Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Noah

The stellar ice cream hadn't been an anomaly. Turned out Lu Billings knew her stuff. And she also knew how to take nearly anything and make it fun.

It had been nice to talk about our hometowns without all the complicated feelings I had regarding both. She hadn't pushed on any of the topics of conversation, and as a result, I hadn't felt cornered and defensive.

Two days after our outing to Dottie's, I'd driven Lu to another first date before turning around and picking her back up twenty minutes later after her dinner companion took off during appetizers. He'd gone to the restroom and just never came back. Lu had gotten worried and messaged him through the dating app, but he'd already blocked her. She didn't seem too broken up about it. We'd gone for tacos at her favorite food truck in town instead. She'd shared some of her disaster dating stories from before I'd been her Huber driver, and I couldn't believe some of the douchebags she'd had to endure.

Just last night, her date had shown up with his mother. She'd made it through drinks at the bar before a text came in from Jimmy telling me to go back and get her. I'd had to pull over because we were laughing so hard while she recounted her time with the poor guy and his mom.

Then we'd hit a drive-through and parked in front of her building. We'd eaten chicken nuggets together and shared a large fry until a text from Jimmy told me to pick up someone who needed a ride to the Cozy Creek Lodge.

I knew whatever was going on between Lu and me was weird. It looked like friendship from the outside, but one dictated by her dating life and my job. I was skittish enough that she hadn't asked for my number so we could hang out together beyond her failed social engagements and my work schedule.

So far, she was content to be a friend to a guy who was obviously trying to keep his distance but was finding it increasingly difficult to resist her charms.

The problem wasn't with Lu. She was awesome—smart and funny and gorgeous and kind. We had a great time together and were friends, as quickly and unexpectedly as it had happened. I liked her a lot, but I didn't trust myself—not anymore.

Lu didn't put pressure on me by asking for more information than I was ready to give. I'd show up, call her a silly nickname to get her to smile, she'd guess something ridiculous about why I'd moved to Cozy Creek, and then we'd pick up where we left off the time before.

Despite the attraction I felt simmering beneath the surface, she'd never made a move on me. And there was no way I'd risk a new friendship with the only person in town I sort of knew.

I wasn't sure what I'd do when one of these first dates actually panned out for her. The thought of picking her up hours later and listening to her moon over someone else would be admittedly terrible.

But at least if she went home with the guy, I'd be spared the morning-after ride-share of shame. Henry would answer those requests since he was the Huber driver covering the day shift. Actually, that thought wasn't much better.

It was Friday afternoon and I'd just gotten my first text from Jimmy telling me to pick up Lu in the town square. I pulled up downtown to see a bunch of white booths set up around the gazebo. Circling the perimeter, I noticed firepits in the surrounding grass. Some people sat in clusters, gathered around with shopping bags and iced coffees, while the vendors under the tents seemed to be breaking down their displays and packing up their merchandise for the day. A large wooden sandwich board sign announced in hand-lettered script that this was the weekly farmers' market open on Fridays from June through October, specializing in flowers, produce, and handmade wares.

Lu stood on the sidewalk next to the loading zone with a huge shopping bag and three crates stacked neatly at her feet. Her ever-present oversized purse was on her shoulder, and I didn't know how she wasn't listing to the side. I'd seen her pull a bottle of wine from that thing before.

The boxes reached higher than her midsection, and she sipped a boba tea while waiting. Frowning, I stopped and shifted into park. Had she lugged all this stuff down from one of the booths herself?

I'd known that Lu had her own Etsy shop and made . . . things for customers. She'd mentioned it during that first night when we'd grabbed burgers together at Skytop Diner. But she hadn't elaborated.

"Heya, Noah." She smiled and bit her straw.

"Did you carry all this by yourself?" I demanded as I jumped out of the vehicle and went around to the back.

Her brows arched high on her forehead, and she lowered the plastic cup she held. "Um, yeah. I loaded up a little while ago before I called Jimmy to request a ride."

"How did you even get here with everything?"

"Henry brought me this morning and helped me to my booth." She tried for a reassuring smile. "Paused his audiobook and everything."

I hesitated to open the tailgate and looked at Lu. "Well, why didn't you—" I stopped myself from finishing that sentence. Why didn't you call me and ask for help?

Lu didn't even have my phone number. Our friendship wasn't like that. I was keeping everything safe and distant so I didn't fucking get hurt again.

Blowing out a breath, I pulled myself together. I was being ridiculous. She could manage on her own. Lu didn't need me.

She didn't say anything as she watched me lower the tailgate and step forward onto the curb to grab her things.

"Noah," she said softly, placing a staying hand on my forearm. Her skin was soft and warm, and she had a colorful beaded friendship bracelet that said "DeLuLu" on it. A delicate scent drifted over me—something warm and sweet that could dissolve on my tongue if given a chance. "Usually, I have my own car, and I set up and tear down and carry stuff all on my own. I have a cute little collapsible two-wheeler dolly and everything. Sometimes my best friend Cody comes and helps and sits with me in the booth. But I'm okay, I promise. I'm used to it."

I nodded without meeting her knowing gaze. Her hand fell away as I shifted the topmost crate into my arms and made for the back of the Bronco.

Together we got everything loaded and into the vehicle. Lu climbed in the back seat while I shifted a few crates to ensure they didn't topple over and spill their contents. One of the boxes had greeting cards on a display carousel in bright and eye-catching colors. Funny sayings and drawings were visible on the front of each piece of folded white cardstock. A brown envelope sat behind and accompanied the cards. I looked down in the next crate at matted and clear plastic-wrapped prints of varying sizes. The artwork was similar in style to the greeting cards, and the colors were, once again, vibrant and happy.

"These are awesome, Lucille Ball."

Lu turned to face me, propping her chin up on the seatback. She wore a grin and seemed to ignore my weirdness from before. "Thanks, beekeeper."

I smiled. "Why didn't you tell me you were an artist?"

She shifted a little in her seat. "I told you I had my own shop."

"Yeah, but not really what you did."

Lu sighed. "I don't know. People can be weird about it. Like it's this hobby I have."

Frowning, I asked, "But isn't it your job? Like, your only job, right? You don't work part-time somewhere else."

"No, this is my only form of employment. I'm not independently wealthy, but my online shop does well. I have a dedicated client base, and I supply greeting card stock to the General Store in town and other shops all over the country."

"That's amazing." I eyed her. Her gray eyes were shifty, and it was clear she wasn't super comfortable with the topic.

Closing the hatch and the tailgate, I climbed back in the driver's seat before spinning to face her. "Do you ever work on commissions for people?"

"Uh, no. Not anymore." She paused, and somehow, I knew to give her space with whatever she needed to work through. Lu finally offered, "I used to paint and draw a lot, but that's not really feasible to maintain unless original artwork is all I'm doing. I shifted my focus to what I'm doing now—premade digital art that I design myself and duplicate. It just made more sense from a business perspective."

I thought about what she'd said about people being weird about her work and wondered who'd dimmed her light. "Do some people really consider this just a hobby and not a successful business that you own and operate like a badass art and design mogul?"

The smile was finally back on her face. "Mogul makes it sound like I'm an evil villain."

"Tycoon? Magnate? Lord of business? Chief of operations?" I offered instead.

"Boss babe extraordinaire, if you please."

Part of me wanted to let her divert. Probably the same part that was too much of a dumbass to give her my number and offer to carry her stuff.

Instead, I heard myself ask softly, "Who makes you feel like it's just a hobby, Lu?"

Her grin faded, and she held my gaze for a beat before admitting, "My family, I guess."

Ah, the same family she worked her ass off to keep together. One of our earliest conversations floated back to me—when I'd put my foot in my mouth and also put that kicked-puppy look on her face. The one she wore right now. It made my chest feel tight and uncomfortable to take someone like Lu—friendly and bright as the sun—and cast her in shadow.

"I'm sorry they make you feel like anything less than the boss babe extraordinaire you are."

"It's okay," she whispered. "Sometimes the people who've known you the longest have the hardest time seeing who you really are."

I nodded because that was so very true.

Facing forward, I started the Bronco and checked my mirrors before pulling away from the town square. "Do you think I can buy a print from you for my apartment? I could use some artwork in there."

"You know, there are a lot of amazing artists in the area. I bet you could find some really great artwork that you'd love."

"Are you saying you're too good to sell me one of your prints, Julia Louis-Dreyfus?"

She laughed in delight, a sound I loved to hear. "No, you weirdo. I'm saying there might be something better out there, more to your aesthetic. More your vibe."

I made the turn into the parking lot of Shady Peaks. "Maybe my vibe is colorful digital art. Maybe I'm a live, laugh, love sort of guy."

"Ha! Yeah, no way." Then she straightened in her seat. "Oh, that reminds me."

Instead of pulling up to the curb to let her out, I parked in a spot near her building, intent on helping her carry her things up. "Of what?"

"Why you moved here."

Unease had my hands tightening around the steering wheel. I knew Lu meant these little guesses all in good fun. There was no way she'd put together how I'd ended up in Cozy Creek. But every time she threw out some ridiculous scenario, I felt the reminder of the truth like a kick to the teeth.

Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Lu stated, "You moved here to attend Ms. Tammy's Cosmetology School, but sadly, you didn't pass the entrance exam of applying a perfect smoky eye and setting a perm."

I looked over my shoulder. "Ms. Tammy would be lucky to have me."

She cackled before grabbing her sinkhole of a purse and hopping down from the SUV. "You don't have to help me carry all this up."

I shot her a look as I joined her by the tailgate. "Right."

"I'm just saying! I can manage."

"I know. You're a boss babe extraordinaire. And now you get to boss me around for ten minutes while I pack mule your wares to your door."

She cringed, her nose crinkling adorably. "Don't say wares. It makes them sound like sex toys."

I choked out a laugh.

It took two trips for us to manage all her things, riding the elevator up to the fourth floor each time.

Lu unlocked the door to her apartment and shuffle-kicked-dragged one of the crates inside as she held the door for me and simultaneously flipped on the light switch. Her apartment was exactly how I imagined. It was inviting and comfortable with bright splashes of color. A midnight-blue velvet couch dominated the living room. It was wide and deep with a mountain of throw pillows spanning every color in the rainbow.

A striking wooden sculpture drew my eye to the large wall spanning the length of the main room. The light-colored wood twisted and flowed into branches like a tree from where it perched on the shelf.

Lu saw me eyeing the piece. "It's custom. By this fantastic artist Levi Carmichael. He's ridiculously talented, and he gave me the local pricing. You should check him out. You're a local now."

"Yeah, maybe I will," I agreed. "It's amazing."

She beamed. "Here, let me take that." She snatched the box I'd been holding and moved through the living room, past the open-concept kitchen, and down the hallway, calling over her shoulder, "I use the second bedroom as an office and store all this stuff in there."

I took a moment to grab everything else we'd left in the hallway and brought it inside. Feeling weird about following her deeper into the apartment, I stood there awkwardly.

Lu returned. Amusement radiated from her, as if my discomfort and hesitancy in her home were entertaining. "You can just leave those there. I'll grab them later."

"Oh, okay," I said, taking a few steps back.

"Do you want to stay? I can order a pizza. Turn on a movie." She paused, unaware of how my heart pounded out a violent rhythm in my chest at her innocent invitation. "I just realized, I have no idea what sort of movies or shows you watch. How have we not discussed this? What if you're a Star Trek person and not a Star Wars person?"

I was actually a Doctor Who person.

"I should probably get going," I said instead. "I'm still on shift."

The excuse fell pretty flat. We'd hung out several times in the past couple of weeks while I was working—I just kept my phone with me and left if a ride request came in. So far, it hadn't been an issue or problem.

If Lu was upset by my quick rejection, she didn't show it. She smiled and said, "Okay. Well, I really appreciate your help carrying all my stuff up."

I took another step back, closer to the front door—needing space, needing room to breathe through my own fucking hang-ups and the disappointment twisting through me at what I was doing. I wanted to stay. I wanted to eat pizza and watch a movie on that blue couch surrounded by a Skittles-color array of throw pillows.

But I couldn't.

"Here, let me grab the money for my ride." She scrambled for her bag and started digging through it.

"It's okay," I heard myself say, desperate to flee.

Unaware of my inner turmoil, Lu didn't look up. She kept digging through her cavernous purse for cash and said, "No, don't be silly."

Retreat was the only thing on my mind. I'd just turned away and closed my fist around the doorknob when Lu's small hand landed on my forearm, stalling my escape.

I was unsteady already, and the feel of her soft, warm hand on my arm was doing unholy things to my balance. I'd been so careful to keep my distance and avoid casual touches with her. But Lu was pressing bills carefully into my other hand and closing my stiff fingers around them. It was all so innocent and over in the space of a breath. But in that single exhalation, my mind spun in circles, landing on a million complications over and over again.

"Thanks again." Her words were soft but they echoed loudly in my head.

"No problem," I mumbled, meeting her gray gaze that was far too knowing. She was so close I could smell that warm, sweet scent again—something vanilla and spice that lived on her skin and in her hair. The blond waves were loose and misbehaving, wild around her pretty face.

She saw me looking and tucked a strand behind her ear. "See you around, Noah."

I shoved my hand—and her money—in my pocket before I could do something stupid like run my fingers through her hair.

"Bye, Lu," I breathed into the charged atmosphere between us.

And then I bolted, sucking in the fresh fall evening air, attempting to get the scent of her out of my lungs and out of my head.

A tiny voice that sounded suspiciously like self-awareness whispered through the mountains that it was already too late.