“Of the book that’s not even out yet?” Excitement bubbled in her chest, and her fingers tingled with anticipation of owning that special copy. “If you’re expecting me to say no, I won’t.”
Denver grabbed a pen from aYoda Best Writercoffee mug next to his double monitors and flipped open the cover. He scribbled an inscription and handed it over to Jenna. “Just do me a favor. Don’t post any spoilers.”
“I know better than that. Not trying to become the next murder victim if your fans got a hold of me.” She hugged the book to her chest, savoring the good feelings today graced on her. It felt like an eternity since she experienced such happiness. She hoped Cody wouldn’t mind setting aside the list for the rest of the day. Right now, all she craved was getting back to her hotel room and writing down all her new ideas. She even had an image in mind for her main moose character. With any luck, she’d havesomethingto send her agent soon. As long as she could keep herself from binge-reading Denver’s latest book before she did.
Sunset Ridge was quickly making itself the home she never knew she craved. The only problem was the blond-haired guy with the crooked smile and sea-green eyes who was set to leave on a plane in a few days. Would she feel the same about this place without him?
ChapterSeven
Cody
“You like her,” Haylee declared as Cody bounced his niece in his arms.
He could ignore her for a minute, maybe two. But his youngest sister was the most persistent of the Evans siblings. She wouldn’t let up until he gave an answer. He wasn’t about to tell her the truth about the way Jenna’s dazzling smile made him feel unexplainably complete or how attractive he found the way she wasn’t afraid to speak boldly about topics others might tiptoe around.
Instead, he made goofy sounds until Melly giggled in delight.
Man, he’d miss those big blue adoring eyes. This baby girl would be walking soon, and he wouldn’t be here to witness those first steps. Sure, his contract would allow him to come home if there was an emergency. But due to the nature of the show, they weren’t given enough time off around the holidays to travel anywhere. Maybe he could send his family plane tickets instead.
“Jenna, I mean. You like Jenna.”
“She’s nice,” admitted Cody, relieved it was only the three of them in the house. And one of them couldn’t talk yet. “Everyone who meets her likes her. Look at our entire family. They practically adopted her.”
“No. You like-like her.”
Cody carried Melly to her highchair as Haylee twisted the lid off a small jar of homemade sweet potato puree. Melly went nuts for Nana Beth’s recipes. “Do you have a point?” he asked, careful to keep his tone nonchalant. Lately, he was finding it harder to stay calm and collected. It required effort where before it came naturally. Never before had that been a problem.Until Jenna Kingsley showed up with that letter. “And before you say stay, I can’t.”
“It’s just a stupid contract,” Haylee groaned.
“For the most anticipated TV series possibly ever,” Cody pointed out, though the argument didn’t even hold as much weight with him as it did a week ago. He loved traveling the world. Exploring between shoots and meeting interesting people. It fed a part of his soul that nothing else could. He got antsy sitting still in one place too long. Yet now he was yearning to put down roots for the first time . . .ever. Despite that unfamiliar urge, this gig would set him up financially if he did decide to bow out of stunt work.
“If you leave, she’ll just end up married to someone else before you come back to visit.”
An irrational pang of jealousy took hold of Cody at the thought. He didn’t do jealous. He didn’t do strong feelings or relationships or anything of the like that required commitment. He preferred living on his own terms, coming and going as he pleased. Never having to worry about a broken heart crushing him. Or him hurting another soul when he broke things off.
Yet the idea of coming back to Sunset Ridge three years later and seeing Jenna with a baby of her own in her lap and wearing a ring he hadn’t given her twisted his stomach in knots.
“I can’t stay, Haylee. That’s career suicide, and you know it.”
“Do you hear me complaining? It’d be nice if you actually stayed all winter instead of dropping in for the occasional Christmas Day and leaving two days later. Your worldly gifts are cool and all, but ask anyone in the family. We’d all rather have youaroundthan stuff to remember you by.”
Haylee handed him the jar and spoon. Melly banged on the highchair tray, her excitement contagious and her appetite ravenous. It reminded him of a comment Jenna made about her sister and eating. He tried to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Many were misunderstood or acting out because they were hurting. But he wasn’t certain he’d like Jenna’s sister should he ever meet her.
“What would I do if I stayed here anyway?” Cody played off the question as a joke, but deep down, he hoped his insightful sister, wise beyond her nineteen years, would have an answer.
“You could help Dad out at the store, for one.” Their dad promised any of the Evans’ siblings a job at the family outdoor outfitters store if ever they needed one, as long as they were willing to work. Sadie had already been fired once and quit before she could be fired the second time. Which reminded him, she hadn’t called him back about rescheduling the dinner she was expecting to have with him in Anchorage tonight.
“Any other ideas?”
“You’re this extreme adventure person. Be a ski instructor or something.”
“We don’t have any slopes within fifty miles of Sunset Ridge,” he pointed out. “Next idea?”
Haylee stopped in the middle of a spin in the kitchen and stared at him.Uh-oh.“You reallyarethinking about staying.”
“Thinking about it and actually doing it are two completely different things. Maybe in three years, when this gig is up, I might stick around more.” He’d been careful not to confess as much to his family because he didn’t want to disappoint them if he changed his mind. He might decide Maui was home and never come back for more than a visit. He and Dad had already had that conversation about the kayak shop, just in case. “Besides, Jenna hasn’t decided if she’s moving here or not.”
“Youdolike-like her.” Haylee’s eyes sparkled with matchmaking mischief. What had he done?
