Lucky You (Pine Ridge Romance Book 1)

by Holly Stevenson

  “We’d better finish our food before it gets cold.”

  Drew blinked, caught off guard. She’d given all the signals that she wanted the kiss. What went wrong?

  “Has Olivia had any luck finding a job yet?” she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

  He paused another beat, collecting his thoughts as he picked up his fork. “Not yet. She applied at an office supply store today, so she’s hopeful about that.”

  Piper nodded and they carried on a light conversation until the meal was finished. He took her empty plate and stacked it with his, setting them both on the ground to deal with later. He noticed how she scooted closer and closer to the fire.

  “You’re cold,” he said.

  “I’m fine. The fire feels great.” She lifted her hands, holding her palms toward the flames.

  Drew shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her. “Here. I never get cold. Olivia teases me I’m part wolf.”

  Piper laughed and then hesitated, holding the jacket in her hands. “Are you sure?”

  He nodded and helped wrap it around her. “It looks good on you.” Everything looks good on you.

  “Thanks.” She smiled and pulled it closer around her shoulders.

  “Ready for some s’mores?” he asked.

  “Always.” She got up to help, but he stopped her.

  “You stay by the fire. It will only take me a second to grab the stuff.” He scooped up the empty plates and tossed them in a bear-proof trash can before getting out the marshmallows, chocolate covered grahams, and wrapped caramels. “No fire is complete without these,” he said, returning to his chair.

  Piper eyed the caramels. “Why have I never thought of this? Anything is better with caramel.”

  “We had these at summer camp growing up,” Drew said, nostalgia filling him as he opened the bag of marshmallows and handed Piper a roasting stick.

  “Summer camp, huh? What was that like?”

  He leaned his head side to side. “It was okay.” A bunch of other rich kids, all there because their parents, like Drew’s, didn’t want to be bothered with them during the summer break. He’d made a few close friends out of it, some of whom he still kept in touch with. “I like the outdoors, so it wasn’t the worst way to spend a summer. Olivia was there too, so that helped.”

  She studied him in the firelight. “How many summers did you go?”

  Every summer. “Quite a few,” he said, pretending to be absorbed in skewering his marshmallow to avoid eye contact.

  She propped her chin in her hands, her face thoughtful. “Your parents must have missed you. Did they both work?”

  “Yeah, they were definitely busy.” His mouth formed a line. Piper must have sensed his unease because she changed the subject.

  “You attended college back east, is that where you grew up?”

  He nodded, handing her a marshmallow and caramel. “Yep. New York is home.”

  “Really?” Her eyes brightened. “I’ve always wanted to go there.” She accepted the treats from him, stacking them on her roasting stick. “Do you live in the city?”

  “Yep.” He needed to change this track of questioning. He couldn’t admit that he’d grown up on the Upper East Side, and he wanted to avoid outright lies as much as possible. “You should visit sometime. It’s definitely worth seeing at least once in your life.”

  “That’s what I’ve heard.” She sighed, turning her stick over the flames. “Jade loved New York. We’ve talked about taking a trip there together.”

  “What’s stopping you?”

  She gave him an embarrassed look. “You saw my bank account. I can’t afford it right now—but hopefully I’ll be able to set aside a trip fund soon.”

  He nodded, feeling stupid he hadn’t thought of it before asking. Money issues were something he’d never had to deal with. His life as ‘Drew Carson’ was supposed to remedy that, but it was hard to relate. Especially when he knew if he ever got into trouble, Gran would bail him out in a heartbeat. He considered secretly gifting some money to Piper for her trip fund but decided against it. It might be too obvious the money came from him right after she told him about it. And selfishly, he had to admit that he wanted to be the one to show her New York.

  “So,” Piper said, breaking through his thoughts, “do you think a city boy like you could handle living in a place like Pine Ridge long term?” She glanced at him. “Now that you’ve been here a few weeks, I mean. Do you miss the commotion and excitement of the big city?”

  He shook his head. “Even growing up, I daydreamed about what it would be like to look up and see mountains instead of skyscrapers. I enjoy the occasional visit to the city, but it’s not where I want to live. Or raise a family. I want my kids to be able to play outside—run around barefoot. All the things I missed growing up.”

  She smiled and he noted a look of admiration in her green eyes. “This a good place to raise a family. Lots of fresh air, and a small enough town that you don’t have to worry about sending your kids to play outside.”

  He nodded, his gaze drifting to her smile, wanting to taste her lips again. He shook himself from the thought, tipping up his roasting stick. The caramel had melted onto the perfectly browned marshmallow. “Mine’s ready,” he said. “How about yours? Are you ready for the cookies yet?”

  She made a small squeak and pulled her stick back. The marshmallow had caught fire. Drew quickly stood and blew it out.

  She gave an embarrassed shrug. “I like mine extra crispy.”

  He laughed and shook his head, eyeing the charred marshmallow. “I think this might be a little too crispy.” He took her roasting stick and scraped the marshmallow-caramel goo into the fire pit. “Here, take this one and I’ll roast another.” He reached for his roasting stick.

  “I would say no, but you are clearly the roasting master.” She pointed to his marshmallow, “And that looks delicious, so I’ll take you up on it.”

  He grinned and expertly sandwiched two chocolate graham cookies around the marshmallow and caramel, handing it to her.

  “Thank you.” She took a bite of the caramel s’more and her eyes widened in approval before she swallowed. “That’s so good.”

  “You’ll never go back to regular s’more’s again,” he said, forcing his gaze away from her to set up another marshmallow. Piper ate her s’more while he turned his roasting stick, liking that they could sit in silence without it being awkward. Somewhere in the distance, a pack of coyotes started yipping.

  Piper sat up straight, her eyes darting to Drew. He met her gaze and they smiled at each other. Hair rose along the back of his neck, not just from the haunting sound, but from this moment. Being here with Piper. It felt so natural. So right. He wanted a thousand more nights like this one.

  “It sounds like they’re getting farther away,” she whispered, turning her head.

  “Yeah,” Drew agreed before noticing a smudge of chocolate on the side of her lip. “You’ve got a little something,” he whispered.

  She turned to him, putting a hand to her face. “Where?”

  He couldn’t help himself. He set his roasting stick down and leaned toward her, taking her face in his hands. The air between them stilled as he searched her green eyes and saw what he was looking for. His heart hammered as he gently pressed his lips to hers, capturing her mouth in a delicious kiss.

  She returned the kiss, putting both arms around his neck. He let out a soft groan and the kiss deepened. His pulse hammered as he drank her in. All other thoughts faded away and all he could think about was Piper. He pulled her sideways onto his lap, her body warm against him as he kissed away any trace of the chocolate, and long after.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Piper’s stomach fluttered as Drew lifted her hand and brushed it against his lips. They stood on her doorstep, both of them reluctant to have the date end.

  “I don’t want to say good bye,” he murmured.

  She sighed. “Neither do I. Tonight was amazing.”
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br />   He smiled and lowered her hand, still keeping hold of it. “When can I see you again?”

  She looked up at him through her lashes. “Soon. I have to work tomorrow night, but I’ll be free the night after that.” The disappointment in his eyes mirrored her own. She wanted to see him every day, but while she was working two jobs, it wasn’t feasible.

  “Sounds good. I’ll be counting down the hours,” he said, giving her a warm look that made her spine tingle. “And I’ll call Margaret first thing tomorrow and let you know what she says.”

  Piper squeezed his hand. “Thank you. I don’t want her to feel any pressure, but if there’s anything we can do to make it work—at least for the weddings already booked—we’ll be forever grateful.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” He reached down and her heart tripped as he brushed his lips against hers in a soft kiss, pulling away all too soon. He pressed his forehead to hers. “Sweet dreams, Piper.”

  She opened her eyes, feeling dizzy from the kiss. “Good night, Drew.”

  He reluctantly let her go and she watched as he walked down the steps, his tall frame and broad shoulders silhouetted by the moonlight. Piper hugged herself and then remembered his jacket.

  “Wait,” she half-whispered, not wanting to wake anyone at this late hour.

  Drew turned and raised an eyebrow.

  “Your jacket.” She moved to take it off but he shook his head.

  “Keep it.” He gave her a roguish smile and walked to his car.

  Piper pulled his jacket around her, enjoying the way the scent of his cologne lingered on it. She turned and quietly opened the door.

  “Finally!” Savannah called from the kitchen.

  Piper laughed. She should have known Savannah would be waiting up, especially after hearing about Briarwood.

  “Get in here and dish!” Savannah called. “It must have gone well for you to get home past midnight.”

  Piper walked into the kitchen, a guilty grin plastered all over her face. “Savannah, it was . . .” she shook her head. “He is . . .” She covered her face with her hands, unable to find adequate words to describe her feelings.

  Savannah took her by the shoulders. “Oh my goodness, it’s finally happening.”

  Piper dropped her hands, the grin still in place. “What?”

  Her blue eyes sparkled. “You’re falling for him. Big time.”

  Piper squealed and covered her face again. “I totally am!” She lowered her hands and sighed. “He’s just so amazing. I’ve never felt like this before. I can hardly think straight when I’m around him. It’s like I’ve completely lost control of all rational thought.”

  Savannah pursed her lips and gave a knowing nod. “Yep, all the signs are there. I knew it would happen when the right guy came along.”

  Piper’s smile slipped as the familiar panic started setting in. She could easily fall in love with Drew, but would he feel the same way after learning about her broken past? When it came right down to it, she barely knew him, and he didn’t know her. It was too soon for her to be losing her heart like this.

  “Okay, I can see I came on too strong,” Savannah said, lifting her hands. “Take a deep breath, Piper. It’s late, too late to get caught up in deep conversation. Just slap that silly grin back on and get some sleep. I want to hear all about your date tomorrow, and we’ll do it when Leah and Jade can FaceTime.”

  Piper exhaled slowly. “Thanks, Savannah. And Drew said he’ll talk to the new owner of Briarwood and let you know what she says tomorrow, okay?”

  Savannah gave her a hug. “You’re the best!”

  She gave her friend a squeeze and pulled back. “It was all Drew—and maybe a little bit of luck,” she admitted with a laugh.

  “See you in the morning,” Savannah said.

  “Night.” Piper walked from the kitchen, realizing she still wore Drew’s jacket. Savannah hadn’t said anything, staying true to her word and waiting for the full scoop later.

  Piper walked into her room and tossed the jacket on her bed. She pulled her phone from her back pocket and saw that she’d missed a call. Her mom again. There was a voicemail notification, so Piper pulled it up and put the phone to her ear. She blanched at the sound of her mother’s voice.

  “Piper, it’s Mom. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. I just wanted you to know that your dad is in the hospital. It’s his liver. The doctors say it’s bad.” She sighed. “I hate to ask . . . but money is a little tight right now, and his medical bills are going to add up quick. Is there any chance you could help out?”

  Piper’s stomach twisted and she ended the message, not needing to hear more. It was always the same—her parents making bad choices and then asking Piper to help when they got in over their heads. She tossed the phone onto her bed and hugged her arms across her chest. Her dad’s liver was bad because of his drinking. It was his own fault he was in the hospital. She wasn’t going to pay for their mistakes, not anymore.

  She methodically went to her dresser and pulled out her pajamas, her mind stewing. It wasn’t like she owed them anything. Just once it would be nice to have parents who took care of her, instead of the other way around. They hadn’t been there for her growing up—why should she feel responsible for them now?

  She changed and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. The warm water soothed her and she patted her face dry with a towel, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Who was she fooling? No matter how many times she went through these justifications, she always came to the same conclusion: they were her parents. She had to help them.

  She sighed and shuffled to her bed, climbing in and pulling the down comforter up under her chin. Maybe fate had been involved in her meeting Drew, but it sure played a dirty trick when it came to her parents. She rolled over and closed her eyes, forcing her thoughts back to a happy place: to Briarwood and Drew—and those chocolate-covered kisses by firelight.

  Chapter Twenty

  Piper’s hands shook as she entered Pine Ridge hospital. She hadn’t seen her parents in over six years, all communication limited to the occasional brief text or call from her mom. The last time the three of them had been in the same room together had been her high school graduation. They had come, at least. She remembered how surprised she’d been when she saw them sitting in the audience. But the surprise quickly turned to dismay when she could tell—even from where she sat on the stage—that her dad was drunk. He’d made a loud scene during the valedictorian’s speech, and she’d watched, mortified, as an usher asked him to leave. Her mother had followed him out, keeping her head down. In that moment, Piper decided she was done having contact with her parents.

  Yet here she was.

  She approached the front desk. The man working there looked up with a bright smile.

  “Good morning. How can I help you?”

  Piper bit her lip. “I’m here to see George Robinson.”

  He nodded and checked his computer screen. “Mr. Robinson is in room 203.” He glanced up at her. “It’s a little early for a visit, though.”

  “I’m his daughter. I won’t be long.” Piper knew she wouldn’t be able to focus at work today if she didn’t do this first thing. Savannah would be disappointed that she snuck out without giving her date run-down first, but Piper wasn’t in the mood for that either.

  “Okay. Just sign in and I’ll give you a visitor’s pass,” the man said, handing her a clipboard.

  Piper signed her name sloppily, her hands still trembling. She passed the clipboard back and accepted the visitor lanyard, drawing it over her neck.

  “Take the elevator to the second floor. Third door on your left,” he said, his white smile a beautiful contrast with his ebony skin.

  “Thanks.” Piper tilted her head. “You know, that smile just made me feel better. I needed that.”

  His smile widened. “Well thank you,” he glanced at her signature, “Miss Robinson. Best of luck to your dad.”

  She nodded and headed to
ward the elevators, the pleasant exchange making her slightly less nervous. As she pressed the button and waited, her phone buzzed with a text. Her heart jumped into her throat when she saw that it was from Drew.

  I hardly slept at all last night. Couldn’t stop thinking about you. Good luck today. You’ve got this.

  Tears pricked the backs of her eyes. He had unknowingly sent exactly what she needed to hear right then. The door opened and she stepped inside the empty elevator, pressing the button for the second floor before quickly sending a reply.

  That was exactly what I needed. I’ve been thinking about you, too. Can’t wait for our date tomorrow. She paused and then deleted the last line before sending the text. She might not be able to make that date anymore. If she was going to help with the medical bills, she would need to keep both jobs. The thought made her heart sink. She wouldn’t know for sure until she talked to Gary at the Silvermine. The elevator door opened and Piper stepped into the tiled hallway.

  A nurse looked up from the desk. “Can I help you?”

  “I’m here to see George Robinson,” Piper stammered. “Room 203?”

  The nurse nodded. “You’re in luck. He’s just had his breakfast, so he’s awake.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” Piper turned and forced her feet to move, her heels clacking on the tiles. She wasn’t sure how long this would take, so she was already dressed for work. Her pulse accelerated as she approached 203. The door stood open. She drew in a calming breath and entered.

  Her father had always been an imposing presence—tall and stocky. But the man in the bed was thin, his face gaunt. She hardly recognized him. He turned toward her when she walked in and his eyes widened.

  “Piper?”

  She flinched. His voice was as frail as his body. She’d never heard him speak in a tone that soft, and it unnerved her. “Hey, Dad.” She took another step into the room. “Mom called. How are you doing?”