He frowned at her. “You don’t have to leave. I’ve been up here for months. I can leave tomorrow.”
She shook her head. “No, no. Your problems are bigger than mine. You can hide.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not hiding. And I don’t have big problems.”
“No, no, of course not,” she said, searching for a polite way to say that she knew he was hiding and that him not ever being able to return to work was a way bigger problem from her having to leave work for a month.
His frown was fierce even though it was on such a gorgeous face. “Does everyone think I’m hiding?”
She started shaking her head and then nodded. “Maybe. But that’s okay. I’ve never been a fan of a family gossip. Not really gossip, even. More like concern. Everyone is concerned about you and why you’re not taking the physical to see if you can go back to work.”
He ran a hand over his jaw and mumbled something under his breath. “Fine. Thanks for the family intel. I think I’ll get to bed.”
“Wait. Finn. You stay here. I have friends in the city I can go stay with. Honestly, this rural Montana thing is getting old. Maybe I need to be in the city for Christmas.”
“You can’t miss the family’s Christmas,” he said.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “That was the plan.”
He frowned. “Why?”
She shrugged and waved a hand. “It’s not a big secret. I just want time away. Like you want time away.”
“They aren’t letting me have time away. I know Molly and Ben…and my mother. I know I’m not off the hook,” he said with a hint of a smile.
“So, you’re going back to Shadow Creek for Christmas?”
He let out a ragged sigh. “I guess. And the baby’s due around that time so…I can’t miss that.”
She smiled faintly. “Right. I couldn’t miss that, either, but technically the baby isn’t due until mid-January. I’ll be back by then,” she said, her voice trailing off as she thought of what this baby meant for her sister, for Ben. This baby was desperately wanted, and even still, she knew that it would bring out deep wounds for her sister, and there was no way she could let her go through that without backup. She knew Ben would be there for her, but Melody and their youngest sister, Addie, would have to be on standby.
“My mother is betting on Christmas,” he said.
She shook her head. “Too early. But anyway, I should get to bed,” she said, glancing at her phone as it vibrated. There was a text from Addie. She reached out to surreptitiously inch it closer to her so she could read it.
I know I should have told you that Molly was trying to set you up with Finn, but I was sworn to secrecy! We love you guys, and it seemed like a great idea when we were sitting by the fire and I finished my second glass of wine. Now, not so much! Love you, have fun!
Melody closed her eyes. She knew it. Of course it would be Addie to fess up first. Addie was the softy sister. She had a big heart and had never gotten caught up in their mother pitting them against each other. Sadly, though, Melody knew it was because their mom had dismissed her. Molly and Melody were both academically driven, focused on the sciences and math. Addie had been a dreamer, a natural in the arts…which their mother cruelly deemed useless. She had also ridiculed poor Addie for not being as thin as she “should” be.
None of them had escaped that house without scars.
“Problems?”
She snapped her eyes open and shook her head, turning her phone screen-side down on the counter. “No. Nothing.”
“You look like someone who just found out their sibling tried to set you up.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You know?”
“This whole thing had Molly and Ben written all over it,” he said in a grim voice.
She tried not to be insulted by how grim it sounded. “I don’t know what they were thinking.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s that thing that really happy people do when they’re married and assume that everyone else needs to be married or with someone in order to be happy.”
Finally, someone who understood the way she thought. “Addie is doing the same thing. Now they’ll all have kids. Which means they’ll think everyone need kids to be happy. It’s obnoxious.”
“Presumptuous.”
“Irritating.”
“Stupid.”
She nodded, and neither of them said anything. She stood across from Finn, in the adorable, happy little cottage, and had never felt more alone or more miserable just talking about their siblings and how happy they all were. Maybe they were all right and she and Finn were wrong. After all, they were the only two who had shut themselves off from the world during the most wonderful time of year. “So…I’ll just go to bed.”
He gave her a nod. “Right. Me, too.”
“See you in the morning. I’ll let you know before I leave,” she said, picking up her bag and wondering where the heck she was going to go tomorrow.
“Melody?”
She stopped at the end of the hall and turned around.
He stood there, the light behind him, highlighting all the contours of his large body, the sharp lines of his face, the fine lines around his once laughing brown eyes. “Or you can just stay. Here. I’m sure we won’t get in each other’s way. Plenty of room for both of us.”
Melody blinked. Share a cabin with Finn? The hottest man she’d ever met, who also happened to be the guy who’d turned her down at prom, whose brother was married to her sister, and who her family was trying to set her up with? A mansion wouldn’t be enough room for them, let alone this cozy cabin in the middle of nowhere.
She should absolutely turn down his offer.
Instead, she heard herself say, “Okay. I’ll stay.”
Chapter Two
Finn opened his eyes, disoriented for a moment, blinking and staring at the ceiling as the sound of a blender blasting from the kitchen continued. Everything was so wrong. He groaned when he rolled over in bed and glanced at the clock; it wasn’t even five in the morning. Didn’t Melody sleep?
Melody. His newest problem. It’s not that he didn’t like her. She was nice. Smart. Gorgeous. But all that was irrelevant because he wasn’t ready to share this place with anyone. It always felt like there was something hanging between them. Or maybe he was imagining it. He still felt guilty about saying no to her prom invitation. Maybe she’d forgotten about it.
He would never forget the embarrassment on her face when she’d awkwardly asked him to take her to the prom. He’d felt like the biggest ass turning her down, but he’d known it had something to do with her mom. Marlene Mayberry, long-standing mayor of Shadow Creek, had almost destroyed Molly and Ben’s relationship. She had cost them so many years. She had also cost her daughters a hell of a lot, too. Still, he regretted that he’d hurt Melody’s feelings.
She was very different than her sister, Molly. He had known Molly for years, even after she’d skipped town and left his brother broken-hearted. There had been a warmth to her that had stood out and made him believe her, even when Ben hadn’t. But they’d found their way back together a couple years ago, and he was happy for them.
But this time was supposed to be about himself. He knew this set-up was partially his fault. On Ben and Molly’s visit last weekend, he’d played up how happy he was and how he was ready to get back to the real world. He’d even gone as far as saying he was ready to start dating because he was tired of their pity-filled stares. Clearly, they’d bought his act and had wasted no time.
He’d tossed and turned all night, unable to get comfortable. His injured leg had been throbbing, regardless of the different positions he’d tried, and now when he’d finally been resting comfortably, he was awoken like this. He wasn’t thrilled about sharing the cabin with anyone, but he knew he should. It was generous enough of Molly and Ben
to let him stay here while he worked on his recovery. They had a fully equipped gym in the basement, and that had been instrumental in him getting his strength back after the accident. A couple months of rehab in the hospital had gotten him back on his feet, but being out here in the middle of nowhere, with his own gym and nothing to concentrate on but his recovery, had given him back his strength.
He swore quietly as he tried to swing his leg over the side of the bed and sat up. His leg was always stiff, no matter how good of a day he was having. He imagined this was what it was like to be ninety. Wincing with pain, he slowly completed a few stretches that allowed him to walk without too much pain then forced himself to put on some shorts and a T-shirt before using the bathroom.
A few minutes later, he made his way into the kitchen. Melody was leaning against the counter, drinking from a massive glass filled with green juice and staring at her phone. She hadn’t noticed him yet, and something about her expression made him pause. She didn’t have any makeup on, and she was wearing leggings and a baggy T-shirt. She looked…different. Younger, softer, almost vulnerable. Her long blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail and highlighted her fine features and perfect skin. She had always been gorgeous, but this was different. She wasn’t as polished and perfect.
He rolled his shoulders. No need to stand here gawking at her all day. “Morning,” he said, walking into the kitchen.
She looked up, putting her phone on the island. “Good morning! I hope I didn’t wake you,” she said.
He shook his head and made a beeline for the coffeemaker. “No, no, I love waking up before five when I don’t have to be at work.”
She gasped. “Are you being sarcastic? Omigosh, I’m so sorry, Finn. I shut the hallway door to the bedrooms.”
“It’s fine. Really. I’m an early riser.” He used to be, anyway. Now it just depended on what kind of a night he’d had. But she didn’t need to know that. He hated sympathy. Or pity—that was the worst. As far as he was concerned, the accident was part of the risks in his job. It wasn’t a big deal. He wasn’t the first firefighter who’d been injured, and he wouldn’t be the last. Ben had been, and their father had died on the job, so Finn wasn’t about to complain about a leg that might never fully heal. Besides, the last week or so had him thinking of taking his life in a different direction. But it was too early to voice to anyone—hell, he had never even considered anything other than firefighting.
“I saved you some of my smoothie,” she said, pointing to the Vitamix on the counter. Molly had somehow managed to get Ben to consume these green drinks as well, hence the Vitamix. But they had never managed to convince him. He stuck to the powdered form of vegetables in the fridge.
He glanced at it as he made enough coffee for two. “Uh, thanks. What’s in it?”
“Spinach, mango, blueberries, parsley, spirulina, turmeric, collagen, and water. Lots of really great anti-inflammatory ingredients and the collagen is great for bone health.”
“You lost me at spinach,” he said, pulling down a mug and praying for the coffee to brew as quickly as possible. He needed to head into the gym and stretch out his leg; it was killing him to stand in one spot.
She smiled. “That’s okay, but you’re really missing out. So, are you still okay with me staying here? Because I was thinking maybe this will work. I’ll stay out of your way; I have a ton of reading I want to get to, and I’m really quiet. You won’t even notice I’m here.”
He poured himself a coffee and smiled, trying to relax and not think about the throbbing pain in his leg. “Quiet like the Vitamix?”
She grimaced. “Sorry.”
He was being an ass. Maybe he was even being anti-social. He’d been away from people for too long. “Joking. Of course I don’t mind. Would you like a coffee?”
She shook her head. “After I work out and shower.”
Shit. He kept his expression neutral. “You’re going to work out now?”
She nodded. “Is that okay? I like to get it over with in the morning. I need to change things up so I won’t be using the treadmill. I’m going to try yoga again. Then I’m going to try meditating, also again.”
He raised his eyebrows as he listened. She seemed almost nervous, and he had no idea why. She was normally so pulled together. “Again?”
She stared at him from over the rim of her glass. “I haven’t been too successful in the past. I’m kind of high strung, and I don’t think my muscles relax enough to actually stretch and bend. As for meditation, I have a really hard time shutting off from the world. My thoughts wander, jump to all the things I have to do in the day. Since I’m off work, this might be the time to try and see if I can do.”
He leaned against the counter, putting his weight on his good leg. It was interesting to hear her talk about herself with that self-derision. He kind of felt bad that she thought of herself that way. He wanted to tell her that she wasn’t high-strung. But that would be awkward. And maybe she was. What did he know? He cleared his throat. “I’ve never been much of a yoga or meditation person myself. But it’s worth a try. Supposed to be good for you.”
She nodded, her face relaxing, and finished the rest of her drink. “Yeah. We’ll see. I’ll head down there. If you want to use it first, though, I can always stay up here.”
He shook his head. “No, go ahead. I’ll just wait until you’re done.”
She grabbed her phone. “Okay. Thanks. Oh, and help yourself to the leftover pizza in the fridge.”
Her ponytail swayed as she left the room, and he forced himself to turn away. He shouldn’t be noticing her hair or eyes or the curves of her body. The last thing he needed was to be noticing her in any other way than a platonic relationship. Eyes, shiny hair, curves, perfect face, full mouth, all that was nothing he should notice. Or think about.
His phone vibrated on the counter, and he picked it up, already knowing it was Ben. How was your first night with Melody?
He gritted his teeth. Figures his brother would make a joke out of his misery. He typed back quickly. I wasn’t with her. We are in two separate bedrooms.
I know. I just meant how was it?
There was no “it” to describe. She went to bed. I went to bed. Now she woke me up because you have a dumb Vitamix in the house and she made a smoothie before five in the morning. Now she’s in the gym and I’m waiting to use it. Is that enough detail for you?
He only felt mildly bad as he waited for Ben’s answer.
Great detail. I’ll be sure to fill Molly in.
Glad I could help. Don’t you have baby furniture to assemble or something?
Already done two months ago.
Of course it was. He couldn’t even begrudge his brother. He and Molly deserved all the happiness and this baby. Between their mother, who basically told everyone who made eye contact with her that she was about to become a grandmother, and Ben, who sadly had started telling everyone he was about to become a father, things in Shadow Creek were getting a little too over the top. But he was happy for them. Then go bring Molly some coffee or something.
Done.
He frowned. Go to work.
It’s my day off. Which reminds me, Mom is harassing me about Christmas. When are you coming back?
Ugh. He put the phone down on the island. They never gave up. If he had been on a vacation, Ben would have asked him when he was planning on getting his lazy ass back to work. But his brother hadn’t asked him once when he was coming back or when he’d be ready to be evaluated. It pissed him off. Because that meant Ben didn’t think he should come back. But he could. He didn’t want Ben to write him off. It was still early days with an injury like this. He ignored his brother’s question and stared out the window at the pristine white snow, the same view day after day.
He was going stir-crazy in this place. He had never been in one place for so long. Melody here was definitely going to make his life a b
it more complicated. It would mean he’d have to hide the way he was struggling because he didn’t want her to report back to the family, and he certainly didn’t want her pity. If there was one thing he’d learned this year—his family could not hide pity well. But she didn’t strike him as the pity type. She did look like she was hiding something, though. As far as he knew, she was single, so it probably wasn’t a bad break up or anything. It couldn’t be career related because she was as brilliant as Molly was, and those two had achieved more than people twice their ages. It could be their mother—she was a disaster, and he only knew half the story there.
When he’d walked in the kitchen this morning, there had been a sadness on her face, as clear as the blue sky outside. So maybe he wasn’t the only one running. Maybe that would make her stay less intrusive. They could just stay on different schedules and interact as little as possible.
He glanced over at the remaining green smoothie in the Vitamix and decided to pour himself a glass. It would be stupid to waste it. He could use all the energy he could get anyway. As soon as she was finished in the gym, he was going to prove to himself that he was getting better. He just needed to work harder, to rebuild the damaged muscle. In the meantime, he would research other opportunities on his own.
…
Melody scowled at the instructor’s face on the Barre app as the woman gracefully and easily stretched her long legs in front of her and then lowered her upper body until she touched her toes. How the heck could she do that? The instructor folded her top half over her bottom half like a perfectly pressed sheet.
Melody gritted her teeth and paused the segment and attempted to do the same, except she only made it to her shins. This was ridiculous. She was in good shape. She ran. And she ran around the hospital, on her feet for hours a day. How hard was it to fold over like that? She tried again and swore when she felt something snap. She clutched her lower back. Clearly her muscles didn’t work like that. Fine. That was fine. Baby steps. She would try again tomorrow. And then the next.
Snowed in with the Firefighter (Shadow Creek, Montana) Page 2