Our Chance (Lake Placid Series Book 3)

by Natalie Ann

  She had that same silly white hat on her head and a long flowing dress with flip-flops. He’d yet to see her in anything fitted and wondered what she might be trying to hide under her clothing.

  Strolling behind her was Sparky, following her around as she moved about the yard. The damn Pied Piper again.

  The dog made eye contact with him and sat back on his haunches. Looked like Caleb was going to be forced to socialize twice in one day.

  “I was in town for a meeting. It’s too hot to leave Sparky in the truck even with the windows down. I didn’t think he’d make an escape, though. I’m trying to figure out how he got here.”

  “I’m guessing he ran down like last time,” she said, humor in her voice.

  “That’s obvious, and not what I meant. I left the doors closed. He must have figured out how to open the sliding door to let himself out.”

  Which meant he was going to have to lock that door now. It was worse than having a child, and he wondered if he’d need safety latches too. Did they make dog-proof gates or locks?

  “So,” she said, “would you like a coffee or something cold? I’m pretty sure we know Sparky won’t leave just yet.”

  “Coffee’s good,” he said, knowing she was right. He walked over and took the hose out of her hand. “Here, I’ll continue to water these while you make it. Sorry about this.”

  She smiled at him, and for the first time he noticed how light her eyes were. Crystal blue, with her dark hair it made an exotic combination. This was the closest he’d gotten to her to really examine her face.

  The first thing he’d noticed when he met her was her smile, then her personality shone through so bright, he didn’t realize how stunning she was in the looks department.

  “Sparky is keeping me company. I like to think he enjoys spending time with me as much as I enjoy him.”

  He watched Celeste walk into the house and then turned to the dog when she was out of earshot. “I’m on to you,” he said to the dog.

  Of course, Sparky just looked up at him, slapped his tail down a few times, then stretched his paws out in front of him and lay down. Caleb put his thumb in the opening of the hose, turned it toward the dog, and blasted the water on the ground in front of Sparky’s face.

  The dog did what he always did, jumped up and started to dance around, chomping at the water like it was his enemy. The two of them were having a grand old time, the dog getting doused and barking, Caleb laughing, when Celeste walked out with her hands on her hips.

  “So this is what you two do when no one is around? It’s like two children.”

  Caleb’s grin faded. He’d forgotten himself for a minute. Forgotten she was close by and just let himself relax in the moment. The dog, nope, the dog didn’t forget himself and started to shake like dogs do, drenching them both. Celeste only laughed and the sound was soft, like music relaxing the soul, hitting him hard in the chest, deep down to a place where he hadn’t felt any emotion in years.

  “It’s a hot day. Sparky likes the water.”

  “Hmm,” she said, fighting back a grin.

  She walked over and turned the water off as Caleb and Sparky made their way to her front porch. He wasn’t surprised to see sugar cookies on a tray next to his coffee.

  “Do you always have cookies in the house?”

  “I do. I have a variety of baked goods available for my guests.”

  He sipped his coffee and waited for her to join them on the porch. Not one for small talk, he was wondering what to say. Finally he said, “I feel like I owe you for watching my dog twice now. Thanks.”

  “Take me to lunch,” she said.

  “Huh?”

  “Lunch. You can take me to lunch as a thank you. I cook breakfast and dinner for my guests so I can’t be gone then. But I normally run errands during the day. One day you can take me to lunch…as a thank you.”

  She was smirking at him, waiting for him to say no. He saw it in her eyes. Just like the dog, he felt somehow he was being played.

  “We’ve established Sparky is a breakout king, and I don’t want to leave him in my truck while we’re in a restaurant.”

  “Wow, that was lame.” She laughed at his chagrined look. “There are plenty of restaurants with outdoor seating in the area that allow pets.”

  Damn, he should have figured she’d know that.

  “I know you’re busy…”

  “If you don’t want to take me to lunch, just say so, Caleb.”

  It was the first time she’d said his name. Again, soft like music.

  And that look. The one that was challenging him. It’d been way too long since he’d felt anything for a woman. But this one was making him feel things he’d long since buried.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Then tell me you’d like to take me to lunch, as a thank you for watching Sparky.”

  “You’re pushy, aren’t you?”

  “I’ve been told that a time or two.”

  She was still grinning that cocky grin of hers, but this time there was something in her eyes. Not laughter, more like magical mystery. Maybe it wasn’t the place that held the wonder, but the person running it.

  “Fine. Would you like to go to lunch as a thank you for watching my dog?”

  “I’d love to. What a wonderful idea. Thanks for asking.”

  There was no stopping the roll of his eyes. She was something else.

  Handle Myself

  “I hear you’ve got your fight song playing.”

  Celeste turned to see her mother standing in the foyer. “I’m cleaning. Cleaning is always better when Bon Jovi is playing.”

  “Ah, but it’s your favorite song, so something else must be going on. You only ever play this song when you’re happy or working through something.”

  Her mother, Ginger, knew her well. “Livin’ on a Prayer” was Celeste’s fight song. She’d blared it over and over again during her treatments or whenever she was extremely happy or excited. It was a reminder of where she was in her life, and that sometimes a helping hand got her through. Or maybe she was the one lending a hand, but it still inspired her.

  She walked over and picked the remote up to turn the music down. “I’m going on a date.”

  “A date?” her mother asked, making her way to the kitchen. “With who?”

  “No one you know.”

  Celeste watched as her mother grabbed two glasses from the cabinet and filled them both with the fresh-squeezed lemonade she’d made just a few hours ago. Then her mother walked to the cookie jar and lifted the lid. “Oatmeal chocolate chip. Did you know I was coming today?”

  That was her mother’s favorite, Celeste knew, and she’d made them hoping it would send out vibes for her mom to visit. Not that Celeste would ever admit that, because when she did, or said things like that, her family just ignored her.

  She’d always had dreams and feelings as a child. Of things to come, gut feelings, wishes, and the like. She somehow knew or could will something to happen, or so she always believed.

  “Wishful thinking on my part,” Celeste said, then pulled a chair out and sat at the table with her mother.

  “So tell me about your up-and-coming date.”

  “He’s name Caleb Ryder and he lives up the road. He’s new to the area.”

  “How new? What do you know about him?”

  “Less than a year. We’ve visited a few times. His dog has gotten loose and come to visit twice now.”

  “His dog,” her mother said. “You’re bonding over a dog.”

  “I guess. Do you have a problem with it?”

  “No. Just that you’re more like my mother than I thought. Don’t get any crazy ideas in your head, Celeste. That it’s meant to be. That an animal is pushing you two together and the planets are all aligning in some mystical way.”

  Celeste lifted her glass and took a sip, her eyes laughing over the rim at her mother. It was exactly what she’d been thinking, and there was no use denying it. “Grandma would say it
was a sign.”

  “And everyone thought Grandma had a few loose screws.”

  “Are you saying your mother was nuts?” Celeste asked, lifting an eyebrow.

  “Don’t twist my words, or I’ll tell you that you’re nuts.”

  “I’ve been told it before…in polite words.”

  It was the truth. Some people in the area thought she was a little touched…and not in a good way. Luck was on her side, they’d say, and she believed it. After all, she probably shouldn’t be alive today.

  It wasn’t just that; it was the other things that always made people shake their head at her. Like she was living in a fantasy world or making things up. Or when she’d tell them she had a dream about them and a few days would go by and that dream would come true.

  Nothing major. Just little things. A dream that someone was going to find out they were pregnant, or get a new job, maybe their car would break down. Still, it tended to make people think she was being silly or fanciful, so she learned to keep those things to herself now.

  Only she still believed in everything she dreamed and felt. It guided her to her place in life so far and she was going to let it continue to show her the way. But just in the privacy of her mind, for the most part.

  “Maybe I should have Cole look into this guy. Give him a call tonight,” her mother said.

  “There’s no need to get Cole involved. He’ll only get all protective trooper mode on me. I’m not sure what is worse, that or the big brother act.”

  “Cole will always watch out for you, you know that.”

  “Yes, I do. And I love him for it. But it gets annoying. I can handle myself.”

  She didn’t need her twin brother coming around and scaring her guests like he had before. Coming over in uniform and intimidating them. He hadn’t done that lately, but it would only take one word from their mom and Cole would be visiting next.

  “We know you can handle yourself, but we’ve always worried about you all alone here on the property.”

  “I’m never alone on the property, Mom. And Grandma would never let anything happen to me, you know that.”

  Her mother sighed. Celeste knew how to play her mother now, knew what to say to get her mother to drop a topic. “So what does Caleb do for a living?”

  “I’m not sure. He works from home, though. On our date we can try to get to know each other more.”

  “So all you know is he has a dog that has gotten loose and comes to visit you. Maybe he’s a hermit in the woods. Or maybe he’s a serial killer on the run.”

  “Hardly,” Celeste said, thinking of Caleb playing with Sparky in the yard with the hose. No man who was that close to his dog could be bad. She refused to believe it. Cranky and ornery, sure, but evil, nah.

  “Just be careful,” her mother said.

  “I always am. I’m going to go talk to Dad when you leave. Will that make you feel better?”

  Her mother sighed again. “You just say these things to see if I can hold my tongue, don’t you?”

  Celeste laughed. “You know me so well.”

  ***

  Later that day, Celeste made her way across the grass and stopped to talk with her father.

  She missed him so much at times. “Hi, Daddy. Hope you’ve had a peaceful day.”

  No answer, not that she expected one. “I met a man. I think you’d like him. He’s kind of rough around the edges. A bit ornery but has a sweet side. Just like you. You know I’ve been holding out for someone like you my whole life.”

  Big bad Tom McGuire was feared in this area. Born and bred in the Adirondacks with a soul for protection, it was no surprise he went into law enforcement. Or that he worked his way up to an investigator with the State Troopers.

  When her father walked down the street, people parted. He was huge, six foot four inches of solid man. Just like Cole turned out. And most people feared Cole when he walked into a room.

  But her father had a side to him that many didn’t see. Only those close to him. A soft side, a whimsical one. And though everyone said she got her flighty nature from her grandmother, Celeste believed some of it came from her father.

  “His name is Caleb Ryder and he has a dog named Sparky. A German shepherd that looks like a K-9. You’d love Sparky, even though it’s not a very ferocious name. Surprisingly, it suits the dog, though I have no idea why. Guess I’ll have to ask Caleb that.”

  She stopped talking and ran the tip of her finger along the cold stone. “I was going to bring you flowers, but I know you don’t really care for them. So instead I brought a few cookies.”

  She bent down and laid them on his tombstone. “I know the squirrels will appreciate them. I made Mom her favorite and she and I just had a little chat. She misses you too, I know she does, even if she doesn’t visit. You understand, don’t you? The cemetery just isn’t that much of a happy place and Mom hates being sad.”

  Her mother still mourned her father daily, she knew, but she never visited him. The same with Cole. She found solace in this place, but it wasn’t for everyone.

  Moving her legs out in front of her, she sat down next to her father’s stone and leaned a shoulder against it, then her head. There was comfort in that for her. Like all those times her father held her when she went through treatments. The times he wrapped his beefy arms around her and told her it’d be all right.

  He wasn’t supposed to be here. She was. Her parents were told so long ago not to expect miracles. That she might not live long after her bone marrow transplant, but she’d proven them all wrong.

  Then someone came along and tore something from her again. They stole her father away. The man who always held her hand and told her to be strong, told her that if she worked hard enough and wished enough, she’d be okay.

  She’d believed him. He’d never lied to her a day in her life. And with him gone, she still didn’t think he’d lie to her.

  “So, do you think he might be the one, Dad?”

  A bird overhead cried out loudly, but it didn’t startle Celeste in the least. Rather she expected it.

  “I’m not sure if that was a yes or a no. Do you think you can give me another sign?”

  But there was only silence.

  Fate

  “Thank you,” Celeste said when Caleb pulled the chair out for her.

  He was still trying to figure out how he ended up on a lunch date with her the following week. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been on a date, period. Longer than he cared to think actually.

  And to be with a woman physically, again, unless it was friends with benefits, was more than his brain could calculate at the moment.

  Maybe that was why he felt such a huge draw toward Celeste. Or he could go with his original thought and consider her a female version of the Pied Piper, and he was foolishly skipping along behind her as she led him by the nose.

  “Celeste!”

  Caleb turned to see a young woman come rushing forward, then lean down to kiss Celeste on the cheek, exclaiming, “What brings you here today?”

  “Caleb, this is Marion West, the owner of this lovely establishment. We went to school together.”

  “We used to compete against each other for head cheerleader, but now we work together as businesswomen.”

  “Oh, I don’t know how much competition there was back then,” Celeste said. “Marion could flip better than anyone. But she’s right, now we try to work together, referring guests and customers to each other’s establishments.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Caleb said.

  He shouldn’t have been surprised Celeste was a cheerleader on top of everything else. Matter of fact, he’d probably have been more shocked to find out she hadn’t been one.

  “And who’s this?” Marion said, bending over to pet Sparky.

  “That’s Caleb’s dog, Sparky. He goes everywhere with Caleb, so I suggested we have lunch here. I know you always have room off to the side for well-behaved pets.”

  Marion turned her head and eyed Caleb a
bit more, giving him the once-over that he’d hated so much in school when growing up. The assessing look that told him he was being judged, wouldn’t measure up, and was about to become food for the gossip mills. He was regretting getting his hair cut and shaving today just out of principle.

  He still wasn’t sure how he got roped into this so-called date, then to go and put an effort into it no less. He was trying not to give the wrong impression but had a feeling it was too late now. Especially when he stopped to pick Celeste up and saw her big grin at his cleaned-up appearance.

  The ego in him was busting at the rim, but his inner introvert was the turtle wanting to find his shell and hide away from this commitment.

  “Ashley will be right over with your menus,” Marion said. “Enjoy your lunch. It was nice meeting you, Caleb.”

  “Why do I get the feeling half the town is going to know who I am before lunch is over?” he asked.

  “Not quite half,” she said winking at him. “It’s a small town, and news travels fast with the locals. Relax, it’s only lunch.”

  But he had a feeling it wasn’t.

  They placed their drink orders and sat looking at the menu quietly. He knew what he wanted, but was afraid if he set the menu down, Celeste would start talking again and he was clueless on what to say.

  Once Ashley returned with their drinks and took their orders, Caleb had nowhere else to focus his attention.

  “You must annoy your mother something fierce with your nonstop chatter,” she said.

  He felt his lips start to twitch. “She’d tell you I annoy her, that’s for sure.”

  She leaned forward and placed her chin in her hands to look at him. He liked that he had an unobstructed view of her face now. The fair completion against her dark hair, bright blue eyes, and unpainted lips. No big floppy hat shielding her features.