by Virna DePaul
Lucky finally held out a hand to pull him up, and Alder took it. The gym was mostly deserted, as it was the middle of the day, but a few guys were working out at the opposite side of the ring. They avoided his gaze now, but they’d been staring at them, probably wondering what the hell was wrong with Alder.
“You’ve been mooning all week,” Lucky said, grabbing a towel and wiping his face. “I’m surprised I haven’t seen you crying over your diary or something.”
Alder flipped him the bird, but it was a halfhearted gesture. His friend wasn’t wrong, although he took issue with the word mooning. He’d just been…preoccupied. Yeah, that was the word. Preoccupied with Dara and how she hadn’t contacted him, despite the note he’d left her.
His mind had run the gamut of reasons why—she hated him, she’d been too busy, the cleaning woman had thrown the note away before Dara could read it—and not one excuse made him feel better. He needed to get over her already, but for some reason, his mind wouldn’t cooperate. When had a one-night stand turned into such an obsession? He’d never been like this over a woman.
“I’m not mooning,” Alder finally said. “Just been thinking about shit.”
“Uh huh. And I wasn’t born yesterday. I know when a guy is hung up on a girl, and you are about as hung up as I’ve ever seen a man.”
When Alder didn’t reply, Lucky just waited, head cocked to the side. Now that Lucky was engaged to the love of his life, he seemed to have developed an overabundance of patience. Apparently, he’d also honed some kind of second sense when it came to matters of the heart.
Frowning, Alder rubbed his chest, wishing he could deny Dara Brennan had somehow penetrated his heart, but every scrap of evidence seemed to suggest otherwise. With a growl, he dragged his hand through his hair.
“I met someone in Vegas,” Alder said, “but it’s over. I fucked it up royally and that’s that. Not worth crying about it.”
Lucky just narrowed his eyes. “If you say so.”
“She’s ten years younger than me.”
“So what? If she’s got you this worked up, she’s got to be a complex woman, and you’ve never been one to give up that easily. If you really like her, go see her.”
Easier said than done. And at any rate, the last thing he wanted was to seem desperate or, even worse, like some kind of stalker. He’d put himself out there, and Dara had decided she didn’t want to reciprocate. He should respect that.
A voice in his mind told him he was being a complete coward, but he stuffed that voice down and told it to go to hell. Grabbing his own towel, he slung it over his neck before jumping down from the ring. “Wanna grab a coffee?”
He could hear Lucky muttering as he followed. His friend could bitch and moan all he wanted—he wasn’t going to kill himself over a girl he’d slept with a grand total of one time. He’d move on. He’d find a new girl and Dara would simply become a nice memory of his time in Vegas.
As Alder took a quick shower, despite his best intentions, he once again pondered the possible reasons why Dara hadn’t contacted him. Bottom line, he wasn’t used to women ignoring him. For all of their talk about finding nice guys to marry, most women liked bad boys, and with his career and reputation, he fit the bill perfectly. Besides, while he’d hurt her feelings and insulted her with his condescending attitude, she didn’t seem like the type of person that would let that stop her from pursuing a connection that could help her cousin advance his career.
What if there was another reason she hadn’t contacted him?
What if she’d been hurt?
He knew it was a melodramatic and asinine thought, and he growled at the fact he’d even harbored it.
Shutting off the water, he toweled himself dry, then dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. Lucky had already finished his shower and was waiting for him outside the locker room.
“Took you long enough,” he said, looking at his phone. “Were you shaving your legs in there too?”
“Ha ha,” he grumbled, and then rolled his eyes at Lucky’s “Man, you’re on fire with your quick wit today. Better track down that girl and settle things before she shuts down your mind completely.”
Alder snorted, and Lucky grinned, looked up, and slapped him on the arm. Thankfully, his friend fell quiet after that and they walked outside. As soon as Alder heard birds tweeting, as soon as he looked around and breathed in the cool mountain air, he felt himself relax slightly. Despite his regret about Dara, it was impossible not to feel more at peace while surrounded by God’s country, which was how he had come to think of Hope Falls. The mountains rose green and majestic against the sky and a layer of morning mist hadn’t completely evaporated. The air he slowly breathed in held an almost mystical stillness, but even then his mind didn’t completely forget Dara.
I wish I could show her this.
With a frown, he shook the thought away, and he and Lucky made their way to the local coffee shop, Brewed Awakenings. “I forgot to check the books for appointments,” Alder said. “Do we have anyone coming in today?”
“I have two personal training appointments this afternoon. Also, a couple of the fighters we lined up in Vegas called me while you were gone and we’re meeting to talk about our training regime and show them our equipment.”
“They won’t find a place more well equipped,” Alder said.
“Or better staffed,” Lucky said.
“Someone is full of himself this week.”
“And why shouldn’t I be? I’m retired, starting a new business, and in love and engaged to the sexiest, most beautiful woman in the world.”
Alder was truly happy for his friend, but hearing how content Lucky was only served to remind him of his own restlessness lately. Once again, he wondered if he’d made a huge mistake letting Dara slip through his fingers.
They reached Brewed Awakenings and stepped inside. In addition to beverages, the coffee shop served light snacks: muffins and wraps, that kind of thing. The place was owned by four sisters. One of them, Audrey, a pretty brunette, smiled when Alder and Lucky walked in.
“What’ll you guys have today?” she asked.
“Nothing for me, thanks,” Lucky said.
“I’ll have an iced tea, blueberry muffin, and chicken wrap,” Alder said.
“You got it.” She took his credit card, swiping it and handing it back as she added, “You guys just come from the gym?”
“We were sparring. Don't want to get too out of practice, you know.”
Audrey eyed him, giving him a once-over that would normally have Alder’s blood pumping. As it was, he could only think of another pretty brunette, one who apparently wanted nothing to do with him any more.
“You look great to me,” Audrey said with a sly smile. “You two could probably sell tickets to your sparring matches, you know.”
“I could say the same for you simply selling coffee, Audrey. The world appreciates beauty in many forms.”
Audrey blushed and laughed even as she turned away to help another customer.
There, Alder thought. He still had it. He could still flirt with a pretty woman despite his lingering thoughts about Dara. So why was he still feeling so damn dejected?
He heard a choked laugh and turned to see Lucky shaking his head.
“What?”
“That was a good effort, but you’re off your game, man. I’m telling you, you need to go track your girl down and either get some closure or take it to the next level.”
“Lucky, just because you found your Cinderella doesn’t mean every man is looking to fall in love and live happily ever after.”
“My Cinderella is a bad ass firefighter; what’s yours?”
“She doesn’t know, that’s part of the problem. She hasn’t even figured out what she wants to do in life. Like I said, she’s young.”
Lucky shrugged. “Young and finding her way isn’t the same as foolish and flighty. Sounds to me like you’re making excuses because you don’t like how strong a hold she has on you. You ever thoug
ht of that?”
“Yes, oh wise one. I have.”
“So?”
Alder thought about it. Really thought about it. He thought about Dara. How beautiful she was. How their first kiss had rocked his world. How making love to her—yes, he couldn’t stop thinking about it as making love rather than just the fucking she’d tried to reduce it to—had been one of the best experiences of his life, right up there with winning an MMA title. Most of all, he thought about the fact he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her, even a week after they’d met, and that every time he thought of seeing her again, his heart sped up with excitement. On the other hand, every time he thought of never seeing her again or her being hurt, he wanted to bellow with rage.
Taking a deep breath, he looked out the coffee shop window at the breathtaking view. Pine trees blanketed the landscape. He’d fallen in love with Hope Falls, but for the past week, he’d barely been able to enjoy his new home, and all because he was missing one small, beautiful woman.
He turned and called to Audrey. “Hey Audrey, is it too late to make my order To Go?”
“Sure, no problem, Alder,” she said.
“You going somewhere?” Lucky said with a grin.
“I’m going for a drive. To wine country.”
CHAPTER SIX
“What the hell are you doing here?”
After a three-hour drive, it wasn’t exactly the way Alder had been hoping Dara would greet him, but he hid his disappointment and grabbed the doorframe above his head with both hands, smiling when her beautiful green eyes lingered where his T-shirt pulled tight against his arms and pecs. Despite her hostile words, he didn’t miss the flare of desire in her eyes, and it caused an answering heat in his own belly.
Remembering that she’d said she’d rented a room at Russian River House, a bed and breakfast in Forestville, he’d pulled up the address on his phone and driven straight there. The closer he’d gotten to the bed and breakfast, the more he’d been taken in by the beauty of the surrounding region, so very different from the mountain landscapes of Hope Falls.
Forestville was squarely in wine country. Green rolling hills. Acre after acre of grape vines. Trees with leaves in a riot of colors. It wasn’t an overly sunny day; in fact, there were enough clouds in the sky to threaten rain, but this did nothing to detract from the beauty of the place. When he’d passed a sign for Langley Creek, he’d stopped to investigate. He’d had to drive off-road, over gravel patches, and through a tunnel of trees, but he’d finally made it to the bubbling creek, complete with a small wooden bridge spanning across a small river valley. He’d spent several minutes admiring the view; apparently, living in Hope Falls had renewed his appreciation for nature in many forms.
Dara’s home was very different but equally beautiful to Hope Falls, and he’d instantly understood why she’d had second thoughts about leaving it behind for a big city. What he’d first chalked up to inexperience and perhaps fear might actually have been a reasoned decision on her part made after an adequate gathering of data. In other words, Dara was an adult who knew her own mind, and Alder should never have assumed otherwise.
Finally, he’d pulled into the parking lot for Russian River House. Stopping at the front desk, he’d told the rather severe-looking older woman manning it that he was Alder Hanson, a friend of Dara’s, and could she please tell her he was here. She’d walked away and when she’d returned, she’d said to “go on up. Take the stairs around the corner to the third floor. It’s the only room on that level.”
Surprised Dara would want him to come up to her room rather than talk to him on more neutral territory, he’d thanked the woman, then practically bounded up the stairs. At the top, Dara had been standing in the open doorway of her room, arms crossed, clearly not happy to see him.
Or at least, trying to hide it. Like the desire he’d just glimpsed in her eyes, he’d seen her expression soften slightly when she’d first spotted him—right before she’d pursed her lips like she’d just sucked on a lemon. She was doing her best to look hostile, but dressed in a casual tank top and short flowery skirt, she looked beyond inviting. His gaze wandered over her, taking in how her dark hair fell past her shoulders in waves. She wore little makeup, but she looked as fresh-faced and lovely as he remembered. Standing next to her, he smelled her sweet, floral scent, and he instantly hardened.
“Well,” she prompted.
“You never responded to my note,” he said.
“And that was deliberate on my part, Alder. I’m sorry you came all this way to see me, but neither my cousin nor I need anything from you.”
“So you told your cousin about me and he said that?”
The way her mouth tightened told him that wasn’t the case.
“Ah, so you didn’t tell him I’d offered him my help.” Alder tsked. “I thought better of you, Dara. After all, a woman bold enough to ask a perfect stranger to strip for her friend’s bachelorette party because she didn’t want to disappoint that friend? I was certain you wouldn’t let a little thing like hurt pride get in the way of helping your cousin further his fighting career. But I guess I was wrong.”
“I guess you were,” she said lightly. But she bit her lip, and he could see the guilt that had suddenly weighed down her expression.
“It wasn’t just hurt pride, you know,” she said after a tense silence. “You were a first-class jerk, Alder, assuming my youth equals foolishness.”
He lowered his arms and nodded. “You’re right. And I’m sorry for that. I really am. That’s part of the reason I wrote that note, Dara. I wanted to make up for the way I acted.”
“By offering to help my cousin and reminding me to take self-defense classes?”
“That’s right. Have you taken them?”
She rolled her eyes. “No, Alder. It’s been a week since Vegas. I just got back from Megan’s wedding and I’ve been a little busy. But I’ll get on it. I swear. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I know. But I find I am worrying about you. And just plain thinking of you far too much for my own comfort, Dara.”
She stared at him for a moment, electricity and frustration in the air. Then she sighed and took several steps back. “Do you want to come in and talk? Since you’re here, maybe I can even call my cousin and have him stop by.”
He peeked over her shoulder. Immediately saw the big bed in the middle of the room. And hesitated.
She followed his gaze, then burst out laughing. “I promise I won’t attack you, Alder. You’re safe with me.”
He smiled ruefully and shook his head. Then he reached out and brushed her beautiful pouty lips with his thumb. She sucked in a breath, and he barely stopped himself from kissing her.
“You’re wrong, Dara. Something tells me neither one of us is safe anymore. Not since we met in Vegas. I want to do a lot of things with you, but I’ll settle for talking with you.”
To his shock, she smiled, then turned her head and lightly kissed his thumb. “I’ll settle for it, too, Alder. We’ll even talk out on the balcony to avoid temptation. Now come on in.”
***
When Alder stepped into Dara’s room, he couldn’t help recalling the conversation he’d had with Lucky about his friend having found his Cinderella. The room was nothing short of enchanting, reminding Alder of something out of a fairytale. The focal points of the room were the big bed, piled high with crisp white linens and pillows, and a pair of French doors. Dara led him outside, onto a balcony loaded with potted plants and flowers. It provided a gorgeous view of the valley below. The wind had picked up slightly, but it was far from chilly.
Dara dropped into a cozy lounge chair and crossed her legs. Instead of following suit and sitting down, he took a moment to admire the cut-open barrels holding various herbs. He didn’t know their names, but their fragrance made his stomach grumble, and he remembered the snacks he’d bought at Brewed Awakenings but hadn’t bothered to eat on the drive over.
“You hungry, Alder?” Dara asked sittin
g up with a smile. “Because Mrs. Parker probably has something yummy in the kitchen I can grab for you. This room used to belong to her daughter, Lilly, but after I got back from the city, she agreed to let me rent it. I get full access to the kitchen.”
He shook his head. “Thanks, but I’m fine. I’ve got something in the car. Right now, I want to talk to you. How was Megan’s wedding? Everything go well for her and old Stuart?”
She laughed. “It was a beautiful wedding and I have no doubt they’ll be very happy together. Even though they’re very young, they know what they want most: each other.”
Not missing the words she emphasized, he sat down next to her, leaned forward, and took her hands in his. Then he brought them to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Dara’s eyes went wide.
“Point taken, Dara. You’re old enough to know your own mind. I’ll remember that.”
She nodded, then slowly pulled her hands back, and he had to resist the urge to hang on.
“So, how was it being back in Hope Falls?”
“Beautiful as ever. It felt like coming home, the way I imagine you feel coming back to Forestville and this charming room.”
She smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ve only been renting this room for a couple of months. To me, home’s still with my parents and sisters. But I’ve adjusted to being on my own quite nicely. Still, something didn’t feel quite right when I returned from Vegas.”
“Why’s that?”
She shrugged. “I found myself missing you.”
At her blunt and honest words, he sat up straighter. “Dara—”
“You know what,” she said, standing abruptly. “I don’t know why I said that.” She reached out and grabbed her phone from where it had been lying on a small table along with a sketching pad of some sort. “You’re here because you offered to help my cousin, and I was wrong not to tell Liam you’d offered. So I’m going to call him right now and tell him to stop by.”