Chapter 5

FIVE

I threaded my way through the tables of The Mason Jar. It was a mid-week kind of crowd with plenty of tables available. According to the hostess, Colette was on the upper deck.

I was glad I'd found a big, cozy sweater at Ember's shop. I'd ended up with almost six hundred dollars of clothing. I figured I'd even out the last of my wardrobe with a Target delivery. I enjoyed supporting the local economy, but I still tried to keep myself on a budget.

Kind of.

I ran my hand over the sleeve of the fuzzy sweater. It had definitely been a splurge, but the soft sage color made my eyes look amazing. The worn jeans were totally going to become a staple in my wardrobe.

Well, when I wasn't in my usual writer gear. Yoga pants were a gift from the gods as far as I was concerned.

I climbed the stairs to the second floor of the restaurant. How freaking big was this place?

When I stepped onto the deck, my breath stopped. This was why it was three floors. The lake spread out for what seemed like forever. There was a dock with a ferry-style boat tied to it.

The deep green boat was dark save for a few lights along the upper deck to show off like a crown. It was spectacular, and it probably would be the perfect place to throw a fun party.

Not that I was a party girl, but if I was… That would be the one.

"Rita!"

I turned at the voice and spotted Colette at the bar. She waved me over. "We have a table up on the top deck."

I craned my neck. "Seems kinda high."

"The view makes up for it." She glanced at the bartender. "Right, Sly?"

He grinned. "I've stolen away up there on many a break." He had jet black hair and gray eyes that looked silver in the waning sun. He was also freaking gorgeous and probably twenty-two damn years old, but it didn't hurt to look.

"As long as I don't have to think about how high it is up there, we're good."

Colette slipped her arm around mine. She had changed into slim fitting dark-washed jeans and a deep red sweater that matched her wide, lush mouth. She also had on a pair of wicked boots that activated my green gene.

"You look amazing," I blurted out.

She grinned. "You're good for the ego. Thanks. It's finally getting cool enough to actually wear my hot girl fall clothes."

"Succeeded."

Her laugh was deep and throaty and at least three guys in the vicinity swiveled to look at her.

And somehow, she didn't even notice. Colette just firmed her grip on my arm, and we marched up the steel and driftwood steps to the top.

I was definitely glad I'd listened to her about the sweater. Once we got to our table at the edge of the deck, the wind kicked up.

A waitress with long dark hair followed us over. "Hey, Col."

"Hey, Rami! Long time no see."

"Kid keeps me hopping." The waitress grinned. "Can I start you guys with something?"

"How do you feel about rosé?" Colette turned to me.

"I feel very good about rosé."

"I knew we were going to get along." She smiled up at Rami. "A bottle of Ashes Rosé and those yummy pretzels and the hot honey mustard?" She glanced at me for affirmation.

My mouth watered. "Sounds good to me."

"Got it." Rami smiled and took off across the deck.

There were only a handful of people up there with us, and I relaxed as the sound of the water lapping against the boat pushed the rest of the nerves out of me. "It's really nice up here."

Colette propped her head on her hand. "I know. I don't get out here nearly enough these days. The store keeps me busy and…" She trailed off.

"And?"

"I've been doing a lot of planning for the extension. I'm nervous to do it, but I've been saving up for so long I just have to go for it."

I leaned back in the chair and folded my arms over my middle. "Somehow I have the feeling you have a five-year plan spreadsheet going."

She flushed. "That obvious? I keep trying for that cool, classy, and unaffected girl thing."

I laughed. "Don't worry about that part. You're far too fascinating to be single—unless, of course, you like it that way."

She sighed. "I don't. I'm not entirely sure I'm ready for booties like most of the people in this town, but I do miss sex. So much!"

One of the older guys sitting a few tables away turned to look at her.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't be looking over here, Gary. I know your Christmas list with Lisa."

"You shout something like that, and a man can't help but look, Colette."

She glanced at me. "I just miss that buzz, you know?"

I did.

Mostly, I was missing any sort of reaction in my stupid body. It had been like I'd been in a deep freeze for the last… Well, almost a year. And the last guy I had been with had been severely lacking in buzz.

"What's going on over there in that head of yours?"

I rolled my eyes. "Just thinking back on the last guy I was with."

"That good?"

"Let's just say I had to pull out my handy dandy vibrator after he left."

She sat up and clapped delightedly. "Been there, sister."

Rami came back with an array of soft, warm pretzels and the most amazing trio of dips, as well as full water glasses. "We have some new dips. I figured you guys might want to try them. The green one is hot."

Colette rubbed her hands together. "That's what I'm talking about."

"Wasabi hot, Col. Be careful."

She reached for the basket and tore a steaming pretzel apart and dipped the tiniest tip in. "Happy?"

Rami put a hand on her hip. "Well, go ahead."

Colette took a bite, and her eyes widened, but she kept chewing.

I had a feeling Rami was a longtime friend. When Colette finally gave up and grabbed the water glass, the waitress cackled and pounded her on the back while she coughed. "I told you."

When Colette's eyes stopped streaming with tears, Rami gave her a stern look. "You'll never learn."

Colette finished her glass and held it up.

Rami took it. "I'll be back with a refill and your wine." She pointed at Colette. "Behave."

I pushed my water toward Colette, and she took it gratefully.

I actually had a penchant for hot food, so I decided to dunk the tip of my pretzel in the wasabi.

"Have a death wish?" She dabbed her mouth with her cloth napkin.

I shrugged and chewed. "Wimp." My eyes bulged. What had gotten into me? I never teased near strangers.

Colette laughed and picked up another pretzel, this time spinning the basket to the honey mustard. "Not usually, but you must have an asbestos tongue."

I dunked again. "I used to do hot wing competitions for free food."

I frowned. What the hell was going on with me? Generally, I didn't share anything with people. It was easier to let others talk, and I could just coast.

"Really?" She leaned forward. "How did that work?"

I shrugged. "Not much to do in Brooklyn when you're not a sports type. Bookish nerds had to do something cool so I could keep my face the way it is."

She stacked her arms on the table. "I don't think I knew that about you."

I arched a brow at her.

She shrugged. "Google. BookTok…I know stuff."

I sampled the hot honey mustard and hummed. "Oh, that's good."

"Yeah, it's my fave."

I finished chewing. "So, you googled me?"

"Shamelessly. Not that there was much to find. Plenty on Jenelle, but not much on you." She broke off another end of a pretzel stick. "You can tell me to shut up—I'm just naturally curious."

"Is this going to end up on a video?"

"No. But I can test my interview skills on you." She pointed the pretzel at me. "What do you think about a super ridiculous couch for the expansion? Is that crazy?"

"For your videos?"

"Yeah. Maybe make it a feature spot like the Ripped Bodice girls have. I know there's some really cool old brick behind some of the walls. Ask me how I know?"

Happy that the subject was away from me, I leaned forward. "How?"

"I was trying to hang a really heavy poster, so I needed one of those molly things. You know that does this—" She made two fingers go straight then wide apart in the opposite direction.

I nodded. "Renovation research, remember?"

"Right. What was that character? Chase?"

I laughed. "Good memory. Pretty sure yours is better than mine. I've written so many books they kind of blur. Thank God for my series bibles."

"I'd happily kill to look at those."

I huffed out a laugh. No way I was sharing that. "What made you open a gift-slash-bookshop?"

Rami came by with our wine and we both sat back while she poured. "You guys ready to order?"

"Maybe in a few?" Colette asked.

The waitress nodded. "I'll come back in a bit."

"Thanks," I said softly.

Colette lifted her glass for a sip. She closed her golden eyes with a sigh. "I can't tell you how much I needed this wine today." Oh, hey, would you mind if we did a little photo to tease you being added to my signing?"

"I don't know…"

"Gotta pull the bandage off, right?"

Quickly, I fussed with my hair. I really hated getting my picture taken, but maybe a candid one wouldn't be too hard to deal with. I hoped.

Colette held her phone up in selfie mode. "Super casual. Don't worry about anything."

"Easy for you to say, since you're stunning."

"Okay, girl next door with your big green eyes. Whatever."

"Girl next door? You think?" If people knew what my next-door neighbors had consisted of.

I didn't think Romancelandia was ready for my past just quite yet.

"Definitely. With those freckles that just won't be covered."

I wrinkled my nose. "Unless I want super coverage makeup, they are here to stay."

"No way. You'll look young forever. Now lean in and smile." She lifted the phone and said, "Duck."

I was so surprised that I laughed just as she took the shot.

She flashed it to me. "Look at us. We're adorable."

"Duck?"

She laughed. "Ducks are kinda a thing here in the Cove. And it made you laugh."

"It did." I peered over at the photo. "Can you send that to me?"

"Yeah. Now I'll get your number, and we can text. I'm an epic texter."

I pulled out my phone and frowned that I had crap bars. I'd forgotten to do the cell tower reset thing. "Do you have a place for new phones? Mine is ancient."

She laughed. "It sure is. We don't really have big corporate stores in town but if you go to nearby… you know what? Why don't I take you tomorrow?"

"Would you?" Surprised at the offer, I got a lump in my throat.

"Sure. I need to get some things at Target."

"Oh, I do too." I was not going to get emotional about a simple shopping trip. Ugh. Relax, weirdo.

"Well, then, I guess we're going shopping too." She texted me the photo and my phone sat like a stone. "Wow. Really no signal, huh?"

"I guess the signal isn't great at the lake."

"Not unless you have AT&T."

"You're the second person to tell me that. I guess that's where we're going."

"All good. We can go early if you want. Wednesdays are slow at the shop so I can get AJ to cover for me. She covers most of the yarn world upstairs, but she helps me out downstairs too."

"If you're sure?"

"Definitely. Shopping is my favorite thing to do." She glanced at my sweater. "I see you changed into something cute. Looks like Ember's kind of clothes."

"Good eye."

"Vintage December gets a lot of my cash when I splurge. She's got such cute stuff. I almost went down to see her for some retail therapy. I fought with my distributor for half the afternoon."

"Is it going to be too difficult to get the books in? I don't have to do it this weekend. I can do it next week or the one after. I'll be in town for a while."

"Nope. I already sent a newsletter out and updated my fliers. We are so doing this. I always get my way." She smiled behind the rim of her glass.

"I'm getting that." I took a sip of my own and let myself relax again. I wasn't being interrogated, and I also had to learn how to do this stuff on my own. I couldn't just shove all of the interviews or signings over to my co-writer.

I was the sole writer.

"So, when I was sixteen, I worked at another gift shop. One of those Hallmark kinds. I loved setting up displays and finding all the treasures hidden away in the back. But they ran it like shit. I knew I could do better."

"Even at sixteen?"

The only thing I knew how to do when I was sixteen was how to hotwire a car.

"School was pushing for college visits and applications, so I just decided I'd go for a business degree. I majored in marketing and got out of my small town—not far from here, actually. Turnbull is close by. But it turns out I didn't want to do the big corporate marketing. What I really wanted was Every Line."

"So, you rented the space?"

"Nope. I bought it."

I froze with my glass halfway to my mouth. "I'm sorry?" Owning was such a foreign concept. In Manhattan, you couldn't afford to buy unless you had hundreds of thousands at your disposal, at a minimum.

"I know. My mom thought I was nuts too. I'd inherited my grandmother's farmhouse when she passed away, and I didn't need the farmland, so I sold it off and kept the house. The marketing firm I was working at was doing layoffs, and I volunteered to take a severance package. Between that and the land, I had the capital to buy the property—then the rest is history."

"So, you don't live in the Cove?"

"Oh, I do. My grandmother was from here. I'm on the edge of town, but I'm definitely a Coveite."

Rami came back, and we both snagged the menus off the table. I ordered the shrimp scampi and Colette went with grilled salmon.

We chatted about various ideas for the store as well as her expansion as the sun set on the water, and we finished off the bottle of wine and our dinners. It had been a damn long time since I'd had such fun with someone other than Jenelle.

For a few hours, I forgot about my problems and the nerves about doing the signing.

Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to do this writerly adulting thing, after all.

I managed to dodge more of Colette's cleverly worded questions and figured I wouldn't be so lucky the next day, so I didn't feel too guilty about it.

We paid the bill—or Colette did, since she wouldn't let me. We headed out with plans for me to meet her at the shop the next morning.

I should have gone right to the cottage. I was right on the lake, for God's sake, but the night was so nice, I ended up driving back into town. There weren't many places open, but I wasn't quite ready to be all the way alone.

I drove down Main Street, charmed that Halloween was a part of every one of the stores. From delightfully painted pumpkins to a scarecrow that reminded me of the Raggedy Anne & Andy books.

I'd always gotten hand-me-down books while in foster care. While kids in school had the latest and greatest, I had ancient toys and Nancy Drew books by the box full. When I'd been old enough for a library card, I had read everything I could get my hands on.

I'd been a little too old to get adopted out easily and ended up bouncing from foster home to foster home until I had finally managed to age out enough to slip away.

I was tired of getting dumped on families and starting over at schools. Instead, I had just done the GED thing and bounced.

Shaking off those old memories, I focused on the quaint town and the quiet. I lived close to Times Square because I loved the noise and the life—or at least I had used to.

This pervasive quiet was taking some getting used to.

Even the businesses had shuttered early. The sun had set only an hour ago, and most of the stores were closed. I was tempted to stop into the small wine shop near the park, but I knew the half bottle I'd shared with Colette through the night would haunt me.

Better to just drown myself in water or…unnecessary coffee.

Brewed Awakening was still open. Their window was the most impressive other than the horror-themed restaurant next door. Pumpkins in every size were stacked wearing crazy smiles in both paint and carving. Lights flickered from within dozens of them as well as from dripping candles in gothic candelabras.

As I got closer, I noted that the dripping candles were actually battery-operated, but they were seriously impressive.

I found a parking spot on the street in front of the gazebo. Both the gazebo and the pier were lit up with purple and orange lights. The gazebo had been outfitted in skeletons doing everyday things like taking a photo or playing a guitar.

Charmed, I pulled out my phone and took a few pictures.

Now that I had to think about things like TikTok and the other social medias, I needed to show what my life was like now. That and perhaps it would help Colette for her signing.

Sighing at my shit signal, I tucked my phone away and made a mental note to post them later.

Main Street was lit up, even if there were barely any people around. A few lingered in the park beside the gazebo, but by the sound of the laughter, they were probably bored teens.

Not much life for older kids around here. With my past, I knew all too well how easy it was to get into trouble when I ran out of things to do.

I crossed to Brewed Awakening, and as I opened the door, I was slammed in the face by the most delicious scents I'd ever encountered. From the state of the café, it seemed as if they were getting ready to close down for the evening.

I imagined they opened up quite early, as well.

There was a massive chalkboard on a table just inside the door, stating the specials for the evening. Still full from my dinner, I skipped right to the goodies.

I had a weakness for chocolate.

I scanned the list and zeroed in on the dark chocolate raspberry cake with a dark chocolate cocoa drink.

The sweet young woman behind the counter gave me a puzzled look, but she took my order quickly.

"We're closing in thirty, so take your time." She pushed the cake across to me. "I'll bring out your cocoa in just a minute. I need to steam the milk."

"Great, thanks."

I took my cake over to a long table stacked with books. It looked as if someone was trying to put them in order, but I couldn't resist the chaos.

I sat down and pulled a pile in front of me and only then noticed the other person at the end of the table.

My fork clattered to the table as my hand jerked. "You."

My dark-haired mystery man from earlier grinned behind a bowl-sized cup. "We meet again." He took a long swallow and closed his eyes for a moment. "Good stuff."

The waitress from earlier came by with a harried smile. "Sorry it took so long."

I smiled up at her. "You're fine. Thanks."

She glanced from me to mystery man with her lips pressed tight before bustling away.

I glanced over at him.

"Try it. Bet you'll have the same reaction."

I glanced down at the piping hot mug of chocolate glory. It was so rich and dark—much like mystery man's eyes. I cupped my fingers around the similarly sized cup.

Even that made me want to hum, but I was far too aware of the man at the end of the table.

Since he made no move to get closer, I took the chance to take a sensitive sip. The chocolate was as good as any I'd had in Paris, for God's sake.

In this little town that had a population of maybe three-thousand. How?

"I know. It's stunningly good. Got the hot chocolate?"

"Dark," I said softly.

"She likes the dark side. Good to know."

I glanced down at my cake. I hadn't dared to go down a dark road in a long, long time.

"I didn't scare you away, I hope."

I lifted my gaze to his. "Takes a bit more than a bad pick-up line to scare me."

He smiled, a tiny dent of a dimple in his dense beard made him even more attractive.

Which shouldn't be possible.

He was ridiculously handsome with his wild curls that touched his shoulders. His forest green Henley was the same from this afternoon. Now he was close enough for me to see the dark hair on his ropy forearms and that the bridge of his nose was slightly askew.

Broken, perhaps?

"What's going on in that beautiful head of yours?"

I simply lifted the cup to my mouth and gave him a similar smile.

"A quiet one, then?"

Enjoying the impromptu game, I set my cup down and lifted my fork silently.

"Okay. Reserving judgement. Understandable. I'm just a stranger who was struck dumb by you in the gift shop. No problem."

I couldn't stop the lip twitch as I cut a little triangle off the decadent dessert.

"Do you realize just how beautiful you are?" He pressed a finger to his lips for a second. "Of course you do. Beautiful women are always aware of their allure."

I just arched a brow at him as I took a bite and closed my eyes with a little hum of happiness. Between the rich hot chocolate and the cake, my whole chocolate sensor box was on overload.

When I opened my eyes again, he was leaning back in his chair. The surprisingly high-backed chair was…velvet? Like he was a king sitting back on his throne.

I swallowed the cake and tried not to imagine straddling him on that chair.

Which was not me.

I broke our intense eye contact and looked back at my plate.

"Those eyes say so very much."

I glanced back up at him, asking the question with my arched brow.

"That perhaps you're not used to enjoying something so thoroughly?"

I lifted a shoulder.

"Or you were imagining something else? Could I be that lucky?"

I wrinkled my nose.

"Damn. My charm torpedoed."

I let a little smirk free.

"You're wondering to yourself. Self, is this guy a weirdo? I mean, he's stunningly and hauntingly handsome, but is he a weirdo?"

I nearly snickered, but I managed to swallow it down with a little cough.

"Is that for the weird or the stunningly handsome?"

I shrugged again.

"Oh, you're a cruel one. Maybe a cruel and capricious woman? I seem to attract them like bees to honey. I know, I know—cliché. But it is very true. An aloof woman is my kryptonite but then they end up being a little…unhinged."

I gave him my arched brow.

"That one probably didn't help my case." He sat forward and laced his long fingers around the big mug.

I couldn't help but notice the black smudges around his thumb and forefinger. Mechanic?

No, his fingers had tiny nicks of white from old scars, but not the knuckle bruising kind like someone who worked with their hands would have. No, he was something else.

"Someone with freckles can't be cruel or capricious, right?"

Absently, I touched the bridge of my nose.

"But if I remember that stunning tattoo correctly, there is less of a simple answer. Or the gauges in your tiny, perfect ears. Slightly hidden by the dainty hoops you've put through them. Means you have an interesting past."

I dropped my gaze to my mug. Interesting was one word for it.

"Hey guys, we're about to lock up." A different staff member stopped at our table. "Hate to push you off."

I smiled up at the barista and nodded. Luckily, my hot chocolate had cooled enough for me to take a long draw from it.

My hot, dark-haired stranger tipped his head. "Not gonna give me your name, are you?"

I shook my head.

"Then you don't get mine." He stood and tossed a ten on the table. "I'll get it."

I lifted my mug again and gave him a shrug.

"It's a small town, my stunning stranger. I'll find it out, one way or another.

Probably not. No one knows me here.

I lifted my mug in a toast. "Good luck."

"She speaks!"

One of the baristas lifted a chair and flipped it over the table as the other stacked up the books.

"I got the hint." He laughed and gave one of the staff a little salute, and then he turned to me. "See ya around, Green Eyes."

I couldn't help myself from watching him walk away. The black jeans did really good things for his butt too.

He was far too attractive for his own good.

I waited until he was well and truly gone. I was a city girl and well-aware of my small stature and what a man could do—even in a small town.

He was still a stranger.

Even if he made all sorts of things come alive inside of me.