PROLOGUE
RHYS
He did it.
King Bishop proposed to Hannah Welsh on New Year’s Eve, and she said, “Yes.”
Of course, she did.
King’s a good man and deserves a solid partner like Hannah. I don’t begrudge their happiness, especially after hearing about the scene that went down in Joe’s Hardware on Christmas Eve—where King pretty much told the townspeople of Suitor’s Crossing to boycott the store since the owner treated its long-time employees like shit.
But while I’m happy for the two of them, the whirlwind nature of their relationship gives me pause. Meeting someone and proposing to them a few weeks later?
No, thanks, I’m good.
At least you were able to finish the engagement ring in time or else the whole magical plan might have been ruined.
“Magical.” An amused scoff rumbles from my chest because it’s a romantic notion that’s not for me. However, a good woman wouldn’t be remiss.
I’ve lived alone for over a decade now, ever since I left my dad’s house at eighteen, and the thought of coming home to a cabin filled with a woman’s warmth stirs a craving deep insidemy soul. But it’s hard finding someone willing to overlook my bear-like size and gruff demeanor. Tougher to find one whose head isn’t stuffed with dreams of happily-ever-after and Suitor’s Crossing’s very own love myth—a bunch of fantasy aboutsparkin’andheart sparks.
I don’t need love; I prefer tangible things.
Like the hammer in my hand when I shape iron in my forge as the town’s blacksmith.
Love comes and goes at will, a fleeting feeling. My mother taught me that.
But actions… Those actually prove something, and they can’t be confused or misunderstood like the wisps of love. Actions produce results such as the ring I made for King—no mistaking what a gift like that means.
“Thanks again for completing the ring so quickly. I know it was short notice. But Hannah loves it, so I owe you big time. In fact…” King pauses until I look up from polishing a hand railing for the Pattersons over at High Ridge’s Timber Bed & Breakfast. A sheepish look crosses his usually amiable features, and I wonder what’s got him acting so oddly. “I signed you up for the dating app Luna Haven created. It’s meant for locals, and I think it’ll be good for you to branch out. Clearly, you’re not having any luck finding love on your own.”
“Luna? The woman named after aHarry Pottercharacter?” I ask in disbelief. She’s a sweet girl but takes a little too much inspiration from her namesake. “You’re trusting my fate to an app she made? You know how I feel about online dating. It’s a trash heap out there.”
“Hey, don’t diss the women around here. I’m starting to think you’re the problem. You and your hang-ups about love andheart sparks.” King crosses his arms and glares pointedly at me.
“A man’s allowed to want what he wants. Nothing wrong with my decision to avoid the pitfalls of some made-up romanticlegend. Just because you found yourheart spark…” I stress the ridiculous moniker for people’s soul mates in Suitor’s Crossing. “Doesn’t mean I want to. Or that I even believe in that crap. Surely, there must be a sane woman within a hundred-mile radius who feels the same.”
King waves his phone in the air. “Well, I guess we’ll see. I’ll text you the login info, and you can adjust your bio if you want. Though Hannah helped me fill it out, and I think she did a damn good job.”
“Of course, you’d think that,” I mutter, but maybe his brash decision to sign me up for a dating app will prove fruitful. I’ve tried every other site to no avail.
What’s one more?
CHAPTER ONE
A FEW WEEKS LATER
WILLOW
Blinking away the tears in my eyes, I toss my e-reader aside with a pained huff.
Another romance with a heroine who refuses to see what’s right in front of her.
It’s annoying to read these books with women rebuffing a man eager to love and please and protect them.Others would gladly take your place, I lament.Wouldn’t be so stupid or stubborn.They’d be happy to accept what these women want to throw away and deny.
And it makes me cry because men don’t want that girl.
They prefer the challenge.
