Chapter 10

10

WALKER

T o a casual observer it might just look like we were making coffee and breakfast together. To me, it feels like foreshadowing. Like it's practice for when Jocelyn moves in with me.

"Are you working today?" I ask, as we finish up our omelets.

She leans in and whispers, "We've all decided to take today off. What the heck."

"Good for you." I check my phone out of habit, and she shoots me a look.

"Are you on ambulance duty twenty-four seven?"

"No. It's super unofficial, so if ever I didn't answer, nobody would get mad or anything. If I don't respond within two minutes, they call Carson, then Griffin. If none of us answered, well, everyone has a few neighbors they call in case of emergency."

Her fingertips walk slowly along the edge of her lavender coffee mug. "I like that everyone helps each other out here. There's a real spirit of community."

She gestures to the pile of maps at the end of the dining room table. "It's not just physical proximity. It's like the whole town has collectively agreed to remain wholesome and helpful in this stressful world. I love that."

I gesture to the maps. "Is it okay if I take a look?"

"Of course."

Spreading out the papers, I look at Old Hemlock Valley with fresh eyes. I've seen old maps of the area dozens of times in various ways, but never with the landowners' names labeled on every parcel like this.

"Something wrong?" Jocelyn asks, after pouring each of us another coffee.

"Not wrong. It's just making me think."

"About what?"

My hand slips around her waist, pulling her against me as if I've been doing this for a hundred years. I love the way her body fits against me so perfectly at every angle.

Angles.

Looking down at the map again, I see the way the land bought up by the Wolfe and Dirty families creates a huge swath right through town. It's like the two families were working together to create the town itself.

"Hey, if you're researching all about this town, how would you like to speak to someone who is a bit of an Old Hemlock Valley historian?"

"Really? That would be amazing!"

"Great. I'll call Grandpa and see if he's home?—"

Jocelyn grips my hand. "Wait. I can't meet your family."

"Why not? He's a bit of a gruff old timer, but I'm sure you'll like him." My palm skims around her hip to massage her tight little ass. "And I know he'll like you."

"But…" I hate that she looks so uncomfortable. "If I meet your family, they might think this is…you know. Serious. They might think I'm a girlfriend or something."

I turn and shift so that she's standing between my knees. "But sweetheart, that's exactly what I want. Not for my family's sake, but for ours." Grasping her hands, I kiss the center of her palms, then grin. "Jocelyn Baker, will you be my girlfriend?"

She smiles, but her brow is still tense. "There are a few reasons why that's not a good idea."

I have a suspicion that the reason is simply that she's nervous because this is going too fast. "Okay. Would you like to share these reasons with me?"

Her face falls. "You don't see it a mile away?"

Lifting her, I move my legs together so she can sit on my lap while I rub her back, resting her head against my shoulder. "Baby, whatever it is, I'd like to work it out with you. I think you're fantastic. I think we could be amazing together."

Turning, I look into her eyes, wishing I could read her mind for just a few seconds to know what is troubling her. "If you want to slow down, we can. If there's anything else you want to know about me, I'll tell you. I have nothing to hide. I hope I've been clear about my enormous feelings for you, but if I haven't, here they are."

I brush my nose against hers, making her smile a little. "I think you're beautiful and magical and sweet. I'm falling for you ridiculously hard. And I'd really like to envision a future where we got married and lived a wholesome little life here."

Her bottom lip wobbles.

"Or anywhere around here," I add hastily. "Anywhere within an hour drive of the shop. If you'd like a house higher up the mountain, or lower in the valley, or bigger…" I squeeze her knee gently. "With more windows, or a greenhouse. Maybe a goat pen for Gertie and her friends?" She smirks. "Seriously. If it would make you happy, I would paint the house orange and purple plaid."

Finally, she laughs. "No, it's just…" There's a slow, sad sigh. "A man like you shouldn't saddle himself with a girl who's not merely broke, but in the hole because of a ton of student loan debt." Her chin lifts bravely. "I'm a hard worker, though. I've always juggled several jobs at once and lived really simply. Why don't we talk about this in a few weeks? Maybe someday when the loans are paid off and I am not in financial ruins, we could plan a future…if you haven't found a better woman by then, of course."

Oh my God. My poor sweet angel actually thinks that her worth has anything to do with her bank balance?

This needs to be a much bigger discussion. This early on, though, I don't think she's going to believe me when I tell her that I've never given a damn about money, other than needing to have my basics covered.

"It's okay, sweetheart." Tucking her against my shoulder, I rock her gently for a moment. "I didn't mean to upset you. How about we go to Grandpa's just for giggles, and I'll tell him that you're a friend. He has some of the oldest maps of the town that you might find interesting."

"Okay. Thank you."

"Plus…" My lips brush her cheek. "He really is…and I say this with love…a bit of a whack job."