“Oh, Madison mentioned you were in town.” She took his firm hand and gave it a shake.
“In a good way? Or in a my pain-in-the-butt brother’s back sort of way?” He shoved his hands in his pockets, an amused look on his face.
“Well, you know Madi—”
Marshal’s voice cut through the air. “Hey, dog whisperer, you bringing that variety box in or what?” He stood with the door half open, gesturing toward the truck.
“Give me a second, old man!” Matthew called back. He gave Anna a sheepish look, then slid a box filled with vegetables from the truck box. “I better get this inside.”
Mack galloped up to them with the stick in his jowls, and Anna grabbed his collar. “Well, it was nice to meet you. I’m going to wrangle these dogs back to the barn.”
Matthew shifted the box, his gaze lingering on her. “Good luck with that. Don’t let Mack push you around.”
“Dude!” Marshal called out again. “Cut the chit-chat. Let’s go!”
Matthew shook his head and started toward the inn. “Why are you so ornery today?”
Anna smiled at their brotherly banter. Mack twisted and pulled against her hand, trying to follow Matthew.
“No way, buddy.” She wrestled the stick from the dog’s mouth and tossed it into the trees, then whistled for Monty to follow her. Quickly, she made her way to the barn with the dogs and put them inside the kennel, making sure to properly latch the gate.
She strode into the stable and just as she had thought, there was no sign of Dane. She grabbed a spare lead rope that was looped around the bars of one of the stalls, then returned to the kennel and tied it securely around the gate posts. There. That should keep them in for now.
As she made her way back to the inn, she noticed Marshal’s truck was still there. Her stomach fluttered, thinking of Matthew and the way he’d handled the dogs, hoping she’d get a chance to properly introduce herself.
She dug her fingers into her palms. What are you thinking, Anna Simone? No guys. Remember? After the Jace debacle, she’d promised herself she’d stay away from dating for a while. Her heart still pinched when she thought of her ex-boyfriend and his shaggy blond hair, his soulful eyes and the way he had made her feel like somebody important. They’d met in an online writing group and after dating long distance for a few months, he’d convinced her to move to Cedar Lake. And then he promptly dumped her two weeks later for his ex-girlfriend from Rocky Ridge, the next town over.
She reached the kitchen steps and swallowed the tightness in her throat. I am definitely not ready for handsome men with adorable dimples.
She pushed open the door and stepped inside, then lowered her hood and patted down her stray locks. The music had been turned up, and Matthew leaned on the island with his back to her. Marshal and Sophie were nowhere to be seen—probably gone to see Katie about something to do with the menu.
The pantry door hung open, and Tad’s voice came from within it. “So, Sophie said you’re an editor?”
Anna paused, her fingers on the zipper of her jacket.
“Oh, yeah,” Matthew replied, still facing away from her. “Or, I was. Before the publishing house folded. They sent me and everybody else packing a few weeks ago.”
Anna’s stomach clenched at his words. That can’t be right . . .
“So now you’re Marshal’s right-hand man?” Tad asked.
Matthew snorted. “More like his errand boy.” He paused. “To be honest, I’m glad for the break, though. Things were tense those last few months at Raven Stone.”
Anna dropped her hand from her jacket.
From the pantry, the sound of something tumbling on the counter met her ears. Tad’s voice quivered. “Er—Raven Stone?”
“Yup. What a nightmare.” Matthew shifted his weight and crossed one ankle over the other. “They pulled me over to help the acquisitions editor choose which books to take with him to his new job. And which ones to cut. Talk about pressure. At least I wasn’t the poor schmuck who had to notify all the agents.”
Tad poked his head out of the pantry, frowning. “Wait, you picked which books got canceled? From Raven Stone publishing house?”
Matthew scrubbed his face with his palm. “Yeah. Obviously, a lot of those manuscripts weren’t up to snuff anyways. I don’t know what Ahmed was thinking when he proposed them to the marketing team. But still, it wasn’t easy.”
Anna felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach. A lump formed in her throat. She took a step back and bumped against the door.
Tad finally noticed her, and his eyes grew wide. “Anna—”
Matthew looked over his shoulder, and he lit up with that same charming smile he’d given her earlier.
Anna wanted to wipe it from his smug face.
He straightened and smoothed a hand over his jacket. “Oh, hey. How’d it go with the dogs?”
Her pulse thrummed inside her. She grabbed the door handle and pushed it open. “I, uh, forgot something. At the barn. I have to go.”
Before either of them could say anything more, she dashed outside and closed the door behind her. She thumped down the steps through the misty rain, her mind reeling. He worked for Raven Stone? He canceled The Wicked Moon? How can he be here, in Cedar Lake, of all places? And Madison Talbot’s brother!
Her rubber boots squelched against the soggy wood chips on the trail, sounding much like her heart felt—damp and squishy.
What am I supposed to do now? Pretend like he doesn’t exist in front of Sophie and Madison every day at work? And act like I didn’t just flee the building like a scared rabbit?
She reached the dog kennel and pressed her palm against her forehead. The sweet smell of fresh hay from the pole shed next to the stable met her nose. Monty and Mack greeted her, dancing in front of the wire door. She frowned, remembering Matthew playing with them earlier.
His words in the kitchen circled her mind . . . a lot of those manuscripts weren’t up to snuff anyways. I don’t know what Ahmed was thinking . . .
Anna let out a groan. And to think, I thought he was cute.
Matthew closed the tailgate of Marshal’s truck and rounded the box to make his way to the passenger door. Marshal was still finishing up inside, and Matthew had gone out to double-check the order for the next drop-off. Now finished his task, all he had to do was wait.
Before he could open the truck door, a flash of navy-blue caught his eye. Sophie’s assistant emerged from the trail in the trees, and he raised his hand to wave at her. “Hey!”
She kept walking, staring at the ground.
A frown tugged at his lips, and he lowered his hand. She trudged up the steps and went inside the inn.
Did I do something to offend her? He pushed back his ball cap and scratched his forehead. What’s her name again? Tad called her Anna, I think? He would have to ask Marshal later. It was strange that she’d ignored him. But maybe she hadn’t heard him call out to her. After all, when she’d first come out to deal with the dogs, she’d seemed friendly enough. He thought of her shy smile, and the way her pretty brown eyes had widened when he’d greeted her.
For a minute, he’d thought she’d been flirting with him. Maybe even hoped she’d been.
Don’t flatter yourself, Talbot. He shook his head, then opened the truck and slid into the passenger seat. The way she bolted when she saw me in the kitchen later—he buckled his seatbelt. It doesn’t matter, anyways. I have no time for flirting or dating or anything like that. Not right now.
He slid his phone from his pocket and brought up his email, then eyed the unread message from Brittany. Nope. No time or energy for women right now.
He scrolled up to see a new email from Editors Canada, reminding him to complete his freelance listing on their website. He tapped the link and began to fill in the form, grateful for the distraction.
Chapter Four
Anna crossed her legs and glanced at Monty, who sat at her feet with his ears perked. She had just loaded her plate with pizza, poured a s
teaming cup of the green tea from Christine, and sat at her kitchen table to have dinner with her older sister, Kelsey.
They’d made this their Monday night ritual after Anna moved away from Calgary—a weekly Simone family virtual dinner. Although recently, it had been a sisters-only event. Their mother hadn’t joined them for over a month now. As the Vice President of an oilfield construction company, Vanessa Simone was always busy with late-running meetings or client dinners.
Anna opened the video app, waiting for Kelsey to appear. She tapped the tabletop impatiently, staring at the potted mums peeking over her laptop screen. She’d bought the fiery orange flowers from the shop below her apartment, hoping to add some cheer to the drab autumn weather. She’d read that they symbolized optimism and joy, something she sorely needed lately.
Monty let out a whine, with his grey-haired muzzle twitching in anticipation. Anna tore her gaze from the flowers and picked a piece of pepperoni off her pizza and offered it to him. He sniffed it, then gently took it from her fingers and padded to his bed in the corner of the living area.
Kelsey appeared onscreen. She set down her wine glass, slipped the scrunchie from her wrist, and pulled her long ash-brown hair into a messy bun.
“Hey, Kels,” Anna said. “Did you get my text?”
“I sure did.” Kelsey patted the bun, peering into the corner of the screen which Anna assumed held a little box that mirrored her. She then dropped her hands and stared directly at Anna. “So, let me get this straight. An editor from Raven Stone—no wait, the editor from Raven Stone who canceled your book—is from Cedar Lake, and you work with his sister? And his brother dates the chef? Unbelievable, Anna. This could only happen to you.”
“I know.” Anna eyed her steaming plate of pizza. The cheesy goodness usually made her mouth water. But tonight, the thought of food made her sick to her stomach. “I overheard him talking about it to Tad, and I panicked and ran away. Like a child. I’m sure Tad put two-and-two together and told him who I am.” She thought of Matthew’s cocky grin and frowned. “What a mess. What am I supposed to do now?”
Kelsey gave her a sympathetic look. “You’ve always been a runner, Anna. Every time conflict happens—”
“I know.” Anna winced. Her sister was right. Ever since they were kids, any time a situation became tense, she was gone. Especially whenever their grandmother came over and inevitably got into an argument with their mom—usually about the way Vanessa was raising the girls. Anna would rush to her bedroom and get lost in one of her books. She’d push her emotions aside, hiding away until the voices gentled and the coast was clear to return downstairs.
Kelsey continued, “I mean, it’s not like you have to see him all the time. I would carry on as usual. Aren’t you starting on that barn project this week anyways?”
“Yeah, tomorrow,” Anna replied. Katie had confirmed everything with her that afternoon, after Anna had returned to the kitchen with her shattered pride. She would work on the barn during the morning, then have a few hours to wash up and come back for her late-afternoon kitchen shift. “The extra cash will be nice. And maybe I can lay low and steer clear from Madison for a bit.”
“Oh, Anna. I don’t think you need to avoid her.” Kelsey tilted her head. “Hey, remember when I went on that disastrous first date with Rachel’s cousin?”
Anna picked up her tea and warmed her cold fingers around the mug. “Who’s Rachel again? Another call agent? I don’t remember anything about you dating her cousin.”
“Yeah, we sit side-by-side.” Kelsey shuddered. She often complained about her job in the busy call centre, cramped in a cold basement office with a dozen others, talking to upset clients all day. “My date with Dave was horrible. He got drunk, was rude to the waitress, and suggested that we dine-and-dash.” She picked up her wine glass and rolled her eyes. “Obviously, I paid the bill. I told the girls at work about it, and he turned out to be Rachel’s cousin.”
“Yikes.” Anna blew on her tea, then took a sip, enjoying the smooth flavour. “How did you deal with that?”
Kelsey let out a laugh. “Honestly, Rachel knows how he is. She agreed with me, and we never talked about him again.”
“I doubt Madison and Sophie are going to agree with my feelings about Matthew.” Anna sighed. “Madison talked about him for days before he came home. And Sophie made him a welcome home cake. They adore him.”
“He’s their family, of course they love him,” Kelsey replied. “But think about it. Madison’s his sister. If he’s as big a jerk as it sounds like, she’ll know. I mean, you said he was bragging about rejecting books he didn’t think were any good. That seems like grade-A jerk material to me.”
“That is rude, isn’t it? Like he took pleasure in the act of tearing others down.” Anger flared inside Anna, and she thumped her mug on the table. “His attitude wasn’t professional at all.”
“Exactly. Don’t get hung up on it. He’s just like all those big business guys—only out for himself.” Kelsey straightened in her chair. “You’ll get another contract. You did it once. You can do it again.”
“Right. I’m working hard on those notes Clarissa sent me. I can make The Wicked Moon catch another publisher’s eye.” Anna nodded, but an inkling of doubt rolled through her mind. Their mother hadn’t been very supportive. Her response to Anna’s news had been a curt email—We all knew this was a pipe dream, Anna. Time to grow up. Move home, and I can help you find a real job.
“Kels?”
Her sister looked up from her glass. “Yeah?”
“But what if I can’t? Maybe Mom’s right. She said—”
“Don’t you listen to her for one minute.” Kelsey pointed at Anna through the screen. “Just because she made it her mission to climb the corporate ladder doesn’t mean we have to. Trust me, I get it. She’s not exactly thrilled with me either—the vet school drop-out.”
“At least you have the option to move up in your company,” Anna replied. “I’m a kitchen assistant and a failed author who moved to a new town for some guy who dumped her immediately after.” She lowered her voice. “What if that jerk editor is right? What if my book isn’t good enough? What if he tells Madison and Sophie, and they feel sorry for me?”
“You’re overthinking this.” Kelsey began to count on her fingers. “First off, you already said you’re working with your agent to strengthen the book. She’s obviously got some faith in you. Second, who cares if Mr. Pompous Editor tells Madison and Sophie that your book isn’t good enough? Do they seem like the judgmental type? From what you’ve told me, they’ve been nothing but nice to you.”
Anna adjusted her glasses and took a deep breath. “I know. You’re right. It’s not all bad.” She picked up her tea and took another sip to calm her nerves. “I can do this. I can fix The Wicked Moon. And I have a new story I’m working on too. I started plotting it last night and did a rough draft of the first chapter.”
“Good.” Kelsey leaned back in her chair. “Keep writing. Keep trying. You did it once, you can do it again. Seriously, don’t give up on your dreams.”
“Like you did?”
“Hey, my dreams are a different topic. And it’s off limits.” Kelsey pressed her lips together. “Now, tell me more about this new book you’re writing.”
“It’s about two sisters.” Anna’s stomach growled, and she pulled her plate toward her. “One’s really sweet and kind, but the older one’s pretty bossy.”
“You mean, she’s a good leader,” Kelsey replied. “If you’re writing an autobiography, I need to edit all the stuff about me.”
“And let you rewrite our history?”
“More like ensure you depict me as the ever-supportive and saintly sister that I am.”
Anna giggled, her tension easing away. Maybe Kelsey was right. The situation with Matthew might blow over without any drama. I’ll only have to see him once in a while, when he delivers produce with Marshal. I can manage that. It’s not like I work with him every day.
S
he pushed all thoughts of him from her mind and picked up a slice of her pizza. “So, my new story idea involves these estranged sisters who go on a trip together to hike Machu Picchu.”
The early morning sun shone through the bare branches of the hemlock trees that surrounded the stable, warming Anna’s back. She closed the dog kennel behind Monty, watching as he and Mack bounded toward each other in greeting. Well, Mack bounded, and Monty shuffled. The horse lead rope she’d put there the day before was wrapped around the kennel post, and she tied it in a slip knot around the gate’s latch. That should keep them in.
She started down the path toward the back pasture, humming to herself. After her talk with Kelsey last night, her mood had lifted. So what if her co-worker’s brother was involved with Raven Stone’s closure? It wasn’t her fault. Besides, she would never have a reason to talk with him about anything other than vegetables.
She tucked her hands in the pockets of her down vest, happy to be wearing something other than her usual kitchen slacks and tunic. After working in the barn this morning, she’d have a couple hours to run home and get ready for her shift in the kitchen. It would be a long day, but a good one.
And later, she could focus on fixing The Wicked Moon. She’d been up past midnight the night before, with Monty lounging next to her on his fluffy bed, going through Clarissa’s notes on how to make her main characters younger. And tonight, she’d do it again.
The old barn stood in a stand of trees, surrounded by long brown grass and dried thistles. Its rough wood-slat sides were grey with age, but the structure appeared solid enough. Its new tin roof glinted in the sunlight, redone this summer when Katie had noticed the old stuff peeling away after a storm.
Rodger’s farm truck, a beat-up red Chevy, sat in front of the structure with three people gathered around it. Anna immediately spotted Katie, appearing completely out of place in her fashionable plum-coloured pantsuit that flattered the dusky tones of her skin. She stood next to the truck’s tailgate with her husband, Rodger. He nodded at Anna and pushed back his ragged ball cap to reveal tight salt-and-pepper curls that matched the grey of his whiskers. A teenage girl who looked as if she could be their daughter stood on his other side.
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