Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(89)

Claire patted his hand comfortingly. “I actually don’t even remember meeting him then. The first few months after Neal passed were so hard; I’d been living life on autopilot.”

“But as luck would have it,” smiled Dean, “fate let me meet her all over again at the little grocery store she used to manage just a little ways from here. I’d been getting concrete-restless in the city so I’d decided to come out here for a little country air. In the produce section of that grocery store, a mountain of pumpkins decided to avalanche and attack me.” He grinned at the memory. “Just goes to show Cupid doesn’t always use an arrow. Claire came running over, all sweet and beautiful, apologizing for the accident. And I swear to you, I took one look at her and felt like a whole new pile of pumpkins had just fallen on top of me, this time on my head.”

Dani took in a girlish breath and put her clasped hands up to her heart.

“He guilted me into dinner,” declared Claire, chuckling.

“It was warranted. I was a man suffering from a pumpkin injuries and a bad case of love at second sight,” he grumbled back.

“And two short years later, he eventually wore me down,” she finished, leaning over to smack a kiss on Dean’s cheek.

Though he’d heard the story a hundred times, Luke’s mouth still tugged up at the corners when he heard the happy ending. Suddenly wanting to have Dani all to himself for a bit, he glanced over at his mom. “Is there time before brunch for me to show Dani around outside?”

Claire looked over at them and smiled motheringly. “Brunch won’t be for awhile. Go on, take your time. And Luke honey, don’t forget to show Dani which rocks are the best to scare away those thieving birds that keep attacking my crops, alright?”

The corners of Dani’s mouth curved up and she shook her head in silent laughter.

“And don’t go hogging her all morning. Your dad and I still want to get a chance to interrogate...I mean, get to know her.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “You did plenty during that non-sanctioned ambush at Ocotillos.”

“I like to be thorough, dear,” replied Claire, deadpan.

By now, giggles were attacking Dani’s midsection.

Luke laced his fingers with hers and pulled her out back.

Once outside, she stopped and tugged him gently back to her. He folded her into the hug she was wanting as she looked out at the lines of crops all around them. “It’s amazing here.”

“Yeah.” He kissed the top of her head. “You ready for the tour?”

“Can we stay like this for just a little while longer?”

He tucked her closer. “Take all the time you need.”




DANI SAT DOWN next to Claire Hennessey on the porch bench and the two of them watched Luke and Dean head around the corner of the farm to see a dog about a bird. “Thank you again for inviting me to brunch in your home.”

“It was our pleasure. I just hope you enjoyed our food as much as we enjoyed the food in your restaurant. Oh, and that beer. My goodness, Dean can’t stop talking about your porter.”

Dani wrinkled her nose in regret. “These are the times I wish I bottled my beer.” Her mouth twisted to the side in thought. “I could send you two a keg if you’d like.”

Surprised laughter split the air. “Oh my, we’d be the most popular farm in town. We’d never get rid of the neighbors.” She patted Dani’s knee. “That’s alright, dear. Going into Cactus Creek to eat and drink at Ocotillos will give us a nice second reason to get out there.”

Settling back into the old, faded wooden seat, Dani felt the surreal country scene wash over her. Claire was like the mom Dani had always wished for, and their sipping tea on the porch was a page from a dream she’d stopped allowing herself to have back when she’d written her own mother off...which was much later in her life than anyone would’ve guessed.

“Something on your mind, Dani? You look sad.” Claire tilted her head, concerned.

Dani hesitated, but something in Claire’s eyes made her feel safe. “Do you think true love can happen more than once?” she whispered, surprising herself with her candidness.

Claire glanced at her for a moment before answering thoughtfully. “You know, I didn’t used to. But I do now. Or rather, I understand better the definition of true love.”

With another look around, Dani murmured, “I can see why. Your life is perfect.”

“I was twice blessed in that way, I guess.” Claire smiled wistfully, explaining, “I had the perfect life with Neal as well.”

“But how can that be?” frowned Dani. “Doesn’t the whole idea of ‘the one’ mean one person forever, even if that person is taken from you?”

“I’m afraid I don’t have the all answers you’re looking for, Dani.” Claire peered over at her sympathetically. “All I know is how life happened for me. I didn’t see Dean when I’d stopped believing in love. But when he started helping me believe again, there he was.”

Dani frowned. “That never happened for my dad.” Her gaze dropped down to her left hand, wondering if she’d be following in her dad’s footsteps there as well.

“Did he believe?” asked Claire gently.

She thought about that for a long second. “I think he did,” she said sadly, lowering her head as she felt a tear roll down her cheek. “But I just don’t think he had any of his heart left to give.”