“I know Chloe needs it in Manhattan, though,” Hazel joked. “Since I’m a Grey Dove Bistro franchise owner, whenever I go with Archer into Manhattan, she’s constantly trying to rope me into coming to decorate cookies for her.”
“I want to live in Manhattan!” Annie exclaimed, eyes dancing. “We can see a play and go shopping and live in a tower made out of glass! We’ll come back for yours and Hunter’s wedding, though.” She patted my arm.
“I don’t know about that,” I said. “Hunter wasn’t all that happy to see me earlier.”
“Speaking of the devilishly handsome billionaire,” Kate said, pointing at the window.
A SUV had pulled up in front of the café, and Hunter stepped out.
82
Hunter
My sisters and Meg watched me warily as Crawford and I walked into the café.
“Vote for Meg!” Ida called out, handing me a cookie in a little baggie.
“Oh wait, never mind.” Ida snatched the cookie out of my hand and handed it to Crawford. “Hello, handsome stranger!”
Crawford looked at the tiny old woman over his sunglasses. “Ma’am.” All the women in the café swooned.
Crawford smirked.
“Control yourself.” I scowled.
His grin grew wider as we made our way to the open kitchen area, where my sisters were furiously baking.
“Hey,” I said, feeling uncharacteristically awkward. After years of dealing solely with my brothers, I didn’t have any idea how to relate to my little sisters.
“Do we have to go back already?” Enola asked apprehensively.
“Only if you want to,” I replied.
“We have a proposition for you,” Crawford stated, taking off his sunglasses. “You could stay here with these small-town heathens, or you could move to Manhattan and live with Greg!”
“Manhattan?” Annie shrieked. “Can we go see a Broadway play?”
“You can do all of that and more,” Crawford assured them. “Shopping, nice restaurants, unlimited credit cards, custom interior decorating—all courtesy of Greg. You’ll live in a swanky condo! You can have a balcony!”
“No farm animals,” I added.
“When can we go?” Enola asked excitedly. “We just have to finish these cookies first. Is that okay?”
“I have the car waiting for whenever you’re ready,” Crawford assured them.
“But,” I added, “I don’t want you to think I’m kicking you out. I love you all, and you’re more than welcome to stay here.”
“Absolutely not,” Enola replied.
“But you’ll come for Christmas and holidays, right?” Meg asked excitedly. “You have to come to the Christmas market and the tree trimming.”
“And your wedding!” Annie added happily.
I gave Meg a chagrined look.
“About that wedding…” Crawford drawled.
I gestured Meg outside. Word had gotten around about the free cookies, and there was a line down Main Street.
