“Adam, how lovely to see you.” She lifted her cheek for the kiss he gave her every time they met now. One day she would pluck up the courage to aim for his lips instead. She’d been tempted last night after the meeting but her nerves had won out.
“Sorry to arrive unannounced. I know you’re working today but I passed Rachel on the way to get coffee today and she made me promise to talk you into delivering some decorations for the shop. She doesn’t have your phone number and I didn’t want to give it out without your permission.”
“Oh, right. Well.” She stepped back letting him inside. “I suppose I could take a break and go over there.” Dakota shut the door behind Adam. “It wouldn’t take me long to get a few choice pieces together.” Her mind started to kick over what to take. “I can change my clothes and at least try and look the part.”
“You look perfect how you are.”
The sparkle in his eyes made her blush.
He thinks I’m perfect.
Dakota looked away, fussing over Tiny to take the focus off of his words. “Oh, you. I can hardly go looking like this.” She brushed a hand over the old sweatshirt and track pants. Warm and comfortable for working in but certainly not something she would be seen dead in, especially when she was trying to make a sale through a business! Hardly professional.
“Tell you what. How about you go and get changed, I’ll have five minutes with my little friend here, I can drive you over to the shop and when you’ve finished selling her everything you can produce I’ll take you to lunch to celebrate?”
“I couldn’t expect you to take me there, Adam. If you give me directions, I’m sure I can find the place again.”
“No, I insist. It was my idea that you try and sell Rach some of your work. It’s only fair that I take you. Off you go. Tiny and I have some bonding to take care of.”
“But, what about work? Aren’t you too busy to be driving me around?” Not that she wanted him to leave her to her own devices but a girl had to be sure she wasn’t holding the man up. It wouldn’t do much for a budding relationship if he was doing things for her under pressure.
“My cell number is on the door if anyone needs me. Quiet time of year, Dakota. Now scoot, get ready.” He walked into the lounge room and sat on a chair. Tiny immediately jumped on his knee and leaned into his chest.
A giddiness overcame her and she wanted to be the one having her hair stroked. How ridiculous that she would feel this way about him. Instead of worrying about Adam leaving town, she would enjoy him while she could. Dakota hurried to her closet to choose something warm and appropriate for the meeting and the biting cold weather.
When she’d pulled on the tan boots and matching coat, she strode into the workroom and chose a dozen ornaments. She wrapped them all in white tissue paper and tucked them snuggly into a box with her label on it.
“Ready when you are.”
*
Adam stroked the soft fur and let his mind wander. He really had to sort out his future and maybe when he finally got these tests done he’d be able to decide. Two offers were on the table for broadcasting jobs for when he chose to retire, plus he still had his sponsorship deals to see through. Would he retire now or would he choose to play on risking a season ending injury if he got a clearance from the doctor? Either way, he had more than enough to keep him busy. But the thing that was really niggling at him the most wasn’t the return to play or the retiring – it was Dakota.
He hadn’t felt such a pull of emotion for a long time. In fact, he didn’t think he’d ever met anyone that managed to get under his skin so easily as she had. It felt right to be with her. They fit together like two gloves, two peas in a pod. Gosh, he was getting corny in his old age.
How could he possibly get involved with her with this health crisis hanging over his head? It wouldn’t be fair to either of them but he couldn’t seem to stay away from her. Seeing the way his mother was affected by his father’s close call with death was something he wouldn’t wish on anyone. Certainly not someone as bubbly and full of life as Dakota. She’d been through enough this past year, even if she tried to brush it off as nothing. It had taken its toll on her. Had he made a mistake asking her out again? Would it be better to stay as friends for now and once his health was sorted out, maybe revisit the idea of a romance? If things went in his favor. And if he didn’t make it back to Seattle.
Life threw curve balls that sometimes were impossible to catch. He really liked her a lot. Probably too much. Not like he could keep out of her way and nor did he want to. The more he saw her, the more he wanted to be with her. Besides, he was standing in for his father with the Grange money raising project and Dakota and her sister had fully entrenched themselves in the planning much to the town’s relief.
He smiled to himself. She was certainly a force to be reckoned with as everyone was finding out. The thought both warmed and saddened him. Once he plucked up the courage to go and get tested, he’d be able to get on with his life – that is if he had one ahead of him to look forward to. Being in denial made it seem as though he was on the outside looking in. Much easier to deal with.
Chapter Eight
“I told you she’d take them.” Adam grinned, seeming more thrilled than she was. “How could she not when you practically sold some on the spot to those two customers?”
“They were pretty excited over them. It’s a great relief.” She breathed the tension from her shoulders and watched Rachel hanging one of her decorations in the window. “Let’s celebrate with pie and coffee, my treat. We can sit outside the coffee shop with Tiny. They don’t mind in the slightest if she’s there. So far everyone in town has made a real fuss of her.”
Adam put his arm around her shoulders and walked her to the door. “And you can tell me more about the progress for the Christmas tree auction. Are you planning to put your name in the ballot box to decorate one?”
Dakota said goodbye to Rachel and they stepped out of the warmth. Puffs of condensation blew from her mouth as she spoke. “I’d like to. It might be stretching the finances a bit but if my decorations sell as well as you think they will, I should be able to cover costs. And it would be a great advertising statement for my business too. Mari has important people coming to the gala and if I could garner some interest from them, I might sell more decorations online.”
“I have no doubt you’ll sell plenty.” He rubbed his hands together, blowing his breath between them as the cool breeze whipped off the lake around their legs.
“We can take Tiny home if you’re cold, Adam. It was sweet of you to want to bring her but I’d hate to think we’ll freeze outside when we can be snuggled up inside with our coffee.”
He stared at her horrified. “Seriously? No way you’re leaving this poor animal at home for the sake of a stiff breeze. A hot coffee mug between my hands will be fine, thank you. It’s an invigorating wind, nothing more than I can handle. You seem to forget I grew up in this town and I can take the weather.”
She bit back the laugh that rippled up her throat. Adam was such a softie where her little dog was concerned. It was sweet and Tiny certainly played up to him.
She watched him take Tiny out of the car, adjust her little winter jacket before reaching for her hand to walk to the coffee shop. He spoke to the dog as if she understood every word he said.
One hand in her coat pocket, the other tucked snuggly in Adam’s, Dakota felt more at ease than she had in ages. Falling into a relationship with someone who wasn’t planning on staying might be asking for trouble but she’d decided that it couldn’t hurt to enjoy herself. Roger had left her almost a year ago and she deserved a little male companionship especially if it made her feel better about herself.
He chose a table in a more protected corner of the courtyard. “I’ll sit with Tiny if you want to order the coffee.”
“Sure. What do you want?”
He looked at her without talking for a moment and Dakota felt the heat racing up her cheeks. She hadn’t meant it quite like
it sounded.
“Pie or something else?”
Adam blinked, breaking the moment. “Uh, you choose.”
*
After coffee Adam watched Dakota walking away with Tiny prancing along beside her. She’d insisted on heading back to her cottage on foot to walk off the second piece of pie he’d talked her into eating. The mix of emotions he felt when he was with her only confused him more than he already was but he felt it impossible to stay away.
He gathered his car keys and walked back to where he was parked outside the gift shop. Rachel stood at the counter, one of Dakota’s decorations in her hand as she spoke to a customer. Knowing her, she’d have them all sold by the end of the day. He drove away, a sense of despair shadowing the enjoyable coffee date they’d shared.
The door to the Cherry Lake Fire Station was up and a truck sat parked out front getting a polish from Jake Woods, Cory’s father. He grinned when Adam pulled onto the side of the road and got out.
“Hey, Adam.” He threw the cloth over his shoulder and held out a hand. “You have Cory more excited than I’ve seen him in ages offering to give him a coaching session.”
“It’s the least I can do. Besides, I need to keep fit off season and sitting in Dad’s office isn’t going to cut it for me. My coach will have a fit when I get back to work.”
“How is your dad?”
“Getting better. To be frank, Jake, I’m worried sick over this heart condition he has.” It felt good to be able to talk to someone who’d dealt with health issues in the past.
“I get that. When Lily was first diagnosed, everyone freaked out as to be expected. It took quite a while for me to stop panicking whenever Cory hurt himself. I was sure he was going to suddenly fall ill like his mother had. Totally irrational I know because we had him tested and he doesn’t have that cancer gene that took her.” Jake wiped at the smear of polish on his hand. “Have you thought of seeing if you have any kind of heart disease? You know, taking precautions in case you do.”
“Yeah, I’m heading to Seattle to see the team doctor soon. He seems pretty upbeat about it but there’s a fifty-fifty chance I’ve got the same thing.”
“Oh man, that sucks.” Jake slapped him on the shoulder. “Guess that would mean a career change too?”
“Something like that.” Adam kicked at the edge of the garden bed and dislodged a brick. Cursing under his breath, he leaned down to fit it back in place.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to get on the wrong side of you. I’m trying to be sympathetic here. You know you can use me as a sounding board anytime you like. I mean, with what I’ve been through, I might be able to help you sort out that mess in your head. Sometimes it feels as though you’re drowning in grief and don’t know how to save yourself.”
Adam peered into sympathetic eyes. Jake was one of the good guys, the kind of man who would do anything for anyone. It was one of the things that made him such a great fireman too. He could empathize with people who had lost more than they thought they could cope with. Cory was only eight years old when they lost his mother. “Thanks, I know you mean well. It’s hitting me and I’m not sure how to deal with it all. I’m all over the place.”
Jake grabbed his shoulders and steered Adam into the firehouse, through to the staff room and pushed him into a chair. He poured him a coffee and placed it into his hands. “I remember when they told us about Lily. I panicked at the slightest little thing. Blew up over others. My emotions were like wildfire, unstoppable and totally unrealistic. Not that I thought that at the time, I thought I had it all under control. Big tough firefighter, used to putting myself in danger for others, nothing was going to faze me. Imagine me thinking I could cope with everything, even my wife being diagnosed with a terminal disease.” He pulled out a chair and sat opposite Adam.
“It took a while but I did manage to calm down and see things for what they were. Lily was dying, no argument there, no matter how much I didn’t want to believe it. They couldn’t do anything for her as much as I didn’t want to hear it. And boy did I fight it. I argued with the doctors, screamed at the unfairness of it all. Searched for anything that could help her.” He grimaced. “It took me far too long to accept what was happening and those days could have been better spent looking after my wife, making the most of what little time we had left. But I finally realized I could be there for her, make her remaining time on earth as pleasant as possible. It’s all I had to offer. You see, Adam, life is what you make it. One door closes and another one opens. Sounds corny but that’s the way it is. Some things you can’t fight. I had Cory to look after.”
“And you’ve done an amazing job with the boy too. He’s a great kid.”
“He is and if it wasn’t for my father being here and taking us in so I could keep working, I don’t know what would have happened. But things came good for us. It’s not perfect but we’re getting there. Same will happen for you too. If you have the disease, you’ll work it out. Your time in the soccer game wasn’t a forever thing anyway. You know that.”
“I know but I enjoy my career. I’m not sure I’m ready to give it up.” It sounded pitiful when he said it out loud.
“At the risk of your life?”
No holding back. Jake had always been like that though. No bullshit, no stringing anyone along. It was what Adam needed and he knew it.
“No, of course not and I have job offers waiting for when I do retire. It’s not the end of the world. Just a big change of direction I wasn’t expecting at this point in time. I’ll get over it.”
Jake leaned back in his chair. “Cory’s excited about what you have planned. He’s followed your career for a long time. To see some of your teammates in the flesh would blow his mind.”
“It’s not a done deal yet by any means. I’ve told the coach I’d see some of the boys and see what I can do. I’m flying to Seattle for tests as soon as I can get my head around it. While I’m there I’ll do the best I can to talk a couple of them into coming to Cherry Lake for a clinic.”
“Even if you can’t, having you do one will still be a boost for them.” He laughed. “You’ve seen the goal post I put up on the side of our driveway by the lake? Cory has hit so many balls into the water, it’s not funny. Turns into a pretty good fishing expedition to retrieve them. Poor kid was about to give up until you gave him direction that night. Now a few of his kicks are landing the ball in the net instead of the lake.”
“My pleasure. I remember how it was to begin with. My father and I used to practice day after day. Rain or shine we’d be outside until I got it right. Some days I wanted to give up but he wouldn’t let me, knew how much it meant. Eventually I got it right. It’s not easy to master but I know Cory’ll do great when he gets the hang of it.” He heard the ping of incoming mail and pulled his phone from his pocket, stood up. “Thanks for the coffee and the chat. I really needed that, Jake.”
“Anytime, you know that. Hey, when you do come back to Cherry Lake, sounds like you have a new friend according to the kids. A certain jeweler has made an impression on you as well as the other inhabitants of our little town. Cory thinks the world of her too.”
“Not sure I’m in a position to offer her anything at the moment.”
“I’m sure it will all work out for the best, Adam. Don’t get your hopes down until you have all the facts. Whatever happens, you’ve already made plans to live here so go with the flow and stop stressing.” Jake stood and put the cups in the sink, then walked Adam out.
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” He strode away, checking his phone as he did. An email from the team doctor asking him to call and make an appointment. Was he ready to do this yet? It didn’t feel like it. At last he would find out once and for all if he had the same disease that almost killed his father instead of thinking the worst. If he knew, he would have a better idea of where he was going soccer-wise. But then if he did stay on for another season, would he be in a position to offer Dakota a future with him in it? He knew she was interested and the chemistry t
hey had together didn’t lie.
Chapter Nine
Adam walked into the family room and his mother stood to greet him with a hug. Her smile came easier now that his father had come home from hospital. “Don’t get up, Dad.” He leaned over and shook his hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better now that I’m here. At least I get your mother’s good cooking.” He rubbed his belly. “Lost a fair bit of weight in the hospital.”
“Have a seat, Adam. Tell us what’s happening in town. Dad and I were going to go for a walk today but it was a bit icy underfoot.”
“It’s pretty cold out too. What’s happening, right. Tonight is the ballot to see who gets the Christmas trees. I think just about everyone in town has put in for one except me.”
“You didn’t put your name down, did you, Sue?” His father reached for his mother’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “You never mentioned anything about it to me but I’m sure I missed some things.”
“No, dear. I don’t really think I have the energy to even think about it. I’ll leave that to the younger ones.”
“You can always bid on one, Mom. Nothing stopping you from gaining your tree by fighting for it on gala night.”
“Sounds like the Moore girls have the gala under control. I have to say, your father and I are looking forward to going, aren’t we Tommy? It’s bound to be the biggest thing that’s happened to Cherry Lake since the old days when we attended the dances at the Grange.” A wistful smile lifted her lips. “Those were the days. So uncomplicated and simple.”
“That’s not what I heard from Dad. He said it was hard work trying to get you away from under your parents’ eagle eyes.”
His mother chortled at the memory while his father grinned. Since he’d been home, his color had improved and so had his mood.
“Your mother tells me the doctor wants you to go and get tested, Adam. When are you going to do it?”
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