Chapter 7

Zoe was going stir crazy.She was used to being on her own and tucked away in solitude when she was writing, but Colt had been right—staring at a computer screen had been torture for the last several days. She'd finally given up trying to get her words written altogether.

She was behind on her deadline, though she wasn't at the point where it was stressing her out yet—at least not too much. But she couldn't lie around any longer and sleep, no matter how much the tiny words on the screen made her head ache.

Every box in her house had been unpacked, her closets organized, and the spices in her drawers alphabetized. She was officially moved in. She could admit that Colt had been right. It had felt good to open her doors to her new community. And even if she hadn't opened them willingly, she had a feeling they would have come anyway. The people of Laurel Valley were like none she'd ever met, and her introverted self was still somewhat shell shocked by the whirlwind of people who'd been in and out of her condo the last few days.

She'd met most of the O'Hara women—she hadn't realized that the woman she'd met at the beauty salon had been Colt's sister-in-law, Raven—along with his Aunt Simone, his sister-in-law Dylan, and his mother Anne.

As far as they were all concerned, Colt hung the moon and stars. Of course, they weren't subtle in their attempts at matchmaking, but Zoe couldn't help but laugh at the childhood stories they'd shared. Colt's brothers had showed up to move her furniture where she'd needed it to go, and women who weren't related to the O'Haras came by with casserole dishes. Apparently, everyone had heard of Chewy's misdeeds and her concussion.

She'd received numerous home remedies for the bruising on her forehead, several new recipes to add to her nonexistent collection, and a handful of readers had come by with books so she could sign them. In New York, it would have made her nervous for readers to show up at her home. There had been the occasional fanatic over the last decade of her career. But for some reason it didn't bother her in Laurel Valley. The people here were so…nice.

She'd been blown away at the hospitality they showed her. Never in her life had she witnessed a community that cared so much for one another—or a family that loved and argued and laughed with the same amount of passion and loyalty to one another. It made the world she'd grown up in seem almost foreign. Was this how most families behaved? Or were they an anomaly?

"Well, Chewy," Zoe said. "What do you think?"

She'd managed to cover most of the bruising on her forehead with makeup, but there was still a slight tinge of green that refused to be covered.

Chewy whined and avoided her gaze.

"Oh, that's nice," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "If you think I look bad now, pal, you haven't seen anything yet. I rarely wear makeup or put on anything other than pajamas, so I hope you keep your expectations low."

Chewy blew the hair out of his eyes and then padded into her closet.

"What? Are you planning to pick out my clothes now?" she asked, watching him in amusement. "Maybe I need all the help I can get."

She and Chewy had come to an arrangement of sorts. She agreed to take him out when he asked and give him treats on the regular, and he promised not to run away again. At least that's what she'd thought the agreement had been. He was a dog with many opinions, considering he'd spent the last six months of his life in the pokey.

Zoe stood in the big walk-in closet and stared at the clothes that were hung neatly. They were too…New York. Laurel Valley was a place of color and texture—all she had to do was look at the sunrises and sunsets to know that.

She grabbed a pair of tight black jeans and Chewy whined again.

"It's what I have," she said. "Geez."

She found a silky tank in the same mossy green as her eyes and held it up for Chewy's inspection. He woofed and his tail wagged.

"Thank you. You've been quite helpful."

She put some product in her hair like the salon owner had showed her, and slipped her feet into black ballet flats. She found a pair of large silver hoops—because short hair seemed to call for big earrings—and she decided probably no one would notice the slight discoloring still showing on her forehead.

Chewy was waiting by the front door for her with his leash in his mouth. He'd been cooped up as much as she had, except for his bathroom trips outside. She bit down on her lip.

"Are dogs welcome everywhere in this town? Do you like to shop?"

Chewy whined and pawed at the door.

"Okay," she said with a sigh. "But you have to be on your best behavior. You already have a reputation around town."

He whined again and she clipped the leash on to his collar.

"Maybe while we're out we can get you a few new things," she told him. "I haven't been a very attentive dog mom. Your own bed and some toys might be nice. And a brand-new collar with your name on it. We're both starting new lives, Chewy. It's important to commemorate it."

He looked at her with the wisdom of a thousand sages and trotted to the elevator.

As soon as they left the lobby Zoe breathed in the fresh mountain air. Getting out of the condo had been the right decision. Even if the streets and sidewalks were full of tourists.

"Come on, Chewy. Look like you know what you're doing. We're locals now."

They waited at the crosswalk for the light to turn, and then they made their way to the center of town. Laurel Valley wasn't a difficult place to navigate. She'd learned if you could find your way to The Lampstand you could find almost anything. Which was maybe the point of a place called The Lampstand.

She was glad she'd brought Chewy. He was so big he cut a nice path through the crowd for her, so she followed along and waved and smiled at the children who watched the dog with wide-eyed fascination.

She knew where she was going before she crossed the picnic area at the center of town. A heavy stream of customers were coming in and out of Raven Layne, and she noticed the suit she'd admired was gone out of the window.

"Sorry, buddy," she said to Chewy. "You're going to have to wait outside. But there's a nice spot in the shade and a hook for your leash. And look, they've got watering spots for dogs all along the sidewalks. I guess this is a dog town. I'll keep an eye on you from inside and if anyone gives you trouble just call for help."

Chewy woofed agreeably and settled himself in the shade near the watering dish. She hung his leash on the hook provided and stepped inside the boutique.

It smelled of sage and lavender and she could tell immediately that it was a place that sold quality clothing.

"Zoe!" Raven called out, waving from behind the counter. "I'll be right there. Don't go anywhere."

Zoe chuckled and weaved her way through cleverly displayed designer outfits. And then she noticed a beaded curtain that led into a back area that she assumed were changing rooms.

"I'm so glad you came in," Raven said, rushing up and giving her a quick hug. "You're looking much better than you did the other day."

"I must have looked really bad," Zoe said, grinning.

Raven wore a silk modern caftan dress in swirls of color that made her look more like a gypsy than ever. Thick gold hoops were in her ears and gold sandals on her feet.

Zoe had never had close female friends, so she was feeling her way in this relationship, unsure exactly what kinds of things women did together.

"I held the suit back for you," Raven said. "And a few other things I thought you'd like. It didn't seem fair that you were stuck at home and couldn't see what was fresh on the floor."

"Very thoughtful," Zoe said, mouth quirking. "I can already feel my bank account dwindling."

"What's the point of having money if you can't spend it?" Raven asked, waggling her eyebrows. "Though I'd never say something like that in front of my husband. I'm more of the free spirit in our marriage. He can be a little bit uptight."

"It sounds like a family trait," Zoe said, shaking her head. "You should see my spice rack and closet. Everything is color coded and alphabetized."

"And it makes the creative in you die a little inside, right?" Raven asked, laughing. "Don't worry. Not everyone in the family is like that. O'Haras, bless them, and the Irish heritage of descending from bards and poets and lovers of nature, are an exacting lot. Despite Anne charging into your house like a general on a mission, she's the free spirit between her and Mick. She was a Broadway singer you know."

"Really?" Zoe asked intrigued, thinking of Colt's mother. "I had no idea. But I can see it. She has quite a presence."

"She's not normally so militant, but she's been married to Mick going on forty years, and Mick, bless his heart, is a good old-fashioned stick-in-the-mud. My husband, Wyatt, and Colt and Hank are a chip off the old block. There's not an artistic or poetic bone between them."

"I wouldn't say Colt is a stick-in-the-mud," Zoe said, not sure why she was feeling defensive of a man she'd only known a few days. "He's got a great sense of humor. And he told me he plays the piano. That's creative. Plus he knows how to do a lot of handyman-type stuff for a doctor. He hung all my curtains and put up shelves."

"Hmm," Raven said, giving her a knowing look. "Got his hooks in you, does he?"

"Wha—no, of course not. I'm just observant. It comes with being a writer."

"Uh-huh," Raven said. "Come on to the back. You can spend all your money and I'll pour us each a glass of champagne. And then I'll give you a rundown on everyone you met.

"Oh," Zoe said, surprised, as Raven took her by the hand and led her back through the beaded curtain. And then she said, "Oh," again when she realized she was not in the dressing room area as she'd assumed.

"Like it?" Raven asked, waggling her brows. "It's Laurel Valley's worst-kept secret. This is the best lingerie shop in the state."

"Wow," Zoe said, recognizing some of the brands from Fifth Avenue in New York.

"Don't worry. We'll get you all set up. Colt won't know what hit him."

"Oh, no," Zoe said. "Colt and I—we aren't—I don't?—"

"Relax," Raven said, patting her on the hand. "I didn't mean to make you hyperventilate. There's plenty of time for all that. I have great intuition. Just ask anyone. I'm famous for it in Laurel Valley. But you shouldn't freak out over it."

"I'm freaking out a little," Zoe said. "I have no intention of getting involved with anyone, no matter how strong the attraction. I just got out of a marriage that made me become someone I didn't even recognize. And I almost lost everything because of my own need to be loved. I was desperate and stupid. I can't go through that again."

"Oh, honey," Raven said, pulling her close and giving her a quick hug. "Marriage isn't meant to be hell. You were just married to the wrong guy. Hell follows men like that around and you just got caught in the middle of it. But there are a lot of good men in the world. Colt is one of them. I promise. Now you're smarter and wiser, and you're stronger too. You just need some time to get your sea legs under you, that's all."

Raven pushed her back into a pink velvet chair and then poured two glasses of champagne.

"Now sit back and relax, and don't trouble yourself with loving Colt. There's plenty of time for that. Now is for fashion and feeling good."

"Oh, but I left Chewy outside," Zoe said, biting her lip. "I don't want anything to happen to him."

"I'll have one of the girls bring him back," Raven said. "He seems like a civilized dog."

* * *

A couple of hours later, Zoe's head was spinning and her wallet was a little lighter. Her head wasn't spinning because of the champagne—she'd only had a sip—but she was starting to think maybe she'd overdone it on her first outing. Though to be fair, Chewy looked as if he'd been through the wringer too.

"You're looking a little pale. Are you feeling okay?" Raven asked, packing up the last of her purchases.

"Just a little headache," Zoe said. "It comes and goes."

"I'll have these delivered to your condo so you don't have to carry them all. You need to get something to eat. You look plumb worn out. Colt will kill me if I let you overdo, and it looks like I already have."

"I can't stay cooped up forever," Zoe said. "It's good for me to be out and get my energy back. But I could definitely use some food and a nap."

"Well, come on then," Raven said. "Let's get you fed and back home before Colt hunts me down."

Raven steered her and Chewy toward the front of the shop.

"Shoot," Raven said. "Speak of the devil."

Zoe's feet stopped working at the sight of Colt walking across the street and straight toward Raven's boutique. No man had any right to look that good in a pair of old jeans and a white T-shirt. Looking at Colt made her wonder what she ever could have seen in Todd. There was no comparison. Colt was a man. Todd had been a pretender.

Colt opened the door of the boutique and frowned as he looked at Zoe. "You're pale. You've overdone it."

"Fancy seeing you here," Raven said, giving him a quick hug.

"How'd you know where I was?" Zoe asked, eyes narrowing.

Colt's lips twitched in amusement. "One of my patients told me you were over here buying out the store. You should take something for that headache." Then he gave Raven and Chewy a disapproving look. "The two of you should have known better than to keep her out so long."

"You're right," Raven said apologetically. "I just got caught up in the conversation. Somehow the minutes turned into hours, and I didn't even notice. I'm so sorry, Zoe. It's just that it feels like I've known you forever, and it's been a while since I've had anyone who is so easy to talk to."

Colt frowned at that bit of information. Raven had an entire family to talk to. But maybe something was going on between her and Wyatt that he didn't know about and she didn't want to share.

Zoe saw Raven's distress and reached out to her new friend. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat. But next time let's have margaritas instead of champagne."