“Because she needs help, Tally. She can’t oversee the farm. The flowers need a lot of attention. Attention Dad always gave them. I don’t know the first thing about how to maintain them, and Momcan’tdo it. But if you’re so concerned, you could stay and do it yourself?”
I bite my lip. She knows I don’t want to do that. She also knows I never back down from a challenge. “I don’t like it. How much digging have you done into this guy? Are we sure he’s not trying to take advantage of Mom?”
Penny rolls her eyes. “Have you seen him? Do you really think he needs to con our middle-aged mother into sleeping with him?”
“Ew.”
Penny laughs. “Exactly.”
“I don’t trust him. There’s just something about him.”
“Dad trusted him.”
“Dad liked everyone. He was a terrible judge of character.”
“Tally!” My sister’s mouth falls open.
“What? Daddy was my favorite person in the world, butI’m not about to rewrite history so you can get me to agree that this guy is good.”
Penny sighs, but there’s something about her expression that makes me feel like she’s not convinced, either. “Everybody in town loves him.”
“This town loves everyone.”
She shrugs but doesn’t disagree. The people of Hope Harbor are good, hard-working people. They may be gossips, but ours is a town filled with warm hearts, with people who will give you the shirt off their back and,apparently, never hit a pedestrian.
“Where will I stay?” I ask, realizing my next dilemma.
“Mom’s cottage has a double bed.”
“Penny!”
“Or you could stay here?”
“You want me to stay in a house with a man I don’t know?”
“You’ve stayed in many houses with men you don’t know. Don’t try to tell me that your accommodations over the years haven’t been way worse than this.”
I blow out another long breath. She’s not wrong. Seasonal employment leaves few options when it comes to housing. Often I’m sharing a small hotel room with another employee or a house with a group of strangers.
“I’m going to be completely useless, Penny. I don’t know a thing about the wedding business—”
“I’ve got someone.” The gruff voice startles both of us. I turn to see the grump from upstairs, now dressed in a pair of worn-in Wranglers and a dark green Henley. Dammit, he’s still attractive with clothes on. His brown hair curls a bit at the sides, and I can’t help but think that it’s the perfect length to tug on.
Yep, if I’m ever going to survive this season, this guy needs to go.
“Got someone for what?” Penny asks.
“My sister has worked in the wedding business for the last few years. She’s got a degree in hospitality and event management. She knows how to handle brides and everything they need, and she’s available to move in and help.”
“That’s why I’m here,” I say, possessive over a job I don’t really want.
“For how long, though? My sister knows what she’s doing.” My eyes narrow at his words. “And she doesn’t have another job to rush off to.” My scowl deepens. “And whoever is in this position will have to deal with me daily because I’m the one running the farm.” Folding his arms across his chest like he’s proud of himself, he squares his shoulders and waits for my reaction.
I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. Don’t like his insinuation that I’m going to run. And although I might have left eight years ago, he has no idea why. I don’t want this job, but I never back down from a challenge.
“I’ll be the one dealing with the weddings.”
He frowns. “So you keep saying.”
