Adriana: Daisy Hills B&B, #5

By Kali Hart

Adriana

I've had a crush on Harrison Carter since junior high. Because he was a senior back then, he never noticed me. Each time he comes to Daisy Hills, I turn into that giddy school girl all over again. This time, he's a VIP guest at the B&B. He's the architect behind the historic covered bridge. An event the mayor—his mother—has asked me to plan. No pressure there. The chemistry between us is undeniable, and his kisses leave me breathless. But we have some obstacles to sort out if this is ever going to be more than a steamy fling. His mother's approval being one of them. Too bad she has the power to cause some serious problems with both the B&B and my event planning business.

Harrison

I'm taken with Adriana Turner from the moment I check in to the Daisy Hills B&B. I know I shouldn't get involved with the woman my mother hired to plan the ribbon cutting ceremony event for the new covered bridge. But I can't keep my hands off her. There's something about her that's so magnetic and I can't seem to resist. So I stop trying. The more time I spend with Adriana, the more I want to settle in Daisy Hills. I know she's my future. I also know I would never ask her to leave her family behind to follow me. Falling in love with Adriana means giving up the big city life, but I think I'm ready to take a chance on love.

Welcome to Daisy Hills. Where love is waiting around every corner for those who are ready to accept it. This small town has a little bit of something for everyone. Daisy Hills B&B is the first of many series to come, set in this charming world filled with guaranteed HEAs. All sweet & steamy short instalove romances. Come, stay awhile and make yourself at home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: May 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9798224704927

Book preview

1

ADRIANA

You keep pacing the kitchen like that and I’ll have to get Malcom to redo the floor, my sister Celia says. Her laugh is gentle enough, but her sparkling eyes tell me the truth. She sees right through my nervousness.

I pull my phone out of my back pocket to check the time. Five minutes. Do you have any of those raspberry Danishes? I ask, completely ignoring her insinuations. Not like it’s some huge secret anyway. All of my sisters know that I have a huge crush on our special guest, Harrison Carter.

He’s only been here for two hours and I already think my heart might explode. How on earth am I going to survive his whole two week stay at the Daisy Hills B&B?

I’ve had a crush on him since I was in junior high and he was a senior. Of course, he didn’t even know who I was back then. But that tiny fact never seems to matter. Every time that man comes to town, I feel like I’m in junior high all over again. Hopelessly lost in daydreams of floating hearts while I pen Mrs. Harrison Carter on any piece of scratch paper I can find.

Here, Celia says, extending a tray to me. But only take one. The rest are for the guests.

For a split second, I’m not completely worked up about seeing Harrison face to face. Celia is a master in the kitchen and her food can make most people forget their own names. "These are so good, I moan, savoring the pastry, my heartbeat slowing the slightest. Just what I needed."

You know, you’re not a kid anymore, Celia says to me, making me regret the Danish and her momentary kindness. If only I’d known it was a trap.

"Not happening."

Why not? Her phone chimes, momentarily distracting her and saving me from answering as her face lights up. Aren’t they just the cutest? She holds out the phone to share the photo of her daughters sent by her mother-in-law. I miss them so much!

They’ve only been gone an hour, I say with a raised eyebrow. I’m the last holdout among the five of us. Unmarried, not even dating. They all seem to be conspiring to show me the joys of wedded bliss and motherhood. Even Bianca and Jeremy have been going at it like rabbits now that he’s secured his teaching position. I don’t fully understand how my sisters can show up to the B&B, utterly exhausted from a sleepless night, and still miss the babies who caused it minutes later.

When you have kids, you’ll get it. Celia says, flashing me a mischievous smile. If you took Harrison some of these pastries, you might even get a head start.

Only the alarm on my phone saves me from that trap. I pop the rest of the Danish in my mouth and hurry to the second floor. Harrison doesn’t live in Daisy Hills. He’s only staying for two weeks while the covered bridge he designed is being built. Once the ribbon cutting ceremony is over, he’ll go back to the city. Back to his real life.

I shouldn’t have to remind any of my eager-to-play-matchmaker sisters of this roadblock. Who knows how long it’ll be before he comes through town again. If I make a complete fool of myself this time by throwing myself at him, there’s no way he’ll stay at the B&B ever again.

Outside his door, my hand trembles as I reach up to knock. After a long flight, he requested someone knock on his door to wake him when it was time to head to the ground breaking ceremony. Even if I hadn’t offered, my well-meaning sisters would’ve volunteered me anyway.