by Lyz Kelley
Wonder what that’s all about. “Got it,” he said, before picking up his cup to take a sip so Harold wouldn’t see the questions circling. He didn’t need to hear the blow-by-blow.
“Any plans for the day besides fixing locks, a snowmobile, and chasing a cute blonde across town?”
Coffee went straight up Chase’s nose and burned its way back down his throat. He coughed and sputtered. What the hell? Harold gave him a couple of good fist hammers on the back to straighten him out, but it didn’t help. He reached for the water and took a much-needed drink, more to stall than clear the coffee still stinging his sinuses. “I beg your pardon?”
“What? If you don’t want people to know your business, you shouldn’t be standing in the middle of Main Street snuggling up to Ashley Bryant.”
Had he just been transported back to the eighties?
Since meeting the woman, every other thought had been about her—her sweet smell, nice curves, and stubborn jaw. She’d disrupted his thoughts every other minute. He needed to screw his head on.
“I wasn’t snuggling. I don’t snuggle.” He could feel the eyes of nosy townspeople on his back, but didn’t want to turn around and confirm his theory.
“That’s not what I saw. Here’s a little advice. I’d be careful with that girl.”
Maggie plopped an egg-and-bacon platter with wheat toast in front of Harold and pointed a finger at the man’s chest. “Doc Brennan told you to cut back on the fat. Maybe I should start serving you fruit instead of bacon.”
His eyes opened wider. “A sixty-eight-year-old man’s got to be able to enjoy some things in life. And don’t be going and telling Claudia, either. She’ll nag me until I have to turn my hearing aid off.”
Chase chuckled until Maggie’s steely eyes turned to him. “What are you smiling about, soldier? Couple of years, and you might look just like him.”
“Maggie—”
“Yeah, you keep telling me you can still do a hundred push-ups with one hand behind your back, but I haven’t seen it yet. And, you.” Maggie pointed the coffee pot in Chase’s direction. “Go careful. Ashley’s been through a lot these past three years, being shut in with her sick mom. She’s like a daughter to me. You hurt her and you’ll get run out of town faster ‘n you can spit.”
What was this about her mom and three years? Both Harold and Maggie’s expressions said now wasn’t the time to ask. Both of them genuinely cared about Ashley, and the sentiment touched him, even made him a bit jealous.
“I was just fixing some stairs and asking her about a used snowmobile. That’s all.”
“Bull honkey,” Harold coughed behind his hand, and grinned.
Maggie rolled her eyes and walked away.
Who was he kidding? Harold was right. He was interested. Too interested. At thirty-one, he knew the consequences of hitting on a woman. By Christmas, he’d be visiting Bobby’s parents and then getting back on a plane. He wouldn’t see her again. But he’d sure remember her sweet face.
I need to fix that snowmobile. Least I can do, since she won’t accept rent.
“Message received. Loud and clear.”
“Good.” Maggie dropped a plate stacked two inches high with dinner plate-sized pancakes in front of him. A dollop of creamy, rich butter seeped into the carb heaven. “Now, get some food in your belly so you can get to work.”
Ashley needed to think about something, anything other than that soldier. She had too many things to get done, and for several days he’d created too much of a distraction.
On the way to the store, she considered stopping for a hot cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting dripping down the edges and freshly brewed coffee. When she saw the gray Ford sitting in the café’s parking lot, she decided a granola bar and instant coffee might be safer. That man was too tempting and dangerous. She didn’t need any more bad luck, considering her morning had started off with the VW Bug refusing to start, which left her with her dad’s extended cab truck, a giant, snorting monster of a machine that could tug half of Elkridge behind it and not slow down.
She opened the store door, removed her coat, and then studied the delicate Art Nouveau perfume bottle sitting on the counter. She wished she could keep that particular work of art. Then again, selling the beautiful items on eBay was her way of ensuring the treasures went to someone who’d appreciate them, rather than the bank or an estate liquidator…plus, having the cash to eat and pay bills was a nice benefit. Her mother had warned she hadn’t prepared Ashley for adulthood. In her naiveté, Ashley hadn’t comprehended how huge an understatement it had been.
After her mother became too ill to help, Harold and Claudia had helped Ashley figure out what she could do, given the fact she had no money, no place to live, not even reliable transportation. She and Claudia had worked through the calculations several times, but no matter how they approached it, the numbers made it clear that first, she had no choice but to let the bank foreclose, and second, she couldn’t take any ol’ job if she wanted to pay bills and student loans. Even if she split living expenses with a roommate, there might not be enough money to put food on the table. The big, bad adult world closed in fast.
The older couple sure had been a big help, but continuing to impose on people was the last thing she wanted. The endless quandary looped around and around.
Why did life have to be so damn complicated?
Her fingers trailed along the bottle’s rounded ridges, a tactile reminder of Chase’s sculpted abs. She stiffened and drew a deep breath, fighting for control. No matter how handsome the man, she hoped he’d leave soon, so she could concentrate on putting her life back together.
When the door opened, she held her breath, expecting Chase, and then released it when Jenna entered with a cheerful howdy and a bakery box in hand.
“Figured you might be hiding.”
Jenna’s hair, tied in a loose knot at the back of her head, made her look five years younger. Obviously, she’d just come from the café, but she didn’t have a spot of flour on her turquoise turtleneck or tight-fitting jeans. Darn her for looking so ready-for-anything first thing in the morning. Ashley knew her faded jeans and worn university sweatshirt looked anything but flattering. She should do something about finding an outfit suitable for job interviews. And soon.
“I’m not hiding. Just need to package the stuff I sold on eBay and get the boxes to the post office.”
“Wow. You sold all this?” Jenna pointed at the table filled with vases, bookends, and her mother’s porcelain doll. “Your mom should have let you run this place a long time ago.”
“In Mom’s mind, no one could run this store but her. It was her baby. She loved this place. Every piece in this store was discovered and chosen by her and her alone.”
“At least, she won’t have to see the store close.”
Keeping the store and house had been the goal, but as the bank account balances dwindled, the financial necessity to liquidate became obvious. Over the past months, the anger over having to sell the little shop had sagged into acceptance. She’d miss the place because it had played a significant role in her life.
Every day after school, she used to sit at one of the back tables and do her homework while waiting for her mom to close up shop. Ashley had daydreamed the afternoons away, selecting an antique object and making up stories about it. A hand-painted brooch might take her to France, a Black Forest hand-carved clock to Germany, or a linen napkin or tablecloth to Scotland. In grade school, she could spend hours sorting silver into piles, and get a thrill out of finding a matching piece. During the summers, she and her mom would go on road trips, never failing to stop for estate or garage sale signs. Back then, Ashley hadn’t realized that her mom had created the adventures so they could spend time together. Sad, really.
“Mom was a trip. Never knew whether she was heading west or east.”
Jenna dropped the bakery box on the counter and looked across the sea of antiques. “But preparing stuff to ship doesn’t explain why you skipp
ed dropping by this morning.”
Ashley pretended to fuss with the coffee stain on her shirt rather than face her friend’s scrutiny. “I wanted to avoid Chase. I’ve got enough to worry about without him sabotaging my brain and turning it into mush.”
“Yeah, I get it. Just looking at him melts my butter. He’s in the café, melting a few more hearts right now.”
Ashley swore Jenna licked her lips. Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Maggie’s got him over there fixing the back door. There can’t be anything sexier than a guy wearing a tool belt.”
A little ping zapped her heart. Oh, God, was that jealousy?
“He can just stay over there. Fix the whole town if he likes. Just as long as he doesn’t bother me.”
“By bother, do you mean in the hot, sexy, kissy kind of way?”
Her head did a snap and lock on her friend. “I mean the go away kind of way.”
“Really? You sure? Because rumor has it you were getting pretty cozy yesterday.”
Heat singed her cheeks. “Does this town have nothing better to do than spy on each other?”
“Just thinking a guy like Chase might be good to blow out the pipes a bit. It could be enjoyable. When was the last time you could relax and have fun?”
Fun? “Not lately.”
Jenna walked around the counter. “Okay. If you can’t spare the time to hook up with that gorgeous man, can you find time to have a night filled with carbs? Let’s do a girls’ night. Nothing special, just you, me, and pizza.”
“You sure that’s a good idea? I wouldn’t want to spike your sugar levels.” The blush rolling up her friend’s face made her feel a bit guilty for bringing up her diabetes. “Never mind.”
“No. It’s okay. You know how it is. I just don’t like talking about it. I’ve been good lately. It helps having taste-testers.”
“Pizza it is, then. How about later this week, and you bring some of those lemony whatsits so I can taste-test them again?”
“I think you mean Lemon Burst Tartlets? I was thinking about adding raspberry puree to the recipe, what do you think?”
“I think no matter what you do, it will be fabulous.”
A rare sparkle lit Jenna’s eyes. “Don’t let a guy run you off. See you at the café tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” Ashley agreed and watched the door close behind her friend.
The next few hours were filled with bubble wrap and packing tape and went by in a flash. She’d done a good job of getting Chase out of her head until she heard the sound of the snowmobile revving in the back alley.
That tingly sensation completely destroyed her concentration. Frustrated over her lack of mental control, and curious to see if the snowmobile actually was working, she picked up her coat and walked outside while shoving her arms in the sleeves.
Chase hovered over the sled the way she wanted him to hover over her. He was a handsome man, especially when he gave her a smile that said he’d just unwrapped the man toy he’d ordered for Christmas. He had on a gray T-shirt covered by a red-checked flannel shirt, tucked into a pair of jeans sitting just right. Every inch looked deliciously tempting. The excitement of getting the sled working might have caused his celebration, however, the joyous grin infected her, and she returned his glorious smile.
“You got it started.” She wanted to give herself a swift kick for sounding so…so…blonde.
“Took some work. She just needed a new filter, some oil, and a lube job.”
Lube job. Like blowing the pipes out. She groaned and felt a blush scroll across her face. The instinct to run like hell battled with the urge to kiss him silly. “I just came out to check on you. Looks like you’re doing great. I’d better get back to work.”
“Hey, wait.” He launched ahead double time to catch up. “I thought you said if I got it working, you’d be my guide.”
The guy had a memory like a stinking computer. “You’re right, I did. But maybe this girl has a right to change her mind.”
“She does.” The disappointment in his eyes made her pause. “Look, it’s been a rough couple of months. Do you mind if I take the rig and do some exploring on my own? I promise not to break anything. It’s a beautiful day. What do you say?”
She agreed. No place on earth could be more splendid than Colorado on a crisp December morning—fresh powder glistening in the sun, icicles dripping melting water, the air smelling of wood-burning fireplaces.
A hint of excitement surrounded a whole lot of sadness and made the excuses evaporate. She wouldn’t be the one responsible for preventing his escape from whatever he’d seen on tour.
“Integrity is a window into a person’s soul.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Nice saying. It’s almost poetry. I should write that down.”
“The saying is my dad’s. I made a promise. I need to keep it. I’ll pack some food.”
“I was hoping you’d agree, so I already ordered us lunch.” He glanced back at the snowmobile. “We just need gas.”
Ordered us lunch? Just thinking about where he might have purchased the food made a knot twist in her stomach. The obvious place would be the café, meaning the whole town knew about the outing. He didn’t get small towns. The need for privacy. He should, since he must have lived in open barracks at some point. Maybe he just didn’t care.
What would her mother think?
She paused, her chest tightening. Never again would she have to worry about her mom’s opinion. The emptiness expanded, carving out another piece of her heart, before Chase’s movements yanked her back to the present.
At least I’ll be safe. The whole town knows where I’ll be.
“I haven’t allowed myself to have fun in a while. We both need a day off.” She clutched the keys to her dad’s truck. “We’d better get the sled loaded into the truck. You’ll find a loading ramp and security straps in the shed.” She tossed him the keys, and he snatched the ring mid-air. “I’ll just get my boots and gloves. You need anything?”
“I saw a pair of heavier gloves and a face mask in the shed. Do you mind if I borrow them?”
“Take them. They’ll just be tossed or given away soon anyway. And don’t forget the helmets.”
Questions filled his eyes.
Questions about her past and her present.
Questions she didn’t want to answer, so she turned and walked back into the store.
Chapter Six
Chase craned his neck to see past Ashley. He’d seen a lot of pretty places, but nothing this spectacular.
Fluffy white snow floated from the sky and whirled in eddies. The Rocky Mountains stretched out around them in an infinite display of unfolding peaks, deep gorges and stunning, ice-covered streams.
Ashley took the driver’s position and zoomed up the old logging road, pointing out hazards while they travelled. His hands rested on her hips, and he worked hard to avoid scooching up and folding her against his body. He could feel himself reacting physically to her warm, soft curves.
Man, he needed to shove his ass in a snow bank. Permanently.
Concentrating, he studied the passing landscape rather than how her body felt. How her heat sent a tingle down his spine.
She pointed.
A group of deer standing at the tree line watched them whiz past. At another clearing, a female elk and her almost-grown offspring had gathered for lunch. Ashley gave the animals space.
The valley below reminded him of a snow globe he’d once seen at a foster home. He remembered letting his imagination take over, wishing he could live in the town where there was room to breathe, and people cared about one another. He didn’t think life could get much better than Elkridge. People cared. As evidenced by the chest-pounding he’d gotten that morning. He’d decided to back off, not pursue the attraction. But his head and body just couldn’t quite put the decision into action.
Because here he was.
Enjoying her company.
Snuggling close.
After an hour, they decided to stop for lunch. He liked how she didn’t need to ruin the sound of wind blowing through the branches or birds chirping with inconsequential conversations. For someone so tiny, she had an enduring strength. That spunky, almost defiant attitude was such a turn-on. And that scared him. Being scared pissed him off. Getting shot at or blown up was one thing, but being petrified of what Ashley could do to him scared him more.
Reaching another clearing, she dismounted and turned the machine over to him so he could have some fun, first pointing out off-limits areas. He took off, and twenty minutes later, he skidded to a stop a safe distance from where she stood, spraying her boots with snow.
“You have a grandpa license or something?” she laughed. “I’ve never seen anyone manage to putter along on a snowmobile like a creaky old grandma.”
After always being the guy going mach five, he’d learned in Afghanistan never to go anywhere fast, always take it easy, and to never forget a bomb could detonate with the next step or roll of a wheel. The sights and smells of bloody bodies and the twisted wreckage surrounding Bobby’s death haunted him. He closed his eyes and then dismounted to move next to her.
He pointed at the tracks in the snow. “What do you see?”
She squinted at the snow-covered field. A look of awe crossed her face. “You spelled my name.”
Heat thrummed through his body and he shifted his gaze from her mouth to her eyes. Ashley’s intense stare was similar to the one she gave him earlier in the day, but this time her gaze never wavered. The wind caught the ends of her hair, tossing strands in her face. She didn’t notice. He wished he could read her mind. The need consumed his body. Her direct eye contact, the licking of her lips, the way she leaned in made him reciprocate. Suddenly, she moved away, taking off her helmet, and walking to the edge of the hill overlooking the ridge. He followed at a distance until reaching her side.
“Look over there. That’s the café and the store. Just a bit closer is the grocery and hardware store. The big building to the left is the visitor center and courthouse.”