Page 27 of One Hot Texas Summer (The Prentice Brothers of Sweet Ridge #1)

“M acy, did you get my email about the workers at Prentice Peach Farms?” Kelly asked as they sat in a back booth at Betty Lou’s Diner.

Work was starting the next day at the farm and Kelly wanted to make sure that she followed through on her promise to Tate to keep the disruption to his father to a minimum.

“Yeah, I’ve already talked to the guys who will be doing the work. They can’t guarantee there won’t be a lot of noise, but they’re going to do their best to make sure that Trenton isn’t disturbed.”

“Good. I know Tate will be there to oversee as well, but he also has to make sure the harvest is still on schedule.” Kelly couldn’t help the smile that stretched her mouth.

Their weekend away had been wonderful, especially the night of the wedding. After she’d pulled him into the bath, he’d gotten out and stripped off his sodden clothing before getting back in and set about “punishing” her.

A rush of warmth pooled between her legs and she shifted on the chair. With both so busy over the next week and half, the chances of hooking up again was slim. Tate would want to spend as much time with his dad as he could now that he was back home.

“Well now, I certainly recognize that look,” Macy commented with a laugh.

Kelly’s grin widened and she shrugged. “I had a good weekend.”

“Tell me more.”

As much as she wanted to tell her friend, she also wanted to keep it quiet.

What she and Tate had was new, and she didn’t want to spoil it by telling everyone.

Oh, she knew telling her good friend wasn’t like she was standing in the middle of town center with a bullhorn and broadcasting for all to hear.

But she still didn’t want to become the subject of the town’s gossip, so keeping quiet was going to be her plan.

She motioned with her hand that her lips were locked up tight. Macy rolled her eyes. “You’re no fun, Kelly.”

“Sorry, Mace, but I just don’t want to say anything.”

Macy reached across and touched her hand. “I get it. It’s okay. When you’re ready I’m here to listen. But I have my own suspicions, and if it’s who I think it is, good for you, Kelly.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask who Macy suspected she was seeing, but she bit down and kept the words within her.

“Right, let’s get back to the festival. I want to say, Macy, for your first year, you’re doing a great job.

Not sure how you fit it in with everything you’re doing. When do you see Gavin?”

“Trust me, we make it work. We’ve been through too much not to make time for each other.” Macy’s eyes turned dreamy and Kelly wondered if that was the look on her own face when she thought about Tate. Macy’s face shone, and it could only be described as pure love.

Tate treated her like a princess and put her needs first. Kelly couldn’t deny that she’d fallen for him.

As hard as she’d tried not to. As much as she thought the age difference between them would be an issue. Tate had proven time and again that he was her equal and that years on the earth was nothing when two people connected. And she and Tate had connected in the most basic of ways.

A sigh escaped her—what if he didn’t feel the same way about her? What if he’d just been looking for a good time? No, he wasn’t like that. He’d shown her in so many ways how much of a gentleman he was. He was the complete opposite of Edwin.

“Edwin.” The word burst out of her.

“What? Who’s Edwin? Wait, are you talking Edwin your ex?” Macy’s eyes widened until she looked like a cartoon character. “No way. Don’t tell me you’re back with that loser.”

“No,” Kelly practically shouted. “No, I saw him this weekend in Houston. I was in the bar waiting for Ta—umm, waiting for someone. It wasn’t pleasant. He showed even more of his true colors.” She shuddered as she recalled his sneering comments. “I would never go back to him.”

Macy was one of the few people who knew the full story.

In fact, Kelly and Tate hadn’t even talked more about Edwin, and she felt bad about that.

The fact he hadn’t brought up her ex surprised her—then again, maybe he didn’t want anything to spoil the weekend either.

Talking about Edwin and his lifestyle would’ve definitely put a gray cloud over their time together.

“Well, that’s good. I’m glad you had Ta—someone there to protect you from the loser.”

Kelly couldn’t help it, she laughed at Macy’s not so subtle way of letting her know she’d picked up on Kelly’s slip.

Happiness welled inside of her and threatened to explode out.

If she couldn’t tell her best friend, who could she tell?

“Fine. I spent the weekend with…” She lowered her voice and looked around the diner.

No one was paying attention to them, and there was no staff around to watch them, but she still wanted to make sure.

“Tate. But you can’t say anything to anyone. ”

Macy clapped her hands. “I knew it.” She got up from her seat and rounded the table so she could hug Kelly.

“I’m so happy for you, Kel. Tate’s a good guy.

And nice work on bagging yourself a younger man.

I swear on Jack Cooper’s grave that I will not share this information around.

I know how you like to keep yourself out of the clutches of Sweet Ridge’s gossip gang. ”

Macy’s comment about the age difference between her and Tate stung, but she brushed it off like an annoying piece of lint.

If they went public with their relationship, then she would have to face the similar comments, and Macy’s comment wasn’t exactly offensive.

But there was a chance some comments from others could be downright condescending.

“Thanks, Macy. He’s so wonderful, and I really like him.

But, you’re right, I don’t want everyone talking about us. ”

“Well, they won’t hear it from me.”

“I know.” And she did.

Macy wouldn’t breathe a word of her and Tate’s relationship to anyone.

Macy reached out and pointed to Tate’s mom’s bracelet on her wrist. The bracelet was one of the first things she put on in the morning after her shower. “That’s a really pretty bracelet. Is it new?”

Kelly touched the delicate gold and sapphire jewelry and remembered the many times Tate had grabbed her wrist just to run his fingers over it. He enjoyed seeing his mom’s bracelet on her. “Umm, yeah, it’s Tate’s mom’s. He gave it to me when he asked if I would date him.”

Macy’s gasp echoed around the room. “Oh, my God, that is so romantic. I love it. Who knew he could be so thoughtful, given, you know, his…”

“His reputation as a player?” Kelly asked, and when Macy nodded she continued. “Being a famous country star, you should know that sometimes there’s more smoke than fire and what people see and think aren’t necessarily true.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Well, anyway, I’m just gonna say again that no one will hear anything from me, but it’s going to be hard to keep it quiet while you’re sporting his mom’s bracelet.”

“Don’t worry; I’ve got it under control.

” She responded before looking down at her large list of items they still needed to discuss.

Mom couldn’t cover the shop for much longer as she had afternoon plans.

“How about we continue going through the items we need to get sorted with the flower arrangements for the festival? I know the committee has finally approved all of my designs. When I leave here I’ll need to contact my suppliers and confirm my order.

They’ve been great and have assured me they’ll have the flowers here next Tuesday so I can start arranging and getting them ready to display Wednesday and Thursday. ”

“Sounds great, and will they still look good by Sunday?”

With Texas’s hot weather, the question wasn’t unreasonable. “Yep. Mom, a couple of girls from the high school, and I will be keeping an eye on the arrangements and will change them out if they’re looking bad. I’m ordering extras.”

“Great, that sounds perfect and I love that you’re using some of the kids from the high school. Who knows, maybe one will be the next Kelly Turner and take over the store when you’re ready to sell. Just like you did.”

“Maybe,” she murmured. Would she be sharing her retirement with Tate?

Or would she be alone?

*

Tate strode through the orchards, frustration biting at his heels.

The day had started off badly and had steadily worsened until he wanted to pull his hair out.

Instead, he pulled off his cowboy hat, slapped some nonexistent dust off it, and jammed it back on.

It didn’t make him feel any less frustrated, but it was better than slamming his fist into a tree trunk.

Yeah, he didn’t need a broken hand with the festival almost upon them.

His mood could also be because he hadn’t seen Kelly in over a week since their weekend away, both of them so busy with last minute festival arrangements.

The most they’d been able to do was text, and they’d had a couple of FaceTime conversations, which he wouldn’t have minded them turning into more.

Only he didn’t want to be getting hot and heavy with Kelly only to have Dad call him because he needed something.

His phone buzzed in this pocket and he pulled it out, anticipation leaping in his throat. He might see Kelly’s name scrolling across his screen. Sadly, it was Tyler’s—another cause of his frustration.

“What do you want, Tyler?” So what if his greeting was less than friendly.

His brother had pulled another disappearing act and instead of being around to help with some of the setup, he was in Houston speaking to wine representatives to see if they could get his wine into restaurants once it officially launched.

While he hoped his brother could achieve his goal, Tyler’s timing could’ve been better.

When they’d talked about the festival he’d only mentioned going on one trip, and that was to California. He’d added this Houston one in.