Chapter 6

Vera

This deal is probably a trap.

That's all I can think as I drive home, eat some breakfast, change my clothes, and head out to take care of the wolves.

It's probably a trap, but it's also the only way that I can think of to get enough money to save this place. A million dollars will go a long way towards paying off debts and running this place.

Why did he offer it to me though? Why is it so important to him that I give him a second chance and get to know him? What does he really want from me?

"Come on, Stormy!" I yell as I carry out the buckets of food.

She's lagging behind today a bit. I've already checked her for injuries and found none, but I still make a mental note to keep an eye on her. I may have to call the vet to come out if she doesn't start acting normal again soon.

My phone rings and I ignore it as I start to put out the food.

"No pushing," I chide them, and I shake my head at a few of the wolves as I move over a few feet and put out some more food.

It has to be close to six now and I know that I need to go get ready. I hurry back to the four-wheeler and drive home, rushing through clean-up.

My phone dings with a text, and I remember the call. I pull my phone out and see that it was Cameron both times.

Cameron:Call me when you can!

I hitdial and she picks up on the first ring.

"Finally!"

I laugh as I head upstairs and into my room.

"Finally? You're acting like we haven't talked in days when it was less than twenty-four hours ago."

"I just got off work. Want to meet for a drink or something?" She asks, and I clear my throat.

"I, uh, I actually have a date," I tell her.

"Ohh," she sings, and I sigh. "With that guy from last night? What's his name?"

"Fisher."

"He's cute. Plus, he seems totally into you. I mean, he couldn't look away from you last night. He came in this morning to grab you guys breakfast."

"How's Ford?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

"Fine."

She sounds short and I wonder what happened. Maybe she's still annoyed about last night.

"Back to you. Where are you going for the date?"

"Backyard Burgers."

"Nice. When?"

"I'm meeting him there at six."

"You better get going then."

"I know. I'm showering and changing now."

"You know, I'm kind of surprised that you're going out with him. You called him the enemy last night," she reminds me, and I sigh again.

"We made a deal."

"Go on," she says, eager for some gossip.

"I go out with him on three dates and he'll give me a million dollars."

Silence greets that sentence, and I put the phone on speaker and start to strip.

"Cameron?" I ask after a moment, and she clears her throat.

"Holy shit, dude."

"I know."

"I mean, like…" she trails off, and I laugh.

"Yeah."

"How are you feeling about all of that?" She asks.

"Confused. Relieved," I admit. "The debts around here… things are bad."

"Then this is a good thing."

"Yeah, I think so."

"What happens if you want more than three dates?" Cameron asks, and I freeze.

"I don't know. I mean, I don't think that will happen."

"Hmm," she says, and I want to ask her what that means, but I need to go.

"I have to get in the shower," I tell her.

"Yeah, have fun. Call me later."

"I will," I promise.

We hang up, and I hurry to take a shower and get dressed. By the time that I'm done, it's time to go and I hurry out to my car.

When I pull into the Backyard Burger parking lot, Fisher is already there waiting for me at the same table as our last failed date. I climb out and head over to him.

"Hi."

"Hey, you look great."

"Thanks."

We both sit down, and he smiles at me.

"I ordered us the same thing as last time," he tells me, and I nod. "Did you want something else?"

"No, that's fine."

"How was your day?" He asks, and I look around.

"It was good. Busy. What about you?"

This isn't how I thought our date would go. I thought it would be awkward or tense, but he's already putting me at ease.

I need to keep my guard up around this guy. There's no future for us. There can't be.

"I made a few calls, saw another possible location for the resort, and caught up on emails. The usual."

"That's an average day for you then?" I ask as the same waitress from last time comes over with our waters.

"Pretty much. Sometimes I'm traveling or on location at one of the resorts or hotels. If we're in the middle of a build, I'm there overseeing things."

"Sounds nice. To always be seeing new places," I comment.

"Maybe. It can be lonely though."

"Have you always been a workaholic?" I ask him, and he smiles softly.

"Always. What about you?"

"It's kind of what I'm used to. I grew up with the wolves. Now, well, now they're kind of all the family that I have left."

"I don't have any family either. Well, none that I talk to," he says, and I quirk a brow at him.

"Fight?" I ask.

"No, more like a shitty childhood."

"So, your parents are still alive then?" I ask him, and he shrugs.

"As far as I know. I haven't talked to them in years. Since I left Clearwater."

"I'm sorry," I tell him sincerely.

"It's fine. I got out; I don't have to deal with them anymore. I have a good life, a better life," he says, and I can see the tension in him.

His jaw clenches and he lets out a long breath, relaxing as the waitress comes over with our food.

He looks like a lonely little boy for just a second, and my heart goes out to him. I can feel myself softening towards him, and I straighten in my seat.

"Here you are," the waitress says as she sets our food down.

"Thanks."

"Can I get you anything else?" She asks, and Fisher shakes his head.

I grab my burger, taking a bite as I try to get my walls back in place.

"Salty food or sweet?" Fisher asks, and I blink.

"Salty. You?"

"Same. What's your favorite snack?"

"Popcorn," I tell him.

"Pretzels, but only the tiny twist ones."

"Why is that?" I ask.

"I'm not sure. They just taste better to me."

I smile at his weird quirk and take another bite of my burger.

"What's your favorite animal?" I ask him.

"Dogs. I bet I can guess yours."

"Wolves," I say with a smile.

A gust of wind blows some of his dark brown hair over his forehead, and I have the strongest urge to push it back into place. I grab a French fry instead.

"What was your favorite vacation?" He asks me.

"I haven't been on many. The furthest I've gone is over to the coast once when I was a kid."

"Where would you want to go?"

"I don't know. Australia, maybe? Or Greece? What about you?"

"I'll go see those places with you."

"Yeah, but where would you want to go?" I ask him.

"Anywhere with you."

I roll my eyes, but when I look at him, I can see that he's being sincere.

"Cheesy," I tell him, and he grins.

"It's the truth. You'll see that soon, too."

He sounds so sure of himself, and I want to ask him why he's so into me. How can he be so sure that I'm worth all of this when he barely even knows me?

Fisher asks me a few more questions as we eat and we continue our game of twenty questions all the way up until he pays the bill.

"We should do this again sometime," he says as he leads me over to my car.

"Uh-huh," I say, trying not to smile.

"Tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"I'll text you."

"You don't have my number," I point out.

"Give me your phone."

I pass it to him and watch as he types in his information. He passes it back to me and I tuck it into my purse.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I tell him, and he nods.

"Tomorrow."

I climb into my car and wave as I back out of the parking lot and head home. Those butterflies from our first meeting are back and I try to kill them as I drive home, but it's no use.

I like Fisher. Even if I don't think that I should.