Lovebird Café Box Set

by Dylann Crush

  She nodded. “Thanks again for dinner.”

  “You’re welcome. Drive safe.”

  As she pulled away, I stood next to the drive, my heart full and happy. I was where I needed to be.

  Three hours later my heart was even fuller and happier, along with the rest of me. Harmony and I laid on the dock. She nestled into me, using my chest for a pillow. The scent of her hair surrounded me, along with the sound of the katydids as a light breeze blew across the pond. The stars twinkled up above, making me realize how small and insignificant our little corner of Missouri was in the grand scheme of things.

  I ran a finger along her arm, totally fulfilled in every way with this woman in my arms. She shivered and I pulled her closer.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asked.

  “You. Me. Us.”

  She propped herself up on an elbow, a lazy smile gracing her lips. A sense of pride washed over me. I’d put that smile on her face.

  “What about us?”

  I kissed her forehead. “Just how happy I am here with you.”

  “You don’t think you’ll miss California?”

  My chest rose and fell, thinking about saying goodbye to the limelight. “I’m sure I will a little. But it’s not an even trade.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, I’m giving up being alone, getting a few claps for an awesome ride. And I’m gaining my family back—my mom, Scarlett, Rodney…”

  “I just don’t want you to ever regret it. This needs to be your decision. I don’t want you giving all of that up for someone else, whether it’s your mom or sister or Rodney or me.”

  “Oh, baby. I would never regret it.” I ran my hand down her back. “I love you, Harmony.”

  Her head snapped up, her gaze meeting mine. “What?”

  As I said it again, I realized how much I meant it. “I love you.”

  “But—”

  I silenced her protest with a kiss, taking her mouth with mine. Her hands roamed over my chest as my tongue swept the inside of her mouth, and I lost myself to her. I’d never felt love like this before and the sheer depth of the emotion overwhelmed me. But I knew it was true. Staying in Swallow Springs wasn’t going to be so much as me making a decision, as it was me following what my heart demanded.

  She pulled away first, her gaze meeting mine. “Are you sure about this?”

  “What, that I love you?”

  “That, and all of this. Staying here, giving up California.” Worry creased her brow.

  I kissed away her concern. “I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life. Are you sure you want me? I guess I just assumed—”

  She pulled me close, cementing her lips to mine. When we broke for air, she gave me a smile. “Yes, I want you. All of you.”

  “So when can we make this official? Stop meeting on the dock and risking splinters in my ass?”

  She giggled. “I’m trying to set a good example for Liam. I’d say we still have a ways to go before I’m going to be comfortable having you stay over at the house.”

  “Well then, we’re going to need to add a futon or something to your office at the studio. Because I’m getting too old for this.”

  “I think that can be arranged.”

  As she leaned over me, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I ignored it. Nothing could be important enough to tear my attention away from this moment.

  But then Harmony’s phone rang. “Oh shoot, what if it’s Liam?”

  “Go ahead, answer it.”

  Whoever was on the other end wiped the smile off her face faster than I could have asked what was wrong.

  “Oh no.” Harmony pressed a hand to her chest. “Was anyone hurt?”

  I propped myself up on my elbows, watching her face for any sign of what was happening on the other end of that phone line.

  “I’ll be there right away.” She lowered the phone, her gaze never leaving mine. “There’s a fire.”

  “What? Where?”

  “The studio.” She glanced down at the phone she held in her hand. “It’s gone.”

  I scrambled out from under her, already throwing my clothes back on. “What’s gone? What do you mean?”

  “The building.” Harmony pulled her dress on over her head. “It’s up in flames.”

  I reached down, grabbing the blanket. “Let’s go. We’ll go see what happened, okay?”

  She nodded, letting me lead her back up the dock. My heart pounded in my chest, like rumbles of thunder. There had to be a mistake. We were just there this afternoon. Someone was wrong. It was a sick joke. It had to be.

  37

  Harmony

  The smell of smoke assaulted our noses as we got closer to town. Off in the distance an orange cloud rose above the buildings. My heart shrank, smaller and smaller until it felt like all the life had been squeezed right out of it. Dustin clasped my fingers in his on the seat next to me. I’d never been so wracked with anxiety, so afraid of what we’d find when we reached the studio.

  The drive seemed to take forever. When we finally got to the main road, a barricade prevented us from getting any closer. Dustin rolled down his window to chat with the fireman standing nearby.

  “What happened?”

  I leaned close to him, waiting for a response.

  “Whole building went up in flames.”

  “Which one?” Dustin asked. “Is it the bookstore?” The used bookstore sat in the building right next door to mine. Maybe they’d been wrong. Maybe it was the bookstore that caught fire, not my beautiful new studio.

  The man shook his head. “Nah. The old accounting office next door.”

  Dustin squeezed my hand tighter. “They say what caused it?”

  “Haven’t been able to get close enough to find out yet. Right now we just need to get the fire contained so it doesn’t spread. We ought to know more once we’ve had a chance to get in there and take a look at what’s left.”

  What’s left. Those two words split my heart in two like a crowbar, prying it apart. I pulled my hand away from Dustin and doubled over, the pain too much to take.

  “Harmony, hey, it’s going to be okay. We’ll figure this out.” Dustin’s hand caressed my back, smoothed my hair.

  I felt his hand moving, but it brought no comfort. Everything I’d worked for, all of my savings—it was gone.

  A knock sounded on my window. I glanced up to see Cassie. She motioned for me to roll it down. Dustin must have pressed the button because the pane of glass slowly lowered. The air grew even thicker with smoke.

  “Hey, Robbie and I are going to head to the VFW to wait it out. They said it’s not safe to stick around here. Want to come with us?” She pointed to where Robbie stood on the curb.

  “What do you say?” Dustin rested his palm on my cheek.

  I nodded. It didn’t matter where I was—the result would be the same. My dreams were gone, turned to ash. But how?

  “We’ll meet you over there,” Dustin said. Then he raised the windows and put his arm across the seat behind me. After he’d turned the truck around, we followed the main road to the edge of town and pulled into the tiny VFW building parking lot.

  My knees practically buckled underneath me as I got out of the truck. Before I hit the ground, Dustin was there, his arm wrapping around me, giving me support.

  “We’re going to get through this, I promise.” He kissed my temple, my hair, my cheek.

  Robbie met us at the door. “I’m so sorry, Harmony. Hopefully they’ll be able to tell us what happened.”

  I nodded, letting Dustin lead me into the dim interior of the main room. Cassie slumped into a corner booth. I slid in across from her while Dustin and Robbie stayed at the bar.

  Cassie reached for my hand. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “But it’s not. The whole building could be gone. All of my savings went into the renovations and the inventory.”

  She squeezed my hand. “We’ll figure it out.”

  Dustin and Robbi
e joined us at the table. Robbie set down four glasses and Dustin filled them from a pitcher of beer.

  “I can’t believe it,” Robbie said.

  “What happened?” Dustin handed me a mug of beer.

  “I don’t know. Cassie was wrapping things up at the café, and I stopped by to help. We were going to head to a late movie.” Robbie blew out a breath. “Then I saw a flicker of something in the window across the street. I ignored it at first. Damn, if I’d called 9-1-1 sooner…”

  Cassie put her hand on his arm. “Thirty seconds wouldn’t have made much of a difference.”

  “I’m sick about it.” Robbie shook his head as he stared into his beer. “All the work you put into that place. Both of you.”

  “It’s going to be okay.” Cassie sat up straight. I wanted her enthusiasm to jump across the table, to infect me with perkiness and a Pollyanna attitude, too. “Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out. There are plenty of other places you can set up shop downtown. And you’ll have the insurance money.”

  I bit my lip and let my head tilt back. Dammit.

  “You did have an insurance policy on the inventory, didn’t you?” Cassie moved her hand from Robbie’s arm and laid her palm flat on the table. “Oh God, Harmony, please say you got that policy finalized this week.”

  All eyes settled on me. My jaw clenched tight. I tried to choke out a few words but my mouth had gone so dry.

  “Harmony?” Dustin put his arm around my shoulders. “You okay?”

  “No,” I finally managed. “I’m not okay.” My shoulders lifted and fell. I couldn’t stop the tears if I wanted to. I buried my face in my hands and squelched a sob.

  “Honey, I told you to get that insurance policy before you went and ordered all that stuff.” Cassie’s hand landed on my arm.

  “Can we focus on something else right now?” Dustin said, his voice low, almost like a protective growl. “It doesn’t matter what was or wasn’t done. Right now we just need to figure out how to move forward.”

  “I’m sorry. You’re right.” Cassie sighed.

  I looked up, my vision blurred by the stupid tears welling up in my eyes. “I was going to do it first thing Monday morning. They needed a chunk up front and I had to wait for my paycheck.”

  Cassie frowned. “You could have asked for an advance. You know I would have helped you out.”

  I clasped my hands together, so tight my knuckles went from white to pink. “I didn’t want an advance. You and Robbie have already done so much. I just wanted…” I took in a deep breath, trying to force the words past the tightness in my chest. “I just wanted to be able to do it on my own.”

  Dustin pulled my head down to lean on his shoulder. In that moment I needed the support so I let him. At least I wasn’t going through this alone. That was the only bright spot. I tried to focus on that. I had Dustin, someone to lean on. I’d have to figure the rest out. If it meant working at the Lovebird until I’d saved up again, then that’s what I’d do.

  “It’s going to be okay, Harmony.” Dustin pressed his lips to my temple. “We’re going to get through this together.”

  In that moment I wanted to believe him. I had to.

  38

  Dustin

  We stayed at the VFW for hours. They usually closed down at two, but the bartender said he’d let us stick around until the fire was out, and we could go back to the Lovebird. Finally, around six, Cassie got a call.

  The four of us headed back over. I was afraid of what we’d find. Harmony hadn’t said much while we waited for news, mainly just sat next to me, her head on my shoulder, her gaze focused on a spot on the laminate table. I’d tried to offer comfort the best way I knew how, but my experience in that department was severely limited. I wished I could take away her pain.

  I parked in the lot next to the Lovebird. The fire trucks were still blocking the front of the building across the street, so we hadn’t been able to get a good look at what was left. Harmony got out of the truck. Her jaw set while a look of sheer determination settled over her face.

  We walked across the lot, my arm around her, ready to catch her if she collapsed when she got her first look at the building she’d poured her heart and soul into. She was trying to be so strong. I kept telling her she didn’t need to be, to let me help her through this.

  “Y’all have to stop right here.” A fireman in full gear stopped us from going farther. “It’s not safe to get any closer.”

  “I thought the fire was out?” I asked.

  “It is, but the building’s not safe. Whole thing could collapse at any moment.”

  “Can we just take a look? Harmony was going to open her studio on the second floor next week. Is there anything left?” My arm tightened around her and Cassie linked her arm with Harmony’s—another show of moral support.

  “You can move up to the edge of that truck”—he pointed to a fire truck a few feet in front of us—“but don’t go past that, just in case.”

  “Thanks. You ready for this?” I asked Harmony.

  She nodded against my shoulder.

  The three of us inched forward, Robbie behind us. When we reached the edge of the fire truck we could see what remained of the building. Not much. The brick was charred, darkened from the flames. The stench of burned wood hung heavy in the air. Shattered glass from the windows covered the ground.

  Harmony shuddered next to me. I pulled her closer, trying to shield her from seeing the worst of it. The entire roof had burned away, leaving the second story open to the night sky above. Anything she had in that space would have been burned or melted. From where we stood on the ground, I doubted if anything would be salvageable.

  “What do you want to do?” I whispered against her ear.

  “Can you take me home?” She turned to face me. Her eyes held a world of sadness. I’d have given anything in that moment to put the sparkle and shine back in her smile.

  “Yeah. Let’s go.” We turned away, heading back to the truck.

  Cassie caught up to us in the parking lot. “Hey, Harmony, why don’t you take the weekend off work? Give yourself some time to think about things.”

  She looked up at Cassie and I wanted to hug her close. “I can’t. If I’m going to rebuild, I’m going to have to save up again.”

  Cassie looked at me over the top of Harmony’s head. “Will you stay with her?”

  “I don’t need someone to babysit me. I’ll be fine.” Harmony wrenched away from my side. “You think this is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me?” She gestured around the parking lot. “I’ve been down before and managed to get back up. This won’t be any different. I just need to come up with a plan. Now, Dustin, can you take me home?”

  I nodded, not used to seeing her struggle to maintain such a positive outlook.

  “And I’ll be in for the afternoon shift if that’s okay?” she asked Cassie.

  Cassie nodded. “Whatever you want to do, hon.”

  Harmony wiped at her eyes. “Thanks. I’ll see you later on this afternoon.”

  I shrugged at Cassie then followed Harmony to the truck, wishing I had some inkling of an idea on how to make things better for her. I’d never felt so helpless, so completely at a loss for what to do. But we were in this together. Somehow, I’d figure out a way to get that smile back on her face.

  A half hour later Harmony trudged across her porch. Pulling an all-nighter seemed to have caught up to both of us. Exhaustion tugged at the edges of my vision, wanting to pull my eyes shut. Even the wicker chair on the porch looked like a viable spot to take a nap for a few hours.

  “You want me to stay with you?” I asked.

  She turned the key in the lock. “I think I just want to be alone for a little while. Is that okay?”

  “Yeah, that’s fine. I’m here for you, though. If you want me to stay, I will. If you’d rather be alone, that’s fine too. Whatever you need, okay?” I pulled her in for a hug, trying to bolster her up with strength.

  Her arms wrap
ped loosely around my waist. “Thanks for being there for me last night. I really appreciate it. I’m not sure how I would have made it through without you.”

  “I told you, I love you.”

  She leaned back, looking up at me. “I love you, too. You’re the only good thing I’ve got left to show for my time spent in Swallow Springs.”

  “Hey, we’ll get you back up and running, I promise. I’ve got some money set aside, and—”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I’m not taking your money.”

  “I’ll loan it to you. Or be a silent investor. Either way, I believe in you and what you can do.”

  “Thanks. I just need a little time, okay?”

  “Yeah, okay. I’ll call you later?”

  She nodded, nestling her cheek against my chest again. I wanted to wrap her up, shield her from the hurt and loss she must be feeling. But I also wanted to respect her wishes. This thing between us was so new. If it were up to me, I’d stay with her for as long as she’d let me. We’d come up with a plan together. Anything to put the spark back in her eyes.

  “Call me if you need anything, okay?”

  She pulled away. “I will. I’ve got to figure out how to tell Liam.” Her voice wavered. “You and the boys spent so much time on that place. What a waste.”

  “Hey, it kept them out of trouble, didn’t it?” I nudged her chin up. “And away from the pig farm.”

  Finally, a smile. It flashed by so fast I almost missed it, but it was a step in the right direction.

  “I suppose.”

  “We’ll get through this. Together.” I gave her hand a final squeeze then turned to make my way back to the truck. I wasn’t sure how to make things better in the short term. All I could think about that second was closing my eyes and getting some shut eye. But I’d spend the afternoon researching alternate locations for her. Whether she wanted my help or not, she was going to get it. I’d finally found the woman I’d been missing in my life and I wasn’t going to let her try to navigate this on her own.