I nodded. "Are he and Grace really moving to Green Valley?"
Levi shrugged. "I don't know. I told him they should. Uncle Glenn would love having them around more and so would my parents. And I think it would be good for both of them. Grace hates her job in LA, and Grady's whatever the hell tech job he does is going to send him to an early grave. I told him he should start a new business in Green Valley. Guided hikes and camping trips and stuff, bring in companies to do employee retreats and morale building stuff. He could make a killing if he found the right partner."
"I think they should too," I said, thinking about my conversation with Grace at the wedding. "Besides, that town could use some new Buchanan blood now that you're gone."
"I suppose it could."
"And," I added, "maybe the Buchanan curse only works in Green Valley. They might move there and find their person right away."
Levi froze, glancing over at me with a speculative gleam in his eye. "Why, Miss Abernathy, I think you may have just figured out something that no one in our entire family ever has."
I snagged the front of his shirt and dragged him down for a kiss. "That's because I'm a freaking genius."
"My humble little hedgehog," he said against my mouth.
"You're going to be late." I shoved at his chest.
"Love you," he called out as he left the room.
I didn't respond, waiting until he paused at the end of the hallway to look over his shoulder at me.
"Don't you have something you want to say to me, Joss?"
"Move the boxes, Levi, then I will."
"Stubborn, crazy-ass woman," he muttered.
"And I love you too," I shouted right before he left.
When he passed the bedroom window on the way to his truck, I caught the wide smile on his face.
If figuring out what I wanted was the biggest, scariest, most beautiful part of living, then I was in for the biggest, scariest, most beautiful life, because this, exactly this, was what I wanted.
The End
* * *
Don't fall for your new boss, everyone told her.
Stay away from your employee, everyone told him.
One touch, one kiss, and Grady Buchanan and Magnolia MacIntyre are ready to ignore every single warning. But defiance comes with a hefty price tag, and they're about to learn that lesson the hard way.
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Acknowledgments
I feel like I need to start with thanking Penny Reid, first and foremost. The mastermind and evil genius behind Smartypants Romance, and who introduced this group of authors to each other and gave us an opportunity that we’ll never forget. Some I knew before, most I didn’t, and it’s been such a mind-blowing experience. (M.E. Carter, Jiffy Kate and Ellie Kay, especially, who dealt with the most, in regard to my rambling messages and random questions.)
Besides Penny (and Fiona Fischer!), the biggest, hugest, longest cyber hug is reserved for Brittany Sisk. THANK YOU, Brittany, for making sure Joss was realistic. For making sure that she made sense for someone who sees the world from the same vantage point. Your sense of humor and candor about the reality of your life absolutely influenced Joss, and I could not be more grateful that you were willing to read for me and give me such wonderful, honest, and helpful feedback.
To my husband, my boys and my mom, who helped me basically disappear for 22 days to finish this draft.
To Kathryn Andrews, for being such a good friend, and being such a valued set of eyes on this book.
To Caitlin Terpstra, for always being willing to read for me.
To Fiona and Staci, even though you didn’t read this one for me, you still talked me through a LOT and encouraged me to take this chance.
To my Lord and Savior, for everything.
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Batter of Wits
Love at First Sight Book #2
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, rants, facts, contrivances, and incidents are either the product of the author’s questionable imagination or are used factitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or undead, events, locales is entirely coincidental if not somewhat disturbing/concerning.
Copyright © 2020 by Smartypants Romance; All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, photographed, instagrammed, tweeted, twittered, twatted, tumbled, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without explicit written permission from the author.
Made in the United States of America
eBook Edition
Dedication
To Eli and Isaac, for existing, and cheering me on during this book like only a six- and seven-year-old can.
Prologue Grace
The night before I moved to Green Valley, I had a conversation with my dad that I’d reflect on often as time went on. Sometimes I’d think about the things he said, the things I’d said in return, try to remember exactly the way we phrased things the day before my recently fired ass moved across the country, following the lead of my twin brother as we sojourned from LA to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
He and I talked about the family curse like it was a joke, because, at the time, that’s what I thought it was.
As best I could remember, the conversation went a little something like this:
"Curses aren't real."
The voice on the other end of the line harrumphed mightily. "’Course they're not. Look and me and your mother. Would anyone accuse us of true everlasting love?"
Any day of the week, I'd give that a hell no, and I'd do it twice on Sundays. If there was a competition for the least compatible human beings, my parents would be neck and neck with some of the best reality TV couples you'd ever seen.
"So why are you bringing it up again?" I asked my dad.
He sighed. "Well, if you and your brother are
