Summer Love_ A Steamy Small Town Romance Anthology - Piper Rayne Page 0,138

it’s opening myself to the possibilities of something, at least while I’m setting one foot in front of another.

Today I can see myself settling in this quaint town, having a family, and running the brewery like my abuelo did after his father. Dad skipped the tradition to raise us. The sacrifices my father has made so we can see the world, be whatever we want to be, and try to forget the past don’t go unnoticed. I’m sure a part of him wishes he had stayed and run this town along with his father.

What’s going to happen if we lose Abuelo to fucking cancer? Is my father going to move back to Luna Harbor or…?

He lives for us, his family. That’s why he thinks it should be easy for his children to leave everything and move here to help. Family is all that matters.

“To your right,” I hear a raspy female voice before someone passes me.

I try to ignore the pretty ass moving in front of me, but fuck, it’s round and gorgeous. Is there something in the water of Luna Harbor that makes women beautiful, sexy, and sassy?

I speed up and catch up with the woman. I smirk when I realize she’s the same woman I meet last night.

“Good morning,” I greet her, looking at her from the corner of my eye. “Isn’t it too early to be awake after a long night?”

She turns her attention at me and smiles. “What are the odds?”

“Statistically speaking, they’re not that high since this town doesn’t have more than five thousand people,” I answer. “You’re bound to see every person in this town at least twice a week if you base it on a mathematical equation. Based on my small-town experience, you see them at least five times a day, and they know what you had for breakfast as you’re about to step out of your house.”

She giggles and then places a hand over her mouth. “Why am I giggling? I don’t do that.”

“Laugh because I said something funny yet true, or run?”

“Why are you up so early?” She evades my question.

“I couldn’t sleep. It was this or head to Aunt Mima’s for coffee,” I state.

“Where?”

“The coffee place,” I repeat.

“Oh, that closed a few years back. I only know because the shop is still empty.”

“So, what do people do for coffee around here?”

“The bakery has an espresso machine, which is bad because when it breaks, the tourists swear it is the end of the world.” She grins. “So, I take it you've been here before?”

“Yeah, a couple of times,” I lie. “I’m guessing you’re new in town?”

“From the post Mima’s shop era. I’ve been here for almost two years,” she explains. “Where are you visiting us from?”

“Seattle,” I answer.

It’s not a lie. I was born here, raised in Seattle, and live in New York. She doesn’t need to know all that. I’m guessing her Luna Harbor visa is about to expire. People who aren’t born here don’t stay for long. Ask my mother. She left after my youngest brother was born. This town was too dull, and we were a handful.

“Why are you out and about so early?” I repeat my question.

“It’s the best way to destress,” she explains. “I had a hard time falling asleep.”

I smirk. “Really? What a coincidence, me too. I could think of a few ways to…release some of that, tension.”

“Listen, you’re hot,” she says without inhibitions, “I’m sure you have moves that will leave me breathless, but—”

“There’s no but,’ I interrupt her. “You seem like a practical woman. I’m not sure about you, but it’s been a long time since I’ve felt attracted to someone the way I do with you. Also, it’s been a while since the last time I had sex. We could do each other a favor. Unless you’re afraid you’ll fall in love with me.”

She stops and laughs. It’s a full-blown belly laugh.

“Am I entertaining you?”

“You think I’m afraid of falling in love with you,” she states.

“There’s no other reason to say no to me, is there?” I cross my arms, giving her a challenging look. “We’re two consenting adults who find each other attractive. I’m not asking you to marry me. You’re not expecting me to stalk you again because I need more.”

Her eyes light up with a new life. “Are you staying at the inn?”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” she says.

“Now?”

She checks her watch. “I have to be home in an hour to get ready for work. This is one-time only, isn’t it?”

I wiggle my