Hearts in Motion (Boggy Creek Valley 5)

“I’d love to check out some hiking trails,” I said as she made her way back toward the desk that was set up at the end of the foyer. I glanced down and saw a plaque with the same quote I’d seen a few other times throughout the bed and breakfast. I read it out loud.

“‘I love you a bushel and a peck.’ I see that saying a lot throughout the house.”

She glanced down and a soft smile played across her face. “My grandmother used to say it to my mother, then to me. Every time my mom sees something with that saying on it, she buys it.”

“It’s nice to have a reminder of your grandmother around.”

Bree’s eyes met mine, and she nodded. “Yeah, it is.” She glanced away. “My father thinks Mom’s gone a bit overboard, but it’s fun to hear guests make comments about it to us or to read about it in the guest book.”

Around that time, Joanne walked around the corner from the direction of the dining room and kitchen. “Luke!” she said, coming over to hug me.

My eyes widened, and I glanced over at Bree.

She shrugged. “Mom, let go of him.”

Joanne did, but she looked up at me with a smile so wide, I couldn’t help but return the gesture.

“I told them we dated,” Bree said, leaning against the check-in desk. A smirk appeared on her face when Joanne cupped my cheeks with her hands.

“You are so handsome. No wonder Brighton was caught under your spell.”

Frowning, I glanced over to Bree again. “Spell?”

She shrugged again.

“Brighton tells us the two of you are going out to lunch. How wonderful!”

“Mom,” Bree warned as she pushed off the desk. She stepped in between me and Joanne. “There is nothing ‘wonderful’ about it. I asked you not to make a big deal out of this.”

Joanne plastered on a fake expression of surprise. “Not make a big deal? I find out today my daughter dated someone for a year—a year—without my knowledge. Then that someone shows up and wants to rekindle the relationship, and I’m not supposed to make a big deal about it?”

I tried not to smile when Bree stomped her foot like a preteen girl furious with her mother for embarrassing her. “Rekindle?” she said. “I never said Luke was here to rekindle anything!”

Joanne dropped her chin and stared at Bree with a look only a mother could give. It screamed, “It’s what you meant to say.”

“Mom, I said Luke was here to talk. To. Talk. That’s it.”

Joanne folded her arms over her chest. “No man shows up to simply talk and ask how you’ve been the last four months.” Her eyes darted up to me. “Isn’t that right, Luke? Tell her the real reason you’re here.”

Oh shit.

Bree spun around and pointed her finger at me, then poked it in my chest. “Do not answer her.”

“Brighton! No wonder he broke up with you.”

Another spin, and Bree faced her mother. “I broke up with him. He didn’t break up with me.”

Joanne rolled her eyes. “Does it really matter?”

Before Bree could answer, Ron walked in. Thank God.

“Tonight’s game night. Luke, I hope you’ll join us.”

I cleared my throat. “I’d love to come, sir. Thank you.”

Joanne clapped her hands. “Wonderful! You kids can go on your date now.”

Bree sighed. “Oh my God. It’s not a date.”

Joanna waved her hand in the air as she turned and followed Ron into the living room.

I watched Bree’s shoulders slump. “Why did I think moving back home was a good idea?” she said.

“Should we, um, head on out?”

Turning to face me, Bree narrowed her eyes. “This is not a date. This is…us…talking. That’s it.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Was that a question or a repeat? I’m sorta getting the sense you’re not happy with my reply.”

Her mouth opened, then shut. She finally shook her head, growled under her breath, and stalked toward the front door. Grabbing her purse off the long bench that sat against the wall, she flung the door open.

“I’m driving!” she called out as I pressed my mouth into a tight line to keep from laughing.

“Okay.”

“Stop saying okay, dammit!”

It was strange to be in Bree’s BMW driving around like two normal people. I hadn’t once looked over my shoulder to see if anyone was following us. It was nice. Really nice.

It took less than five minutes to get to the restaurant, and neither one of us uttered a word during the short drive. I’d wanted to start up the conversation so many times but decided to wait.

Bree parked on Chestnut Street and slipped out of her car. “The Coffee Pot is on the corner.”

“Ahh, the famous Coffee Pot you talked about.”

She smiled, and it made my heart do a little jump in my chest. Christ, I had missed her something terrible. Simply feeling her next to me brought me such happiness. I only hoped I hadn’t waited too long. Trying to get everything settled with my agent and contracts had already taken me longer than I’d hoped. And after I found out Bree had left Boston, it took me about a week to figure out that she’d moved back home to Boggy Creek, then another week to talk Katherine into filming the last scenes of the movie near her home in Boggy Creek Valley. Thankfully the director and studio were on board when I pitched the idea.