“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 laughed, something she did often around Mitch. Moments later, he slipped an unburned patty on her bun with an exaggerated flourish, and she laughed again. Instead of taking her plate to the designated eating area, she stayed put, preferring to eat her lunch next to Mitch.
While he cooked and slapped burgers on peoples’ plates, he 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.
Something about him 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 it for her alone. His natural vibrancy and charm always made it difficult for Courtney not to do something stupid like fall for him. But Mitch could have his pick of anyone, and although he made jokes about salt being his favorite, his actions proved that his tastes always ran more toward cinnamon and pepper.
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 crumbs off 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.”
Chapter Three
Suddenly feeling 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—at one. He’d told Alyssa not to add so 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 so happened to be one of the winners.
That didn’t look suspect at all.
“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. Which she shouldn’t. “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, Mitch returned his attention to the grill. He should have stayed out of it, just put their names in 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, just as it had all afternoon, 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 it would follow that 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. Courtney would take what she could get. At least he hadn’t said six or seven.
Four it is.
Chapter Four
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 started banging on his drums, ruining the moment. Courtney drew back and frowned. 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. Someone stood out there, 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 in the morning?” Who plans a date for four in the morning?
He shrugged, looking sheepish. “Sorry, I 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, 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 that have been to add those to your text?”
Mitch chuckled.
“Give me some credit, Salt. 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 on 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 netbook. 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 for it. “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 peeked over her shoulder and pointed. “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 then pulled 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 brought them to snack on during our group hikes way back when. It was kind of hard to miss.”
Old-fashioned doughnuts were her guilty pleasure—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 girlfriends 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 then immediately wished she hadn’t. He looked happy and content, but that was about it. Her heart deflated.
She squinted at 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, but it stung.
“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, typically 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 crazy, 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.”
“I’m also really 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?”
Courtney’s face flushed. “I’m not that superstitious,” she said quickly, although the words sounded like a lie to her.
Mitch leaned closer, resting his elbow on the table. “You’re either superstitious or you’re not. Take your pick.”
Courtney forced herself to look him straight in the eye. “Not.”
He laughed—a deep, almost melodic sound that seemed to echo off the lake and surrounding mountains. She loved hearing him laugh, even if it was at her expense.
She pushed the bag of doughnuts away and changed the subject. “Now that you’ve gotten me up at an obscene hour, what’s on the schedule for the rest of the day? Hopefully a nap?”
Mitch shook his head. “And waste precious hours of the day? I don’t think so. First I’m going to take you home to change, and—” He leaned over and sniffed the air around her. “—shower.”
“Not funny.” She slugged his arm, making him grin.
“Then it’s a day jam-packed full of stuff to remind you why Alaska is the best place on earth to live.”
“I already know that.”
His eyebrow rose. “All evidence to the contrary, Miss Commitment-Phobic Drifter who’s planning to move away by the end of the summer.”
“Maybe I’ll surprise everyone and decide to stay this time.” Thanks to the sun, maybe she really would.
“That’s my goal.”
Courtney shot him a look, trying to gauge his motivations. Was this just fun banter to him, or something more? She couldn’t tell. “So in only one day, you think you can convince me to stay in Alaska for good?”
He shrugged. “I’ll start today, and we’ll see how long it takes.”
“What if it takes all summer?”
“Then it takes all summer.” Mitch leaned back in his chair and gestured toward the sun, grinning. “According to that large round ball of fire, we’re meant to be together. How’s that going to work if you up and leave?”
Yet another comment Courtney had no idea how to take. Was he joking like he usually did, or did he, like her, want to believe there were some elements of truth in what he said? While part of her hoped that he did, another part—the doubting part—couldn’t help but worry that by agreeing to this date, she�
�d set herself up for a whole lot of heartache.
If only she could read him better.
Chapter Five
Mitch bit back a smile at Courtney’s look of concentration as they floated in his small fishing boat in the middle of the lake. Fishing was supposed to be relaxing, but she appeared rigid and tense, as though everything hinged on whether she could get a fish to take the bait.
“This isn’t a competition,” Mitch reminded her.
Courtney offered a fake smile and went right back to furrowing her brows as she slowly reeled in her line. “Sorry, this just brings back memories of fishing with my dad. He used to get so frustrated with me because I was always tangling the line or catching the hook on something. It made me never want to—”
She gasped and lurched forward, nearly toppling out of the boat. If Mitch hadn’t been quick to grab her arm and pull her back, she probably would have.
“I caught one!” She turned the reel quicker, almost frantic. “I can’t believe I actually caught one! This has never happened to me before.” Her lips widened into a huge smile. “I totally get it now—why you like this. It’s actually fun when you catch something.”
Mitch couldn’t help his answering smile. If anything could be counted on in life, it was that Courtney would do or say something to surprise him. She was the most unpredictable person he’d ever met, which was probably what made her such a great writer.
When the fish finally broke the surface—a big, ugly catfish—Courtney dropped her fishing pole in the boat and moved away from it as though it had bitten her. Mitch couldn’t hold back his laughter as the reel spun like crazy while the fish tried to make its getaway. He grabbed the pole and started bringing the fish back in.
“What was that thing?” Courtney said.
Mitch laughed again. “Congratulations, you just caught one of the vermin of this lake. That was a catfish.”
“It had whiskers.”
“That’s probably why they call it a catfish.”
A Timeless Romance Anthology: Summer Wedding Collection Page 12