Page 29 of Call It Love (Sterling Mill #5)

Chase

The next morning, I woke up early. Lately, with Anna by my side, I’d been sleeping later, unwilling to leave her before I had to.

Anna was curled up beneath the covers, one arm tucked under her head, the other stretched across the mattress.

Her breathing was slow and even, and despite how much I wanted to wake her, I slipped quietly out of bed to let her sleep.

I’d been so damn proud of her last night.

I knew what she didn’t—that the Town Hall public meetings were usually funny.

Mayor Sterling made it so. But I hadn’t expected her to stand up in front of everyone and pitch an idea.

I knew she was nervous, but thank you, Hans Zimmerman.

He helped turn the room on its ear, and her idea for the barn dance flew.

The second-best part was seeing Beverly Seymour have to stand down to everyone else’s wishes for a change.

She wasn’t a mean-spirited woman, just one who was used to getting her way.

She loved her town and often had good ideas.

But she didn’t like anyone else to get credit for anything, either.

The old floorboards creaked as I made my way to the kitchen.

Yesterday’s mail was still on the kitchen table, untouched.

After I grabbed my coffee, I sorted through the various junk mail, flyers, bills, and what looked like a contract I was expecting.

There was also an envelope with the official green and gold seal of the Tennessee Christmas Tree Growers Association —TCTGA.

I froze.

Setting the rest of the mail aside, I sat down at the kitchen table and opened the envelope with careful fingers. A single sheet of thick, cream-colored paper was tucked inside, embossed with the state emblem and a green pine bough border at the top.

Dear Mr. Allen,

We are pleased to inform you that Silver Creek Farm has been selected as a finalist for this year’s Tennessee Governor’s Mansion Christmas Tree.

Each year, the Tennessee Christmas Tree Growers Association, in partnership with the Governor’s Office and the Department of Agriculture, selects one tree from a Tennessee-grown farm to be displayed in the main hall of the Governor’s Residence in Nashville.

The chosen tree is part of the state’s longstanding tradition of showcasing the hard work and dedication of local farmers while celebrating the season with a symbol of unity, heritage, and natural beauty.

Your Fraser fir, submitted during the spring evaluations, received exceptional marks for height, shape, health, and overall quality.

The final selection will be made following a private visit from representatives of the Governor’s staff, scheduled to take place next month.

Please find below the expected day and time.

If you find this time does not work, please contact my office at the number below.

Final selections will be made in the early fall.

We appreciate your commitment to sustainable farming and your ongoing contributions to Tennessee’s agricultural excellence.

Warm regards,

Connie Leigh,

Chair, TCTGA Selection Committee

I stared at the letter for a long moment, rereading it twice before I let myself grin.

I submitted the application with all the documentation required last spring. Uncle James had applied a few times, but more often, the trees came from farms that focused solely on Christmas trees.

Blossom . I knew it was special. And now it was a finalist.

I slid the letter back into the envelope and stepped out onto the porch. The summer air still held a little chill up here in the mountains, but it wouldn’t last long once the sun was fully up.

The screen door creaked behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to know it was Anna.

She stepped out barefoot, wearing nothing but my button-down shirt I’d worn last night. Her hair was still tousled from sleep, and her eyes were still a little half-lidded and dreamy. But to me, she looked so good I nearly forgot to swallow my mouthful of coffee.

“You didn’t wake me,” she murmured as she slid her arms around my waist from behind, resting her head between my shoulder blades.

I covered her arms with my free hand. “Thought I’d let you sleep. After all, you’re going to be a very busy lady.”

She giggled, the sound vibrating against my back and warming my heart. “I can’t believe I volunteered for a whole town event.”

“You’ll be amazing. I haven’t seen the town this excited about something in a while. At least, not since Sterling Mill was nominated for Best Christmas Town by Destination magazine.” I left out how that nearly became a disaster. This wouldn’t. No use putting doubts in her head.

“Speaking of surprises, there’s something I want to show you.”

“What?”

“Inside. Before the guys get here and see you half-naked.” I gave her a playful smack on the ass and held the door open for her.

Inside, I grabbed the envelope from the table and handed it to her. “Read this.”

Her brows drew together, and her lips moved silently as her eyes grew wider as she scanned the paper. She looked at me wide-eyed. “Chase. This is huge! Congratulations!”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t downplay it. One of your trees might be in the Governor’s mansion.”

“Not just any tree. Your tree. Blossom . That’s the one I submitted.”

“Oh, Chase. I…I’m just beyond words. I’m so excited for you. You’re gonna get it. I know you will.”

She chewed on her lower lip as she read over the letter again.

“Next month?” She looked at the paper again, then at me with panicked eyes.

“Chase, that date is just days after the barn dance. That’s a lot to get done around here.

We need to make sure everything is ready.

” She began counting on her fingers as she started naming things.

“We need a menu. Something light, nothing messy, but next-level hospitality. I have a lot of experience with that. Maybe we should paint the road sign? Plant more flowers?” She jumped up and started rummaging through a drawer.

“I need to make a list. What else do we need to do?”

I stood there watching her, my heart damn near full to bursting. It meant everything to hear her use the word we .

“Anna.”

“Hmm?”

“Stop a minute.”

“What? Why? We’ve got to get organized.”

I reached for her hands and plucked the pen and paper from her fingers and set them on the table. “Just breathe for a minute.”

I pulled her hands to my lips and let my kiss linger there while I looked through my lashes at her. “We’ll get everything done. We’ve got Marcus. It’s his job to keep those fields ready. All the other guys will help. We’re not hosting a Presidential ball.”

She softened a little, but worry still cast shadows in her eyes. “I just want them to see what an incredible place this is.”

“Baby, if they can’t already see that, they never will. I’m not going to put on a show just for them. This farm speaks for itself. Sure, there are a few things we can do. We’ll prioritize. But I don’t want you stressing over it. You already have your hands full.”

My words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

“Oh, my God, Chase,” she went on as if I hadn’t spoken. “The barn! It needs to be cleaned out to get ready for the dance. But we can’t have it looking like a construction zone when the committee comes.”

“We’ll figure it out. We’ve got time. And I’ve got a crew to help.”

She leaned into me and exhaled slowly. “You make it sound so easy.”

“That’s because I’ve got you by my side.”

She lifted her head, and I caught the light in her eyes—soft, steady, and full of something that both made my heart beat faster and settle at the same time. “That you do.”

I captured her lips in a lingering kiss. She melted into me with a quiet moan, and for a second, I gave serious thought to picking her up and carrying her back to bed. But then the sound of an engine roaring up the drive met my ears.

I lifted my head. “Rain check. Someone is coming.”

She looked at me a little dazed, then suddenly glanced down at herself. “Shoot. I need to go change and then get breakfast for Jordan.”

As she scurried out of the room, a silver truck with the Sterling Construction logo rolled to a stop near the porch.

Cameron.

My jaw tensed, and my lips pressed into a thin line.

She climbed out slowly, like she wasn’t sure she should be here at all. I hated that. My family had always been the kind to show up unannounced and be welcomed without hesitation. But today, Cam waited at the bottom of the steps, her shoulders tight. She looked up at me, her eyes a little guarded.

“Morning,” she said, giving me a tentative smile. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Nope.” I didn’t like the feeling of a standoff, but she knew my boundaries when it came to Anna. “I’m surprised you aren’t at the resort.”

Cameron had gotten an incredible opportunity to be part of the renovations at The Laurel Ridge Hotel after the work she and Mac did on Renovation Station .

The new owner greatly admired their work and loved that she was a local designer and contractor.

He’d brought her on to lead the restoration of the old hotel further up the mountain.

I was so proud of her, but it meant she spent a lot of her time up there, so we saw less of her.

I didn’t move to greet her, just crossed my arms and waited. I hated the hurt I saw in her eyes, but I was going to stand by the line I’d drawn in the sand. It was up to her to cross it and meet me.

“Things are moving along well there. They don’t need me to be on site as much now. It’s just a lot of copying the layout and design of what we’ve already done.”

I gave a quick nod. “That’s good.”

She sighed. “Look. I know I probably shouldn’t have just shown up here, but I wanted to do this before I lost my nerve.”

I snickered. “Since when have you had a shortage of nerves?”

She cracked a smile. “Fair.” She paused, then said more quietly, “I owe you—and Anna—an apology. I’ll start with you.

I’m sorry I was rude to someone in your home who did nothing other than be here.

I won’t lie. I worry about you. But you were right.

It’s not my place to mother you. I’ll do my best just to be your sister and support you. ”

“I appreciate that. I know your concern comes from a good place, even if it came out sideways.”

She nodded. “I admit, I still have my doubts. But that’s between the two of you to work out. I want your happiness, and if that’s her, then so be it. Just know I’m always here for you.”

Before I could reply, the storm door creaked open behind me. Cam’s eyes shifted to Anna as she joined us.

“Good morning, Cam,” she said, her voice calm and even. “Would you like some coffee?”

I looked at her, my chest aching with pride. After all that happened during the brunch, she was still choosing kindness.

Cameron shifted her weight as if surprised by the offer. “Only if it comes with a chance to tell you I’m sorry.”

Anna’s smile wasn’t fake. “One coffee with cream and sugar, with a conversation coming right up. Come inside where it’s cooler. It’s going to be a hot one today.”

Damn . This day really couldn’t have started off any better.