by Lia Davis, Milly Taiden, Kerry Adrienne, Vella Day, Andie Devaux
Chapter Two
The next afternoon, Amy sat in an empty vinyl-clad booth at the town’s only café—the Lazy Moon. Faint strains of country music lilted in the air. She’d picked up most of her supplies and groceries and was eager to get back to the cabin to rest, but hunger pushed her to grab a bite to eat. She flipped over the laminated one-page menu then set it on the table. Mostly American staples like burgers and sandwiches. With the retro décor—photos of old Hollywood icons lining the walls and a jukebox in the corner—what had she expected?
“Perfect,” she mumbled. The aroma of fried food drifted on the air and her stomach rumbled its agreement.
“May I take your order?” A middle-aged waitress, the only waitress in the café, popped over to the table, pad and pen in hand. Her hair, perfectly coiffed into a miniature beehive, went well with her pale pink uniform and dark purple apron. The café décor matched, pink and purple booths and tabletops filled the space.
“Sure, I’d like a cheeseburger, medium well, ketchup only. Definitely no onions. Oh, and fries and a soda. That’s all, thank you.” Amy handed the menu over. “Are you the only restaurant in town? I didn’t see any others.”
“New here?” The waitress looked up from her pad.
Amy nodded. “But I’ll be in the area for a couple months.” She smiled her warmest smile. “Taking a long vacation to sort my life out.”
“I can’t help you with the life thing, but I can tell you we do have one Italian restaurant down the block. Mario’s. It’s only open on weekends for dinner, though. Gets pretty busy, but they’ll stay and cook as long as there’s someone hungry.”
“Thanks, I’ll check it out sometime.” Amy pushed her hair behind her ears.
“Where’re you staying? Are you in town?” The waitress tucked the pad back into her apron and set the menu on the table behind her. “If you don’t mind me asking. We don’t have but one hotel, and it’s not really a long-term location.”
“I’m staying at Griff Martin’s place.” Heat rushed to Amy’s cheeks when she saw the waitress’s eyes go wide. “His old cabin. Alone! I mean…I’m not staying with him. I’m renting his cabin.”
The waitress grinned, showing a mouthful of greyish teeth. “It’s okay. You don’t need to explain. That Griff is a catch, and it’s about time he settled down with someone.”
“Oh no, you’ve got it all wrong…” Amy shook her head.
The waitress winked. “Okay…”
The bells on the glass door jingled and they both turned to look. Standing in the doorway, silhouetted against the sunshine, towered Griff.
“Hey, Griff, your girlie’s over here.” The waitress waved and motioned him. “Come on over and sit with her.”
Amy cringed. How embarrassing.
“Thank you, maybe I will.” Griff appeared beside the table. “If Amy will have me.”
His voice vibrated her insides, in a good way. Amy stared. Where a beard forest had once grown was now a mountain range of chiseled jawline. The shaggy hair on Griff’s head remained, but it framed a smooth face with possibly the most gorgeous lips she’d ever seen on a man. Firm, kissable lips. Her cheeks heated. These thoughts were not permitted. Especially not about her landlord and especially not during her ‘me time’.
“So?” Griff put his hands on the table and leaned forward. “Mind if I join you?”
“N-not at all.” She sat up straight. “I mean, of course not. Sit. It’s good to see you.”
The waitress nodded at Amy and smiled with an I knew it look plastered on her face. Exactly what she needed in her new hometown—to be the center of gossip.
Griff slid into the booth seat across from her, which couldn’t have been easy, given his height. His head almost reached the top of the tall wooden seat, and his knees bumped hers. “Sorry,” he said to Amy. “I’ll take my usual, Meg.”
“You got it. I’ll be back with drinks in a minute.” She took off for the kitchen, sashaying across the tile floor like she had hot, breaking news.
No doubt, gossip about Griff’s new girl. Amy held her face in her hands. She didn’t need this attention. She’d come to Oakwood for anonymity.
“Small town. Everyone knows everyone’s business.” Griff rubbed his chin. “Don’t let it get to you.”
“Ugh.” Amy put her hands in her lap and tried not to stare at him. The absolute last thing in the world she needed right now was a man in her life. Even a man as good-looking as Griff.
“How’s the cabin?”
“It’s great. I slept well.” Amy unrolled her silverware and fiddled with the cloth napkin. “Thank you. I think I’m going to enjoy my time there.”
“Good.” Griff leaned back in the booth. “Glad to hear it. Been painting?”
“Not yet. It’s only been a day.” Amy let out a nervous laugh. Why did Griff make her uneasy and comfortable at the same time? Maybe it was his size, or the way he commanded any room he entered, coupled with his genuine smile and baritone voice. Maybe she was horny and her body knew a night with him would provide relief. She shook her head. Stop thinking such thoughts!
“What is it?” He smiled, clearly aware of her unease.
She flushed. “Nothing.”
Meg swooped in and set their drinks on the table. “Soda for Amy and ice water for Griff.” She tossed two straws on the table. “Food’ll be up soon.” She winked at Griff and disappeared as quickly as she’d arrived.
Amy opened the straw and stabbed at the ice in her soda. Anything to get sexy Griff out of her head.
“Don’t forget what I told you.” Griff sipped his water. “The woods are dangerous.”
“I remember.” And I can take care of myself.
“Please be careful.”
“I will.”
“I’d love to see your paintings when you’re done.” Griff leaned back.
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m a bit nervous to show my art.”
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” He leaned in. “In fact, that’s the last thing I want to do.”
She shook her head. He had no idea how he made her feel. If he did, she’d be embarrassed out of her mind. “No, it’s okay. I’m tired. Grocery shopping wore me out.” She swirled the ice in her soda. “I’ve got to get home and put the food up soon—”
“It’ll be okay while we eat.”
“Yeah, it will be fine.” Amy scanned the café. It held maybe ten tables and booths—probably enough for half the town to eat at once— but only one other booth was occupied. Such a difference from metro Atlanta where you could go your whole life without seeing the same person in a restaurant twice. Whether that was a good thing or not remained to be seen.
“I still want to see your artwork.”
***
Griff took a bite of his burger, savoring the hot juices that rolled over his tongue. Nothing like hot food to make him happy, and the burger was his first since waking up a few days ago. He’d snacked between naps and had finally woken up enough to head into town for real food. His first meals after hibernation always tasted like the best food in the world. And sharing a meal with his mate was the right topping to it all.
He set his burger down. No mistake, he could smell her over the aroma of the food. All female and meant for him. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to end up settling down with her and ignoring his duty to the den. And he couldn’t afford to have loved ones—not while the Sen Pal were a threat. The bears needed him to be focused and ready.
Still, the golden-haired beauty had woven some kind of spell over his psyche. She hadn’t meant to—that much was clear. She wanted to be alone and had allowed him to join her out of courtesy, not lust. She had no idea she was his mate.
And she couldn’t know. At least, not any time soon. Until then, he would watch over her, protect her. Whether she liked it or not.
This mate thing is confusing.
He chewed on a fry and took a peek. She ate like a m
an, shoving her burger into her mouth and chewing without a care. He liked that. Why she was timid about showing her artwork, he couldn’t understand.
“Good burger?” he asked.
She looked up and their gazes met briefly before she blinked her soft brown eyes and looked away. “Yes, it’s delicious.”
Delicious. And juicy.
He had to stop. He would watch over her safety, that was it. No entanglements until the danger had passed, and who knew how long that would be. They’d be friends—for now. Nothing more. The rest of the bears would be converging soon at the den, and he needed to be ready to help them plan the lions’ defeat. He could keep his mate at a distance until things were safe.
“What’s that on your burger?” She pointed. “An egg?”
“Yep. I love fried eggs on burgers. So good.” He took another bite.
“If you say so.”
He nodded. He couldn’t risk jeopardizing his focus, and being so close to her was doing that. After this lunch, he’d stick to short conversations and keep watching her from afar. Maybe an occasional lunch.
“Can I get you anything?” Meg reappeared and refilled Griff’s water glass.
“No, I’m good.” Amy wiped her mouth with her napkin. “May I have my check, please?”
Before he could stop himself, Griff said, “Put it on my tab.” He saw Amy go tense and he shot her a look. “It’s the least I can do for my new tenant. You can pick up my tab another time.”
Meg smiled a wicked smile and scuttled off to the kitchen.
***
Amy hopped into her Toyota and shut the door. She put her head on the steering wheel. Griff Martin was trouble. Scratch that, he was sex in blue jeans. Now that he’d shaved that ghastly beard off, she could see the kindness in his face. And the handsome.
“Too bad, Amy.” She wagged her finger at her reflection in the cracked rearview mirror. “You’re not here to find a man. You don’t even know what you want to do with your life.” Besides, men only clouded things.
She stuck the key in the ignition and started the car, then pulled the seatbelt over and clicked it into place. No more thinking about Griff and his tight jeans and scrumptious lips. No more. She put the car in gear. She’d head back to the cabin and clean him right out of her thoughts. Maybe even sketch a while after she put up her groceries.
As she started to pull out, a loud thwack sounded on the trunk. Her heart leapt to her throat, and she slammed on the brakes, even though she’d not even left the parking space. She shoved the car into park.
A knock at her window, and she turned to see Griff smiling through the dirty glass and motioning her to roll her window down.
She pushed the button, and the glass lowered with a jerk and a squeal. “What is it?” she asked, more than a little flustered. She couldn’t seem to ditch the guy—everywhere she turned, he was there.
“You forgot this at the café.” He held up her wallet. “You left it on the seat.”
She smiled and took the wallet from him. “Thank you. That was sweet of you to bring it. I wouldn’t have noticed I was missing it till who knows when.” Thank goodness he’d seen it.
He bent down so that he could see eye to eye. “No problem. I’d already decided that if I didn’t catch you, I’d stop by the cabin on my way home.”
“Well, good thing you caught me.” A very good thing. If she could be invisible, she’d fan herself. Griff’s musky cologne wafted through the window. Woodsy and strong, like him. She set the wallet on the seat beside her. “I wouldn’t want you to have to go out of your way.”
“It’s no problem.” He looked out over the street then turned to her and took a deep breath. “There was one more thing I wanted to ask you…” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Townspeople like to gather at the bar across the street, The Oaken Barrel, on Friday nights for pool and darts and beer. A little dancing. Why don’t you come join us this week? Join me?”
“I’m not sure—” Sounded like the closest thing she’d see to Atlanta weekends. And she did like to play pool. But it meant spending more time with her sexy landlord. Maybe that wasn’t a good idea.
“It’s fun. A good way to wind down.”
“Well…”
“Oh, come on,” he pushed. “I can introduce you to some of the people you’ll see around here over the next two months. And I’ll buy you a beer.”
She covered her concerns with a smile. She needed a break from people, sure, but what was the harm in getting out once every few days? Griff was the harm. Being near him made her insides do things they hadn’t done in a long time. But, it wasn’t like she’d be alone with Griff—there’d be plenty of people at the bar. “Okay, sure. What time?” Nothing wrong with a little fantasy.
“Pick you up around seven?” He grasped the edge of the car door. “That way, we can go together.”
She imagined those strong hands around her waist as they danced. Slow. In the dark. “Hmm?”
“I said, I can pick you up at seven.”
“Oh, no, that’s okay—I can drive myself.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am. I’ll see you Friday night.”
He stepped back and she raised the window. A date? She hoped she looked calmer than her heart’s frantic beating proved she was. Seriously, she was being ridiculous. This wasn’t a date—it was Griff’s way of introducing her to the townspeople. Nothing more. She couldn’t stay in the cabin alone for two months. She’d go stir-crazy.
Plus, dancing with him would be a bonus.
She put the car into gear and pulled out of the parking space. She caught a glimpse of Griff waving at her from the street side, and she wiggled her fingers at him in acknowledgement.
He had no idea how he made her feel inside. And she had to make sure he never did. Long distance relationships never worked, and one night with him wouldn’t be enough.
She stepped on the gas and her car hesitated then moved. How could someone she’d just met get to her so quickly? I can handle this.
The town’s short buildings buzzed by, and she was soon on the state highway toward the cabin. The mountains rose around her, greening up from their winter nap. She was intent on not seeing Griff till Friday. That gave her three full days to clean the cabin, get settled in, and maybe start painting or at least sketching. Her two months in the mountains were going to fly by, and she wasn’t going to look back and be upset that she wasted it on a man.
Not even a man like Griff Martin.
Especially a man like Griff.
Chapter Three
Almost two days without spotting another human soul, and it was wonderful. Amy scanned the room, hands on her hips. Much better. The cabin was clean—probably cleaner than it had been in years—and all her things were put away. She’d piled her paints and drawing supplies on the kitchen table to sort through. Her easel stood by the living room window, a blank canvas awaiting her touch. Good thing Griff had left the tenants a box of tools, or she would’ve had to go back into town to find the correct sized wrench to assemble it. Her smaller, portable easel was still collapsed in its case.
“All work and no play makes Amy unhappy.” She grabbed her sketchbook and a couple of pencils. The sunshine glinted through the newly cleaned windows and warmed the whole cabin. Spring. Her favorite season to get outdoors and capture nature in the raw.
She slipped through the front door and out onto the porch, locking the door behind her and pocketing the key. Lining the walkway were a hundred daffodils, their blooms weighing on the deep green stems as they swayed in the light breeze, and their fruity aroma scenting the air. She took a deep breath.
I love spring!
She stepped off the porch onto the gravel walk. She hadn’t explored the land around the cabin yet, and Griff’s warning echoed faintly like a heavy overcoat. A wet, heavy overcoat she didn’t want or need. She wasn’t going to let his overprotectiveness get to her—she was going to enjoy the
wonderland outside the cabin. It was part of what she paid for.
She stuffed her sketchbook under her arm and tucked the pencils into her back pocket. The breeze gusted, whipping her hair around her face, and she pushed the locks behind her ears. Brrr. The wind was a little chilly. Maybe she should go back in and grab her jacket. No. She needed to get going if she was going to enjoy the sunshine.
She’d walk to the creek that she’d seen in the real estate listings. It was close by and would be perfect for her first foray into the woods. The photo had shown a little stream surrounded by large rocks and had appeared to be a perfect place to sketch. She’d find out.
And not think about her date.
She frowned and headed down the hill at the side of the cabin. Friday wasn’t a date. Griff wanted her to be comfortable in Oakwood, and for some reason, he thought he had to be her social programmer, not merely her landlord. He worked too hard to make his tenants happy.
He could make me happy. She pushed the thought away.
She stepped through the tall grass at the edge of the yard. Darren had started out being the same way. Overprotective. Then it got to the point of controlling—or trying to—everything she did. Ditching him when she lost her job had been the best decision she could recall making in the last ten years. The new sense of total and complete freedom made her heart soar—until the reality of no job and no love life crashed into her. Still, getting away to focus on her art and her heart was the right thing to do, and the little cabin already felt more like home than her apartment in Atlanta.
How was that possible after only a few days?
She made her way down the narrow, dank path leading into the woods, carefully sidestepping the mud puddles and downed branches. The smell of moist earth and rotting wood filled her nostrils, and somewhere above, a bird shrieked. Amy searched the tree canopy for it but couldn’t pick it out among the budding limbs. Farther away, another bird answered. The spring mating calls had started, and soon the woods would be filled with baby birds and animals. Amy smiled. Maybe she’d get lucky and see a fawn, or some baby rabbits.