3.

R OOSTER

When I picked up the signed ticket that the redhead who had been giving me eyes all night had left on the bar, I wasn't surprised to find her phone number written at the bottom along with her cabin number. I'd learned my lesson years ago about buying a ticket to that kind of roller coaster, and it wasn't going to happen again.

Since I was way too young, I had enjoyed the attention of the short-time visitors we had here at Mannin's and was almost ashamed of how many times I had taken advantage of what was offered. However, things had gotten tense a few times. The last time I'd taken a guest up on her offer of a wild night of no-strings-attached sex, she ended up becoming a stage-five clinger who wreaked havoc on the entire business and everyone involved, including several guests.

Since then, there had been a clause added to the new employee paperwork that every person signed, explaining that they were never to mention that the four of us lived on-site, although most guests would probably figure it out if they paid attention. We didn't want anyone to know we lived here for a few reasons, not the least of which was that we didn't want a guest knocking on our door to report a problem - big or small. That was why there was an employee manning the front desk at all times - so they could be the one to contact us if we were needed.

As I put the receipt in the register, I shuddered as I remembered the redhead who had caused so many problems and then smiled when I realized that I had never dated another redhead since. I also hadn't been part of a one-night stand since then either.

Well, there was one, but I still considered her a special circumstance. When I asked her to dance that night at my friend's wedding, I hadn't even considered that I might fall back into my old ways and take her to bed. However, before the first song was finished, I knew I had to have her, no matter the circumstances. When she invited me to her hotel room, I went eagerly, and the next morning when I woke up to find her packed and gone, I was more upset than I'd like to admit.

I even asked my friend, Dub, what her name was, but he had no idea. When I talked to his new wife and gave her the woman's description, she was clueless about who it might be because there were several dark haired women in attendance - too many for her to list.

"Are you gonna stand there with your thumb up your ass for the rest of the night, or are you going to get me a beer?"

I spun around and laughed out loud when I saw two of my friends standing on the other side of the bar.

"If I'd have known you were coming, I would have made sure I was unavailable," I joked as I put my hand out to shake Dice's. "What in the hell are you two doing here?"

"We're hauling all of Tiny's shit to Rojo for him," Dice explained.

"Isn't Red River out of your way?" I asked as I shook Tank's hand.

"I rode down to Vegas and helped him pack up the box truck and then we trailered the bikes to haul them to Texas so we could ride back. We took a little detour on the usual route in the hope that you might have a place for us for the night," Tank explained.

"I hope you guys aren't staying in Texas for too long, or it will be a chilly ride home."

"Probably a week or so. Do you have an extra cabin we can rent, or should we just drive through?"

"You'll stay with me like you always do, cheap ass," I teased Dice. "Are y'all hungry? Want a beer?"

"Yes to both," Tank answered eagerly.

"Let me grab some menus, and then I'll have your food delivered over here so we can hang. Since most of our guests check out on Sundays, we'll have a slow night. I'll have plenty of time for you goobers to entertain me."

Before an hour had passed, my face and abs hurt from laughing so much. Dice and Tank were on a roll, probably because they'd been stuck in the cab of a moving truck together for hours. Regardless, they were in fine form tonight. When all of the guests and locals left the bar, we shut down a few minutes before our scheduled closing time so I could herd my now half-drunk friends to my cabin for a good night's rest before they finished their trip tomorrow.

Of course, I knew that wouldn't happen. And I was right. When we got to my cabin, the laughter just continued, and it was accompanied by more cold beer, which meant that none of us got to bed early and all of us were going to be dragging ass tomorrow.

◆◆◆

ROSIE

"How's it going?"

I finished taking a sip of my coffee before I answered, "I've gotten all of my notes transcribed and organized and at least three hundred story ideas ready to go."

"How many words have you written?" Zoey asked, her pale face filling my phone screen and making me wish I was home so I could talk to her in person.

My friend had been attacked during a routine traffic stop, and if a good samaritan hadn't been driving by and stopped to help her, she'd more than likely be dead right now. As it was, she was alive but had a lot of injuries that it would take a very long time to overcome.

I could hear someone moving around in her hospital room, and she looked away from the screen and nodded before she said, "Hey, I've gotta let you go. They're taking me for an x-ray or something."

"Okay. Call me later," I said before I waved at her and disconnected the call.

I hated that our call was cut short but was almost glad it happened before I had to answer her question because I didn't have a good answer to give her.

Yes, I had everything organized and ready for me to start writing. Yes, I had my cabin set up just the way I wanted it. Yes, I had a dedicated office space with a supportive and comfortable chair. And, yes, every time I sat down to write, my mind went blank and I could only sit there and stare at the screen.

Was it possible to have writer's block if you weren't actually a writer yet? If not, I was blazing a new trail because that's exactly what was happening to me.

I heard a door open in the distance and then men's voices talking before an engine started and the moving truck I'd noticed when I woke up this morning slowly drove past my cabin. I wondered if this mysterious partner who ran the bar was moving but then decided I really didn't care. His living situation was none of my business, although I knew that if he did move, my new friend Madison would be highly upset as would Dianna.

I took another sip of my coffee and grimaced. Madison had ruined me for home-brewed coffee. I could barely tolerate the taste now. That might be because the coffee shop where I was so comfortable was just a short walk away rather than a quick drive. I'd experienced great coffee at home, too, since my friends Piper Martin and Frankie Stoffer owned a coffee truck that was very popular back in Rojo.

I'd probably think that their coffee was just as magical if their truck was parked in my front yard.

I tipped back my mug and drained the last of the swill I'd created and sat up in my chair as a story idea came to me. What if a woman finds a new coffee shop and falls in love with the owner? No. What if she discovers a coffee shop near her house and runs into a man she hasn't seen since . . . No. What if she runs into a man she thought she'd never see again?

A man she had a one-night stand with. A man that she couldn't get off her mind, who haunted her dreams, and had given her plenty to think about when she was alone at night with just her vibrator for company.

What if she ran into him at the coffee shop and found out that he was . . . the new barista? No. I wasn't going to write a story about a fresh-faced young couple with no experience to speak of. Too much drama and angst, and not nearly enough experience and passion.

What if she ran into him at the coffee shop and found out that he was the owner? The silent partner? The owner's brother? A disgruntled customer?

Ugh. It had all been done before.

I needed something new and different. I needed a unique love story that included interesting people with vibrant personalities and experiences that I'd never really want to go through but would like to read about. He needed to be gruff and growly to everyone but his girl and his mama. . . and she needed to be all alone but strong enough not to care. But when she is introduced to him by a mutual friend, they get to know each other through letters where they pour their hearts out to each other a lot more easily than they would have if they'd met face-to-face.

And he's got two dogs . . . and two birds . . . and she's an ex-convict who has been in prison so long that she has no idea what to expect when she rejoins society - but he's more than willing to help her.

And she's a total badass, which vibes well with his badassery, and her take-no-prisoners attitude is such that he couldn't run her over if he tried because she would stand toe to toe with him and fight it out.

"Holy shit!" I whispered as I stood up and rushed into my cabin to retrieve my laptop. I didn't give a thought as to what I was wearing or that my hair must look like a rat's nest - I had an idea for the perfect romance novel. With my muses still living in their own happily ever after, they were a perfect example of love that needed to be shared with the world.

As I rushed down the gravel drive toward the coffee shop, my laptop bag slung over my shoulder, I wondered if the shitty coffee was doing things to my brain or if one of my favorite love stories would actually resonate with readers. I had a feeling it would, but time would tell.

And until I finished the book and hit the button to publish it, I wouldn't know.

After all, if I'd learned one thing from my mom and dad's friends, it was that it's much easier to ask for forgiveness than it is permission.

Right?

◆◆◆

"Okay, lady. This has gone way too far," I heard someone say from nearby. I didn't pay attention because there was no way they were talking to me. I'd been sitting at my favorite table minding my own business for quite a while now and hadn't spoken to anyone other than Madison when she gave me a refill. "If your fingers weren't moving so fast, I'd wonder if you were in a trance or something."

I looked over and found Dianna standing a few feet away, holding a plate in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. "Hey! What's up?"

"Probably your heart rate considering how much caffeine you've ingested today. Madison is worried about you, and honestly, so am I."

"What?Why?" I asked.

"Do you know what time it is?" I turned to look at my computer, and Dianna put her hand in front of the screen. "No. Just give me a guess." I glanced out the window and was shocked to see that the light was waning, which meant that I had been here for much longer than I thought. Finally, Dianna said, "You've been here for nine hours, Rosie."

"What? Really?" I looked outside again and knew that she was right, and when I glanced down at the clock on my laptop, I realized it was actually closer to ten hours since I rushed into the cafe and sat down to work. "Oh wow!"

"You need to eat."

As if in reply, my stomach growled loudly. I looked at the sandwich on the plate, and my mouth watered, so I nodded eagerly as I agreed, "Yes, please."

Dianna moved my laptop aside and set the plate in front of me and then unscrewed the cap on the water before handing it over. "And drink this, for God's sake. Right now, your insides are probably a science experiment. I bet your heart rate could power half the state." When I reached for the bottle, I saw my hands were shaking and wasn't sure if that was from hunger or caffeine overload. "Good grief, girl. You've gotta take better care of yourself, or you're not going to live long enough to publish your book."

I giggled excitedly before I said, "I think I actually have a book to publish!"

Dianna slid into the chair across from mine before she said, "Tell me all about it!"

I took a few big gulps and then leaned over the plate in front of me to say, "Okay, the main characters are a guy named Hale and a woman named Kerra . . ."