“I’ll take some, Nellie.” Holt gave her a tired smile. It wasn’t my place to tell him how to handle things at home, but the guy needed to catch a break. I helped out with Lane as much as I could, but he needed someone more permanent, maybe even someone live-in if he wanted to get a good night’s sleep in the next ten years.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Nellie said. “I’ve got someone staying at the Hideaway this weekend. She’s a writer.”
“A writer, huh?” Instantly suspicious, I cast a quick glance over at Holt. He was busy scrolling through his phone, oblivious to the fact that Nellie might have just handed us our first clue as to who might’ve written the stupid blog post.
“She’s doing a piece on the top hidden gem vacation rentals in Montana and The Huckleberry Hideaway made the list. Who knows what kind of publicity might come from that.” Nellie looked pleased as punch at the idea that her little vacation rental might draw a whole lot of attention to Hard Timber.
“Great. That’s just what we need… more outsiders hanging around.” My acreage butted up to Nellie’s land, which made me the closest neighbor to her rental cabin. She’d only had it open about a year, and I’d already had several folks stumble onto my property after getting lost.
“Be nice to her, Thatcher. I want to make a good impression. We could all use a little fresh blood around here, don’t you think?” Her eyes crinkled at the edges, then she actually winked at me before picking up my plate and disappearing into the kitchen.
“Tell her to watch out for my ‘No Trespassing’ signs,” I called after her.
Holt laughed. “Knowing Nellie, she’ll probably go out and take down all the signs before the woman checks in. She’s been trying to match all of us up for years.”
“Trying,” I said. “Not succeeding. This writer’s probably an old, retired English teacher who’s just making a little extra cash while funding her travels.”
I looked around the restaurant as I slid out of the booth. A couple of Nellie’s friends sitting on the other side of the room glanced up and started whispering. They could have been talking about anything, but I got the sense they were gossiping about me based on the way they giggled behind their menus.
Holt slid his sunglasses on as we exited the cafe. “This Ex-List thing is going to blow over, right?”
I stopped on the sidewalk, my attention zeroed in on a woman sliding out of a car right across the street. She had on a denim jacket and a flowy skirt over cowboy boots that looked like they’d never seen a speck of dirt. Long brown hair flowed over her shoulders and down her back. She closed the door, then turned my way.
Something inside me snapped. I didn’t know who she was, where she came from or what she was doing in my tiny corner of the world. But I did know one thing… she was meant to be mine.
“Thatch?” Holt’s elbow nudged my ribs. “You okay, man?”
Reluctantly, I shifted my attention back to my brother. “Yeah.”
He followed my line of sight to where the woman had started to cross to our side of the street. “Who the hell is that?”
My gut prickled at the interest in his tone. What the fuck was wrong with me? I had no right to the curvy brunette. It didn’t make sense, but the closer she got, the more convinced I became that she was here for me. “I don’t know, but I’m sure as hell going to find out.”
CHAPTER 2
JOELY
It felt so good to get out of the car and stretch my legs even though the sun hadn’t quite made it over the mountains yet, and the air still held a morning chill. I’d driven through the night to get to Hard Timber and was ready to grab the key to the cute little cabin I’d rented and settle in before exploring the area. Shops and buildings lined both sides of the main street in town with cute names like The Knotty Tap, Hard & Handy Supply Co., and The Huckleberry Cafe, where I was supposed to meet someone named Nellie and pick up the key.
Hard Timber was my last stop for the freelance article I was writing about hidden gem vacation rentals. I’d only stayed a day or two in the other towns, but I’d booked Nellie’s cabin for a week so I could finish my article and submit it before figuring out where to go next. That was the thing about having my career blow up in my face a couple of months ago. I didn’t have an office to get back to or a boss ready to hand me my next assignment. It was up to me to figure out how to make my own way, and I was terrified.
Faking a confidence I didn’t feel, I glanced at the two massive men standing on the sidewalk outside of the cafe and smiled. I’d learned it was best to get off on the right foot in a town the size of Hard Timber. The locals were more willing to talk to me when I was friendly and open.
“Good morning.” My stomach did back flips as I passed. The tall one looked like he’d just stepped out of an ad for lumberjacks. With dark hair, a full beard covering the lower half of his face, and narrowed eyes that looked like they didn’t miss a beat, he embodied the spirit of a grumpy mountain man. I even caught a whiff of pine and wood smoke drifting off his plaid flannel shirt.
“Morning,” he mumbled back.
With just one word, his deep, gravelly tone rumbled through me. I almost stumbled on the step leading into the cafe. Obviously, it had been too long since I’d shared the company of a man, especially one as gruff and grumbly as him. Regaining my composure, I pulled the door open.
Walking into the cafe felt like being hugged by an old friend. Coffee percolated behind the counter, an old Johnny Cash song crackled through the speakers, and the scent of pancakes and syrup tickled my nose.
“You must be Joely.” A petite, gray-haired woman with a pencil tucked behind her ear stood behind a cash register that looked even older than she was. “I’m Nellie. Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
I’d planned on just grabbing the key, but a cup of coffee sure sounded good. “That would be great. Thank you.”
“Just slide onto a stool, hon.” Nellie grabbed a mug and filled it to the brim. “It’s so nice to meet you, and I’m just thrilled you’re including The Huckleberry Hideaway on your list.”
I wrapped my hands around the mug, warming my fingers. “Thanks for having me. I’m excited to check out your place. It’s the first one I’ve stayed at that has its own mini petting zoo.”
