Page 19 of Sultry Summer

“Really, Fee….I’m super-tired.”

“I’m on my way. Don’t try to dodge me, cousin. I know how to pick locks now thanks to Monroe.”

“I told you to stop telling people that!” he hollers.

A laugh bubbles out of me. “I’m on my way.” Then she hangs up. And that temporary bubble of laughter blows away like the wind.

Because I know what I have to do now and I’m going to hurt even more people.

But I don’t think I can lose Hunter. Unless he decides I’m too much trouble and takes off tomorrow morning. Or tonight.

Hell, maybe he’ll never want to see me again so this is probably not the right thing to do.

But I have to try. I rub at my chest and stand up, staring at the floor like it holds the secrets to the universe.

Five minutes later, Fee’s signature rap hits my door and I jump. Dragging in a deep, raspy breath, I rub at the tears on my cheeks. I probably look like death warmed over. Or one of those abstract paintings that people pay a fortune for.

I open the door and Fee glares at me then her eyes soften. “Oh, honey. Why didn’t you tell me that you fell in love with him?”

And just like that, I drop to my knees and wracking sobs shake my body. She drops next to me and wraps her arms around me, the familiar floral scent she wears wrapping around me.

She drops her chin to my hair and sighs. “Love sucks, doesn’t it?”

I nod my head, my throat so tight I can’t say a damn word. I sniffle and swallow roughly. “I don’t know what to do, Fee. I love him so much. And he asked me to go with him but I didn’t want to leave you guys. He’s not from here. Hell, he’s from all over the damn place.”

She sets me back from her and studies me, her dark brows scrunched. “Who is he?”

“Hunter Mills. He’s not Hunter Devon. He’s Hunter Mills.”

“The singer?” Her gray eyes widen. “Holy shit! I knew I recognized him from somewhere. I just thought he’d passed through at some point and I remembered his face. I mean, the man’s good-looking. Hard to forget that.”

I shoot her a glare and rub at my eyes. “I’m gonna tell Monroe that you said that.”

“Don’t do that,” she growls. “He’s so touchy about other men. Even the customers get the evil eye from him.”

I lean my head back on the couch and wrap my arms around my knees.

“He’s famous, Fee. He’s got to travel for concerts. He’s got to meet people and he’s got his own people to help take care of him. I’m just me. He’s older than me and that bothers him. But it doesn’t change how he feels. He asked me to go with him.”

Fee smiles gently and wipes a tear from my eye. “Did you tell the man yes?”

I shake my head, the tears trembling on my lashes. “I didn’t. I told him that I couldn’t leave you guys. You need me.”

Fee sighs and sits back. “I was afraid of that. Aspen, Harper and I love what we do. We love living here. But I’ve always sensed that you need more. That you want to see things and meet people and it’s not from hiding here in town. You’re meant for bigger things.” She wags a finger at me. “I’m not saying better things because I love my life here with Monroe and the flower shop. So does Harper. And she’s got a lot going on right now.”

I snort. “She’s pregnant.”

“Yeah. And she doesn’t want to tell anybody yet. Even though it’s obvious. She can’t keep anything down.”

I eye her. “That’s why you need me to stay.”

Her eyes soften. “No. We don’t. We’ve got Monroe and Darius to help us. I would never tell you not to follow your heart if it leads you away from home. We’ll always be here waiting for you. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“I’m sorry, Fee. I didn’t think I’d ever meet anybody like him.”

She reaches over and leans her forehead against mine. “I always hoped you would meet someone who makes you as happy as Monroe makes me. Even if it meant you had to leave. Your heart is a precious thing, Aspen. It’s never led you astray. And if it tells you that he’s the one…don’t let him go without telling him how you feel. And if you both love each other…things might be rough, but never let that stop you from chasing your dreams and your heart.”

I sigh and lean into her, feeling that familiar warmth flow over me. Fee’s always been like a big sister to me. The one I never had. “I love you, Fee.”