Chapter 3

Fisher

I can't stop thinkingabout that girl.

Vera.

God, even her name is sexy.

My cock strains in my jeans as I remember the way her clothes were molded to her sweet curves. When we bumped into each other, I had been kind of annoyed. Then I had looked up and seen the literal angel in front of me, and after that, all I felt was lust or maybe even love.

No, that can't be right. I've talked to the girl for all of five minutes. I don't believe in love at first sight, I'm way too cynical for that, but I might just make an exception for Vera and me.

I can't wait for our date tonight. I need to learn more about her and explore my feelings for her.

I climb out of my car and look around. I'm at the first possible location for the resort and I can tell already that it's not right. The surrounding area isn't very picturesque and with the way the mountains sit around it, I'm not sure that the space will be big enough. I still go through with the meeting though.

I shake hands with the property developer and let him show me around; all the while, I'm daydreaming about Vera.

I wonder what she does for a living?

I wonder how long she's lived here? Does she like it? Or could I convince her to come back to Miami with me?

What's her favorite food? Her favorite color? Her favorite season?

I want to know everything about her.

"Thanks, I'll be in touch," I tell the developer, and he gives me a sleazy salesman smile.

We both climb into our respective cars and I head back to the motel. By the time I get there, it's time for me to get ready for my date. I've already mapped out the route to the restaurant and I know that it will take me exactly seven minutes to get there.

I hop in the shower and try to clear my head as I rinse off. I have a long list of things that I need to do, but all I can seem to think about is Vera.

Focus, Fisher! We need to call and check on the resorts. I should reach out to my assistant and see if she's come up with any other locations around here besides the three that I was sent to look at. I should look up other restaurants here so that I can take Vera out tomorrow.

Wait—

I shake my head, but I'm not too annoyed. Every time I think about Vera, I can't stop the smile from stretching across my face.

I never dated, not once. In high school, I was an outcast and no one paid me any attention. There wasn't anyone that I was interested in anyway. After that, I was so busy with trying to save enough money and then open my first hotel. I never even thought to try to date anyone. I never even looked at a girl twice before.

Not until Vera.

I figured that I was just too much of a grump to have any long term, intimate relationships. Now, though, I'm thinking that I just never met the right person.

I towel off and hurry to get dressed. I absolutely hate being late, and I don't want to make Vera wait if she gets to the burger place before me.

I put on a new pair of jeans and then a white button up shirt. I don't have much leisure wear and since I figured that this was a business trip, I didn't exactly bring anything with me besides some suits, button up shirts, and jeans.

My phone rings and I grab it, expecting my assistant. Instead, it's Bishop again.

"I need help planning a date," he says when I answer.

"Hello to you too."

"Fisher!" He snaps and I laugh.

"Okay, a date in Clearwater? With who?" I tease and he growls.

"You know damn well with who."

"Ah, yes, Alba. Your housekeeper."

"I hate you."

"Liar."

"Help me."

"Okay, okay. Hmm, how about dinner at Allistair's? Then you could go next door to The Dip and get ice cream and walk around."

"That could work," he says, mulling over my idea.

"Or is the drive in theater still open up there? You could see what's playing. Or, you could just ask her what she wants to do and present her these options."

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

"I know."

"Shut up. What are you doing tonight?" He asks and I glance at my watch.

"I'm going on a date."

I hear him sputtering on the other end and I laugh.

"Really?" He asks in disbelief and I smile.

"Yep."

"With who? Where?"

"Her name is Vera. We're going to grab burgers."

"Hmm. Good luck."

"Don't need it. She's the one, man. I know it."

"Good luck convincing her of that then."

"Same."

We're silent for a moment and then he sighs.

"I mean it, Fisher."

"Me too," I say sincerely.

We hang up a minute later and I look at my watch again. It's time to go, and I pocket my phone and grab my keys. I feel almost giddy as I make the short drive to the little burger restaurant. It's called Backyard Burgers, and it looks like it's packed. I head inside and look around for Vera's black hair, but I don't see her.

I spot an empty table outside, and I head out to claim it. I'm just sitting down when I see Vera pull into the parking lot. She's driving an older Subaru, and I wave, standing when she parks and heads my way.

"Hey, have you been waiting long?" She asks, and I shake my head.

"No, I just got here, actually."

"Oh, well then perfect timing," she says with a smile.

"Yeah, perfect," I murmur.

"Did you already order?" She asks as she takes a seat at the table.

"No, I really did just sit down."

We both take our seats, and a moment later, a waitress comes bustling over to our table.

"Welcome to Backyard Burgers," she greets us. "Can I get you two something to drink?"

"Just a water for me," Vera says, and I nod.

"Same."

"Got it. I'll give you two a moment to look over the menu," she says, and Vera grabs two menus from behind the napkin holder and passes me one.

"Thanks. What do you usually get here?" I ask her.

"I don't eat here that much. I don't eat out very often," she tells me as she looks over the menu.

She studies the menu, but I watch her. She's beautiful with midnight black hair that hangs close to her waist. She changed into a pair of dark jeans and a loose green tank top that makes her blue eyes look darker.

Did she get dressed up for me? Was she just as excited about our date as I was? Has she ever felt this way about anyone else?

"Do you have a boyfriend?" I blurt out, and she jerks back, surprised by my question.

"Um, no. If I did, I wouldn't be here with you," she points out, looking offended.

"Of course, I'm sorry," I rush to apologize.

"I wouldn't cheat on someone. Anyone," she stresses, and I nod.

"Me either."

That carefree air around her has dimmed, and I want to kick myself for upsetting her.

The waitress comes back with our waters before I can apologize again, and Vera smiles up at her.

"Ready to order?"

"I think so. I'll have the Backyard Original," she orders, and I nod.

"Me too."

I'm not even sure what that is. I never got around to looking at the menu since I was so busy staring at her.

"So, tell me about yourself," I say once the waitress is gone.

"Well, um, I was born and raised here in Wolf Valley. So were my parents and grandparents."

"Do you like it here?" I ask, and she smiles.

"Yeah, it's home, you know?"

No, I don't. I've never really had a home. Or I've never felt at home like that.

"That's nice. It seems like a cool town."

"It is."

She takes a sip of her water and looks around.

"What's your favorite color?" I ask her, and she pauses.

"Gray."

My eyebrows rise in surprise. I was expecting her to say green or purple or something.

"Really?"

"Yeah, what about you?" She asks me.

"Blue."

"Like the sky?" She asks with a friendly smile, and I shake my head.

"No, like your eyes."

Her mouth drops open and a pink blush stains her cheeks.

"What's your favorite season?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Fall. What is this? Twenty questions? Is this how all of your dates go?" She asks.

"I've never dated anyone before. This is my first date."

"No, it's not."

"It is," I promise her.

"It's mine too," she admits.

"Are the men here in town dumb and blind?" I ask her, and she lets out a surprised laugh.

"Um, no, I don't think so. I just… no one ever caught my eye, I guess."

"Me neither."

We stare at each other for a moment, and when she looks away from me, I feel a bit bereft. I want her eyes on me. Always.

"What about you?" She asks, and I blink.

"What about me?"

"Tell me about yourself. What's your favorite season?"

"Summer or Fall."

She nods for me to go on as she takes another sip of her water.

"I was born in Clearwater," I start, and she looks at me in surprise.

"Like just north of here Clearwater?" She asks, and I nod. "Small world."

"Not small enough," I grumble.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing. Um, yeah, I grew up there, left when I was eighteen."

"Where did you go?" She asks.

"Los Angeles, at first."

"That's exciting."

"It didn't feel that way," I say with a laugh. "Not at first. It was hard finding a job and apartment and all of that."

"Then what happened?"

Our waitress comes back with our food and we pause our conversation while she sets it down.

"Let me know if you need anything else," she says before she leaves.

Vera pops a fry in her mouth and chews, waiting for me to go on.

"That was when I opened my first hotel. I had saved for a few years and then finally qualified for a bank loan. It was a success and that started my career."

I pick up my burger, but when I look up at her, she's frozen, her whole body tense.

"Hotel?" She asks, her voice tight with some emotion that I can't name.

"Yeah. I have a few hotels and resorts around the world. That's actually why I'm here in Wolf Valley. I'm opening up a new resort here."

"You!" She spits, leaping to her feet, and I drop my burger, staring at her in confusion.

"What?"

"You. You're Fisher Collins."

"Yeah," I say, already not liking where this is going.

"Stay away from me," she hisses, and with that, she spins on her heel and storms off.

"What? Vera! Wait!" I yell as I toss some money down on the table and rush after her.

By the time I catch up to her, she's already in her car and backing out of the parking spot. I try to stop her, but she ignores me and practically peels out of the parking lot.

What the hell was that? What happened? What went wrong?

I need to fix this, whatever this is.

I need to get Vera to agree to go out with me again. I need to make her fall in love with me and agree to be mine.

Forever.

It's going to be hard, but I've always loved a challenge.

I sigh as I head over to my own car and drive back to the motel to figure out my plan.