“All right, baby. Get to work. I’ll talk to you later, yeah?”
She popped up on her tiptoes and pressed one last kiss to my lips before she started walking backward. “Absolutely. Have a good day.”
I could have headed back to the cabin, but I didn’t feel like going back to that quiet. I had no problem being alone, but after spending the last several hours in that house with Holly, the thought of going there without her wasn’t sitting too well.
Climbing behind the wheel of my Range Rover, I headed out of the alley toward the local grocery store, one of the things I enjoyed about Hope Valley. You didn’t see any big box stores or chain fast food places. This town was run by the people, from the locally owned grocery store, to the restaurants, to the shops, and I was all about supporting anything locally owned and operated.
As I pushed my cart through the aisles, it hit me that this was the first time I’d stepped into a grocery store in a really long time. The cabin had been stocked when I showed up, and in D.C. it was easier to use an app and have my groceries delivered. I’d shopped for myself a few times after joining the Rebels, but it didn’t take long to realize it was mistake. It took twice as long as it should have to get a couple of things because there was a hockey fan around every corner. If I wasn’t being stopped by people who loved the team, it was people who wanted to critique every move I made on the ice and tell me how to do my job. It was just easier not to have to deal with it.
But wandering through Fresh Foods was a totally different experience. People waved as I passed, offering smiles or hellos. A few even addressed me by name. But the vibe was more like I was one of them, not that I was some hotshot athlete they wanted a selfie with.
I had to admit, it was really nice.
Since no one was being intrusive, I took my time, scanning the shelves for things that Holly would hopefully like. I got the impression that wasn’t something the men in her past had done much of, which was a shame. I was thrilled when she told me it had been the best first date she ever had. But it made me want to find those asshole exes and beat some sense into them. That wasn’t even the bare minimum, for Christ’s sake.
But if something as simple as cooking for her made her happy, I’d do it as much as possible.
“Tanner Fine.”
My head swiveled toward the sound of my name, and a smile instantly pulled at my face when I saw where it came from. “Zach Paulson.” I took his offered hand and pulled him in for a slam on the back. “Good to see you, man.” I met Zach on my first trip to Hope Valley when I stayed at the ranch’s lodge he and his family ran. And it was his wedding I’d attended with Ivy. He’d been arough and tumble cowboy and his bride was a high-society nepo-celebrity back in L.A. They met when she’d landed in some hot water and her parents shipped her off to work on a ranch to try and knock some sense into her. Not only did she find her work-ethic, she’d also met her husband.
He clapped me on the arm. “Hey, it’s good to see you too. Heard you were back in town for a bit.”
Something about that very last word made my stomach twist. “Yeah. I needed to get out of the city and Hope Valley was the very first place I thought of.”
Zach stuffed his hands in the pocket of his jeans and rocked back on the heels of his boots. “Heard about the injury; I’m really sorry about that. It was a shitty situation, but you’re doing better, right?”
That was the moment I realized I hadn’t thought about my injury in a day and a half, when it was usually front and center in my brain all damn day. Holly Bradbury was the only thing running through my brain.
“Oh, yeah. I’m all good. And the truth is I needed the break.” That sure as hell wasn’t something I would have admitted a few months ago. Hockey had been my life for as long as I could remember. It was what I existed for. When that doctor told me I was out for the rest of the season, it had felt like the worst moment of my life, like nothing could ever be worse than that. But as more time passed, it was harder to ignore that I no longer needed those five extra minutes in the morning just to loosen my body up enough to climb out of bed, and I felt better, overall. I still felt my age—and maybe a few extra years tacked on—but I hadn’t been popping ibuprofen like breath mints to take the edge off the pain.
“Well, as long as you’re good.”
“I am, thanks. What about you? How’s married life?”
His grin was instant. His features softened as he gave his head a shake. “It’s the best, no other way to describe it. And I don’t know if anyone’s told you yet, but Rae’s pregnant.”
My eyes widened and I clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s awesome, man. I’m really happy for you both.”
“Thanks. We’re pretty excited ourselves. She’s due in the spring. Don’t know if you’ll still be here by then, but if so, maybe you’ll get to meet the little sprout.”
I didn’t know if I’d be here either. The idea that I wouldn’t sat heavy like a brick in my stomach, though. “I’d like that.”
“Same. We’re always happy to have you back.” He shot me a wry smile. “Word around town is there’s one resident in particular that’sveryhappy to have you back.”
Christ, I was a grown-ass man knocking on the door to forty, and I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks. “Holly’s an incredible woman.”
“I know. We all do. Which is why I feel like I should tell you, you screw with her, there are at least twenty people willing to bust your kneecaps and more than double that who’d make you suffer without committing a felony.”
I should have been scared. Okay, I was a little scared, but more than that, I was happy to know Holly had so many people who cared about her. Those willing to commit felonies and otherwise. “You don’t have to worry,” I assured him, smiling as memories of my date with Holly began flipping through my brain. “I’d rather cut off my own damn arm than hurt her. She’s... she’s something really special.”
His grin indicated I’d answered correctly. My knees were grateful, for sure. “Glad to hear it. You know, me and some of the guys have a monthly poker game, and this month’s game is tonight. You should join us.”
“That sounds good.” A game did sound like a good time, but so did spending time with Holly. “I’ll see what Holly’s got going on tonight and let you know.”
We exchanged numbers in the middle of the canned goods aisle, then Zach had to get back to the ranch. But as I finished my shopping, I realized I was starting to feel like maybe this was where I belonged.
Which meant I was going to have to make some tough decisions really soon.
