Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

AINSLEY

Many hands make light work, or so the saying goes. Between me, Emma, her husband, Eric, my mom, and Cole, we get everything moved around my new cottage quickly.

Cole made sure all the furniture went to the right rooms, and kinda bossed the two delivery guys around. I’m not sad about it. One was a kid who couldn’t have been over seventeen, and his buddy looked like he had somewhere else better to be. Moving companies come at a price, and that price for me was convenience. Eric was helpful too, moving boxes and helping Cole until he had to get back to work.

Still. Everything is where it should be, and all I have to do now is unpack the boxes.

“Ainsley, honey, do you want me to start unpacking the kitchen things?” Mom calls from the next room.

The cottage is an older style, and it has a separate kitchen from the living and dining. I don’t mind it. It’s just me, so it’s not like I have room to be fussy. But as my things fill up the small space, I start to feel more at peace. I’ve needed this. I’ve never had my own place, and while the rent money was something to consider financially, I can afford it. For the first time in my life, I’m taking care of myself.

I also ignore the missed calls I’ve had from Drake today. He knew the moving people were coming to get my stuff. I stored most of my furniture at my mom’s place, including my bed and the matching drawers. But I took my couch from Drake’s, and the fridge and washing machine. Screw him if he thinks I’m going to be a doormat and just leave my stuff.

“That’d be great, Mom,” I holler back.

When I glance up from my phone, Cole’s staring at me. Concern laces his brow as he frowns.

He gives me a chin lift. “You good?”

I smile. “Yes. Of course. I can’t thank you enough for helping and bossing those men around.”

He chuckles. “Trust me, I know what they can be like, but you’ve got it under control.”

“Well, I owe you one.”

“I guess I’ll see you at the meeting tomorrow night?”

Why does my heart do a little flutter at his words? It’s the Christmas decorating committee meeting. Not a date. Not Cole being flirty — okay, maybe a little flirty. But this is what he does. He’s a nice guy to boot.

“I guess you will.”

He cocks his head. “Should I bring weapons?”

I frown. “Weapons?”

“To duel with whoever’s makin’ you frown.” He notions to my phone as I self consciously slide it into the back of my jeans.

“Uh, nope, no dueling. It’s nothing.” I panic a little. I don’t want Cole feeling sorry for me. I square my shoulders and put on my brave face. “I’m fine, honestly.”

His arched brow do esn’t retract, and I don’t think he believes me, even when he says, “You got any problems, just let me know. We’re neighbors now.”

“Does that mean I get to burden you with all my woes?” I tease playfully.

He doesn’t balk, not once. “Absolutely, if that’s what you need.” He grips my shoulder with one firm hand. “You with me, Shorty?”

I try not to swoon. He really is sweet, and I get he’s trying to make me feel better because he has some weird sixth sense.

“I’m with you if you stop calling me Shorty.”

“Why? It suits you.”

“Haha. I’m vertically challenged, but good things come in small packages, or so they say.”

“Like poison?” Emma snarks as she passes by.

I poke my tongue at her. “Like marshmallows.”

“And diamonds,” Cole hollers after her. “And pearls. Well, any gemstone, really. Also, those little chocolate-covered cherries and mini pretzels.”

His words don’t help my fast developing crush. “See, that’s my point.”

“If you ask me, there’s not enough little things in the world.”

“Now you’re just being silly.”

He puts his hand over his heart. “I would never.”

I roll my lips. “Seriously, Cole. You’re the real gemstone.” The words are out before I can stop them. I mean, what am I saying? I quickly add, “I mean, the way you helped today. That was really sweet of you.”

He thumbs behind him. “I’m gonna head back to work if you’re all good here.”

I pale suddenly. “You’re doing overtime because of me?”

“I’d hardly call it overtime. I just need to catch up so we can finish on time.”

“I hope Trav didn’t mind you taking off early?” Now I feel bad.

“Nah, besides, I basically tell him what to do.” He pops a shoulder. “And he’s too busy with Pres and the baby to care.”

“Well, you were very good with April.”

“She’s very cute, though I’m pretty sure I won’t be babysitting anytime soon.”

“But you didn’t drop her, and you didn’t make her cry.”

“That’s true.Then again, I couldn’t keep my egg baby alive for more than two hours,” he confesses.

“What?” I snort. “Egg baby?”

“Yeah, you know, in school for sex education. They give you a paper mache egg to look after like it’s a baby, and you have to care for it over the weekend and make sure it stays ‘alive’ until Monday.”

“I’ve never heard of that. How did your egg baby fare?”

“I sat on him and he exploded.”

I burst out laughing, and he does too. “Oh, boy.”

He palms the back of his head. “I tried to bribe my way into buying another from one of the nerdy kids, who’d not only kept their baby alive, but also dressed it in little outfits. Nobody felt sorry for me.”

“I wish my schooling had been that adventurous.”

He gives me a chin lift. “What goes into bein’ a librarian?”

Nobody ever asks me about my job. It’s not interesting for most people.

“Actually, I went to community college for two years, then I did my degree in library science after that. I’m one of the lucky ones who knew what she wanted to do in life early on. ”

“You know, I never knew libraries could be that interesting, but when you think about it, books are pretty freakin’ cool. You get to live a thousand different lives and each adventure is different to the next.” His eyes sparkle and it’s not the first time I notice how pretty they are. Hazel doesn’t just cut it. They’re more like honey before the bees even know what to do with it.

Really, Ainsley?

I take a slow breath, trying to keep myself calm.

“The best part of my day? Finding new books for the kids like Oscar and Molly, they’re so adorable. I got Oscar into reading more. He was hesitant at first, but since we’ve been reading together every morning, he’s even gone up a grade.”

His grin widens. “You really are a modern day saint.”

I blush and refrain from pressing my hands to my cheeks to cool them. “Hardly. I just like helping out.”

He nudges me. “You sure Hank isn’t lookin’ for a girlfriend?”

I never thought about it that way. Plus, Hank is way older than me and he’s never been flirty or suggested anything of the sort. “No.” I shake my head. “It’s not like that. He’s just a decent dad trying to do the best for his kids. I admire that, and the kids are great.”

His smile softens. “I’m glad he appreciates it.” He starts to back away. “I gotta run, but this has been fun.”

I roll my eyes. “Now I know you’re poking fun at me.”

“Call me if you need a cup of sugar.”

“Why is it always a cup of sugar?” I throw back. “You know, sugar is really bad for you.”

“Fine.” He grins. “If you ne ed an apple, celery stick or a potato, you know where I am.”

I can’t help the smile that splits across my face. I know I’m still a little pink in the cheeks, but I can’t help it. Cole is doing things to me, and now I’m making it really freaking obvious.

“Bye, Cole.”

“Bye, Shorty.” He glances over his shoulder then hollers, “Bye, Mrs. P, Emma!”

“Bye, Cole!” they yell back in unison.

I turn, and when my eyes meet Emma’s, she gives me a knowing smirk. “Uh, huh. You know you’re the color of a beet, right?” She whispers so my mom won’t hear.

I finally pat my cheeks. “It’s not my fault. I blush easily.”

“What was he saying to make you blush?”

I shake my head. “Nothing. We were just telling each other funny stories.”

“Uh, huh.”

My eyes bug wide. “It isn’t like that!”

She waggles her eyebrows. “I mean, why not? He’s single. Hot. He’s also good with his hands.” She waves her fingers at me. “You know what else he’d be good with?”

I slap them away. “Shhhh!” I glance over her shoulder, but Mom’s singing away to herself as she puts my plates away.

“I worry about you,” she goes on. “Drake was bad news. You deserve to have some fun and not be stressed out all the time like you were with him.”

When your best friend and your boyfriend don’t get along, red flags should not just be raised, they should be waving madly. Then again, I am known to be a people pleaser, and I really thought Drake would step up.

“I know. But maybe I’m fine being single for a while.”

“And that’s okay, too, but I don’t want Drake being mean to you.”

“I wouldn’t give him the chance. I haven’t forgotten how he treated me like a housemaid and then had the gall to cheat on me.”

“Urgh.” She screws up her face. “I don’t know who he thinks he is, but his actions are on him, not you. And a housemaid is something you’re not and never will be. You deserve the best, Ains.”

I smile gently. “Thank you. I told myself this year was about me, and what did I do? Jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. My resolutions for next year are going to look a heck of a lot different.”

“You know what? It’s okay. You fought for something and that’s not a bad thing,” she goes on. “But you deserve so much better. I know you don’t do random hook-ups, but if you were looking for some fun, Cole is the guy for that. Fun with a capital F.”

My eyes shoot up in surprise. “He’s known for being quite the ladies’ man, so I don’t know if ‘having fun’ with someone like Cole is the way to go. Plus, I don’t think I’d be his type.”

She narrows her eyes. “And why not?”

I laugh. “I just don’t know if he seems like the librarian kind of guy.”

“Well, I beg to differ. He really is sweet underneath it all. I used to make mud pies with him when we’re little, and you said yourself, he was really cute last year at the speed dating thing.”

Cole may be known as the charming guy of Silver Pines, but at least he’s not the Love ‘em and Leave ‘em type.

“I admit, he was very sweet at speed dating, but I’m having a vision now of mud pie making.” I screw my nose up and s he laughs.

Emma is always looking out for me, heaven help when she runs into Drake. I know she’s got a few things to say to his face that I never could. Eric doesn’t like him either. Frankly, I’m sick of thinking about him, and why was he calling me?

I sigh.

“Turn that frown upside down.” She taps my chin.

“He called.”

“Drake?”

I nod.

She shakes her head. “So ignore him. He’s just mad you followed through with moving out.”

“I guess…”

“You do not need to answer to him. He had the girl, and he let her go. Period.”

I wish I had her confidence with all of this. I don’t know how to be brave. I guess doing what I’m doing is brave enough, but I can’t help but wonder if this is all I’m capable of. I don’t mind the small town stuff, but this? Always being the giver. I read about these men that worship the ground you walk on — not that I’d feel comfortable with a man doing that necessarily — but the fleeting idea is nice. To have a man take care of me for once, what would that look like?

I hug myself. I guess I’ll hold out that the perfect guy really is out there. All jokes aside, I don’t know what love is. It’s not Drake, I know that much. But just because Cole is sweet, and cute, and has a sunshine personality, doesn’t mean we’d be good together. Like Emma said, I don’t do hook-ups. I never have. No shame to women that do, more power to them. But I have to feel a connection, and it’s unlikely I’d feel that over drinks or a coffee. If I did, then s ure, I’d explore it.

“I know,” I say when Emma continues to stare at me. “I deserve better. Got it.”

“Don’t just say it because you think it’s what I want to hear. I want you to really believe it.”

“What are you girls talking about?” Mom pops her head around the corner.

Busy-body Emma turns her head and says, “Ainsley and her worth and how she deserves the moon and all the stars.”

Mom’s eyes flick to mine, and her face softens. She pulls off her rubber gloves — yes, my mom is a germaphobe, bless her heart. “Oh, honey. Emma’s right. This move will open up all kinds of doors for you. You’re independent and beautiful, smart and funny?—”

“You have to say that. You’re my mom.”

“But it’s true, even if you weren’t my daughter. So, how about Cole…”

“Mom!”

Emma giggles. “We sound like a broken record. Fine, we’ll leave you alone, for now.”

“I’m just saying, he’s your neighbor…” Mom prattles on.

I give her a pretend glare. “And I’d like it to stay that way.”

She raises her hands in surrender. “Fine. But don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. I think he likes you.”

“He does not,” I sigh. “Mom, I don’t need you playing matchmaker.”

Emma links her arm with hers and they giggle together like school kids, heading back into the kitchen.

I bang my forehead against the wall, muttering, “Sanctuary, Sanctuary…”