by Vivian Arend
Alex wasn’t about to completely go off the deep end and say it was fate, but there were stranger things in the world. Heck, one of his best friends insisted that with his first wife, it had been love at first sight.
“I’ll be right back.” Yvette rose from the table suddenly.
Alex rose to his feet as she did, curious when she came back with a to-go container and began packing away the treats he’d bought.
She offered him a smile before leaning forward and lowering her voice slightly. “This place is going to get a whole lot busier over the next little while. I don’t want to explain what we’re doing until we’re sure what we’re doing.”
“We’re dating,” he said firmly, but he was careful to keep his volume down.
“Yes, fine. But what we’re doing first is going to my house where we will eat five million calories and open the day-one calendar thingy.”
Alex took the container of treats from her, pressed the key chain back into her hand, then grabbed the sandwich bag. “I’ll follow you to your house.”
By the time he’d backed his truck up, she was waiting for him on the front porch of a of small cabin adjacent to the Heart Falls veterinary clinic.
At some point in the past, the building had started out as a dovetail-joined log shed. Over the years, the owners of the veterinary clinic had renovated and expanded until it was now a one-bedroom cabin heated by a wood-burning stove. Living there meant Yvette did the nighttime checks on the animals staying over at the clinic.
She looked at home standing at the top of the stairs, her well-faded Wranglers tucked into black cowboy boots that had been polished many times. The cold air had turned her pale cheeks red, and her dark hair stuck out from beneath the ear flaps on her woolen cap.
He supposed she had what people called a button nose. Yvette was cute and friendly. Most of the time she wore a smile, and everyone and anyone around her seemed content to spend time by her side.
He was such a sick bastard that what he liked the most, though, was when she got a flash of fire in her eyes. Her light-brown irises were beautiful, so light that there was a golden glow to them. Like spun amber or sunlight shining through the tips of wheat shafts. When she was mad, they all but snapped as if she had the power to light him on fire.
Yvette angry was a sight to behold.
But so was this. Curiosity was written all over her face as she joined him. He dropped the tailgate of the truck and climbed into the bed. He undid the straps holding his creation in place and slid the blanket-wrapped object forward until he could reach it from the ground.
“That’s bigger than a bread box,” Yvette said.
“It’s a writing desk that’s been in my family for a long time.” Alex jumped down from the back of the truck. “Any ideas where you want me to put it?”
“This might be a problem.” Yvette turned on her heel and headed inside.
He paused to grab their lunch bag and treats then followed her in the door. The place was warm, embers glowing behind the glass-fronted stove.
Beyond that, there wasn’t a spare inch of wall space anywhere in the room. Yvette had bookcases and side tables and knickknack shelves everywhere. He’d known she liked trinkets, but this was spectacular.
Alex wanted to start at one end and work his way around, poking into every nook and cranny. Hopefully over this month, he’d get a chance to do a bit of that.
Right now he glanced toward the door at the end of the open room opposite the kitchen counter and table. “Bedroom?”
A snort escaped her. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth as she lifted her laughing gaze to his. “Sorry. You’re going a little fast for me there, Tiger.”
It was his turn to snicker. “I mean, do you have more room in your bedroom?”
“Oh.” Yvette shook her head. “Not really.”
She shrugged her way out of her winter coat, revealing a long-sleeve shirt that clung to her sweet curves. Alex admitted to himself he was very much looking forward to getting to explore her bedroom.
Problem-solving first. Because if she wasn’t opening his present, they weren’t working on becoming friends. If they weren’t becoming friends, they would never get to the becoming-a-couple part of this arrangement.
He dropped the food on the table then tilted his head toward the front door. “On the front porch works. It’ll be protected from the weather, and it’s probably better than putting it too close to the stove.”
“I promise I won’t burn it down,” Yvette said.
He balanced the desk on his shoulder and brought it up the stairs a moment later. “I was thinking about some of the items I hid in here. They’ll do better outside than near something hot.”
“Oh, that’s a hint.” Yvette helped him manhandle the bureau into position behind the two Adirondack chairs she had faced west toward the mountains. “You have meltable things in the drawers. Which makes me think chocolate.”
Alex unwrapped the thick wool blanket he had wrapped around to save the wood from wear and tear. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”
He stepped back, checking immediately for Yvette’s reaction.
He’d seen the writing desk a million times over the years before he’d begun work on it two weeks ago. In that short time, he—with his dad’s help—had pretty much left the back and upper sections alone but replaced and installed a number of locks on the drawer fronts. It wasn’t fancy, with no elaborate scrollwork or gold filigree. It was a solid working-man’s household item that Alex hoped now held a bit of magic.
Yvette’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly. Her gaze dipped over the rows of small, square drawers on the top of either side then lingered on the far larger ones near the base. She stepped forward to run a finger over the top section in the middle that was covered by a curved, rolltop writing desk door.
“Alex. This is beautiful.” She met his gaze. “The desk has obviously been around for a long time. Are you sure you want to give it to me?”
“Yes.” If he had any doubts, the expression on her face would’ve wiped them away. She’d looked as if she’d won the lottery.
She stood silently before nodding firmly and turning with a smile. “Okay. No promises except to keep an open mind.”
An alarm sounded from his watch.
Alex swore softly as he checked his messages before smiling sheepishly. “That’s my warning. When I sent you the note, I didn’t know what my work schedule would be. My shift at Silver Stone begins in half an hour. But I can wait while you open the first door.”
“Oh. Right.” Yvette pulled the key chain from her pocket and stepped toward the bureau. She paused then glanced over her shoulder. “Please tell me I don’t have to randomly guess which drawer to open.”
“Check your key,” he suggested. “Then look at the drawers a little closer.”
She glanced at her hand, turning the key chain over. Then she dropped to her heels, running her fingers over the front of the wooden drawers. “Oh, you’re tricky.”
She traced the outline of a Christmas tree on one of the smallest drawers, inserted the key in the lock, and opened it.
2
The key turned easily, and Yvette pulled the drawer open to discover a slim envelope and another key chain. This new one was star shaped and shimmering gold, another small key dangling from the loop.
“It’s very tempting to figure out right now which drawer this opens,” Yvette told him, turning to Alex with the key in one hand and the envelope in the other.
“Now you see the fun part of having to wait a day. Anticipation.” He waggled his brows.
“Irritation,” she muttered, but amusement lingered as she slipped the envelope open. Inside was a gift certificate to Fallen Books, the local indie bookstore. The amount—
“Whoa.” She glanced up.
“Don’t stop at the numbers, read all the way to the bottom,” Alex encouraged.
A second later she spotted it. “…certificate is for both of us
to purchase a selection of books to enjoy.” That was sneaky. Only one problem. She eyed him suspiciously. “You’re not going to try and pick out books for me, are you?”
“Definitely not. You get what you want. I’ll get what I want.” His grin was back, although by the way he glanced at his watch, he had to be running out of time. “We can always trade later.”
“Dude, life’s too short to read bad books. And a bad book is one that’s not up your alley.”
“We’ll figure something out,” he assured her. “Consider it part of the adventure.”
Yvette slipped the gift certificate back in the envelope, not quite sure what was supposed to happen next. “When do you want to go to the store?”
“Tonight works for me. I know they’re open late. I can swing by and get you—"
“I’ll meet you there,” Yvette told him firmly. “Seven?”
Alex chuckled softly as he turned to go. “Okay. I’ll see you there.”
Damn, she wasn’t letting him leave without any food. “Wait. Let me give you your lunch.”
“Keep what you want,” he insisted.
Yvette moved quickly, sliding a sandwich and a couple treats onto a plate for herself before wrapping up the rest and placing it in the bag.
She rejoined him on the porch and held the food forward. “Thanks. For everything.”
When he paused only a step away, Yvette’s breath caught in her throat.
He better not plan on trying—anything. Not today.
Only when he lifted a hand to brush his knuckles over her cheek, her feet froze in place. Her heart pounded, and her mouth was suddenly dry.
“See you tonight.” Alex spoke softly, his deep voice stroking her senses. He tugged the bag from her white-knuckled grip then marched down the stairs to his truck.
She was still standing motionless on the porch when the red of his taillights vanished in the distance.
It took the cold breeze blowing across the wintry landscape and tangling around her shoulders to snap her out of her partly hypnotized immobility.
Inside the cabin, she hastily ate lunch then headed back to the veterinary clinic.
A busy afternoon spent dealing with small-animal care offered her a wonderful distraction. She didn’t have time for her thoughts to linger on the impossibly tangled situation she’d agreed to leap into with both feet. No one would possibly know that she was completely thrown for a loop by Alex and everything he’d started.
Or…maybe she wasn’t doing as good of a job as she’d imagined.
Fingers snapped in front of her face. “Earth to Yvette.”
She blinked, looking up to discover her boss’s wife staring at her with concern. Lisa Ryder’s dark-brown hair hung loose around her shoulders, her just-over-a-year-old daughter, Zoë, propped on her hip. Little Ollie, the family’s cream-coloured terrier, sat at Lisa’s feet, eyeing Yvette suspiciously, a soft grumble rising from her.
“Sorry.” Yvette straightened, glancing around the waiting room to discover empty chairs. “Woolgathering. Ready for Ollie’s checkup?”
Lisa nodded even as she pulled a face. “I asked for the last appointment of the day just in case.” She shocked Yvette by passing over the little girl in her arms. “Here, you hold Zoë. I’ll bring Ollie into the case room.”
Zoë’s eyes widened, but she patted Yvette’s face as if giving the go-ahead. Lisa stooped to nab Ollie, and a moment later, they were all gathered in the examination room—Lisa holding Ollie on the table, Yvette holding Zoë.
The rumble of noise from Ollie continued.
“We need to do some juggling,” Yvette said dryly. “Unless Zoë plans to do the exam for me.”
“Right.” Lisa made another face before taking Zoë and placing her on the chair at the side of the room. “You stay there for a minute, okay, sunshine? Mommy needs to help the puppy.”
Yvette got her stethoscope out. She worked through the examination, still wondering exactly why Lisa seemed as distracted as she was. “Did Josiah say he was worried about Ollie? Because you seem nervous.”
“Oh, that.” Lisa patted Ollie absentmindedly. The pup wagged her tail enthusiastically and leaned into the caress, all the while managing to keep an eye on Yvette. “Umm, no. Josiah just likes for someone other than family to do her checkups.”
“And…?” Yvette encouraged. No way was that all.
Lisa’s cheeks turned bright pink. She glanced over her shoulder at Zoë, who was playing with the key chain Lisa had given her. She met Yvette’s gaze and spoke quietly. “And the last time I was pregnant, Ollie got very protective, remember?”
“Oh my God.” Yvette felt a smile stretch her face. “That’s wonderful news.”
Lisa held up a hand. “It’s really early, so this is still hush-hush. But I’d already made the appointment for Ollie, and I didn’t want to cancel.”
Yvette focused her attention on the usually sweet little terrier. “Well, either she hasn’t figured it out yet, or this time Ollie doesn’t plan to be as protective, but I wish you the best of luck.”
“Thanks.” Lisa scooped up her daughter, pressing a kiss to her chubby little cheek. “This one is so much fun, we figured we’d better make another attempt before the brat genes rise to the surface.”
“You mean before you end up with a kid just like you?” Yvette teased before adding reassuringly, “Zoë is adorable, the same as any kids you’ll have.”
“You’re just saying that because my husband is your boss.”
“I’m saying that because it’s true. Also, I’m going to tell Josiah that when you have kids less than two years apart, Daddy gets to do night duty with the oldest one.”
“Great idea,” Lisa said. “Hey, I wanted to talk to you about Madison’s baby shower. Can you come over tonight? Hanna is bringing Crissy, and my sister Tamara will be there with her brood, so we can chat while the kids play.”
“Sounds fun.” Normally she would’ve loved joining in. Spending time with the women she’d gotten to know in Heart Falls was a blast, but there was this other commitment she’d been obsessing over. “I’ll have to take a rain check, though. I’m booked for tonight.”
“Okay. What’re you up to?”
Lisa was perpetually curious. There was absolutely no reason why Yvette couldn’t answer that question honestly and easily. “Going to the bookstore.”
Dammit. Her cheeks flamed. They had to be glowing red, especially considering the look Lisa gave her.
Yvette focused on Ollie, trying to ignore the question in Lisa’s eyes.
Lisa fought back the worst way possible.
She stayed quiet.
“I’m meeting Alex.” The words burst free, and Yvette sighed dramatically. “He gave me a Christmas calendar desk, and day one is books.”
Zoë shook the keys enthusiastically, and Ollie barked, neither of which was enough to distract Lisa or kill the highly interested smile crossing her face. “Really? He gave you…a calendar desk?”
“Like one of those countdown-to-Christmas things. Only bigger.” Awkward. She had to work on exactly what to call it. And what to call this thing going on between her and Alex.
“So, it’s a date?” Lisa held up a finger. “Please, don’t try to deny that, because you would not give up an evening with us to go to the bookstore.”
“Maybe I just love books,” Yvette said earnestly.
“Of course, you do, but you’re still seeing him.” Lisa reached over and patted her shoulder. “It’s okay. I like him.”
“It’s only a date,” Yvette said. Testing out the word felt…strange. “But I feel bad because I wanted to help plan the shower.”
Lisa waved a hand. “It’s not happening until early January. We’ll chat a couple days from now. That will give me a chance to find out exactly how things are going between you and Alex. A full report.”
“You’re annoying,” Yvette informed the other woman.
“So I’ve been told.” Lisa grinned harder.
&
nbsp; Finishing up with Ollie didn’t take long. Lisa chatted easily about other matters, once again holding her little girl. Zoë laughed like a banshee as the puppy snuck in licks whenever possible.
The mood was light and happy, and Yvette floated out of the office with that contented sensation lingering in her veins.
She had a date. Alex was dating her. He’d made her a desk full of drawers filled with secret treasures, and tonight they were buying books.
It seemed magical. It seemed too good to be true.
It seemed too good to last.
Yvette shivered as the echo of thoughtless laughter rang in her memories. Her siblings, teasing. Taunting because she wasn’t like them. Because her goals were different.
She was different.
Why can’t you be more grounded, Yvette?
Jeez, kiddo, you need to keep both feet moving.
Silly girl, caught up chasing dreams. You’re not good enough for him.
Not good enough for us.
Not good enough.
A cold wind blew over her as she approached the small house where she’d made her home for the past two years, making her shiver.
Anger shot in.
Screw this. Yvette shoved the gloomy thoughts away. She had a date. The voices could go stuff themselves.
Fallen Books smelled like adventure and hope.
Alex snickered at his poetic turn of thought even as he relaxed back into the easy chair he’d claimed, tucked into a comfortable back nook of the store. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
Crisp new pages, the faintest hint of scented candles, and some kind of spicy tea tickled his senses. Pretty much the perfect bookstore aroma.
They should bottle it or infuse it into a candle or something.
He’d arrived at six thirty so he’d have plenty of time to look around and make some choices before Yvette joined him.
Day one. Within the hour, they’d have officially started what Alex hoped would be an epic journey.