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“It’s my home.”I shrug a shoulder, but I mean it with every fiber of my being.The bell over the door jingles, and Millie grins.
“What doyouwant?”she demands, her voice full of humor.
“An oil change,” her brother, Chase, says with a grin as he saunters in.“And maybe a haircut.”
“You won’t get either of those things here,” Millie replies, rolling her eyes.She reaches for a to-go cup to start making her brother’s favorite coffee.
“How’s it going, Erin?”
“I’m great, thanks.And you?”
Chase smiles and leans on the counter.I’ve met two of Millie’s brothers so far, and they’re bothgorgeous.Chase has a smile that could likely melt all the snow on the ski mountain.Not to mention, he’s a cop, and that uniform ishot.
“I can’t complain.”
“Have you arrested anyone today?”
Chase shakes his head mournfully.“So far, everyone has been law-abiding.Well, except for Mrs.Wilburn, who refuses to drive the speed limit on her way into town.”
“Is she a speeder?”I ask.
“No, she won’t drive above twenty-five,” he says with a pained expression.“Anywhere.So, she backs up traffic and they call me.”
I press my lips together, trying not to laugh, but I can’t help it.
“It gives you something to do,” Millie says as she passes her brother his coffee.“Do you want a muffin?Jackie Harmon brought some fresh huckleberry-lemon ones in this morning.”
“I don’t pass up Jackie’s muffins,” Chase says with a nod.“I’ll take two.”
“I’ve got this,” I assure Millie and, with tongs in hand, gently place the enormous muffins into a bag for Chase.When I pass the bag to him, his fingers brush mine, but there’s no spark there.
Too bad.Chase is definitely a sexy guy.
“Well, ladies, it’s been real.Call if you need anything.I’m walking down the block to check out the new restaurant going in.”
“What kind is it?”Millie wants to know.
“Italian,” I reply before Chase can.“I walked by last night and spoke to the owner.It’s calledCiao.I guess it’s a sister restaurant to one of the same name in Cunningham Falls.”
“That’s kind of cool,” Millie decides.“Do you know when it’s opening?”
“I didn’t ask.Do you know, Chase?”
“Next month,” he confirms with a nod and sips his coffee.“It’s always good to have something new come in.Well, I’m out of here to keep order in our little town.Have a good day.”
Chase walks out, and I grab a rag to wipe down the espresso machine.
“Do you have a crush on my brother?”Millie asks without hesitation.“If you do, it’s okay, but I saw the way you two kind of flirted and smiled at each other, and I just need to know so I don’t roll my eyes incessantly whenever you flirt with him.”
I laugh, shaking my head.“No, definitely not.Don’t get me wrong, he’s really handsome, and who doesn’t love a man in uniform?”
“I mean, usually, yeah.But he’s my brother.”
I laugh again.“No, there’s no spark there.But it’s fun to flirt a little, you know?”
“Sure, I get it.I’ve had to deal with friends or just people I know crushing hard on my brothers all my life, so it’s nothing new for me.I guess that happens when you have four of them, and they’re all, from what I’m told,hot.”
“I’ve only met two of them,” I remind her.“But yeah, Chase and Brady are both hot as hell, so I get it.Also, I grew up surrounded by a family of beautiful people, and I guess it just doesn’t make me go all stupid and gooey, you know?”
