She hadn’t expected to see him. That was why she kept reacting in such irrational ways. It had to be.
“I hope no one’s hurt?” Cadence asked.
“Nope, the driver didn’t have a scratch on her.” Liam let his gaze linger a little too long on Tessa before he headed out to his truck, Raven at his heel.
The moment the front door closed, Cadence jumped. “Why did he carry your suitcases inside?”
“It’s nothing.” Tessa grabbed the heavier bag with both hands. “Can you show me to my room?”
“Tessa?”
“Fine!” She dropped the bag, already regretting letting Liam leave before she had him carry this one to her room. It certainly wouldn’t strain him to lug it a little farther; he had muscles for days. “Liam’s going to tow my rental car.”
“Why?”
“Because I saw a moose in the road and—”
“You didn’t hit Ed, did you?” Tessa was so caught off-guard that her sister knew the moose she was talking about, words failed to form. Cadence blinked. “Oh no, you did!”
“No, I most certainly did not.” Tessa shook her head, as if this was a normal conversation about some Moose namedEd. “Cadence, if I had hit a moose in a Mustang, there’s no way I would be standing here without a scratch.”
“Oh, thank goodness!”
Tessa wasn’t convinced the relief was on her account. More than likely on Ed’s. “I swerved into a ditch and ended up with a flat tire.” No need to mention the radiator or any other noises she heard during impact. Hopefully, Liam could patch the car up and the rental company would be satisfied.
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
“How about that room?”
“I’ll grab a key.” Cadence gave her another hearty hug. “Tessa, I’m so glad you’re here.”
Chapter Four
Liam
Back out on the private road, Liam whistled as he hooked the tow cables to the Mustang. Raven stood by his side, just to let him know she was there. “You’re really something, girl, you know that?” He ran his hand along the back of her neck a couple of times and then got back to work. Never before had he met such a mellow dog. It was nearly impossible to imagine that she had at one time been an Iditarod champion.
Raven tilted her head, her eyes falling on the crushed front corner of the car.
“Could’ve been worse,” he told her.
The only damage he could see was to the front end—busted radiator, broken tie rod, and one flat tire. He’d have to take a closer look when he got it to the shop, but the frame appeared okay. He hadn’t wanted to alarm Tessa, but if she bent the frame in her attempt to miss Ed, there wasn’t much he could do without involving the rental company. It wasn’t as though he could switch out her car for another. It wasn’t a goldfish.
Before he hauled the convertible out of the ditch, Liam took a look inside for anything Tessa might’ve left behind—especially breakables. She’d never let him hear the end of it if the bumpy road busted up something important to her.
Raven poked her head around his leg as he kneeled on the driver’s seat. The interior appeared empty, except for a cell phone charger cord. He rolled it up and stuck it in his jeans pocket.
About to close the door, Raven took the rare opportunity to slink into the car like a cat. “Raven, what are you doing?” The dog didn’t normally misbehave or cause mischief. “You can’t ride in the convertible today, girl.” He tried to coax her out, but she sat in the seat, tail swishing against the leather. She gave a faint whine.
Liam bent down, prepared to scoop her out. She was less than fifty pounds and wouldn’t likely put up a fight. But before he could wrap his arms around her, he caught the glimmer of something silver on the passenger side floor.
“It can’t be.”
Raven moved now, hopping out of the car and allowing him room to lean over and retrieve the necklace.
His heart stopped as time rewound.
The weekend of the Blueberry Festival, thirteen years ago. Tessa in a light yellow sundress, her long dark hair curled and dancing in the breeze. She was only in his life a mere six weeks, but Liam knew then in the depths of his heart there would never be another for him. Everyone thought he was crazy for how certain he was, but he didn’t care. Tessa was it.
