The smells coming out of the kitchen in the Brunch Club made my tummy rumble. We were here for brunch and booze, as one does when they go to the Brunch Club, and I was starving.

Jameson sat next to me, his hand on my thigh. The way he kept sneaking his fingers beneath the hem of my skirt was making me tingle—in all the best ways. He leaned in and kissed my cheek—sweet, and appropriate for public display. What he kept trying to do beneath the table was anything but.

I loved it.

As soon as we’d returned from Charlotte, requests for Jameson’s work had poured in. He was booked up solid for the next year, and had actually had to turn down several commissions, simply because he didn’t have time. Being able to pick and choose what he wanted to work on was a dream come true for him. He was living his dream, and I was so proud.

Scarlett and Devlin sat across from us, engaged in their usual PDA. It didn’t seem to bother Jameson, even though I knew he still felt protective of his sister. I figured he was too busy teasing me under the table, enjoying how it made me squirm.

Bowie, on the other hand, kept rolling his eyes and telling Scarlett and Dev to knock it off, already. That only made Scarlett giggle. Bowie even threatened them with detention, which made us all laugh.

The waitress brought our first pitcher of sangria and I helped pour. Gibson walked in and nodded, but didn’t say much. Just pulled up a chair, turned it around, and straddled it backwards. Jameson tipped his chin to him and Gibson tipped his back. I was so relieved that the two of them were getting along again—even if getting along simply meant Gibson wasn’t glaring at Jameson all the time.

I’d seen Gibson at the unveiling in Charlotte, but I kept up the pretense that I didn’t know he’d been there. I had a feeling there was a softer side under that hard exterior, but he wasn’t about to let anyone see it. As long as there were no more taco food fights, I figured things were probably all right.

“Mornin’, y’all,” Cassidy said as she walked in. She was dressed in street clothes, rather than her deputy uniform, and her dirty blond hair was down. As always, her sister June was with her. June’s darker blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail. They both took off their coats and hung them on the backs of two chairs.

“Mornin’, Cass,” Scarlett said. “And how are two of my favorite girls on this fine Saturday?”

“Can’t complain,” Cassidy said.

Scarlett’s lips curled in a mischievous grin. “Any plans tonight? Hot date, maybe?”

I glanced at Bowie, but he kept his eyes on his sangria.

“Nope,” Cassidy said. “Not unless you count a night at home in my pajamas watchin’ old movies a hot date.”

“If it was with someone, I would,” Scarlett said.

Cassidy just smiled and shook her head. “Men are impossible. No offense to those of the male persuasion at this table.”

“None taken,” Devlin said.

Gibson shrugged. “Nah, you’re right, we are.”

“Least you’re honest,” Cassidy said.

I caught June’s eye. “How’s your fantasy football team doing this year?”

“I’m winning,” June said, her voice flat.

“Good for you,” I said.

“It shouldn’t come as a surprise to my competitors,” June said. “I win every year.”

“That is a fact,” Jameson said. “And the reason none of us play in Juney’s league anymore.”

June didn’t seem fazed by that. But June never seemed fazed by anything.

Jonah came in, pocketing his phone. “Sorry about that. My mom called.”

“How’s your mama doin’?” Scarlett asked.

“She’s fine, I suppose.” Jonah took a seat and poured himself a drink.

“You look like you need that,” Devlin said.

Jonah took a long sip. “She’s just… unhappy with my life choices at the moment.”

Devlin raised his glass. “I feel your pain, brother.”

They clinked glasses.

“I made the mistake of telling her I need to move out of Jameson’s place,” Jonah said. “She thinks I’m homeless or something.”

Jameson had asked me to move in with him, and of course I’d said yes. I’d practically been living there already, but I was thrilled to make it official. We’d told Jonah he was welcome to stay—and really, I wouldn’t have minded a bit—but he’d decided it was time to find a new place to live.

“You could move in with me,” Bowie said. “I have an extra room that’s not being used.”

“You sure?” Jonah asked.

“Yeah, why not?” Bowie said. “I have the space. Besides, I hear you’re a good cook.”

Jonah laughed. “I hear that, too. All right, it’s a deal, then.”

They shook hands to make it official.

“How are the wedding plans coming, Leah Mae?” Scarlett asked.

“It’s going to be so nice,” I said. My dad had asked Betsy Stirling to marry him and I was helping Betsy plan the wedding for next summer. “Simple, but sweet. Y’all are invited, so I hope you’ll come.”

“Of course we will,” Scarlett said. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

June had randomly put her finger on her nose. She had a magazine sitting out and she quietly thumbed through the pages, the index finger of her left hand sitting on the tip of her nose.

“What’s that for, June Bug?” Jameson asked, tapping his own nose.

“I’m not it,” she said.

“Not it for what?” Jameson asked. “No one said anything.”

“The pitcher of sangria is low, so I estimate the probability of our waitress asking if we want another in the next several minutes at ninety-seven percent. That will inevitably lead to a rush to decide who’s buying the next pitcher. I’m planning ahead.”

Jameson laughed. “All right, then.”

The waitress walked up and smiled. “Are y’all ready to order? Or can I get you another pitcher of sangria first?”

“Not it,” June said without looking up.

The rest of us touched our noses, a chorus of not it sounding around the table.

“Damn it,” Devlin said. He’d been last. “All right, another pitcher. This one’s on me. I don’t know how you’re all so fast.”

“Years of practice,” Scarlett said, patting his cheek.

We all had a few drinks and ate an enormous breakfast. By the time we were finished, I was so full I thought I might burst. Jameson and I decided to take a stroll around town to walk off some of the food and sangria. He held my coat for me while I slipped my arms in, and put his hand on the small of my back as he led me outside.

The October air was crisp, the warmth of summer long gone. Clouds hung low in the sky, but it was dry. Probably not cold enough to snow, but it wouldn’t be long and Bootleg Springs would be blanketed in white. I couldn’t wait.

We walked down Bathtub Gin Alley to the corner of Lake Street and I stopped.

“Something wrong?” Jameson asked.

“No. I want to show you something.”

I took his hand and led him down Lake Street to an empty storefront. It had once been a novelty shop, but the owners had closed it down some time ago, and it had been sitting ever since. I’d passed it a hundred times and an idea had been forming in my mind. I hadn’t told anyone yet, and just the thought of saying it out loud made my tummy tingle with nerves.

We stopped in front of the store. It had a big for rent sign in the window.

“I’ve been thinking,” I said and tucked my hair behind my ear. “Maybe this is crazy, and if it is, I want you to tell me the truth. But I think I want to open my own boutique. I could sell some of my own pieces, but also clothes and accessories from other designers that fit the style I’m going for. It would be totally unique, a mix of country and trendy fashion. I think it could be a big hit, especially during the tourist season.”

Jameson glanced between me and the store a few times. “Leah Mae, this is genius.”

I bit my bottom lip. “Really?”

“Absolutely. I love this idea. You have a great sense of style. All the girls think so.”

“I don’t know a lot about owning a business, but I could learn,” I said. “I’ve been looking into some online business classes to start.”

Jameson smiled, making my heart squeeze. He cupped my face in his strong hands and kissed me. “I am so proud of you.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I have to see if I have enough savings to get it started. I should be close.”

“Well, if not, we should talk to June.”

“June? Why?”

“She’s something of an investor here in Bootleg,” he said. “She helped Lula open the spa, and gave Clarabell and Whit a loan to do some updates to Moonshine.”

“That’s amazing,” I said. “You think she’d help me open my boutique?”

“I reckon she would. We’ll need a solid business plan. Juney likes numbers. But she can even help with that. She’s great at it.”

“Wow. How does she have money to invest in all these businesses?”

He shrugged. “She works for a big company out of Annapolis. Smart as she is, I reckon she makes a good living. She likes to invest that money in small businesses, especially here in Bootleg. Even I worked with her a few years back.”

“So I could really do this.” I reached out and touched the glass window. I’d been so afraid to say it out loud—afraid it would sound like a terrible idea.

“Darlin’, not only can you do this, you will,” Jameson said. “I’ll have your back every step of the way.”

He took me in his arms and kissed me again, deep and slow. The cool air tingled my skin but Jameson’s warmth spread through me.

“I love you, Jameson Bodine.”

“I love you, too. To the stars and back.”

He put his arm around me and we stood in front of the store for a long moment. I could already see it. The sign out front. The window displays. I had a lot of work to do before I could open, but I could do it. I was building a future here, in Bootleg Springs, one step at a time. A future where I had a place. A home.

Most importantly, a future with Jameson. And I couldn’t imagine anything better.