Crazy for the Competition (Hope Springs)

by Cindi Madsen

  Deep lines creased Patsy Higgins’s forehead as she pushed her glasses up her nose. “Two offers that had everyone debating for weeks, and now you’re giving it up, too?”

  “Too? What do you mean too?”

  “Heath withdrew his offer this morning.”

  No, no, no. This was going entirely wrong. “He didn’t mean it—I know he wants it. Let me find out what’s going on and get back to you.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t tell you this, but you already got it, Quinn. You won by one vote. We were going to announce it tomorrow at the barbecue.”

  The B and B popped into Quinn’s head, the way she’d planned on it looking after she’d restored it. She saw breakfasts and dinners around a large table, guests coming and going, and laughing and joking with new people as they discovered the beauty of Hope Springs, no having to hold back. The montage ended with her sitting on the swing and watching sunsets in honor of Sobo Machi.

  Despite her earlier decision, the idyllic images beckoned to her, whispering how amazing it’d be.

  But then she thought of Heath’s arms around her. How he’d constantly surprised her and showed her not all guys were jerks when it came to sex. She thought about running her palm across his whiskers, the way he kissed her, and how she’d never felt as free to be herself as when she was with him.

  She wanted him more than she wanted the B and B—he was her new dream. After so long focused on nothing else, the thought was foreign, and honestly a bit terrifying, but also thrilling and bursting with possibilities.

  Quinn scrambled to her feet, knocking her knee into the table on the way up. She rubbed the throbbing spot, even though it did nothing to make it feel better. “Just please do me a favor and don’t announce it until I get a chance to talk to Heath.”

  Patsy Higgins frowned, clearly not a huge fan of the idea, but she finally nodded. “Good luck.”

  After a quick detour at the sporting goods store, Quinn stopped by Rod’s Auto Repair, but Heath wasn’t there. Just his dad, who eyed her ridiculous neon-orange hat—only making her feel more self-conscious about it—and said he hadn’t seen him since last night.

  She tried his house and then the garage. Her heart squeezed as she took in his motorcycles and stray parts and thought about their first amazing kiss surrounded by this place that represented Heath and his passions so well—she now considered grease one of the most amazing scents in the world. A clear sign there was no going back. She called Sadie, but she didn’t know where Heath was, either. Finally she decided to forget her attempt to surprise him and called his cell.

  It went straight to voicemail.

  She nearly gave up her search, thinking she’d just sit on his porch and wait him out, when she got another idea. Tugging the ugly hat firmly in place, she jumped in her new/old clunker car and headed toward Mountain Ridge.

  A tight band formed around her chest as she spotted the familiar black truck. No motorcycle, but a ton of pale wooden boards. Quinn pulled up behind the truck and swung open her car door. After a quick check for snakes, she stepped into the sea of long yellow grass that swayed in the breeze and brushed against her pant legs.

  A constant tapping noise echoed through the air, coming from the direction of the B and B, although the fading light made it hard to see anything.

  Well, except her hat—the neon bill lit up like a beacon. She was fairly certain it cast a horrific orange glow on her face, too. She probably looked like one of those tanorexic girls. Just how someone should look when declaring her love.

  As she stepped into full view of the B and B, her breath escaped her in a whoosh. Pale wood made up the porch and entryway, and the swing had been repaired and hung.

  She cleared her throat, and Heath spun toward her, his jaw dropping enough that the nails he’d had between his lips fell to the ground. “Quinn.” He moved in front of the entryway, like his body was big enough to cover up the work he’d done. “You’re not supposed to see it yet.”

  She stepped over a large rock and rested her hand on the smooth new porch rail. “It’s not supposed to be a B and B. You’re just going to have to tear it down so you can build your lodge.”

  Heath’s gaze zeroed in on the attention-grabbing hat she’d bought at the sporting goods store before going on her wild goose chase.

  She tapped the bill. “See, I’m all prepared to celebrate you getting your hunting lodge. Add a vest and a shotgun, and I’ll be ready to trek into the mountains with you—better teach me to shoot first, though.”

  He rubbed a hand over his mouth, a grin spreading underneath. “I never expected one of those hats to look so hot. And that image…” He shook his head. “But it’s not happening. I want you to have your B and B. I set up the porch first, so you can sit here and swing while I whip the place into shape.”

  “Well, I went to the town committee and withdrew my bid. I want you to have your lodge.” She took another couple of steps, the stairs no longer creaky or dangerous. “You were right about everything—I didn’t even try to understand. But I want another chance. And I know I defended you way too late, but just so you know, I told my father that I cared about you, and that I thought you were the best guy I’ve ever dated.” Another step and she was on the same level as him, although since she was in her ballet flats, he still towered over her. “More than anything, I want you.”

  Heath tossed the hammer aside, closed the space between them, and pulled her into his arms. “I was the idiot. I should’ve never let you go. I want a real relationship with you, and I want you to have your dream.” He swept her hair off her face and cupped her cheek. “I’m in love with you, Quinn. You’re what I never even knew I was looking for, and I want you to be the one steady thing in my life. I need you by my side. I’ll do whatever it takes to make us work, I promise.”

  Her throat grew tight, and tears sprang to her eyes. She’d hoped eventually he might fall in love with her, though she’d expected it to take time and patience—which had never been her strong suit—but she could’ve done it for him. Because he was worth it.

  It was a relief she didn’t have to worry that saying how she felt would scare him away, though. “I love you, too.”

  He drew her to him and claimed her mouth, the kiss urgent and fevered before it morphed to a methodical rediscovering of each other’s lips and tongues.

  She wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him as tightly as she could so he’d never get away again. “You’ve got to build your lodge, Heath. I’ll find another job, and I’ll be okay. Think about your brothers.”

  “I did. I already talked to Cam. I told him the entire situation, we brainstormed, and he’s going to help me expand my custom motorcycle business. It’ll keep us here so we can help take care of Ollie, and if we have a slow month or two, we can always work at my dad’s shop.”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t want you to have to do that. Your relationship with your dad is as tricky as mine is, and I know you and Cam have wanted this for a long time.”

  “So have you. And my dad and I…well, we had a talk, too, and we’re working on it. Besides, it’s already done. I withdrew my bid and your B and B’s getting restored.”

  “It’s not done. I undid it.”

  “Then I’ll undo your undoing it.”

  Quinn exhaled, trying her best not to get into a fight with him, since they’d finally gotten back together, but why did he have to be so damn difficult? She searched for a way to persuade him as she glanced around at the property they’d somehow reversed arguments on after weeks of being immobile. The fact of the matter was, she didn’t have a job and was worried she’d have a hard time finding one in Hope Springs. But she refused to let him settle for less than his dream because of her.

  Suddenly, different images superimposed themselves over the land, new possibilities forming before her eyes, and a swirl of excitement went through her stomach.

  “You know, this crazy idea just popped into my head,” she said. “There’s a wh
ole lot of land, and say you were interested in a business partner—and I happen to know a highly qualified person looking for a job so she can stay in Hope Springs with her boyfriend—she could run the main building where people would come to eat and relax or take part in fun activities. She might even be able to deal with a certain amount of rustic charm, hunting gear, and…stuffed animal heads.”

  She ran her hand down Heath’s chest and rested her palm over his heart. “Then there could be cabins for people who wanted their own space. They could decide if they wanted to join in on meals and activities, or just enjoy the scenery, or head into the mountains with a sexy hunting guide.”

  He swept his gaze across the land, the way she’d done, and when his eyes met hers again, a grin broke free. “It’s so crazy it might just work.” He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip, and her heart fluttered wildly in her chest. “Would these cabins have frilly curtains?”

  “Of course. Hung up by antlers.”

  Heath laughed, and then he tilted his head and kissed the corner of her mouth. “I accept. Negotiations will take place later, though.” He tilted his head the other way and gave the other corner the same treatment. “I want to kiss you some more before we have our first argument after going into business together.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Heath caught Quinn’s eye as the barber shaved another line of hair from his jaw. Ollie stood next to her, shoelaces untied as usual, Trigger at his side. And in a new and unusual development, Dad was there, too, his hand on the top of Ollie’s shoulder. When the kid had shown up this morning, bouncing around and talking about the parade, Dad had gotten up from his spot on the couch and said he was coming, too.

  It was the second time that week he’d shocked Heath, and he honestly hoped he’d keep it up, although Heath planned on keeping his expectations cautiously low. At least it showed Dad had listened the other day, and he wasn’t the only one. Heath liked to think he would’ve pulled his head out and found a way to get Quinn back eventually, but he’d needed that kick.

  When Quinn had come over and hopped up on the tailgate next to him to watch the parade, Dad had given a nod, and there’d even been a glimmer of pride in his eyes. The property came up, and they told Dad about their plan to go into business together. He’d grumbled about finding a replacement for the shop when Heath told him it meant he’d be quitting—as well as moving out—but all in all, it’d gone pretty well, and part of that was because Quinn had been there by his side, holding his hand.

  So there she, his dad, and his little brother stood, a makeshift family with plenty of issues, but they were his, and once Cam got here, it’d be complete.

  Quinn bit her lip, obviously trying not to laugh. Just wait till she found out what he’d signed her up for. It was the next event, and he’d be the one getting the last laugh.

  He held his breath as the barber moved the blade to the spot over his Adam’s apple. It was one thing to be a participant in a beard-shaving fund-raiser; it was another to trust someone else to do the shaving, especially when said person used the kind of blade that meant serious damage if he slipped.

  I’m sure he’s done this a hundred times. They wouldn’t get an amateur up here to shave guys in front of all these children if there was a chance of bloodshed.

  Then again, they’d had him and Quinn build a float when they’d never done it before. Not exactly the comforting thought he was searching for, but they’d managed to pull it off. As their float glided down Main Street, their butterflies had bounced in a way they hadn’t planned but that made them look like they were fluttering. A few people had even commented on how cool it was that they’d added that effect, and he and Quinn had grinned at each other and accepted the praise like they’d done it on purpose.

  After the parade they’d had a quick meeting with the town committee, explaining their revised plan to develop Mountain Ridge. Quinn told him she wanted it to be his vision and she’d help him however she could, even if it meant making the old Victorian more rustic or tearing it down if that was what he needed to do. He’d never demolish the building she loved, though, and he let her know it was together or nothing.

  So the lodge would be less log-cabin-esque than most fishers and hunters would expect and have space for people who brought their families with them. But then they’d also build several cabins of varying sizes, from big enough to accommodate families to places more suited for one or two people. They’d still be welcome to go for activities and food at the main building anytime, though. The town committee loved the idea of having the best of both worlds, so now it was only a matter of pulling it off.

  No doubt they’d argue about aspects of how and why during the construction, but he knew that they’d work it out, and that in the end, the property would be that much better for it. With both of them going in, neither of them would be as financially strapped, either, and he wasn’t as worried about the times he’d be on the road with Dixie Rush. Between Quinn and Cam, they’d be better able to keep things running smoothly.

  Cam was going to get such a kick out of Quinn, too. He’d already given him crap about being whipped when he’d told him he had to do whatever it took to get her back, so he could only imagine how often he’d hear it once his brother saw how far gone he really was, but Heath didn’t care. He’d never been so happy to be whipped in his life.

  Quinn whistled as the barber wiped off the last of the shaving cream. Some of the other guys onstage had lost more than a foot of hair. His beard would be back to its full glory in about a month or so, but his skin still felt pretty bare when the air hit it.

  The coyote hat went to a guy in his sixties who’d shaved off a Santa beard, and then Patsy thanked all of the participants and dismissed them. Heath grabbed his black baseball hat—glad he didn’t have to wear the coyote one around the rest of the day for fear of offending someone—and tugged it on.

  Quinn met him at the bottom steps of the stage and smoothed her hand down his cheek. “Holy shit, there’s skin under there.”

  He slid his hands into the back pockets of her jeans and shook his head. “You kiss your mother with that mouth?”

  “No, I kiss rugged men with it.” She leaned in, her breath hitting his lips, and then she pulled back and made a big show of looking around. “Too bad there aren’t any around.”

  He lunged for her, and she let out a squeal. He boosted her in his arms, and she linked her fingers behind his neck. “No amount of shaving could take away your ruggedness, babe,” she said, and then she sealed her words with a kiss.

  Onstage, Patsy announced how much the contest had raised for the Hope Springs search and rescue and the crowd cheered. Once they settled down, she said, “Now it’s time for the annual mud run. And we’ve got a late entry.” She glanced in their direction, and Heath lowered Quinn to her feet. Her eyes widened as people turned to stare, and Patsy’s eyebrows scrunched together. “Quinn, I do hope you brought your running shoes, because I don’t think it’s a good idea to do the mud run in those heels.”

  Quinn spun to face him, her mouth dropping open, and he kissed her cheek before she could say anything. “Don’t worry, I grabbed your sneakers from your car and put them in my truck.”

  “Oh, what a relief,” she said, her words chock-full of sarcasm. She fisted his shirt and planted an attack kiss on his lips. “You’re lucky I love you. And you’re running with me, by the way.”

  Heath wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the sensitive spot just under her ear. “Little girl, you know I’d never give up a chance to get dirty with you.”

  Epilogue

  Quinn placed the pot of sukiyaki in the center of the table and then wrung her hands together. Heath came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and tucked his chin on her shoulder. “It’s going to be fine.”

  “I need better than fine.” For the past two months, she, Heath, and a small construction crew had worked themselves to the bone restoring the Victorian they were currently stand
ing in. The cabins were only framed right now, but within another month or two, they’d be finished as well.

  Cam would be getting home in a few days, which had her bouncing between nervous and excited. Right now, though, her anxiety over her family coming to dinner at Mountain Ridge eclipsed it by far. It’d taken a while to open up the lines of communication between her and her parents, but after a few hard phone calls, things were gradually getting better. They’d settled on a hesitant truce.

  Truces were easier to keep with lots of space.

  Quinn spun in Heath’s arms and placed her hands on his biceps. “Kiss me so I don’t have to think about it for a minute.”

  “I’ll make you forget it for five,” Heath said, and then he took her face in his hands and kissed her like the future of the world depended on it. With every passing day, she became crazier and crazier about him. Which made it that much harder not to give in to her desire to sleep with him. He’d continued to respect her boundaries, although they’d both had to request time-outs to cool down after heated make-out sessions.

  About a week ago, she’d almost convinced herself she didn’t need to wait until they were married, because she believed they’d tie the knot eventually. But in her heart, she knew waiting still mattered to her. Instead of holding back, or having to fake not being frustrated by it, she’d talked to him about it. He assured her he loved her and understood it was important to her, and even though she would’ve said it was impossible, she loved him even more.

  She trusted him completely. They talked about the future. Things were perfect.

  Everything but her strained relationship with her family. The sound of tires brought reality crashing back. Her heels echoed against the floor as she walked to the entryway and peered out the large window set into the bright yellow door she and Heath had debated over. He said it was too bright, she bought it anyway—compromise at its finest.

  They’d mowed the grass to help with snakes and cleared a small area for parking. And by “they” she meant Heath, because he was much better at that kind of thing. Although thanks to him, she’d learned a ton of basic home repair skills, and as long as the problem didn’t involve scales and a forked tongue, she was equipped to handle most anything.