She sighed, knowing Mitch had probably made sure her name was there, intermixed with all the others. Or worse—Salt Spaulding, which was something he’d likely write since he liked to annoy her. Regardless, if The Meltdown Match came to an end and her name wasn’t announced, she wouldn’t look at the remaining sticks. She preferred to believe that if hers didn’t fall first, it didn’t exist.
“Look!” A little girl beamed as she pointed. “That vase is almost melted!”
Courtney took a few steps to the side and looked where the little girl pointed. Sure enough, in the men’s section, a vase definitely appeared smaller and thinner than those surrounding it.
“Hey, that one seems to be melting faster, too,” a woman said, pointing to another vase, this time in the women’s section.
Courtney’s heartbeat quickened when she saw the stick in the second vase already leaning precariously to the side, waiting for another inch of the ice to liquefy. Unable to pry her eyes away, Courtney continued to watch, feeling like a miracle was happening right before her eyes. Was it coincidence, or was the sun really working its magic, bringing two unsuspecting hearts together? She didn’t dare hope one on the names was hers.
Before she caved to the temptation to duck under the ropes and be disappointed, Courtney turned and weaved her way through the throng in search of Hannah. Her eyes scanned the crowed until they settled on a tall, curly-haired guy flipping burgers. Without meaning to, she started forward, forgetting all about the taco salad she and Hannah had agreed on later for lunch. A greasy hamburger suddenly sounded much better.
Courtney paid a few dollars for a plate with chips, potato salad, and a hamburger bun, then made her way to Mitch.
“Hey, aren’t you the city engineer?” she said.
He looked up and grinned. “You obviously have me confused with someone else. In case you couldn’t tell, I’m a master chef with mad hamburger-flipping skills. Check this out.” He scooped up a patty, tossed it in the air, watched as it flipped a couple of times, and caught it with his spatula. His grin widened. “See? No mere city engineer could do that.”
Courtney laughed. “You’re right. You couldn’t be Mitch. No one in their right mind would ever let him near a grill.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Back in high school, someone made the mistake of putting him in charge of the hamburgers at a summer party, and he—well, let’s just say he gave ‘well done’ a whole new meaning.” Courtney stood on tiptoe and leaned forward to see over the top of the grill. “Those aren’t burnt, are they?”
“Very funny.” Mitch lowered the lid to block her view and raised an eyebrow in challenge. “Has anyone ever told you that your hair is the color of salt?”
Courtney barely refrained from rolling her eyes. “It’s blonde, not white. And no, not many people get that mixed up. Only you and that other guy who burns things.”
“Maybe I should leave your burger on a little longer. You know, for old time’s sake.”
“And maybe I should enter your name in the karaoke contest—you know, for old time’s sake,” Courtney said, reminding him of the time she’d done exactly that.
Mitch laughed. “Only if you’re planning to pass around ear plugs.”
“Oh, you weren’t that bad.” She held up her plate. “One hamburger, please. I need to hurry and eat this before Hannah yells at me for having lunch without her.”
He nodded toward the table next to him. “Take a seat. It’ll be ready in a sec.”
Courtney walked around the grill and sat on the table, letting her legs swing beneath her as she admired how good Mitch looked in jeans and a snug-fitting T-shirt. He filled his clothes out perfectly—not too much and not too little. Mitch had never been into gyms. He preferred to work hard and play harder, and his well-defined, but not excessive, muscles were a result of those labors. When he glanced to the side and caught her staring, she averted her gaze and cleared her throat.
“How did you get roped into doing this, anyway?” she said.
“Haven’t you heard? I’m a saint.”
Courtney opened her bag of chips and pulled one out, then held the bag out to Mitch. “Alyssa put you up to it, didn’t she?”
“Maybe.” Mitch grinned as he stole a chip. “But I agreed to it, so that has to count for something.”
Courtney smiled, something she did often around Mitch. Moments later, he slipped an unburned patty on her bun with an exaggerated flourish, and she smiled again. Instead of taking her plate to the designated eating area, she stayed put, preferring to eat her lunch next to Mitch.
“Well?” she said.
“Well what?”
“I’m waiting.”
“For what?”
“I’ve been gone for nine months. What have I missed?”
While he cooked and slapped burgers on peoples’ plates, Mitch entertained her with story after story of humorous things that had happened around town during her absence. She listened, loving the sound of his voice and the way he could make any situation comical and interesting.
Something about Mitch had always drawn her in. His good looks, definitely, but Courtney had dated plenty of handsome guys. It was more than that. The way he teased her. The way he looked at her and smiled just that way—as if he’d reserved the real him for her alone. Courtney always had to catch herself from doing something stupid like fall for him or write that face into one of her stories. Mitch could have his pick of anyone, and although he made jokes about salt being his favorite, his actions proved that his tastes ran more toward cinnamon and allspice.
Besides that, come the end of the summer, Courtney would be leaving again—which was exactly what she should do right now. Get away before she let herself fall under his spell even more.
She brushed the crumbs from her fingers and hopped off the table, but as she opened her mouth to say she’d see him later, a voice crackled over the loudspeaker.
“The Meltdown Match has officially ended. If you would please make your way to the middle of the fairgrounds, the winners will be announced.”
Feeling suddenly conspicuous, Mitch avoided Courtney’s gaze. The results of The Meltdown Match were usually announced later in the day, typically around four or five. Not—he glanced at his watch—one. He’d told Alyssa not to add too much salt, but would she listen to him? No. And now, not only did two vases melt way faster than the rest, but the city engineer just happened to be one of the winners.
That didn’t look suspect at all.
“Wow, that was fast,” Courtney murmured.
Mitch sneaked a glance and found her staring toward the middle of town with a faraway look in her eyes, probably wondering who’d manipulated the contest. He ducked his head and concentrated on flipping a burger that didn’t need to be flipped.
“You did listen to me, right?” she finally said. “You left my name out of it?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“Good.” Her voice sounded hesitant, as if she didn’t believe him. “So... you coming?”
He shook his head, grateful for an excuse to stay. “Can’t. My shift doesn’t end for another hour.”
“Oh.” She threw her plate into a nearby trashcan. “Well, thanks again for the burger and company. It was... really good.”
Was she talking about the burger or his company?
Mitch bit his lip as he watched her go, wondering what she’d think when she saw how fast their vases had melted compared to the others. Would she be happy? Disappointed? Would she suspect him? With a roll of his eyes, he returned his attention to the grill. He should have stayed out of it and let the sun decide their fates. Or better yet, he should have manned up, left both of their names out, and just asked her out.
Courtney lay on her bed, staring dreamily at her bedroom ceiling. She’d won. She’d actually won the contest. And not only that, but Mitch—the man she’d been half in love with for as long as she could remember—had been chosen as her match. Her heart beat wildly at the thought, like it had all afterno
on, ever since the results had been announced. She’d tried to talk her heart down, but it was no use. No matter how many times she told herself it was only a coincidence, that the sun really didn’t moonlight as a matchmaker, her heart wouldn’t listen. It didn’t want to listen. It wanted to believe in magic.
If she and Mitch were meant to be, then maybe she could finally stay put in Heimel and her writing wouldn’t suffer as a result. The universe had promised a lifetime of happiness, right?
An almost giddy sensation started in her stomach and spread throughout her body. She couldn’t help but feel like she’d been granted her most-desired wish. On the nightstand, her cell chimed with a text. She picked it up and smiled when Mitch’s name appeared.
Looks like were MFEO. Maybe that’s why I like salt so much.
Courtney’s smile widened, for once not bugged by the nickname. You lied, she wrote back.
His response came moments later. I wanted those cinnamon rolls. So... pick you up at four? Too early?
Too late, more like. But he probably had to work so Courtney would take what she could get. At least he hadn’t said six or seven.
Four it is.
Courtney drifted to sleep, dreaming of a beautiful, outdoor solstice wedding, in full view of the big, bright, blessed sun. Wildflower garlands lined the aisle, and Mitch had never looked so handsome standing beside her in a black tux. When they were pronounced man and wife, he took her in his arms and lowered his mouth to hers. The long-awaited moment was finally happening.
But his lips had barely brushed against hers when a drummer in the band began banging on his drums, ruining the moment. Courtney frowned and looked around, trying to spy the culprit. Why would someone do that during the middle of her wedding?
The banging came again, this time louder.
Her eyes blinked open slowly, and the beautiful scene vanished, along with her smile. The banging continued, only it wasn’t the drums, it was something else. A knocking—on her window.
Groggily, she rolled from bed and stumbled forward then pulled her heavy curtains aside. A familiar dark shadow stood directly in front of her. She gasped and jumped, letting the curtain fall back. What was Mitch doing here? Heart pounding, she moved the curtain aside again, throwing it over her shoulder so she could open the window. Chilly, early morning air blew in as she stared at him in confusion.
“What are you doing?”
He wore an orange hoodie and a lopsided smile. “Picking you up for our date.”
“But you said four.”
“Right.” Mitch pointed over her shoulder at the clock on her nightstand. The digital numbers glowed 4:05.
She spun back toward him. “You meant four in the morning? Who plans a date for that early?”
He shrugged, looking sheepish. “Sorry. Guess I should’ve clarified. I thought you’d understand, since this is a solstice date, and the sun rises a little after four.”
Courtney blinked through the dim early morning light, her thoughts frantic. Watching the sun rise with Mitch sounded perfectly romantic, but... her hand flew to her hair at the same time she looked down, taking in her oversized T-shirt and flannel pajama bottoms.
When her eyes met Mitch’s again, his lopsided smile returned. “You look cute,” he said. “Just put on some shoes, grab a jacket, and meet me outside. You can come back later to change. Hurry, though, or we’ll miss it.”
Courtney let the curtain fall and raced to her bathroom where she ran a brush through her hair at the same time she brushed her teeth. She tugged on socks, strapped on a bra, shoved her feet into sneakers, grabbed a jacket, and ran outside, where she found Mitch on her front porch, leaning against a post, looking handsome and put-together in the early morning light. She suddenly wished she’d taken another minute or two to throw on some jeans.
“About time.” He reached for her hand and tugged her toward his dusty-blue Jeep. “I’m blaming you if we miss it.”
“Two letters, Mitch. Two. A.M. Seriously, how hard would have that been to add those to your text?”
Mitch chuckled. “Give me some credit. Why would I wait until the afternoon when I could pick you up in the morning?”
She let the nickname slide. “Because that’s when normal people start their dates?”
Mitch opened her door and paused, looking into her eyes. “I think right now is better.” The way he said it, without a hint of sarcasm, made Courtney feel like he meant it. Warmth spread through her body, forcing away the chill. She almost forgot to breathe as she climbed into his Jeep.
Mitch drove toward the other end of town and down a winding road toward the lake before pulling to a stop in front of a beautiful rambler that looked more like a ski chalet than a cabin. Not too small and not too big, the combined stone and wood architecture made a picturesque sight nestled between pines and aspens.
“Where are we?” Courtney asked as he led her up the steps and along the wrap-around porch.
“My house.”
She stumbled, tightening her hold on his hand to keep from falling. Did he just say this was his house? “But I’ve never even seen this place.”
“It didn’t exist until I built it.” Mitch stopped by a wooden table on the back patio and gestured for her to sit down. “I moved in a few weeks ago.”
“You built this?” Courtney walked toward the window and peered through it. Thanks to a light inside, she could make out knotty wood cabinets, granite counters, and a massive stone fireplace. For a second, she caught a glimpse of herself curled up on the leather sofa with her laptop. Slowly, she turned around to face the lake, trees, and mountains in the distance.
“Wow. It’s uh...” How could she possibly describe the awe she felt? There were no words. “You really built this?”
Mitch sat down and pulled out the chair next to him, gesturing again for her to sit down. “Most of it. It took a few years, but my dad and brothers helped a ton, so I’ve got some major sweat equity to repay. I’ve always loved this property.”
Courtney somehow found her way into the seat. “I... had no idea. It’s amazing. You’re amazing. I don’t know what else to say. I’m in awe.”
“Glad you like it.”
“Like it? I love it.” She gestured over her shoulder. “I’m so going to borrow that sofa when I start working on my next book. The view is incredible.”
“You’re welcome to it whenever you want.” He reached across the table for a carton of juice and filled two plastic cups before pulling a package of doughnuts from a bag. “Orange, pineapple, and strawberry juice and old-fashioned doughnuts—your favorites, right?”
Courtney’s breath caught in her throat as she stared at the table, feeling like she’d been dropped into an alternate reality. An amazing alternate reality. “How did you know?”
“You always at them after our group hikes way back when. It was kind of hard to miss. All the other girls brought bananas or apples.”
He was right. Old-fashioned doughnuts were one of Courtney’s guilty pleasures—something she’d always brought along to help combat the jealousy from watching him hold another girl’s hand or put his arm around another girl’s shoulder. Mitch never failed to invite his current girlfriend along on their group outings.
But now, here she was, on her own date with Mitch Winters.
“Look, here it comes.” Mitch pointed at the horizon. “Try telling me that isn’t a view worth waking up for.”
The sun emerged over the horizon, casting a shimmering glow over everything it touched. As Courtney watched, something awakened inside her, breathing new life into her soul and making her feel a connection with everything around her. She felt so peaceful, so full of an indescribable feeling that made her want to stay right here, with Mitch, forever. The sun was working its magic.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured. Could Mitch feel it too? She sneaked a glance at him and immediately wished she hadn’t. He looked happy and content, but that was about it. Her heart deflated.
She squinted a
t the sun, willing the wonderful feeling back. “Do you still hunt?”
“Every now and then, but I’m more into fishing these days. A couple of times a year, I head down to Kenai for a week, charter a boat, and stock up. I’ve become pretty good friends with the guy who owns the boat, so he always takes me to the best places.”
“That’s great.”
“Just wait until tonight. I have some salmon marinating in the fridge for dinner. I know how much you like salmon.” He seemed to know a lot of things.
“I do, although it’s been a while since I’ve had it. You’d think, living near the coast in California, I would have eaten more seafood, but it doesn’t taste as good as it does here.”
Mitch polished off the last of his doughnut and brushed the crumbs from his hands. “Are you planning to head back at the end of the summer?” He said it casually, as if he didn’t care either way. It shouldn’t have stung, but it did.
“No, I’ll try somewhere new. I haven’t figured out where yet.”
“What do you mean?”
Courtney attempted to smile, but it probably looked as fake as it felt. “It’s sort of my thing. I start working on a story in Heimel then move to wherever I decide to set the book. I get to know the area, get a job, meet people, and work on my manuscript. When I finally submit the book, I come back home to start the process all over again. It sounds kind of intense, but it’s—”
“Exhausting?”
“I was going to say an adventure.”
Mitch leaned back in his chair and tossed his plastic cup in a garbage can. “So basically, you’re a commitment-phobic drifter.”
“And superstitious,” Courtney added.
A smile sprang to his lips, and a teasing glint appeared in his eyes. “Does that mean you really think there’s something to this meltdown match thing?”
The Meltdown Match (A Romance Novella) Page 2