by Annie Rains
Jake put his headphones on and pointed at a pair for Trisha to wear as well. Slowly, Jake transitioned the plane into motion. It skimmed the water for several hundred feet before its nose tipped up, its rudders dipped low, and they moved forward, brushing over the lake’s surface until they had takeoff.
Jake’s heart lifted right along with the plane. Best feeling in the world! Except for maybe last night’s kiss. “You doing okay?” he asked into his headphones after a long moment. “Are your eyes open?”
He heard her breathe a laugh that sounded equal parts nervous and giddy excitement. “I’m doing fine, I think. Eyes wide open, but my heart might explode.”
“Just breathe,” he said.
“That wasn’t part of your initial instructions.”
“That initial part was the manual version of how to fly a plane. Some things you can’t learn in a manual. You have to experience them.”
“Good to know.” He heard her sharp intake of air and then her exhalation a moment later. It repeated, finding a steady rhythm.
They grew quiet as the plane ascended, and then he leveled it off a few minutes later. “Okay, we’re flying. I can put this thing on cruise control and nap in the back.” He slid his gaze over just in time to catch Trisha’s eyes go wide.
“Don’t you dare.” She shook her head as she glanced out the window. “Wow,” she said, voice thick with awe. “This is really amazing.”
“Yep. It never gets old. You can see the cottages.” He gestured out his window. “I’ll circle back in a bit, and they’ll be on your side.”
Trisha leaned toward him to look out the pilot-side window. “They’re so pretty.” She reached for the camera looped around her neck. “I’m not sure if the pictures will do the actual view justice, but this will be good practice for me. Do you mind?”
“Not at all. Go for it,” Jake said. “I’d love to have an aerial view of the Somerset Cottages and the lake.” Maybe it wasn’t his home anymore, but this trip had changed his perception of this place, bringing back all the sentimentality he’d once held for it. Being here didn’t make him ache this time. He guessed it was because he was too distracted by helping the woman beside him.
Trisha lifted her camera, aimed it out the window, and started snapping pictures. Jake watched her from the corner of his eye. She seemed happy and relaxed, which gave him a sense of satisfaction because he was responsible in some small way. From what he’d seen, she rarely took a day off. She deserved a day to enjoy herself while Petey was with family.
“I can’t wait to develop these pictures and see what they look like,” Trisha said excitedly. “Wouldn’t it be nice if I framed them to decorate a few of the cottages?”
Jake slid his gaze over. “That’s a good idea. The living rooms could all have the same aerial shots. Maybe three or four each in frames.”
“Yes! I’m going to develop these pictures and buy frames this week,” she said. Then she lifted her camera and aimed it again.
“Whoa. What are you doing?” Jake asked when he realized the camera lens was directed at him.
“Eyes on the sky, Mr. Fletcher. I’m just taking a photo of you in your natural habitat.”
Jake found himself grinning as he returned his gaze forward. “That’s a true statement. Being up here is addictive. If I’m not careful, you’ll snatch my keys and take it up when I’m not looking. I just explained how this thing works, after all.”
“You don’t need to worry about me stealing your plane. Or anything for that matter.”
He glanced over just in time to see her look down for a moment. No, the only thing she might steal of his was his heart. Maybe she already had.
Another beat of silence passed between them. “So the guy I saw this morning was your former brother-in-law?”
“Mm-hmm. Chase Lewis. He’s a veterinarian in Sweetwater Springs. My best friend, Sophie, married him last year.”
“So I guess you’ll be connected to your in-laws indefinitely then.”
“Just them and my mother-in-law. Chase and Peter’s dad passed away when they were young. And staying connected to the Lewis family isn’t a bad thing. Chase and Sophie are amazing. And my former mother-in-law has been good to me. She’s just like a real mother.”
Jake realized he didn’t know about Trisha’s parents yet, and he wanted to. He wanted to know everything and not because he was trying to undermine what she was doing here anymore. He just wanted to know more about her because he couldn’t seem to get enough of Trisha Langly.
“What about your parents? You said you didn’t have any family of your own in the town you grew up in. Where are they?”
“Well, I was raised by my grandparents. They had kids very late in life. I think my grandmother was forty-two when she got pregnant with my mom. So by the time I came around, they were older. I think my grandmother was seventy-eight when I graduated high school. She only lived a couple months after that.”
“I’m sorry.” Jake felt a deep sense of regret for Trisha. “That must have been tough.”
“It was. People told me that my grandparents hung on long enough to make sure I was okay. I think that’s probably true.”
Through his headphones, he heard Trisha take another breath. “My grandparents were wonderful. They did everything they could for me. I can’t really complain about my upbringing.”
“What about your parents?” Jake asked.
From his peripheral vision, he saw Trisha shake her head. “I don’t know. My mom got pregnant, had me, came home to live with my grandparents. That was the plan. Then, the story is, my grandmother woke up to me crying in my crib early one morning. My mom was gone. They never heard from her again.”
Trisha laughed beside him but Jake didn’t think it was because she thought the story was funny. Sometimes the only thing to do was laugh if you didn’t want to cry. He knew that from experience.
“My mom never told my grandparents who my father is, so I never knew him. When I met Peter in high school, I was just so needy for someone other than my grandparents to want me. The entire Lewis family accepted me as one of their own. It was like I finally had somewhere to belong, and I guess I just held on to it blindly.”
Jake reached over and squeezed her hand. “You belong here,” he said, unable to control his mouth again. He believed what he was saying though. Trisha belonged in Somerset Lake. It was a town of good people who would make sure she was taken care of. If he wasn’t second-guessing his mission here already, he was now. In fact, he was abandoning his family-directed mission altogether. Vi deserved to stay in her home. And so did Trisha.
* * *
Trisha kept looking at Jake instead of what he was trying to show her. She couldn’t help herself. He seemed to be getting more handsome by the second, at least in her mind. It was like she was twisting the dials of her camera, finding an even more perfect viewpoint with each turn.
“There’s The Village,” he said, pointing.
“That’s where Lucy lives, right?” Trisha asked.
“Yep. That’s where Rachel’s mom lives too. I plan to visit her before I leave town.”
There was yet another subtle reminder that he wasn’t here for the long-term. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate that,” Trisha said.
“Oh yeah. Going over there is always bittersweet.” He glanced over. “As much as I’d love to, we can’t stay up here forever. What should we do at the cottages today?”
“Well, I need more paint for the cottages’ interiors. And since you have the truck and offered, maybe we can go check out the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and see if they have any used appliances in good condition.”
Jake nodded. “That actually sounds like fun.”
“I think so too.” He heard Trisha’s camera click beside him again. “I love thrift-store shopping. And it’ll save us money on renovations.”
Jake glanced over. “Us? Sounds like you’re invested in the property.”
Trisha’s gaze darted from Jake to the
view outside the plane’s windshield. “Well, I am the property manager. I’m so thankful to your grandmother for giving me the job and the cottage to live in. It’s the perfect situation for a single mother. I want to do a good job for Vi. I don’t want to let her down.”
Jake was quiet for a moment. “Maybe we can find some flooring material too. I want to fix the floor in Pansy Cottage. I noticed that it was peeling when I did a walk-through the other day.”
“You can work on floors too?” Trisha sounded impressed. “Are you sure you’re really a lawyer? Because no one can be skilled in that many areas.”
Jake chuckled. “I didn’t say I was skilled. It might not look pretty, but it’ll be functional.”
“That’s okay. The lake view is the main attraction,” Trisha said.
“And by view, you mean Mr. S at sunrise?”
Trisha felt her jaw drop. “No, not that view.” She swatted Jake’s shoulder playfully. Just that simple touch lit a blaze within her. She may have told him with her words this morning that they couldn’t kiss again, but her body wasn’t listening. “And while Mr. S’s behavior is weird, I think he’s harmless.”
“I agree.”
“And you’re a good judge of character,” Trisha said, reminding him of what he’d told her last night. Right before that kiss that she couldn’t seem to get out of her mind.
“I like to think I am. So,” Jake said, “I guess when we land this thing, we can hop in my truck and go to the hardware store for paint and then to the thrift store. Maybe we can grab a late lunch too.”
“Sounds good. I’m starving.” Trisha felt a happy buzz in her chest. And all of it was because her entire day would be spent with Jake.
She mentally reviewed the reasons she shouldn’t, couldn’t, develop feelings for the man beside her. Jake was temporary. He was Vi’s grandson. He was another potential heartbreak that she wasn’t sure she could survive.
“Then let’s get the food first.” Jake circled the plane back and started its descent toward the water.
Once the plane landed safely, he cut the engine, got out, and stepped around to her side to open her door. He offered his hand to help her step out. That required that she slip her hand into his. Another touch that only made the attraction she felt grow more intense. The fluttering of her heart was a dozen hummingbird wings combined.
She found her footing and sighed as she pulled her hand away from his. Then Bailey jumped out of the plane behind her. “Are you sure you want to give up your entire Sunday for me?” Trisha asked. “I mean, I took up all of your day yesterday too.”
“One hundred percent positive. I’m all yours.” Jake led her to his truck and opened the passenger door for her. While she waited for him to move around to the other side, she checked her phone. No missed calls or texts from Sophie or Chase. They would just be arriving at the Lewis family reunion now. Unless they stopped off for some reason.
“Everything okay?” Jake slid into the truck behind the steering wheel.
“Just checking my phone to see if I’ve missed any messages from Sophie or Chase about Petey. No word.”
“I’m sure he’s fine then. He seemed pretty excited when I saw him running for his aunt and uncle’s car this morning.”
“Oh, he was. He adores them.”
Jake directed the truck down the gravel path behind the cottages. “So he’s fine, and it’s my job to take your mind off of any worries.”
She dropped her cell phone into her purse. “What will people in town think if they keep seeing us together?”
“I know the answer, but I don’t think you’ll like it.”
Trisha lifted a questioning brow as he glanced over at her. “Tell me anyway.”
“They’ll think we’re falling in love,” Jake said.
She swallowed. “That’s crazy. We barely even know each other.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Two single, attractive people living next door to each other. That sounds more inevitable than crazy to me.”
“Good thing you’re not staying in Somerset Lake then because I’m not ready to fall in love again just yet. Are you?”
Jake took his time in answering, which was just like him. He never seemed to be in a hurry about anything. “I haven’t been in love since I was eighteen,” he finally said. “I’m past ready. It’s the heartbreak I’m not ready for. The next time I fall in love, I want it to be forever.”
* * *
Trisha finished the last bite of her shrimp scampi and set her fork down. “That was delicious.”
“I told you.” Jake chuckled as he picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. “I love this place. It ties with Choco-Lovers.”
“Oh, I’ve heard about that place. I’ve been wanting to take Petey there,” Trisha said.
“You should. Jana is always adding to the menu. It’s crazy what she can find to dip in chocolate.”
“Jana’s the owner?” Trisha asked.
“Yep. She was a couple years behind me in school. Even back then, I remember she always had something chocolate with her. The guys tried to flirt with her by giving her chocolate, but that was never the way to her heart.”
“How do you know that?” A thread of jealousy ran through Trisha as she wondered if Jake had tried that tactic too. Where had the jealousy come from? Jake was all hers for the day, but not for much longer than that.
Jake took a bite of his meal, chewing and swallowing before answering. “I know because my best friend was really into her.”
Trisha reached for her glass of lemon water. “Did she ever give him a chance?”
“Not really. They went out a few times, and he was stupid. As his best friend, I can say so.”
“What did he do that was so wrong?” she asked.
“It’s a long story.” Jake folded his arms over his chest.
Trisha recognized the look. He was keeping his friend’s secret. Would he guard her secrets just the same? He hadn’t told Vi earlier, when Trisha had worried that he was about to. From what Trisha could tell, Jake was a trustworthy guy. Then again, unlike Jake, Trisha wasn’t a great judge of character. Especially considering the man she had married.
The waitress came up to the table and looked between them. “So I have a dollar on this being just a casual meal you’re sitting down to. But Gene is betting that you two are on a date.”
Trisha looked at Jake.
Told you, he mouthed. Then he raised his voice normally, talking to Trisha. “Gene is the cook.” He looked at the waitress. “Des, tell Gene that Trisha is my neighbor for the next few weeks.”
She put a hand on her waist. “That doesn’t explain one way or the other.”
Jake reached into his pocket and pulled out two crisp one-dollar bills. “I’m not a gambler, but I’ll cover both your bets.”
Des looked disappointed. “You know it’s not about the money, Jake. It’s about the knowledge.”
“Aka the gossip,” he said, lifting his brows.
Des looked at Trisha again and offered a sugary smile. “It was nice to meet you, sweetie. I hope you’ll come back here real soon.”
“I likely will. The food is delicious.”
“Neighbors, huh?” Des asked again, still prying. “That means you’re staying at the Somerset Cottages.”
“I’m the new property manager there,” Trisha said.
Des lifted her razor-thin eyebrows. “Until the family sells. Tim was in here earlier this morning talking about that prospect. He said it’s just Vi who’s being stubborn.”
Trisha hesitated before looking at Jake. She hated gossip as much as the next person, but sometimes it had its advantages.
Des continued talking. “Your uncle Tim said he wants Vi to move down to Florida with the rest of the family. Is that true, Jake? Is your family going to put the cottages up for sale after all these years?”
Trisha turned to Jake and studied his stiff posture. He was working his jaw, but not because there was food in his mouth.
/> “Vi is stubborn, you know that,” Jake finally said. “She won’t go along with that plan anytime soon. Trisha and I are actually heading to Hannigan’s Hardware next to get some supplies for renovating the cottages. Then we’ll work on getting them rented out. Since you’re so good at passing on information,” Jake said pointedly, “please let anyone that’s looking for a place to stay know there will be six rental cottages available soon.”
Des didn’t appear to take offense. “I’ll do that.”
Trisha noted that Jake only mentioned six cottages. His was the seventh, and it would be open once he was gone.
Unless he’s considering staying longer.
Chapter Fifteen
Later that evening, Jake leaned against the deck’s railing and looked out onto the water. Today had been a Top Ten kind of day. It had almost been magical because everything Trisha had wanted for the cottages they’d found at two different thrift stores. She’d filled the bed of his truck, chattering excitedly. She’d found so many things that he’d actually made two trips to get it all back to Lakeshore Drive, where he’d stored the finds under Vi’s shelter.
Jake replayed those earlier hours in his mind. Trisha was so invested in the Somerset Cottages, and her enthusiasm was contagious. He couldn’t wait to install the new-to-them dishwashers, washers and dryers, and even granite countertops this week.
Trisha stepped up beside him and leaned against the railing as well. “I just spoke to Sophie,” she said, her voice floating on the evening air. “They’ll be here in about thirty minutes or so. Petey had an amazing time with the family, and he’s doing well.”
“That’s good news.” Jake looked over. He’d seen a million sunsets over this lake, but none compared to the beauty in Trisha’s face.
How long had it been since he’d first laid eyes on her? A week? Two? And already he was having crazy thoughts that both scared and excited him. He wasn’t the guy who fell in love at first sight, and he hadn’t with Trisha. The more he got to know her though, the more he was intrigued. The more he wanted to know. “Well, you’ve been stuck with me all day. I’ll leave you to prepare for your family’s visit. I have a lot to do this week,” he said on a grin. “I might need to rest up anyway.”