He held the phone between shoulder and ear.
“European Travelerasked about you,” Marcus said whenthe line connected. “They loved your Appalachian piece. Think you’d be up for a coastal feature? Something about pulling in more American tourism. Malta still a bucket list for you?”
“You know it is.” Joe smiled, because Malta was the kind of yes he never overthought.
“Perfect.” Marcus’s voice shifted into its usual businesslike cadence—then immediately slid into something more personal. “So. You’ll be back in Chicago this weekend, right? Guest room’s all yours until you fly out again.”
Joe snorted. “Your spare room is full of your girlfriend’s Pilates equipment.”
“Ex-girlfriend,” Marcus replied flatly.
Joe’s stomach dipped. “Hell. I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know.”
“Don’t.” Marcus exhaled. “It’s fine. We’ll do a post-mortem over a Cubs game when you get here Saturday.”
“About that…” Joe looked back over at Krista, and the gentle way she worked the hives. “I’m not coming Saturday. I’ve been roped into this week-long life swap with one of the local business owners. Her name’s Krista,” Joe supplied.
Marcus made a pleased sound. “And she’s attractive.”
Joe turned, keeping his voice extra low. “There’s something about her. I won’t deny it, but I think this swap will be good for my piece too. I’ll be here a week. Ten days tops.”
“Ten days?” Marcus cut in. “Joe, no. I need you wheels-up Friday.European Travelerwants a proposal by Monday so they can decide on the coastal feature.”
“Friday?” Joe’s stomach tightened. He glanced back at Krista—at the careful way she worked the hive like it was something precious. “No. It’s going to have to be next week. I can work with you on the proposal from here.”
“Fine.” Marcus’s tone went flat. “But if you’re not out by the end of next week, I’ll have to hand it to someone else. And Malta?” A beat. “That goes with it.”
“Understood.” Joe hung up the phone and turned back toKrista, watching the way she gently brushed the bees away while collecting honey. He lifted his camera, snapping a photo, telling himself it was just for the piece.
Truthfully, he knew he wasn’t just documenting a story here. It had only just begun, and yet in this town, with Krista, he felt like he was falling into the biggest story of his life. But he was only passing through Maple Falls. One more town in a collection of many. Would this really be just another chapter in his life on the road?
FIVE
KRISTA
Wednesday, Two Days Before the Summer Swap
“Alright, now it’s time foryournext lesson. Then we can go to the Hideaway for that espresso,” Joe said, buckling his seat belt as morning sun continued to climb in the sky, raising the temperature with it. It was definitely a ride with the windows down type of morning.
Krista glanced at him as she started the truck. “Just tell me where I’m going, cowboy.”
“Downtown,” he replied, his voice low and sure. “I want to find some locals who’ll let us photograph them.”
Krista tried not to stare as he settled back in the seat beside her. Joe had a calm, capable kind of presence. Broad shoulders under a faded gray T-shirt. His dark hair curled a little at the ends, and when the sunlight hit his jaw, she caught the faintest hint of stubble.
He was as unfairly hot in the daylight as he had been last night, and not just at the Hideaway. Oh no, she dreamed about him last night, as she knew she would. You didn’t meet a man like Joe Valerio and have a peaceful night’s sleep.
But in her dream, they weren’t at the Hideaway, they were in his tent under the stars, just the two of them in the dark. It had started softly with her curled against him, his hand resting warm on her stomach, keeping her close. Skin against skin, steady breath, and the slow, possessive weight of him behind her. Then his fingers shifted, just a little—a teasing glide along her hip.
Dream Krista pressed back into him, feeling the hard line of him through the thin fabric. She took his hand in hers and guided it lower—near where she was already slick and aching. Her thighs parted, breath catching as his fingers traced the seam of her shorts.
When his fingers finally found her, Krista tipped her head back, a moan slipping free. Every movement was slow and deliberate. Her thighs widened, her breath growing shallow as he tested and teased.
Heat built low and sharp, tightening until it threatened to explode with just one more stroke, one deeper kiss, one rougher press?—
She jolted awake.
Her heart raced. Her skin was on fire. The empty space beside her felt like an insult, her body still thrumming.
