Loud knocking pricked at Harper’s sleep, pulling her to consciousness. She groaned and rolled onto her belly, tempted to lift the pillow and shove it over her head.
Man, she was tired. Like a deep, sunk-into-her-bones kind of tired that made her want to curl farther into the warm bed.
At the beat of silence, Harper sighed. Good, they’d gone.
Then the knocking sounded again.
Goddammit.
With a humph, she climbed out of bed, her avocado nightshirt dropping to her thighs as she moved to the door of the cabin. The place was small and wooden and cozy. One open space for the kitchen, dining area, and bed, with a small separate bathroom. The second she’d stepped inside last night, she’d been swept up in the warmth of a burning fire.
Bliss. Absolute bliss, and exactly what she’d needed.
She peeked through the peephole to see Ali, the cabin owner, on the other side of the door holding a tray of food. The woman had been here to greet her when she’d arrived last night and had been the very definition of kind and nurturing.
Harper pulled the door open, and immediately, Ali’s smile shifted to a gasp as her gaze swept over Harper’s face.
Oh, God, she hadn’t even thought to look in the mirror before opening the door. Was her hair all over the place? Her day-old makeup smudged? Heck, if there was even any makeup left after that rain last night.
Ali recovered quickly, straightening where she stood and offering a half smile. “Good morning, honey, sorry to wake you. I tried to wait as long as I could. I’ve brought you breakfast.”
Harper’s gaze shifted to the tray of food in Ali’s hands. “Oh, you didn’t have to do that.” She stood back so the other woman could pass. “But thank you. Do you know what time it is?”
Ali stepped inside and set the tray on the counter. “Ten.”
Ten? She’d slept in untilten a.m.? Christ, she really had been tired. She was a six a.m. waker. Always had been, even on the days she wasn’t due into the office. Yesterday had really wiped her out.
“I’ve brought you some toast, homemade jam, sunny-side-up eggs, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Oh, and a coffee.”
Harper’s jaw dropped. “That’s so kind of you, but honestly, just allowing me to check in so late last night was everything.”
“Well, the cabin is yours to rent for as long as you need. And breakfast is included in the nightly rate.”
It was like she’d stumbled across the town with the nicest locals she’d ever met.
“Thank you. I’m not really sure what my plans are yet.” Like…no clue. If she was honest with herself, she was probably still in a bit of shock from the day before.
Sympathy flashed over the woman’s face, as if she knew everything Harper wasn’t sharing. “Why don’t you start with today. What are your plans?”
Her gaze shifted to the sweatshirt she’d hung over the back of a chair. “Just to return Cody’s sweatshirt to him.”
Ali’s eyes warmed. “That boy’s a good one. You stumbled into the right bar last night.”
“Do you know him well?” She bit her bottom lip, not sure if she was prying with the question, but frankly, she hadn’t been able to get his ocean-blue eyes out of her head all night. She was pretty sure she’d even dreamed about him.
Gah.
“I’ve known that boy since he was a baby. The whole family, actually. Although, he was gone for a while. Only got back less than a year ago.”
She tilted her head. “Gone?”
“He was a Delta Forces soldier. All the men in his family have served. Two of his brothers, Lock and Jace, are still in the military. Cody came back to help his dad and sister with the bar. Kayden came back around the same time, and Eastern only a few months ago. Of course, their daddy’s passed away now, and their sister moved to Idaho.”
Harper’s brows flickered, the picture of the happy family flashing back into her mind. “That’s so sad.”
“He was sick for a while. A beautiful man though. It’s no wonder he raised beautiful kids. Beautiful and dangerous, that is.” She laughed. “Okay, I’ll leave you to it. My number’s on the fridge, so don’t hesitate to call if you need anything. There’s also the number for some local businesses, like the coffee shop, some take-out places, and Sugar and Spice.”
“Sugar and Spice?”
