She was glad Em seemed to be coming around where the ranch was concerned. “What about the food?” Emerson was serving up burgers, baked beans, and chips for lunch.
“I’ll have all that prepped. As long as I’m free by eleven, I’ll be good.” Emerson had roped a couple of friends into helping her.
“That would be great. Gunner will have his hands full with the pony rides, and I want to be on hand to chat with media and potential customers.”
“Better you than me. So how was your date with the vet? I was ready to move upstairs and give you some privacy, but he didn’t stick around long.”
“I asked him in but he has an early morning too. The date was fun. Kyle’s nice to talk to.”
“How old is he anyway?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”
“He’s gotta be nearly forty. But he’s kinda cute for an old guy. And the two of you have a lot in common.”
“I’ll say. We talked about animals most of the night.”
Emerson gave a wry grin. “How romantic.”
“There’s nothing wrong with starting out as friends. Rushing into a relationship can be a mistake.”
Emerson set her book aside, her gaze homing in on Charlotte’s face. “Vince was a real jerk for leaving town like that. You deserved better.”
Maybe she had, but there’d been red flags along the way. He had never loved Riverbend the way she did. He even mentioned wanting to escape small-town life. Charlotte just ignored those warnings. “Well, lesson learned the hard way. It’s slow and cautious for me these days.”
“Honestly, I’m surprised you went out with Kyle at all.”
“He’s not that old.”
Emerson tilted her head and a little smirk emerged. “I’m talking about all that chemistry between you and Gunner.”
Charlotte’s cheeks heated.“What?”
Emerson rolled her eyes. “Please. You could put on a Fourth of July show with all the fireworks between you two.”
She’d thought she’d been so discreet. “We’re not—there’s not—he’s only here temporarily.”
“So you keep saying. And yet...” Emerson fanned her face, smiling wickedly.
Charlotte started to protest, but Emerson slid Charlotte ateasing look as she stood. “I’m gonna go read in bed and save you from having to lie.”
Charlotte opened her mouth.
“You know what they say about protesting too much. Good niiight,” her sister called as she sauntered up the stairs.
Charlotte huffed. She had nothing. Her sister was right and they both knew it. “Good night,” Charlotte said finally.
But her sister was already long gone.
Twenty-Two
The hike had hardly begun and beads of sweat already popped out on Gunner’s arms. Humidity was a real thing in the South. He took a swig from his water bottle. A warm wind rustled through the treetops, and the French Broad River flowed beside the trail leading out of town. A group of tubers floated by on the current, whooping and hollering.
Wes had invited him along on the hike since his wife was tied up at the clinic today. Gunner had been eager to hit the trails for a while, but he’d been too busy with work and Mr.Dixon to find the time. And he had a feeling after the open house next weekend, he might be working six days a week.
“Enjoy this easy part,” Wes said. “Once the switchbacks start, it’s a considerable elevation gain to Lover’s Leap.”
“I’m glad we started early. You’ve got some hot summers here.”
