by Lyz Kelley
“Everything. I keep getting this feeling something will happen that will change everything.” She glanced at the boxes she’d worked so hard to pack and prepare to move. “I know I’m delusional, but I keep hoping there’s some clerical error at the bank.”
A warm hand wrapped around hers and squeezed. “It will work out. You just have to hold on.”
“I know. But I’m still going to miss this place. This is my home.”
“But you’re not leaving Elkridge. Right?”
“It depends. I haven’t found a place I can afford that isn’t a dump or doesn’t require a hefty deposit for large dogs. And eventually the stuff I have to sell is going to run out. I’ll need something more permanent. eBay and craft fairs are only temporary.”
She looked out the back window toward the snow-covered ridge. She could almost feel the sun on her face, the cold wind nipping at her cheeks, and the chirping of birds asking her how her day was going. She loved living in Elkridge. She’d left for college because she hated her mother’s suffocating control more.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said.” Ashley nibbled at a dry piece of skin on her lip.
“I say a lot of things. What specifically are you talking about?”
“A couple of months ago you were bitching about us needing to get fresh blood in the city, and saying how so many townspeople are getting old.”
“There’s more polyester and Polident in this area than there are people under the age of thirty. Newer members are moving in because the schools are great, but this old mining town needs a serious facelift.”
“My point. Folks have lived here forever. And most are stubborn as a beaver about wanting to stay in their homes, refusing to leave. The nearest elder or emergency care facility is way over in Minesville forty minutes away, and that’s only if the roads are dry.”
“Wait! Are you thinking about starting an elder care business?”
“Still working things out. I figure I should use the business classes I took for something. I did some checking, and there’s this online homecare certificate program. I would have to go to Denver twice a month to complete some practical training, but it’s cheaper than living in California, and I could help this community. Since I got all that experience helping Mom, the practical exam shouldn’t be über hard to pass, and it’s not as expensive as a degree.”
A genuine, hundred-percent smile filled Jenna’s face and, for once, ran all the way up and exploded out her eyes. “That would be awesome.”
“Don’t go writing anything down in permanent ink yet. I still have to find a place to live and figure out how I can pay for the program at the same time.”
“I’d say you could stay with me, but my place is so small, I even trip over myself.”
“Can you imagine your cabin with me plus Lucky?”
“No,” she sighed. “So your dad’s not going to help?”
“I haven’t asked. Mom was vehement about me learning to make it on my own.” Ashley eyed the white box sitting in the second plastic bin. “I forgot. Here are the spoons and forks I decorated to go with your baked goods. I hope you like them because I couldn’t sleep and got a little carried away.” She handed Jenna modified utensils adorned with colorful glass beads and key rings attached to the end.
“I love them. And look at the little charms.”
“I found boxes of craft stuff my mom kept. I figured no one else was going to use the junk.”
Jenna continued to oooh and aaah over the pieces.
“Are those bakery samples?” Ashley pointed at a little brown box with a lime green polka dot bow.
“Oh, I forgot. My newest invention, cobbler cups. I brought strawberry-rhubarb, mixed berry, tart apple, and peach-apricot. I was trying to come up with a way to sell pie slices and discovered an easy way to make mini pie crusts.”
When Ashley lifted one of the pastries out of the box, her saliva glands kicked into high gear. “I wonder if I can shove this whole thing in my mouth at once?”
“Worth a try.” Jenna smirked. “I’m sure you’ve had bigger things in your mouth lately.”
Thank goodness she hadn’t put the pastry in her mouth yet, or pie might have come out her nose. “Jenna? Holy crap!” She put the berry treat back in the box and got up to fetch plates and silverware.
Her friend batted her eyelashes. “Just sayin’. I still think you should tackle that scrumptious man and have your way with him.”
Crap. Ashley felt an urgent need to stick her head in the freezer. The heat burning her cheeks couldn’t be a good thing.
“Wait a minute.” Jenna squinted. “You’ve already done the wild thing and haven’t shared. What’s with that?”
The heat dipped to her toes and shot up again, and didn’t stop until it hit her hairline. “I’m not discussing my activities with Chase.”
“Wow. The sex must be exceptional. You’re blushing all the way to your blond roots.”
“Stop. I’m not going there.” She set the plates on the table.
“And here I thought we were friends. Nothing exciting happens in this town, and I don’t have a TV. I’m going to have to stick with my romance novels and Bob.”
She glanced up after dropping a pastry on a plate. “Who’s Bob?”
“My battery-operated boyfriend. Comes in handy once in a while.”
“We are not having this conversation.”
Jenna gave her knee a light slap. “Did I mention I found a chocolate sauce that’s meltable and stays liquid? Want to try some? It’s scrumptiously delicious.”
“It’s not like that with Chase.”
Jenna’s jovial exuberance faded into the skeptical. “Hmm.”
Ashley pulled the fork out of her mouth. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’ve got more than job and school problems. You’ve got man problems, too.”
“Do not.” Ashley responded a bit too quickly and a bit too defensively to cover her tracks. “Well, not really. He’s leaving, so there’s no problem. We’re keeping things casual. No long-term attachments.”
“Uh-huh.” Jenna eyed her suspiciously. The tips of her fingers held a bakery label suspended in mid-air. “I still think you should be careful driving. Your headlights are definitely turned off.”
Ashley’s stomach did a flip-flop, and she pushed the pastry aside. Not because it didn’t taste delicious or contained a thousand calories, but because Jenna had a point.
“Really, it’s nothing.”
“Guys like Chase don’t show up too often in a town like this. He’s alpha and hot and interested.”
“He is nice to look at. And I’m so…” Frumpy.
Alpha and hot would turn a whole lot of heads. Heck, if Rachelle didn’t stop pecking at and around him, Ashley might have to wring her neck. However, alpha and hot never were a good indicator of strong and stable.
Jenna gave her a nudge, and Ashley sighed. “…I’m so ordinary. Chase could do better.”
Jenna slapped a hand on the table. “You, lady, are not ordinary. Not even close. And no, Chase can’t do better. You have to get your mother’s voice out of your head.” The firm tone made Ashley take note. “Don’t you dare let that woman destroy your chance at happiness! You deserve only the best.”
“You’re being kind, which is sweet, but you don’t need to.”
“No, I’m not. I’m not that nice.”
“So you think hanging out with Chase is good?”
“If a guy as stellar as Chase came knocking at my door, I’d let my muffins burn in the oven. You only have one shot at life, Ash. Live it to the fullest.”
Life was short.
Too short.
Chapter Fourteen
Chase looked at the list of unanswered calls and text messages from the past five days. He wasn’t up to answering questions about Bobby, or when he’d be getting back to the base.
He’d driven around the ridge to think because the small blonde in his life kept planting landmine
s and blowing his mind. He scrolled through a list of numbers, pressed dial, and turned slightly to get the best reception he could.
Having driven pretty much every road leading to or from town, he was getting pretty familiar with the terrain. A river had carved out the narrow valley between two ranges. At the top, a panoramic view of the Continental Divide spread across earth and sky.
A gruff “hello” captured his attention.
“Coach. Hey, it’s Chase.”
“I was just thinking about you. How’s life?”
I’m dangling off a cliff with no rope and no safety harness. “All right, I guess.”
“Have it your way. We’ll play at niceties for the next five minutes until you get bored and hang up. Spit it out. Something’s on your mind. Otherwise you wouldn’t have called.”
Surrounding oneself with people who gave a damn kind of sucked because they wouldn’t let the BS get in the way of having a solid conversation. Starting the conversation was the problem. He’d never been good at starting one, even though he’d finished plenty.
“You still there?” Coach’s voice came from the phone.
“Still here. Just trying to figure out this thing about a girl.”
“Girl, or woman?”
Ashley was six years younger, but like him, she’d survived. He had a whole lot of respect for her. “Woman.”
“Ah.” The heavy dose of humor in his mentor’s voice made Chase wince. “You’ve come up against a good woman and your brain’s gone all haywire. Now I understand.”
“Great. Glad someone has a clue.”
Irritation jangled his nerves and rattled through his bones. He didn’t like being on edge. Every time he caught sight of Ashley, his body went on high alert. He swore his body parts were doing things they weren’t supposed to be doing.
“So let me ask you a question.” Coach hauled out his ‘mentor voice.’ The voice he used when teaching a lesson.
“I’m listening.”
“What do you have in common?”
“Trucks. Adventure. Spontaneity.” Just thinking about her folded in his arms made his body tingle with renewed warmth. “She fits. She’s not too fussy, and I like the fact she doesn’t wear a lot of stuff on her face. Although she’s a bit stubborn.”
“I see. Stubborn’s not so bad, you know. Keeps a guy guessing and interested. Now, what irritates you when you’re together?”
“She doesn’t like the military. But I could fix that.” Shit. Didn’t mean for that to slip. Chase kicked a pile of snow and let the cold mountain air carry away his exhale. “But getting out of the Corps for her might not be the best option.”
“I agree. You have to do what’s right for you.”
That niggling pain in his heart returned. A pain that wouldn’t go away and had his mind asking repeatedly, how will you get along without her?
“Coach?”
“I’m here.”
“Didn’t you once tell me there were going to be times I’d have to compromise for the ones I loved?”
“I did. But when you make those compromises, make sure the person you’re making the concession for would do the same for you. This woman takes exception to you being in the military. The military is what makes you tick, Chase.”
Not true. “I joined the military because I assumed it was my only opportunity to be a part of something bigger. Over the years, I’ve discovered being a part of something doesn’t necessarily make a person whole. I needed to be whole before I could contribute to something bigger than myself. And I don’t feel whole. If that makes any sense.” Chase gripped the phone a bit tighter. “Listen to me getting all philosophical.”
“Yesss! I’ve been waiting for you to figure out that life doesn’t give you only one option.” The pride in Coach’s voice was unmistakable.
“Why’s that?”
“A boy can take many paths to finding his inner strength to become a man. I think you’ve finally discovered yours.”
Great. He sighed. Finding his inner strength and knowing what to do with his newly discovered treasure were two different things.
“It may not matter. I’ll be somewhere else in the world, and she’ll be moving on with her life.”
Excuses. Every one he’d recited again and again over the past several days seemed convenient and hollow. He’d spent his time working his body into exhaustion so he could shut his mind off, but no matter how hard he pushed himself, she continued to disrupt his thoughts.
“You have a decision to make. However, from this end of the line, it sounds like you love her. And if you do, you need to tell her.”
Chase pounded his forehead with the heel of his hand. “Got any advice about how to do that?”
“Nope. Took me three months to get the nerve to tell Carol, and I still screwed it up. Here’s the thing about love. Chances are, she already knows and is simply waiting for you to say it. So putting off saying how you feel out loud is a complete waste of time.”
Chase had nothing to say. Absolutely nothing. Coach spoke the truth. She probably already knew he was hopelessly, head-over-heels committed. He turned to gaze out at the horizon while uneasiness jittered across his bones. The world could be a mighty big place without loved ones.
“Want one more word of advice?” Coach asked.
“What’s that?”
“Not every woman you love will abandon you like your mother. I think it’s important for you to remember that fact.”
Well, shit. You had to go there.
Coach always had a way of getting to the meat of the matter. Slicing it down into tender pieces of sirloin and feeding it to the person raw.
“I know.” Some of the irritation trickled away like magic. “I remember a 4th of July barbecue we had at your house. Carol cornered me in the kitchen. She said the same thing, in a different way.”
“She was a mighty fine woman. And I think maybe you’ve found one for you.”
“Maybe. Thanks for the advice, Coach.”
“My pleasure.”
He ended the call, put the phone in his pocket, and headed back toward the truck, but paused with his hand on the door handle.
What if he left the military and everything he knew, and it turned out he was wrong? She had been a bit distant the past few days. Then again, she’d been busy packing, getting ready for the Bazaar, preparing for estate liquidators.
He couldn’t imagine the emotional toll of packing a childhood home and everything she’d known and loved for most of her life into boxes, and preparing to be ejected. He got tired doing nothing more than watch her struggle with the mountain of responsibilities and help out where he could. But deep down, he had a hunch she was torn between his helping and his leaving.
The realization struck him like a sniper bullet to the chest. His skin vibrated with tension.
He had to pull out soon, but leaving didn’t mean it had to be forever.
He needed a solution. A good solution. One designed to work for both of them.
He solved problems.
Why in the hell couldn’t he solve his?
Chapter Fifteen
“Shit, I’mlateI’mlateI’mlate.” Ashley came flying into the kitchen at mach four, in an oversized T-shirt, her feet bare. “Jenna’s going to kill me.”
Chase peered calmly over the edge of the coffee cup halfway to his lips. Ashley’s bed head made him smile. Hair bunched to the left side of her head, with an amazing bed sheet imprint on her left cheek, combined to make her downright adorable. Both eyes remained half-closed, and her mouth was set in a pouty scowl. She reached for the coffee pot and a mug at the same time.
“Thank God. Coffee.”
“Nope, thank me,” he said softly under his breath, quite amused.
Her eyelids drifted shut while she indulged in the sensation of hot java now percolating through her system, but popped open seconds later. Her head swiveled left then right then left again. “Where’s all the stuff I was making for the Bazaar?”
Chase put his cup on the table and pushed his breakfast plate back. “I’ve loaded everything into the truck. How about I fix you breakfast while you get ready?”
“But…”
“It’s done. Everything is beaded and strung and labeled. All you need to do is shower…unless you don’t want to.” An I-could-kiss-you look drifted across her face. His body parts responded enthusiastically. “You keep looking at me like I’m a stack of chocolate chip pancakes, and I’ll pour syrup on myself and let you lick it off.”
Her soft pink tongue ran across her bottom lip while she contemplated his offer and made his body parts stand straight up and salute. “Tempting, but I’m already late. I lay down for ten minutes. Ten minutes. And here I am, four hours later. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you did.”
“After the antique selling, shipping, and making those silverware things, I’m not sure how you kept going as long as you did. It’s the least I can do. You sure you don’t want to take me up on my shower offer? It might be fun.”
Her thoughtful eyes met his over the rim of her cup. “I can’t. I promised to help set up for the Bazaar.”
Disappointment filled his empty coffee cup, so he picked up his dishes and placed them in the sink.
He figured the craving to bury himself deep inside her would pass. Eventually. In the past, every time he got an itch scratched, the need went away. This time, the urgency grew into a full-on scratch attack until he could think of nothing else. He wanted her. He wanted to stay with her. Now if he could only make her want him and figure out logistics.
All week long, people stepped on or took advantage of her generous nature. She couldn’t say no, not to anyone but him. And that just sucked.
“Where’s Lucky?” There was a hint of curiosity in both her expression and tone.
“Asleep in the other room. I took him out for a walk before my run this morning.” Her brows pressed together, deepening the lines on her face. Her facial expressions were becoming more and more familiar every day. He needed to find a way to help her relax to avoid damaging the perfection. “What’s up?”
“You’re working as hard as I am, yet you aren’t fazed. You’re up earlier. Go to bed later. There’s something wrong with that.”