“Bree!”

She looked over to the other pub door and her grumpy mood faded. Here was the other reason she’d come to town. Owen Ferguson’s smile was wide as he strode towards her and took her in his arms. She gasped as he pressed his lips to hers right there in the front bar of the hotel. They’d been what her mother called an item for a few months now but mostly they were very private about their relationship. She’d only recently taken him home to meet her parents. Around them there were hoots and whistles and he let her go.

Bree swept some loose hair back into place and tugged at the hem of her shirt. “That was some welcome,” she said, relieved that her quick glance showed the rest of the bar focused back on whatever they’d been doing before Owen had made his big entrance.

He took her hand and leaned close again. “Let’s go outside. There’s no-one out there and I’ve got news.”

Happy to get away from the crowd, she followed him as he led the way to the outdoor area. Bert, the owner, called it a beer garden but everyone else called the simple paved area, with its scattered wine barrels, stools and plants, the smoking den. Even though it was outside and the air fresh and cold, the smell of stale cigarettes lingered.

Two beers sat on one of the barrels used as tables. Owen passed one to her.

“You were expecting me then.” She raised it to her lips. “After my day I could use this.”

His cheeky grin turned serious. “Wait.” He put a hand out and she lowered the glass. “I said I’ve got news.”

She studied his face, trying to guess what he was going to say. He’d only been in town a year, working as a mechanic at the local machinery firm. It was a small town and newcomers not that frequent so she’d been aware of his arrival but she hadn’t actually met him until she’d taken a truck in to be serviced. She’d been impressed by the way he’d been able to get their old farm workhorse to purr along like a real truck again. She’d offered to buy him a drink and their friendship had been sealed.

“Mick’s going to sell me the business.”

Bree’s heart leaped. When Owen had first arrived in town he hadn’t been planning to stay. By the time they’d consummated their relationship she knew she loved him and she was pretty sure the feeling was mutual but there was always the question of how long his job would last. Mick had gone through a series of mechanics in recent years.

“That’s fantastic.” She raised her glass again, excited at the prospect of him putting down roots nearby.