staying in Hickory Hills.

My insides explode and calm simultaneously, creating a mix of emotion I can’t name. Relief, maybe. Elation. Love. Definitely love. That word is still a secret though. Regardless of what this mix is, I want to share it with her. Want her to know that she makes me feel like no one else can.

“I mean, it’s more than a little crackerjacks, right? I know nothing about the business part of it. And I mean, nothing. I don’t think I took a single business class in all those years I was in college. But…”

She bats her eyelashes, giving me a coy smile. My dick twitches, and I flex my fingers against her hips, already knowing where she’s taking this. Little does she know she doesn’t have to flirt with me to get her way. That said, I’m not enough of a gentleman to stop her.

“But…”

“Two of my most favorite men on this planet do happen to run their own very successful business, so I was thinking maybe they might be willing to help?”

“Bren, you know that Brandt and I will be there for you every step of the way. From the vaccines to the therapy medication thing to whatever else.”

“Medication therapy management,” Brenna laughs, giving me a shove. “Which unless you’re on multiple meds from multiple different doctors and not tracking that properly and letting those doctors know, you don’t need. But we can start with contract review and business loans?”

“Oh, yeah, that’s Hayes lawyer territory; that’s going to require a Gus phone call.”

“But I’m not a Hayes. I⁠—”

I cut her off with a kiss, not wanting to hear any of her “I’m not a Hayes” nonsense.

“You’re mine. And I’m a Hayes. So Hayes lawyers will help us with this, ’kay?”