by Donya Lynne
The moon shone like a midnight sun overhead, lighting her way. Was this crazy? Was she crazy for what she was about to do? She didn’t care. For the first time in so long, the snow called to her. Or maybe it had been calling her all along, but she had been too swept up within the overwhelming chaos to hear it. All that mattered was she heard it now, and she didn’t want to deny its pull, anymore.
Twenty minutes later, she stood at the top of the hill, out of breath. She turned in a circle, breathing in what smelled like victory, and gazed with awe at the beautiful vista, the frozen lake in the distance, and what Lacey had learned was the namesake for the town, Hope Falls. A narrow stream of water poured through the partially frozen falls, down from a jagged cliff to a slope below, where it had cut veins into the earth in its quest to reach the lake. Before long, the falls would freeze completely until spring. She closed her eyes, turned her face toward the moon, smiled, and listened to the screaming silence.
How glorious! Nothing but her own thoughts came back at her, which was sweeter than honey, because for once, her thoughts weren’t rambling, fractured globs of rage and panic. They were pure, calm, peaceful. Loving. It had been so long since she had felt loving thoughts toward anything, including herself.
Opening her eyes, she turned and gazed longingly down the hill. The snow was still thick and relatively soft, as she suspected, so it had been the right call to bring her long board. She dropped it onto the snow, ritualistically secured her feet into the bindings, stood, and cut the back edge into the snow to hold her in place as she gave the hill one last glance.
The powder seemed to be crooking its finger at her. Come, Lacey. Come to me. I’ll catch you. I’ll take care of you.
She had always had a relationship with the snow, but two years ago, the voices had quieted and the relationship had soured. Now, the snow seemed to be eager to take her back and embrace her as though they had never gone their separate ways.
“I’m coming,” she whispered with a smile, clapping her gloved hands together the way she always did before a run.
With one last glance, she turned her board and aimed it down the hill. The still air breezed past her, and she carved to the left, then the right, picking up speed as adrenaline broke in her veins. The moon looked on, smiling down on her as she weaved in and out of a loose stand of trees that dotted the hillside. A delirious thrill shot through her, and she shouted out a gleeful whoop as she flew around another tree. Faster still, she carved and cut, slicing a curved path in the snow behind her. Freedom. This was freedom. And it felt good. Like she was flying. Like she was soaring and looking down on herself from above.
At the bottom of the hill, Lacey threw her arms over her head, sliced to a stop, and then fell back-first into the snow. She was laughing like a maniac, whooping and pumping her fist toward the sky.
“Yes! My God, YES!” If she could hug the snow, she would.
And then she began to cry. Great heaves of racking sobs came out of nowhere, pummeling her and pounding against her chest. Tears flowed like rivers, and she pulled off her goggles. Cold air stung the wet trails, and she slammed her gloved hands over her face.
But these weren’t tears of sadness. These were tears of joy.
Joy!
Releasing the bindings around her feet, she rolled to all fours and scooped up a handful of snow. She kissed it between tearful hiccups. “God, I’ve missed you. I’ve missed you so much.”
Chapter 14
Scott pulled back into Hope Falls late Tuesday night. Savannah’s head lay against the passenger window, her mouth open as she slept.
A weekend at Sun Valley ski resort had left her exhausted.
Him, too, but he had to make a couple of stops before he could collapse for a full eight hours—maybe twelve—of shuteye.
First, Pappy’s. Priority number one was filling the void four hours of driving had left in his stomach.
He pulled into the parking lot, left the engine running, and rustled Savannah awake.
“Come on, Savvy, we need to eat.”
She rubbed her eyes and blinked toward the lit windows as if she were seeing a dream instead of a restaurant. Then her eyes closed again, and her head lolled back.
Gone. She was passed out. He’d never seen anyone who slept as heavily as Savannah. When she was out, she was out. As in, not even a tornado, an earthquake, and a KISS concert could wake her. The only thing that woke her was her own internal clock.
With a sigh, he made a decision no one in a bigger city would ever make. But in Hope Falls, he knew he could leave Savannah in his truck and not have to worry about anything bad happening to her.
He quietly got out of the truck, locked the doors after tucking his spare key in his pocket, and went inside. He took a seat that allowed him to keep an eye on his truck, just in case. Because while Hope Falls was a safe, close-knit town, that was his daughter. He would keep her in his sights.
“Hey, Scott,” Shirl said as she started to fill the mug in front of him with decaf.
He held up his hand to stop her. “Hit me with the hard stuff tonight, Shirl.” Decaf wasn’t going to get the job done.
Her perfectly plucked eyebrows shot up. “Oh? Planning a late night?” She exchanged decanters and filled his cup.
There was something in her sidelong expression that unsettled him. As if she thought his need to stay awake came with ulterior motives.
“No.” He poured cream in his coffee and added sugar. “Savannah and I just spent the weekend in Sun Valley. I’m beat but still need to check in at the office before heading home.” So yeah, a pick-me-up was essential.
She gave a little pout, shrugging. “Well, that’s no fun. A young man like you should be having more fun, Scott.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He wasn’t in the mood for Shirl’s games tonight. He adored her, but sometimes she could be too much for his patience.
“The usual, sugar?”
He nodded, sipping his coffee, and then lowered the cup. “Savannah’s usual, too, please.”
“Sure thing.” Shirl headed off to give his order to the cook.
“Kisses Sweeter than Wine” started playing on the jukebox, and he grinned as his thoughts turned toward Mattie. She definitely had kisses sweeter than wine. Sweeter than any he’d ever known. He couldn’t wait to taste them again.
“What’re you thinking about to put such a smile on your face, sugar?” Shirl stood to the side, wiping down the already clean counter.
“Nothing.” He fingered his coffee mug.
“You sure have been smiling a lot.”
Shirl genuinely cared for him and everyone else in town, but that caring attitude came off more often than not as nosiness.
“Maybe I’m just happy, Shirl.” He dropped his gaze into his coffee, hoping she’d take a hint and let the subject go.
No such luck.
She slid closer and leaned her hip against the counter. “Seems to me you’ve got plenty reason to be happy these days.” Without skipping a beat, she added, “I saw your girl last night at Bingo.”
Scott frowned. “My girl?”
Shirl let out a little laugh. “Mattie, sugar. She came to play Bingo with us last night.”
“Mattie’s not my girl.” But he wouldn’t mind if she were. He looked out the window to check on Savannah. She still had her head back on her seat, eyes closed, mouth open.
“Well, she sure seems to have the crazies for you.” The insinuation in Shirl’s voice and the way her eyes sparkled mischievously spoke volumes.
“Why? What did she say?” Jesus, he sounded like he was in junior high again, asking his best friend for the lowdown on the most popular girl in school.
“Oh, sugar, she didn’t have to say anything. That girl’s got major eyes for you, plain as day.”
He exhaled heavily and turned his coffee mug in his hand. “Shirl, you’ve got to stop playing matchmaker with me.”
He had gone through this with her before. For years, she had tri
ed to fix him up with every eligible lady in town before throwing in the towel when he denied every one of them. Only, this time, he wanted to be matched. Mattie was special. He really liked her. There was something about her that tugged at his heart in a way he hadn’t felt since he met Theresa. Even so, he didn’t want Shirl interfering. He was doing fine with Mattie on his own, and Shirl would only get in the way and cause trouble.
“Just trying to look out for you, sugar.”
He nodded. “I know you are, but I can handle this one on my own. So…I appreciate your help, but I’m a big boy.”
“You’re a man is what you are, Scott McCord.” She waggled her finger at him good-naturedly. “And if it’s one thing I’ve learned about men in my fifty-one years, it’s that sometimes they need a little push to show them the obvious.”
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “I can assure you, Shirl, you don’t need to point out the obvious to me on this one.” He arched one brow to make sure his point got across that he was already caught in Mattie’s web.
The realization spilled over her face like sunshine as her eyes lit up and a slow smile crept over her mouth. “Well then, I see.” She glanced toward the kitchen. “Looks like your order’s ready, sugar. I’ll be right back.”
Now that he’d handed her a nugget of gold, Shirl seemed momentarily content, but next time he saw her, she would want more. That was how she worked. Give her a small nibble here and there, and she was happy.
But Scott didn’t want to put the cart before the horse and reveal too much until he knew where his relationship with Mattie was going. They hadn’t done more than kiss. Sure, he’d wanted to, but after what Theresa had put him through, he wanted to take things slow, even if his body wanted to charge full steam ahead. But what if they reached that point and there was no chemistry? Unlikely, because, yeah, the chemistry they had when they were just kissing was off the charts. But it could happen.
And how would this work if she decided to return to Utah? He didn’t want to put too much weight in what was going on between them if she was only going to leave.
There were just too many unanswered questions. All the unknowns were in the way of allowing him to think their relationship was anything more than two people enjoying each other’s company. Could it be more? Yes. Would it? He didn’t know.
He downed the last of his coffee as he took the bag of food from Shirl. After paying, he trekked back into the cold.
Savannah barely flinched when he climbed into the truck. But when she smelled the food her eyes peeled open, and she reached for her shake. Of course she’d want that first. He was too tired and bone-weary to tell her no. Tonight, she could have dessert before dinner.
Liam’s truck was parked out front when he pulled in at the office.
“Come on, Savvy. I just need to go in for a few minutes and check my e-mail. You can eat while I do.”
He led her inside and down the hall toward his desk in the back.
Liam glanced up from his computer in the office across the hall from his. “What are you doing here?”
Scott motioned Savannah inside, where she took a seat at the small round conference table in the corner and dug into her dinner.
“I could ask you the same thing. Isn’t it kind of late to be working?”
“Says the guy who just got back from vacation and probably hasn’t even been home, yet.”
Scott shrugged out of his coat and hung it on the hook beside the door. “I just want to check my e-mail. My phone died while I was gone, and I forgot my charger.”
Liam harrumphed, turning back to his computer.
“What?”
Liam kicked back in his leather chair and crossed his hands over his stomach. “I ran into your girlfriend last night.”
Scott glared at Liam and shook his head. What was with everybody? First Shirl, now Liam. He wasn’t in the mood to be poked and prodded where Mattie was concerned. He was tired, hungry, and just wanted to check his e-mail so he could leave and eat his dinner. And after his last conversation with Liam about Mattie, he didn’t like the way Liam glared back at him as if he were challenging him to a duel.
He turned toward Savannah. “Your uncle and I need to talk privately for a minute, honey, okay?”
Her mouth was full of hamburger, so she nodded.
“I’ll be right back.” He shut the door and crossed the hall, closing Liam’s door behind him. “What is with everyone’s sudden interest in my love life? And what are you doing messing with Mattie? I—”
“I didn’t say I was messing with her. I said I saw her.”
“Then why the smug-ass look on your face?”
Liam let out an exasperated exhale. “Scott, just how much do you know about Mattie?”
“Enough. Okay? I know enough.” He paced to the window and glanced out at the snow-covered mountains.
“Really?” Liam rocked forward and laced his fingers together on his desk blotter. “Like what?”
“That’s none of your business. What’s it to you, anyway?”
“I overheard her on the phone with someone. Sounded like a boyfriend.” Liam paused to let that sink in.
Boyfriend? Scott raked his fingers through his hair. “You’ve obviously made some mistake.” Mattie couldn’t have a boyfriend. “Why the hell were you eavesdropping on her, anyway?”
“I wasn’t.”
“Then how did you overhear her on the phone?”
“I was at Pappy’s. She came in. I recognized her. I was sitting at a table when she got a call. I only caught every few words because she was talking quietly, but it was obvious she was talking to a guy she’d obviously been close to. So I got up and took a seat at the counter near her.”
“So you could eavesdrop. Like I said.”
“Hey, I’m not the bad guy here, Scott. I’m just trying to open your eyes that there’s more to this girl than you think you know.”
“Well, it’s none of your business, Liam. Jesus! I can’t believe you.” He paced left then right. “You’re just pissed off, because for the first time in ten years, I’m happy. And since you’re so goddamn miserable, you can’t stand that. Everyone has to be just as miserable as you are, don’t they? You can’t just be happy for me.”
Liam shot out of his chair. “Don’t you dare make this about me.”
“But isn’t it? Ever since—”
“Do NOT go there, Scott. You hear me. This isn’t about me. This is about you and what you may or may not know about the woman you’re falling in love with.” He straightened and puffed out a breath. “And you are falling in love with her. Don’t tell me you aren’t. And if you ask me, you’re trying to turn this back around on me because you don’t want to hear that your girlfriend might not be the angel you think she is.”
Scott shook his head. “You’re right. I don’t want to hear it, because you’re wrong, and it’s none of your business.”
“She was on the phone with another man, Scott. Someone who apparently called her ‘Lace,’ whatever that means. Sounds like he had a kinky bead on her, if you ask me, but whoever he is, she was upset with him.”
“Then maybe he’s not her boyfriend. You ever consider that? If she’s upset with him, maybe they broke up.”
“Or maybe she gets off on the drama and will go running back to the guy after she plays you as her rebound man. You ever think of that?” Liam challenged. “Maybe he’s the reason she came here in the first place. To get away. Once she leaves and goes home, she’ll be right back in his arms.”
God, had Liam’s past tainted him so severely against love? “You’re talking out your ass on this one, Liam.”
Liam shook his head and hitched his hands on his hips. “She’s going to hurt you, Scott. That girl is carrying major baggage, and you’re going to get caught in the crossfire when all this goes south. Whoever the guy was, she was close to him. Close enough to—”
Scott slammed his eyes shut and held up his hand. “I don’t want to hear this, Li
am.”
“But you need to, Scott! Open your goddamn eyes before you get hurt again!”
“This is my life, not yours. Butt out and worry about yourself.” Scott threw open Liam’s door then shoved open his. “Come on, Savannah, we’re going home.”
From the look on her face, she’d overheard at least some of what he and Liam had said to one another. But she didn’t question him. Just pulled her coat on and boxed up the rest of her food.
His dinner was likely cold by now, but who cared? It wouldn’t be the first time he’d eaten a cold Pappy’s burger and sweet potato fries.
After putting on his coat, hat, and scarf, he grabbed their bag of food and ushered Savannah into the hall.
“Scott…”
He shot Liam a warning glare. “No. Not another word.” He shut off the light in his office. He would check his e-mail in the morning.
Liam followed him into the hallway. “Look, I—”
“No, Liam. This conversation is over.”
Liam’s past was just as painful as Scott’s, but Scott was not his brother. Liam had fallen into a deep, hellish hole after his wife died, but that didn’t mean Scott couldn’t climb out of his own hole and find happiness again. He wouldn’t let Liam get in the way of that, no matter how much he loved the guy or empathized with him. If Liam was going to find happiness again, it was up to him.
With a terse good night, he made his way back out to his truck and drove his daughter home.
As he passed Mattie’s cabin, he noted her light was on. She was still up. That was good, because he really wanted to hear her voice. Especially after the run-ins with nosy Shirl and his paranoid brother.
At home, Savannah took their dinner to the kitchen while he detoured upstairs. After he plugged his cell into his charger, he grabbed the cordless phone and dialed Mattie’s number.
“Hello?” She sounded pleasantly wary, as if she already knew it was him and wondered why he was calling so late.
“Hi.” Just hearing her voice made him smile. She was the first truly bright spot other than his daughter he’d encountered all day. “I just drove by your cabin and noticed your light was on, so I took a chance and called.”