Free Dreaming of Love by Melissa Foster Page A

gossip spread faster than wildfire—and how long it would take for her brothers to call out the armed forces if she didn’t respond to their texts. She stared at the phone, and as she decided what to text to Dae, she texted Daisy. It was late afternoon in Colorado and a weekend, so she was sure to get the text.
    Someone can’t keep a secret. Tsk, tsk, tsk. After hitting send, she scrolled through the pictures that Dae had texted earlier in the day. Dae’s gorgeous dark eyes stared back at her. In every picture he had his arm around her, and she looked happy. Happier than she’d seen herself look in ages. Ever . Even in the picture he’d snapped when she was out of sorts, she had a dreamy look in her eyes. When she reached the picture of them in the poppy field, she wondered if he’d known then that he was going to fill her room with them. She still wasn’t sure how he’d pulled it off. There were so many flowers!
    She scrutinized the pictures again, wondering if the relaxed, happy look in her eyes was from being away from the stresses of everyday life: work, keeping up with family, which wasn’t really a stressor but still added pressure to her days. The stress of wondering if she’d ever meet a man she’d want to go out with. She sighed at how often she used to wonder just that and mused at how true it was that people met at the least expected times.
    She scrolled through the pictures again, and she knew the sparkle in her eyes and what had her heart doing a little happy jig in her chest had little to do with where she was and everything to do with the handsome, sexy, playful man staring back at her from the tiny iPhone screen.
    She texted Dae.
    The poppy fairy visited my room. I think he’s about six two with bedroom eyes and hair any girl would die for. I love them. The flowers, that is. Well, and your eyes and hair. The only thing that would make them (the flowers) better is if you were here with me. Xox.
    She reread it before sending and realized that maybe she wasn’t so far off her game after all.
    A minute later her phone vibrated, and she smiled, hoping it was Dae. Daisy . She groaned as she read her text. I ONLY told Elisabeth. But Margie might have heard us because she was serving us coffee at the time.
    “Margie!” Emily shook her head as she typed in another response. Margie had been the waitress at the Trusty Diner forever. She was the eyes and ears of the town, and if she got whiff of a rumor, the whole town knew about it within minutes. Or at least it seemed that way. Emily loved Margie despite her gossiping ways. Margie was protective of the people who grew up in Trusty. She was witty and motherly, and when Emily was near her, she felt loved.
    Her phone vibrated again while she was typing her message to Daisy. Daisy! You just gave candy to a baby at my expense! It’s a good thing I love you, because I’d like to hate you right now. Xox.
    Shaking her head, she scrolled to Dae’s text and opened it.
    If I were there with you, the beauty of the poppies would be forgotten.
    Heck yeah, they would. She bit her lower lip as she thought up a cute response. Her phone vibrated again. She glanced down and read Daisy’s message. In all fairness, I didn’t give it to her. She has sonic hearing. Hope he’s worth every bit of the juicy gossip. I might have embellished a little.
    “Oh no.” She texted Daisy back. He’s def worth it, and hopefully soon you won’t have to embellish! Going to bed. Please text my intrusive and adorable family members and tell them I’m alive and well for me? Xox.
    After sending the text to Daisy, she texted Dae with what she hoped was the perfect response to keep him thinking about her all night long.
    Oh.
    Her phone vibrated a few seconds later with his response, which she read with an ear-to-ear grin. Unfair. You’re impossible!
    “Oh dear Dae, you have suddenly switched me into competitive mode. I have no idea how or why, but here goes.” Emily felt herself