1. Emma
CHAPTER ONE
emma
Present Day
“I’m not working with him .”
I crossed my arms and gave Haley and Sarah the look. The one that said I wasn’t changing my mind and there was absolutely nothing the two of them could do about it, despite how much I loved them.
Sunshine warmed the three of us around the table in my yard. My favorite sundress hugged my body. Red roses bloomed across the soft fabric while my broad-rimmed hat protected my face and shoulders. I wiggled my bare toes and slid my sunglasses down my nose so they could see my glare. Donnie basked next to me, tongue lolling, and eyes gleaming with a peace I dreamed of.
There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, and it would have been the perfect day if my two best friends stopped trying to make me work with Hunter Harlow.
Haley raked her fingers through her abundance of blond curls and leaned back in the hot pink camp chair. She gave Sarah a look I knew all too well—the one that told me they’d definitely talked about this before coming to me.
“You’ve been plotting against me,” I hissed at them. “I’m shocked Alice isn’t here too.”
“Honestly, she would have been, but she had to be at the cafe today. She’s waiting for our text updates.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Traitors. It’s never going to happen.”
“Hunter is easy to work with, Em,” Sarah said.
“Easy for you, maybe. Sarah, you have two husbands. Why can’t I work with one of them?”
Last spring, we celebrated Sarah, Colt, and Sammy getting married. Their wedding was absolutely beautiful, and I still teared up thinking about it. The way they looked at her like she was the center of their universe always left me feeling wistful, dreaming that one day someone would look at me that way.
At this rate, it would never happen. All the good men were either taken or dead, and pickings were slim in Citrus Cove.
Haley laughed and Sarah shook her head at me. “You know why you can’t work with Sammy or Colt. They already have their hands full.”
She wasn’t wrong, but that didn’t mean I’d go down so easily.
The Wildflower Festival was an annual event in Citrus Cove. Our entire family had been dragged into running it by Lynn Harlow and Honey, Haley and Sarah’s grandmother. For some reason, they decided we’d be the best at it, and with their collective social influence, convinced everyone else in Citrus Cove too.
The thing was, they were right. Between all of us, we could run a festival easily. Cowboy Ciders—the new name for Cam and Colt’s winery—would provide the alcohol. Sammy and Sarah would bake delicious treats and bring in other local businesses for more food options. Hunter had all the connections needed to bring in vendors to actually fulfill the ‘wildflower’ aspect. Then there was me—someone who had multiple years of experience in marketing to draw in the crowds.
It was all happening on Main Street. I wanted to highlight the historic buildings that gave this town all its charm. The Old Spur Museum, the Old Bank, the Victorian house-turned-bookstore. Citrus Cove was a slice of southern heaven that I could sell to anyone craving a homestyle bite.
I didn’t know shit about wildflowers, but I could market like I did. Fresh flowers, raw honey, garden-grown vegetables, and decadent breads— the perfect bounty for spring! A fun date or an outing for the whole family! I had the entire marketing plan down at this point. The Wildflower Festival was on its way to being a crowning achievement, except for one problem.
Everyone wanted Hunter and I to be the face of the festival together.
When I’d agreed to help run it last fall, that had never been brought up. If anything, I distinctly remembered telling everyone I would help so long as I didn’t have to work side by side with Citrus Cove’s most annoying, ridiculously handsome, asshole grump.
It was Colt’s fault. He said we were both ‘single and hot,’ so that would bring more people in our age range out to the festival. It was absurd. While Hunter was attractive, he had the most abysmal attitude ever bestowed upon a man.
Now that it was the end of March, we were a month out from the festival—and I was digging my heels in over the idea of having to interact with him more than I already did. I’d lived here for almost three years, had spent all holidays around him, saw him at least once a week, and still hated his guts.
Well, hate was a strong word. Strongly disliked.
“Hunter is the only other person who will have free hands that day,” Haley said. “Cam, Colt, and I are running the drink stands. Sarah and Sammy are selling Bentley Bakery treats with the boys’ help, and Sarah will be baking her ass off the days leading up to it. Everything else will fall into place, but we need someone in charge of the big picture. Which is why you and Hunter have been named co-captains. We’re only a month out, Emma, and we need this to go well.”
“I don’t need a co-captain,” I argued, folding my hands over my lap. “I’m perfectly capable of telling that man what to do. We all agreed to help out, but I never signed up to work with Hunter. I thought I’d be running it with Honey and Lynn. And you’re right, we are a month out, and we’ve already done so much work. I do not need Hunter ruining it all.”
“Honey and Lynn are running the contests and games. Hunter has done his part by reaching out to vendors, making sure we’ll have tents, a stage, and all the other random things we need. Can’t the two of you just get along? What made you dislike each other so much, anyway?” Sarah asked.
I narrowed my eyes on her, but it was hard to glare at Sarah. I loved her just as much as I loved Haley, and I liked seeing her happy. She wore shorts and a T-shirt, her dark waves gathered in a loose bun, her skin carrying a golden glow that definitely came from loving and being loved. It was night and day between this woman and the Sarah I’d met when I first came to Citrus Cove.
What else could I say? Hunter Harlow was an asshole. I’d thought so since the moment we’d first spoken on the phone years ago. We were oil and water. He always had something to say, always got on my damn nerves. He drove me up the wall.
“He’s an asshole,” I muttered.
“He says the same about you,” Haley snorted.
“Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side.”
“We are,” Sarah insisted. She leaned forward in her chair, giving her sister a helpless look. They were really trying hard to convince me, weren’t they? “Sometimes, the two of you remind me of the boys when they have a tiff. But also…”
“You’re both adults,” Haley said, raising a brow at me. “My darling angel of a friend. Please call a truce with him for the good of us all so we can throw the best festival this town has ever seen. I refuse to allow anyone else to outdo us. This has also been good for forcing the gossip in Citrus Cove to become more positive about us.”
Ah, the gossip. I loved gossip so long as it had nothing to do with me. Hell, I was the queen of it. Unfortunately, Haley was right.
Because of Thomas Connor, all of us had been the source of small town speculation and sidelong glances for over two years. When Sarah, Colt, and Sammy started dating, it added a whole new layer of whispers. On top of that, a whole storm of danger had erupted around them too.
Things had finally smoothed out, though. Spring was upon us, I’d survived another mild winter in Citrus Cove, and had a brutal summer to look forward to. I’d learned to enjoy March, April, and May before I melted into the dirt for the rest of the hot Texas months.
I pressed my glossy lips together and turned my gaze to the quiet street. Half of the house burned down last year, thanks to a crazy couple who had gone after Sarah, Sammy, Colt, and the boys. Since then, they’d moved into Colt’s home together, and I’d bought this place from Haley. Now I lived alone in a pleasant, charming, and sometimes annoyingly quiet neighborhood. Hummingbird Lane was the perfect picture of a small, cozy town.
I’d painted the house pastel pink after the renovations. It was everything I’d ever dreamed of, with the bonus of horrifying my father. I’d made certain to print holiday cards with a photo of me sitting in front of it with Donnie to send to him and some board members of his company.
It was worth the ten angry emails I’d received asking when I was going to stop fucking around and come home.
The answer was never. I’d managed to stay away from my father and step-mom when I lived in Baltimore, and it was even easier now that I was in Citrus Cove. I was certain he’d never step foot in a small town like this, not even to see me.
Especially not to see me.
“Are the guys having the same convo with Hunter right now?” I asked.
Sarah winced, a dead giveaway. Haley smiled softly, her wedding ring glinting as she took a sip of sweet tea. “Maybe.”
“You bitch,” I sighed. “Fine. I will make nice with the biggest dick in Citrus Cove.”
“ Emma ,” they both hissed.
“But I’m not going to like it. Not for a single moment.”
Haley smiled victoriously. “Thank you. Now, I do think the two of you might need to set up some meetings…”
I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut for a second before giving her a fresh glare. “Ugh. You owe me one. You both do. I’ll text him, I guess. I hope he knows what he’s in for.”
“Just go easy on him,” Haley pleaded.
I gave her a sharp smile. “Oh, you know I will be so sweet.”
Neither one of them believed me.
Sarah mustered up a nervous chuckle. “It’ll all work out. There’s really nothing we can’t handle. Right?”
Some of the tension I initially had deflated at that. I could never stay mad at either one of them. “You’re right. It’ll be fine. And if it gets out of hand…”
“Cam and Sammy can step in,” Haley said. “They can reign Hunter in.”
Could they? I wasn’t so sure. But I kept that thought to myself and nodded.
The Harlow brothers were something else. All the Harlows were, in fact. They always had each other’s backs, and were always willing to do whatever was needed to help each other.
It made me wonder what my life would have been like if my sister hadn’t died. When she was still alive, the two of us were close like that. She’d been the only person I could talk to, and she understood how fucked up our family was. Our mom died when we were young, and our dad raised us to compete against each other, but we’d always risen above that.
I came from a world of private jets, dinner parties, and keeping up with the Joneses in a way that would put Citrus Cove to shame. My dad was the founder of a computer chip company based in Sacramento known as Madden Enterprises. It was one of the last semiconductor companies that hadn’t been bought up by a larger conglomerate. I could safely say I got my stubbornness from Michael Madden—my father and source of most of my woes.
I hadn’t lived up to his expectations and never would.
I was envious of the Harlow family, even though they’d basically adopted me. I was part of their holidays, daily lives, and more because of Haley. Despite my reservations about accepting Cameron, he’d grown on me. Seeing how much he loved Haley made me love him all the more and now he was like an older brother. Sammy won me over quickly. Colt too, despite his dumbass idea to have me and Hunter work together.
I loved Sarah’s boys, my honorary nephews. I loved Honey, too. She was my Golden Girls buddy and if Sarah or Haley were busy, I often found myself at her house, devouring a home-cooked meal and watching Rose annoy Dorothy. She was the grandmother I’d never had.
Bob and Lynn Harlow were beyond kind as well. It wasn’t uncommon for me to end up at their house for dinner once a month. Everyone was so enmeshed in each other’s lives here, it felt natural to be a part of it.
Each of them had become an integral part of my life. They’d accepted me, loved me, and made me feel at home.
Really, Hunter was the only thorn in my side. A sexy, rough-handed thorn. But a thorn, no less.
Haley pushed her chair back and stood up to stretch. She twisted left and right, then planted her hands on her hips. “I have a few errands to run and then I’m going to steal Cam away before the bar opens later. Emma, are you still up for working a shift next week?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I can help out, unless Sarah needs me.”
“No, no, it’s okay,” Sarah blurted out.
I snorted. “You just don’t want me baking anything because I’m so bad at it.”
“You put baking soda in my muffin recipe instead of baking powder .” I wrinkled my nose at her. Sarah flashed me a grin. “I love you. But no, unless you just want to keep me company. I think the bar could use your help more.”
“I miss living together.” Where did that come from? I winced, not wanting to make her feel guilty. I did miss living with her, but sometimes it was more about not wanting to be alone. None of my friends were alone except for Alice, but she was following a strict ‘no dating’ rule until her life was less busy.
Sarah’s eyes softened. “Come over next week. It’s tight quarters, but everything’s coming along with the construction on the new house.”
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll pop over at some point. Maybe I can pick up the boys next Tuesday.”
“I mean, I won’t argue if you want to.” Sarah smiled at me and I felt a moment of pride, knowing how much healing she’d done.
“We need a girl’s night soon,” Haley said. “One with no testosterone.”
“Except Donnie is allowed,” Sarah said, casting him a smile.
“The best man in my life,” I teased, leaning over to ruffle the tiny patch of fur on top of his head.
I watched as a small red car slowed past the house before continuing down the street. Probably one of the nosy neighbors. Then I heard the rumble. Ugh. Haley and Sarah craned their heads as Hunter’s unfathomably large truck pulled in to park behind my car.
Cameron hopped out of the passenger door, and Hunter slid out of the driver’s side.
“Speak of the devil,” I sighed. “This will be good.”
Haley raised a brow at her husband as he approached us, holding his hands up. Then he grabbed hold of Haley and spun her close, kissing her on the lips. “I come in peace.”
“Is Haley peace?” I asked.
Sarah blurted out a laugh and covered her mouth. Cam’s cheeks turned beet red and Haley shook her head at me, lips upturned into a sly smirk as she leaned into him.
God, they were smitten. Sarah, Colt, and Sammy were the same way. They all looked at each other like the sun rose and set out of their Texan asses, and here I was—lonely and bitter and withering away like a bluebonnet at the end of spring.
They reminded me that I’d managed to somehow go on dates with ten different men over the last year, and every single one of them had been a bust. I’d briefly had a steady boyfriend, but the fucker dipped right before the holidays.
That had to be a record, right?
“Hunter had better be ready to compromise,” Haley said to him.
“Yeah, so about that…” Cam trailed off as his older brother stomped across the yard to our group.
Donnie lifted his head, his tail wagging at Hunter. I scowled, completely disappointed—my own son had just betrayed me.
Hunter wore brown overalls with a navy T-shirt, cowboy boots, and a backwards baseball cap with the Cowboy Ciders logo on it. He crossed his arms, his biceps popping as he tried to appear tough. I wasn’t sure if he actually hit the gym or if he was just ripped from working in the vineyard.
The vein in his forehead throbbed as his attention landed directly on me. He planted his feet in the grass. “Not happening.”
“Oh, come on,” Haley groaned. “Emma agreed to work with you!”
“I did,” I said, flashing him a fake smile. “Because I’m an adult and can act like one. Can you say the same?”
Donnie sat up, drawing Hunter’s gaze, his tail thumping. Hunter sighed and knelt down, running his fingertips over Donnie’s head. “Hello, rat.” He looked up at me. “This is absurd anyway. What do we even need to do? We’re still a month out.”
“We need two people to head all of the coordination, set up, wrangling vendors, and then be around to help people if they have questions. To make sure things run smoothly,” Cameron said. “You’ll be in the newspaper, too, with your pretty faces. Come on, man. Emma is great.”
“It just seems like a lot to have two people running this together,” Hunter said.
“You’re right. I can handle it without you,” I retorted.
He scowled at me and started to stand back up, but Donnie rolled over onto his back. I glowered at the little traitor . Hunter almost smiled, and remained crouched as he spoke. “Well, that’s too damn bad. I’m going to run this thing with or without you.”
“Oh, so now you’re on board?” Dammit. Maybe I shouldn’t have challenged him like that. He was as stubborn as me.
Hunter’s gaze never left mine. Unlike his brothers, his eyes were a rich shade of brown, but they were just as piercing. “Afraid you can’t get rid of me now. Are you sure you don’t want to back out?”
He would drive me absolutely insane. But now, there wasn’t a chance in hell I was going to back down. “Oh, I’m sure,” I said sweetly. “Also, Cam, you might want to clear out a patch of dirt to bury your brother’s ego in.”
“It can be buried right next to yours,” Hunter quipped.
“Okay, okay,” Sarah said, holding up her hands as she stood up. “ Children . I need to go do things . Love you all, talk to you later.”
I shook my head as she darted for her new car. My expression soured as she got in, waved at us, and backed out of the driveway. I already knew she was calling Colt and Sammy to update them on this little exchange.
“Everyone is betraying me today,” I sighed.
Haley winked. “It’s for the good of Citrus Cove, right?”
Was it? I had a feeling it wasn’t. Everyone was up to something, but I wasn’t sure what. I couldn’t imagine why they’d try to pair me with Hunter, unless they were trying to force us to be friends.
That wouldn’t happen in a million years. Pigs would fly and hell would freeze over before I would ever enjoy being in his prickly presence.
“Alright,” I mumbled. “We’ll make it work. Get out of here, you two. You’re making me nauseous with your ridiculous standards of stupid love. Hunter, I suppose you can stay if you’d like to have some sort of meeting now. “
“We can set one up another time,” he bristled. “I was bombarded right when I was about to get some stuff done at the vineyard. Unless you want to come trim vines with me.”
“And ruin my manicure? I think not,” I said. “We’ll meet later. Now, get off my lawn.”
Haley chuckled as she made her exit, giving me a hug and Donnie a scratch before heading toward her car with Cam in tow. Hunter stood awkwardly for a moment and turned to follow them.
“Just so you know, I’m only doing this for them,” I said. “And I’m not going to make it easy on you. You can come over tomorrow morning for our first order of business.”
Hunter didn’t even spare me a glance. “See you in the morning, princess.”