She rolled her window down and could hear the beat of the music from the live band.Cars and trucks littered the parking lot and warm golden light spilled from the chalet-style building’s windows.The Alpine Room wasn’t her scene—too crowded, too many people she’d know and have to make small talk with—but still she was tempted to take a detour and head that direction.Drink a couple of beers, dance with a couple of ranch hands, and keep her mind off Zeke.
But instead, she pulled into her parking space behind the building and climbed the stairs to the second floor.If she could get a cold beer and a shower then all would be right with the world.
The exterior stairs led to a small landing outside her apartment door, just wide enough for the rocking chair she’d placed there.It was her favorite spot to drink her morning coffee and watch the sun rise over the mountains, painting Twin Peaks in shades of gold and rose.
The only issue was the man currently occupying her rocking chair.“I didn’t figure you’d want me going inside without you,” he said, his smile easy.As if nothing more than a simple conversation had passed between them earlier.It was one of the things that had always driven her crazy about him.When he was over something, he was over it, and he moved on.Her emotions weren’t quite as settled.
“You figured right,” she said.“I would’ve shot first and asked questions later.”
“I thought that temper of yours would’ve settled over the years.”
“Nope, I’m mean as a snake.”
“That’s not what the ladies at the bakery downstairs said.Those are amazing cinnamon rolls, by the way.”
“I know.Why are you here again?I figure if I keep asking you’ll eventually tell me.”
“Don’t you want to know what the ladies had to say about you?”
If she stood there looking at him too much longer she’d end up walking straight into his arms and throwing caution to the wind.He sent her body into overdrive—it didn’t matter that it had been three years.Her pulse quickened just being near him and the memory of his touch made her skin tingle.
He lounged back in the chair like a big jungle cat, and his eyes were predatory.If she let him inside she knew where they’d end up.Even from where she stood she could feel the arcs of electricity between them.
“What do you say, sweetheart?Are you going to invite me in or do you want to stay out here for everyone to see?”
Her body flushed hot and she remembered very clearly a time when they’d been together in Mexico—the ocean breeze, the warmth of the sun, and the way he’d made her feel alive in a way no one else ever had.The memory alone was enough to make her breath catch.
“Come on in,” she finally said, her voice husky.
She unlocked the door and went inside, leaving it open behind her.She heard the door close and the click of the deadbolt as he turned it.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he said.
“Well, you haven’t answered any of mine.”She shrugged and tossed her keys in the little bowl on the table and sat her backpack on the floor.The music box was a fleeting thought.There was no point trying to do anything with it while Zeke was there.
“Blaze O’Hara and I spent the afternoon catching up over cinnamon rolls and coffee.”
“I didn’t realize you and Blaze knew each other that well.I just met him when I moved here.”
Zeke’s grin was easy to interpret.“We go back a way.He and I spent some very memorable summers here in our misspent youth.He told me you and his wife are close.”
“Lily was a bounty hunter,” Mia said.“She does some contract work from time to time.You’d like her.”
“That’s high praise coming from you,” he said.“The people in this town are still as curious as they were back then.They all remembered me.And then they started talking about you.Don’t you want to know what they had to say?”
“Not really.”
“I don’t believe you.You’re nosy.I bet you know everything about each and every one of the people who work in these shops.”
“Of course I do,” she said over her shoulder.“Because I listen.You should try it some time.”
“I’ve heard everything you’ve said since I laid eyes on you again a few hours ago.”
“Yet here you are in my apartment, not answering my questions.”
He grinned unrepentantly.“Listening and obeying are two different things.”
She arched a brow.“Cocky.”
