Chapter 3

THREE

My heart was still racing as I sat cross-legged in the chair at the far corner of the yarn room.

What the hell had that been?

I was a nanosecond away from thirty, for God's sake. It wasn't like this was the first time a man had checked me out.

Not that his attention had been overly salacious. Sure, his gaze had definitely dipped below my neck, but I wouldn't have shown off my tattoo if I hadn't wanted someone to notice it. Okay, maybe the nice woman at Vintage December, a clothing store a few doors down, had given me a boost to show a little skin.

I'd been young and angry when I was seventeen and had done plenty of other things that were far more questionable than a big tattoo right over my breasts.

The heavy and thorough gaze from the mystery guy was what had me all buzzy. He'd perused every ounce of me that was visible through the huge window, and if I hadn't bought the very expensive and very appealing bra with the dress, I'd have flashed him just how interested I was.

Which was not me.

Had it been leftover from the hot cop action from the day before? Had something inside of me been activated by the lake air?

That was just silly, even for me—a romance author.

How many different scenarios had I written over the last decade of my career? That epic first meet followed by the instant attraction.

Fiction.

Not real.

At least not real for me.

I pushed myself out of the comfy bowl-shaped chair among the massive cubbies of yarn where I'd been quasi-hiding. It reminded me of a chair I'd had in college. Mostly because I hadn't been able to afford anything but thrift market furniture. This one was a little sturdier than the old papasan chair of my youth.

I peeked around the corner to find a stunning brunette standing at the top of the stairs.

She smiled, unsurprised to find me up here. "Hello there."

I swallowed. "Hi. Umm, you have really nice yarn up here."

She laughed. "Thanks. We have a very active knitting group that meets up here every Sunday, if you're interested."

"Oh, um…maybe?" Yarn was definitely not my kind of thing. Unless it was me wearing a cozy sweater, then I was all in.

"Somehow I don't think you're a yarn girl."

I winced as I stepped out from behind the display of fuzzy alpaca yarn. "That obvious?"

"Only because I'm good at this customer service deal." She crossed the squeaky wood floors with a wince. "I really have to have Gideon come in here and fix these. It reminds me of my grandmother's old farmhouse."

"Gideon?" My perpetual interest in everything made me ask.

"Local handyman. I've heard we probably just need to replace some old nails with screws."

"Only works for a little while," I blurted out.

She frowned at me. "Is that right?"

"Sorry," I tapped the side of my head. "It's full of useless knowledge. I researched renovation for—" I cut myself off. Telling people I was an author led to a variety of responses. Some great, some annoying, but most of them included way more talking than I wanted to engage with.

The woman's eyes got really big as she crept closer—in that way that made my hackles rise. "Holy shit, you're Rita Savage."

I blinked. Surprise and panic rolled through me like a wave. "What?"

"Sorry." She rushed forward to take my hands. "You probably hear this all the time, but you have gotten me through so many sleepless nights. I would literally hand over a few of my own fingers to live in Sara Springs."

The one series that I sold my soul—or half my earnings—to get back from Jenelle. My heart tripped in my chest and the panic ran into a wall of gratitude. The panic was still a roar in my head so I could barely hear what she was saying. When I managed to focus, she was still talking.

"The horse farm and the springs are my favorite part of the setting. Now if I could just find my own Jonah." She sighed. "Sorry, sorry. Now, I'll try to stop being weird." She stepped back and released my hands. "I didn't mean to freak you out."

Finally, my nervous laughter escaped. "It's okay, I'm just not used to being recognized." I gave her a quizzical frown. "But you live in the most beautiful small town I've ever seen." And that included the inspiration for Sara Springs —the real-life Saratoga Springs in Upstate New York.

"Try living here. The only thing you end up doing is hanging by the water and guarding your uterus."

My eyebrows shot up. "I'm sorry?"

She waved it away as if she hadn't just said something crazy. "Never mind. Let's just say that finding a man who is unencumbered, or isn't getting ready to buy a car seat, is hard to find."

"Sara Springs is full of singletons ready to get hitched."

"Exactly!" She flipped her thick dark chocolate colored hair over her shoulder. "How long are you in town?"

Unsure how to take that, I twisted my fingers. "Why?"

"I can't believe it," she muttered to herself as if my question didn't actually matter. Then her big tiger-colored eyes widened further. "I know this is a really crazy ask, but you wouldn't be interested in a signing, would you?"

Again, my stomach plummeted to my feet. "I…uh. I don't really know."

"I know you don't do them. You and your co-writer don't usually do the tour thing." Her brows knit together. "Actually, come to think of it, your co-writer has been all over lately."

Previously, we hadn't because of me. I was sure Jenelle would love to be the center of any and all attention if it was offered. Part of the reason she'd…

Nope.

Not going there right now.

I swallowed, but I stuffed down the nerves. "What would that entail?"

"Really? Oh, my God." She rushed me again and I was enveloped in the scent of night orchids and some sort of spice as she hugged me. "Sorry! Sorry." She stepped back. "This probably isn't helping my case."

I laughed. "I don't know. It was the first time I was hugged in awhile."

Her golden eyes went sympathetic.

"I mean, for work," I blurted out. Lies—all lies there. It had been far too long since I'd been hugged. Hell, even touched. My whole world had shut down since January.

"Not exactly professional," she muttered. "Sorry. I am failing all around with this one. I'm Colette Edison, and this is my place. I think the hug thing can stand in for a handshake."

I laughed. "Nice to meet you."

She bit her lower lip. "Is your real name Rita? I'm sorry, I just assumed. And I wouldn't say anything. I mean, you don't have to tell me. God, I'm being a headcase here. I'm so sorry."

"It actually is my name. Too good not to use for romance, right?"

"Absolutely." She moved next to me and looped her arm through mine. "Now I'm going to drag you downstairs and show you the shameful number of books I have of yours on the shelves."

"Shameful? Sounds like a really good ego stroke to me."

Colette laughed. "You might run screaming. However, there are a fair bit of fans in the Cove, to be honest. When Date With Disaster blew up on TikTok last year, I couldn't keep it on the shelves."

That book.

Possibly the one that had actually killed my co-writing career.

Jenelle had changed so much after that. Why hadn't I put two and two together there?

How stupid was I?

Maybe it hadn't been about me, after all. The cold, immovable rock that had been sitting in my stomach for months shifted for the first time in so damn long.

"Good book too—but if I'm honest, the Sara Springs books blow it out of the water. I actually got my book club reading Jonah and Marley's book over the summer."

"Really?"

She nodded, then she nodded for me to walk forward down the stairs. "Yeah, it was a hit. There was a lot of wine and hard cider going on at that meeting." We got to the bottom step, and she steered me to the back of the store where a large picture window and huge leather couch sat. "We have them right here."

"On the couch?"

Colette laughed. "No. The couch goes into the back room. I had fifteen women crammed up there with goodies and booze as we picked apart Jonah's faults and… attributes ."

I blushed. I may have gotten a little extra steamy with Wild Springs . It was the last book I'd written, and thankfully, it had done really well for us—not as well as Date With Disaster of course, but enough to carry me this year when I'd been so fucking useless.

Date had gone so viral that we'd had to look for help with a distributor to get the print book in stores. Most of our earlier fame had been in eBooks with the side of print for the ultra-fans only. BookTok was a whole different animal. Those readers wanted special editions with gilded book jackets that were never actually read along with a soft cover version that they could annotate with highlighters, sticky tabs, and actual tears.

A whole new world that me and Jenelle were supposed to navigate together. Instead, everything had changed.

The stress of it had rocked me into uncertainty and lit a fire in Jenelle I'd never seen before.

She'd done interviews, podcasts, and signings this whole year without me.

I was the one who'd had to deal with the disaster with the model of our original cover. The logistics of recovers, reprints, and pulling the version of the book was still hanging over my head. BookTok had ripped us down off that shiny pedestal they'd put us on a mere six months before. All it took was one offhand comment in public. If that had been all it was, we probably could have survived it. Instead, that jerk of a model had doubled down with her insanely vitriolic spewing at a massive author and reader event until we'd gone viral for a whole new reason.

Thankfully, we hadn't been the only authors dealing with the fallout.

Plenty of us had raced to recover our books and distance ourselves from the spiraling idiot. I'd learned that all it took was one moment to rise and a single second to fall.

But it also meant we needed to resurrect Date With Disaster with a brand new cover and special edition, which was why I'd traveled to Crescent Cove in the first place. When I'd done a little research, it had seemed like the perfect spot to try to clear my head.

"Rita?"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to check out."

She gave me a soft smile. "It's all right. BookTok is my business. And to be truthful, I am jealous of all the cool bookstores out there. I want a slice of that, even if my slice is in small-town New York."

"I love your place."

"I want to extend Every Line A Story into a bigger space for a real bookstore instead of just part of the gift shop."

I glanced around. Books took the majority of the gift shop, but she had beautiful zones of thoughtful craft items that could create a perfect gift for anyone. Add in the cozy chairs to grab a book and chill out with and the vibe was flawless. Maybe slightly cramped, but it made you want to browse instead of getting overwhelmed. "I love this set-up. It works for locals and for visitors like me."

"Thanks. I've been steadily growing for a few years, and we definitely need a little sprucing up. I'm actually doing a signing with two other people. A graphic novelist and web comic who has her first printed book out."

"Are you sure I'd fit in?"

"God, yes. It's a different genre, but well…you are famous. Not that Penn isn't. He's huge, but he's kinda doing me a favor since he's a hometown boy."

"Penn who?"

"Penn Masterson, he does the?—"

" Knights of Chaos ," I said breathlessly.

Colette gave a surprised laugh. "I didn't take you for a graphic novels sort of reader."

I wasn't. At least I hadn't been until I'd been in my self-inflicted jail in my freaking apartment for the better part of nine months. I'd left my cozy and safe apartment only when necessary to do the bare minimum in author duties.

But I'd found a box of them from someone who'd moved out of my apartment building and left them behind. I probably should have tried to find the owner, but I'd been so fascinated by the dark figure on the front with his purple eyes that I'd snatched the box and dragged it back inside my place like a rabid raccoon.

I'd lost myself in the five volumes in the box, and immediately, I'd bought the rest online.

"It's impressively compelling. I have to admit I generally stick to my own genre for reading—both for research and just because I love romance. With a side of witchy cozy mysteries."

Colette dragged me over to the paranormal section and pulled a book off the shelf. "You mean like these?"

I snatched the book from her. "I didn't realize she had a new one."

"She's my favorite—well, besides you."

I nudged her. "You don't have to say that just to get me to sign."

"Oh, I'm not kidding." She looped her arm through mine again and I stumbled after her since I'd been reading the back blurb of the mystery.

She steered me toward the romance section, which was the biggest in the store, and settled me in front of five shelves of my books. Well, our books. My eyes misted over, and I hugged the mystery book against my chest. "Wow." I glanced over at her. "You weren't kidding."

"I was not. I already have a case of the new covers for Date With Disaster when they come out—oh, that's why you're here!"

I blushed. "Yeah, they are having the photoshoot for the calendar I'm a part of. Well, reshoot."

Colette bit her lip. "I heard about the cover model." She shrugged. "BookTok is my favorite place."

I laughed. "Yeah, it was a mess that was for sure. I was only supposed to come here to pop in on the photoshoot, but the photos of this town were so beautiful I decided to treat it like a writer retreat."

"So, you're sticking around?"

Caught in my own idiotic confession, I wasn't sure what to do.

"It's okay, I won't force myself on you with crazy questions—unless you're good with them. Over wine."

"Like an interview?" I asked hesitantly.

"That's actually a great idea…" Colette trailed off as if hatching a plan right before my eyes.

It was fascinating to see, actually. I'd been so wrapped up in my own business drama, it was interesting to see how another small business reacted to the other side of author life.

She squeezed my arm. "I'm going to think on that. It would be a very fun marketing thing to have authors of all kinds come in. However, in this instance, I just wanted to have coffee or a big freaking goblet of wine and talk about your books."

"Oh."

She tipped her head. "I'm not sure that's a good oh ."

The urge to draw back and go back to the cottage was fierce. But I'd been hiding forever. I was so tired of it. "A goblet of wine sounds really nice, actually."

"It does? Oh my God, that would be amazing. I swear, it feels like everyone I know is drinking sparkling seltzer these days, if you get my drift."

I was lost for a moment. Alcoholism? No, the lightbulb went on. "The fateful uteri?"

She snickered. "This place should be a book series of its own. It can't be possible for so many oops babies to be made here, but that story definitely needs wine."

I laughed, as I had been since she dragged me downstairs. "I'd actually like that."

"Good. Then we can talk about the store, and I'll fill you in on the town."

"Where does one get a goblet of wine around here?"

"The Spinning Wheel is usually where we land for drinks, but how about The Mason Jar? Has a great bar and we can get some food."

"Oh, that would be amazing. I'm staying on the lake. I think I passed that restaurant when I was exploring this morning."

"You can't miss it. It's three levels with a massive deck."

I nodded. "Then I definitely did."

"Then it's a date." At my wide eyes, she threw her head back with a belly laugh. "Wouldn't that be a helluva thing if I was picking you up?"

"I'd be flattered. You're stunning." I shrugged. "Unfortunately, I do enjoy men when I make the time for them. Which, to be honest, has been at the very bottom of my list this year."

"Which is a crime. You're gorgeous and smart."

"I'm going to have to keep hanging out with you for my ego, at the very least. I think this is only the second day I've worn a bra in a week."

"They are the devil." She glanced down at her rather bountiful chest. "But necessary. Though it might be the only way I'd get a date in this town."

I snickered, then I relaxed. Maybe making friends didn't have to be the most difficult thing in the world.

But that did mean I needed to go back to Vintage December for some clothes. Leaving with only my laptop was turning out to be a very annoying move on my part.

"What time should I meet you?"

"I want to go home and shower off the dust. I've been dusting everything in sight today for the signing."

"I suppose I should ask when that is."

"Saturday."

My jaw dropped. "As in three days from now, Saturday?"

"That's the one. Speaking of, I need to go beg my distributor to get me a special delivery. He's going to love me. How's seven sound?" she asked as she started backing her way to the check-out counters.

"Good. Oh, let me buy this book."

She waved me off. "Least I can do for you doing me a favor."

"You sure?"

"Best write-off ever." She winked. "I'll see you tonight. The Mason Jar has the best view of the water at night. Wear something warm and we can sit on the deck."

I nodded. "See you then."

I slipped out of the gift shop and headed back down to the vintage clothing store. I'd seen a few cute things I could add to my wardrobe when I'd been in there.

I should have just bought them when I saw them, but I didn't want to be weighed down with packages while I walked around the town.

I tucked the book into the crook of my arm. My tiny wristlet purse wasn't going to do, either. Guess it was time to do some shopping.

Leaves swirled around my ballet flats as I passed the bench. The urge to sit and read my new book was hard to resist, but I rushed for the door to the shop instead.

A horn blared, making me glance over my shoulder as a delivery truck made a narrow escape from slamming into a massive Ford truck. A sleek, black car came to a screeching halt behind the truck.

The man from the window was driving.

Our gazes met, and I gave him a half smile before opening the door.

At least I was pretty sure they did. The fizzy arrow that slammed into my chest said we'd definitely made visual contact. He was wearing stupidly hot aviator sunglasses, so I wasn't completely sure.

I couldn't help myself from sparing another peek in his direction, and he smacked his hand on the steering wheel before going around the truck.

Maybe it had just been my imagination, and I was grinning like an idiot to no one.

That was more my luck.

"You're back!" Ember met me at the front of the store, her multicolored hair and skirts floating behind at her quick pace. "I knew you needed that other wrap dress."

My cheeks flamed. "I really did love that one."

"It flatters you greatly."

"I actually need a few outfits. Think you can help me?"

"That's exactly what I'm here for." She hurried to a rack of clothes. "I actually thought of you when I was putting something away and found this."

She pulled a long plum dress out with a full skirt that swung around my knees when she held it up to me.

"See, this is perfect for you. I know it's a little dressier than you were looking for when you came in."

I caught the hanger against me and moved to the mirror. "Actually, I suddenly need something…"

"Fabulous?" The proprietress of Vintage December finished for me.

As I got a look at myself, I sighed. "Yeah. Fabulous is a really great word." I draped it over my arm then turned around. "And some everyday wear. Comfy clothes and cute."

"What's my budget?"

The sparkle in her eyes made me nervous, but it was time for me to get out of my own way for once.

"Generous."

She rubbed her hands together. "I got you."

I sure hoped she did. I was putting myself in the care of a second person today. "I can't wait."