“Then you did the right thing,” he replies.
“She wanted to spend the next few days with me, and I told her no.”
He raises a brow and looks me in the eyes. “You’re not going to see her at all?”
“I probably should, huh?”
“Yeah.” He smiles softly. “I know it’s not easy, but you should at least go to lunch with her. Have a real conversation. You might learn something.”
“You’re smart,” I say with a sigh. “I’ll go to lunch.”
“With Lacey.”
“Yes, smartass, with Lacey.”
“Good. Now, come here and kiss me.”
“You’re bossy.” I crawl over to him and climb onto his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him softly. “I kind of like it.”
He plants his hands on my ass and squeezes. “I have more bossy demands for you.”
“Yeah?” I smile in anticipation. “Like what?”
“We should go to the bedroom for the rest.” He stands, carrying me with him and making me laugh. “The first one is to get these clothes off you.”
“And the second?”
“You’ll see.”
* * * *
“You were right,” Lacey says two days later as we sit in Ed’s Diner for lunch. We’re both munching on salads. “There is a lot to do here. Cunningham Falls is an adorable little town.”
I glance up at her, holding my breath.
Do not say you’re moving here.
“Oh, don’t panic,” she says with a laugh. “I’m leaving this afternoon.”
“I thought you were staying until tomorrow.”
“Well, while it’s a pretty town, I think I’ve seen all there is to see,” she replies and sips her iced tea. “I understand why you like it here.”
“Where are you headed next?”
“Oregon.” Her eyes light up in excitement. “I haven’t been to Portland in about ten years, and I have friends there. It’s such a fun city. Have you been?”
“No.”
In fact, I thought that a little town on the Oregon coast might be my next stop before I decided to stay here in Cunningham Falls for the foreseeable future.
“Oh, you should go there,” Lacey continues. “The city is just lovely, and the people are great, too. You’d like it.”
“You know, I think I’m done moving.”
She looks up in surprise. “Wow. Good for you.”
“Why do you do it?” I ask, surprising myself but curious for the answer.
“What, move around?”
“Yeah.”
She chews her bread and thinks about it. “I’ve always gotten itchy feet after I’ve been in a place for longer than a year. Maybe I get bored, I don’t know.”
I wait, wondering if she’ll continue because I don’t buy the boredom excuse.
“You know, I think I’ve been looking for what makes me happy.”
“And you haven’t found it yet?”
She shakes her head. “Apparently not. No city, no man has been able to keep me from wanting to move on. I guess I’m destined to be unhappy forever.”
“Maybe you’re looking too hard,” I say. “I guess that’s what I was doing, too. Traveling from place to place, trying to find something that felt real. Like I belonged there.”
Lacey listens intently, her fork hovering in the air.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever felt that way,” she says softly.
“I get it. Maybe I’m more like you than I thought.” I take a sip of water, thinking it over. “I loved Grandma so much, but I didn’t belong in Chicago. So, I left. But I never stayed in any one place long enough to be happy there. I lived in St. Louis, Charleston, Austin, and Denver before moving up here, but I only stayed for a year or less before packing up and leaving.
“I don’t know what happened here, exactly, except whenever I think of leaving, it makes me sad. I really love it here. And I’ve stayed long enough to plant some roots, make friends, make connections.”
“You have Noah.”
“Noah, and several friends. I’ve never been the kind of person to really connect with people on a deep level.”
“I’m the same.”
“And it’s lonely,” I continue, watching as tears form in her eyes. “I’ve found a place where I feel like I belong. I’m part of a community, and I feel important here.”
“I’m so happy for you, Fallon.” Lacey wipes a tear off her cheek. “I know I was a shitty mom. And I’m sorry for it.”
“You weren’t a mom, Lacey,” I remind her. “I don’t have any memories of you holding me or reading to me or teaching me.”
“I know.” She sniffs. She’s not crying to be manipulative. I think for the first time in her forty-seven years, Lacey is doing some soul-searching. “I was so scared of you. You were tiny, and I was a baby myself. Thank God for my mother.”
“Thank God for her,” I agree with a nod.
“I know it’s too late for me to be your mom.”
“Yeah,” I agree. I know I won’t ever have the same connection to Lacey as Noah has with his mother. “But it’s not too late to know me. We have time.”
“I’d really like that,” she says with a smile. “I’d love to be your friend. And when I leave today, it’s not going to be six years before you see me again.”
I smile, but I don’t believe her. I’ve heard it before. As much as Lacey says she wants a relationship with me, I just don’t think she’s capable of it.
But you never know.
We finish our lunch, and I walk her to her rental car. She pulls me in for a hug, a real one this time.
“Take care, Fallon. I’ll text you.”
“Okay. You take care, too. Have fun in Portland.”
She nods, already excited to get back on the road.
“Bye!”
And then she’s off, and I’m standing on the sidewalk, watching her drive away.
I walk into the heart of downtown where my studio is located, but rather than go right back to work, I stop into Dress It Up, my favorite clothing store in town.
Okay, it’s the only clothing store in town that isn’t centered around souvenirs. Willa Hull owns it and carries beautiful clothes and shoes.
She’s also one of the nicest people I know.
“Hey, Fallon,” Willa says when she sees me walk through the door. “Thank God, you’re saving me.”
“From what?”
“Boredom. I don’t know what’s happened, but I haven’t had a customer in over an hour. I can’t change the displays any more today.”
I grin and check out a green tank top. This one isn’t meant for working out. It’s soft and feminine, and I decide to buy it.
“Well, I was walking by on my way to the studio and thought I’d see if you have anything new.”
“Always,” she says with a smile. “Are you okay? You look like you have something on your mind. Let me make you some tea, and we can chat.”
My first instinct is to decline, but I quickly remind myself that these are my people, and Willa is my friend. So I smile and say, “That would be great.”
“I bought some of that tea you love at Drips & Sips,” she says as she brews a cup of hot water in her Keurig.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Sure I did,” she says. “You’re a good customer, and you don’t drink coffee.”
“That was sweet of you, Willa. Thank you.”
She sets the teabag in the mug to steep and then passes it to me.
“Now, tell me what’s up.”
“My mom just left town.”
She blinks in surprise. “I didn’t know she lived here.”
“She doesn’t.” I give Willa a quick rundown on the relationship I have with my mother. “We just had lunch.”
“I think it was brave of her to come,” Willa says after thinking it over for a moment. “I mean, she knew that you’d be surprised, and maybe not excited to see her, but she came
anyway because she wanted to look in on you.”
“I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“She may not have a lot of motherly instincts, but she wanted to make sure you’re okay. And maybe for her, that’s all she can do.”
I nod and sip my tea. “You could be right. That seemed to be true the whole time I was growing up.”
“You should shock the hell out of her and text her first and see what she says. If she doesn’t reply, you’ll know she wasn’t serious about getting to know you better. But she could surprise you.”
“That’s a good idea.” I pull my phone out of my pocket and send Lacey a message.
Me: Hope you have a good flight! Safe travels.
“We’ll see what happens. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. I’m a mom,” she says simply. “I can’t imagine not being with my child every day, but if that were my situation, I would want to reach out and make sure they were okay. It might be the only thing your mom knows how to do.”
I nod again and set the tank top on the glass counter. “I’ll take this for today.”
“It’s a gorgeous color,” she says. “I just got these in.”
I decide right on the spot. “I think I’ll wear it on a date.”
“Are you and Noah going out?” Willa asks with a smile.
“Yes, he just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Oh, I love the sound of that. I’ll have to take Max out on a surprise date. He wouldn’t know what to do.”
“Look at us, being mysterious women,” I say after I sign the credit card slip.
“Look at us, indeed.”
“Okay, help the newbie out,” I say, an idea forming in my head. “Where do the teenagers go to make out around here?”
A smile spreads over Willa’s pretty face. “I like your style, Fallon. That would be Lookout Point.”
“Of course, it is.”
“And it’s just up Whitetail Mountain Road…”
Chapter Twelve
~Fallon~
“You look so much better.” I reach out and pet my eagle’s head. I’ve grown brave enough to walk into the cage with him, and he lets me touch him. “Soon, Noah will be able to let you go, and you can get back to doing whatever it is that eagles do.”
He looks at me and then turns his head again, blinking slowly as I pet his head.
“You like that, don’t you, sweetie? Yeah, being petted is nice. I agree.” I smile and enjoy the soft feathers under my fingers. “Noah’s good at the petting thing. I was never really a touchy-feely kind of girl. I don’t think that’s my love language, whatever that’s supposed to mean.”
He turns and looks at me as if he’s listening intently.
“But it is nice when someone you care about is gentle with you. Can you keep a secret? I bet you can. I’m going to take Noah on a surprise date tonight.”
He tips his head.
“I’m not telling him where we’re going.”
He squawks, making me laugh, and I hear from behind me, “I think that means he approves.”
I turn at Noah’s voice and smile. “I’m glad I didn’t give him any details. I had no idea you were snooping.”
“Hey, I work here,” he reminds me. “It’s not snooping if I’m supposed to be here.”
“I suppose you’re right.” I give the eagle one more pet and then step out of the cage with Noah. “Hi there.”
“Hey yourself.” He presses his lips to mine. “Whatcha doing?”
“I came to see my bird.” I smile up at him. “And maybe you.”
“I hear you have a secret.”
I laugh and nod. “Yeah, I do. You need to be ready to go by seven.”
“Tonight?”
“That’s right.”
His lips twitch, and his brown eyes are full of anticipation. “I have my orders. I’ll be ready.”
“Good boy.” I slap his ass and walk away from him, his laughter filling the building behind me. “See you in a bit!”
The walk across the pasture is nice. It’s still hot today, but there’s a breeze, taking the edge off. There haven’t been any forest fires so far this year, so the air is clean and light, full of the smell of wildflowers and pine.
It sure beats the hell out of smoggy Chicago.
I walk into the house and back to the bedroom to get ready. I’m officially moved into the master bedroom with Noah. No more guest room for me.
A cool shower feels nice. I even wash my hair, intending to knock Noah’s socks right off when he sees me, making the half hour of blow-drying my long mane worth it.
I stare at myself in the mirror as my hair dries. I feel lighter than I did just a few weeks ago. I know myself well enough to know it’s a combination of things. My physical training has been on point with all of my yoga classes and the little extra I do at the gym. And, mentally? Well, I’m home.
I haven’t felt that way in a very long time.
I found my place, and I found my person. Happiness and contentment feels so much better than I ever dreamed.
When my hair is dry, I pull a wand through it, giving it a loose curl, and then I put on some makeup. Using a light hand, I use a soft foundation with sunscreen, neutral eye shadow that accents my green eyes, and a couple of coats of mascara.
It’s amazing the difference a little makeup makes.
I’d just pulled on some shorts and the tank top I bought at Willa’s today when I hear Noah come through the door.
“Sorry I’m late,” he calls. “I’ll hurry.”
“You’re fine,” I say with a smile when he comes into the bedroom. He stops in his tracks, his eyes wide, and he slowly looks me up and down.
He swallows hard. “So, we’re going to leave the house, and I have to control myself from getting you naked?”
“That’s how a date works, yes,” I say with a laugh. “You’ve seen me before.”
“You’re beautiful,” he says, and I swear all my insides suddenly turn to a pile of goo. “I’ll be in jail for beating all of the men up for looking at you.”
“They can look,” I say and saunter to him, boosting up on my toes to kiss him. “Only you can touch.”
“Damn right,” he growls and kisses me soundly, still not touching me. “I’m dirty. I need to wash up.”
“Go ahead, I’m ready when you are.”
* * * *
“This doesn’t seem like the kind of food you’d usually eat,” Noah says an hour later. We’re at a bar downtown, the kind that serves the greasiest of foods and has a row of pool tables in a back room.
I grin and take a big bite of my burger. I only eat one a year, and this one is worth it.
“Sometimes, a girl has to let out her bad girl,” I reply as I reach for my pool cue. “A little grease isn’t going to kill me.”
“You might kill me when you bend over in those shorts,” Noah informs me.
“But what a way to go.” I wink and circle the table, searching for my next shot. I’m horrible at pool. Maybe the worst in the universe. But I can look cute while I suck at it, enjoying this flirty game with Noah, turning us both on.
I lean over, making sure Noah has a view of my ass, and take my shot.
To my utter shock, I sink the ball.
“Not bad,” he says, swallowing hard. He’s barely touched his burger and fries.
“Aren’t you hungry?” I ask as I reach for my fries and pop one into my mouth.
“Starving.”
His eyes are hot as they roam down to my breasts and then move back to my face. This top has done its job, showing off my cleavage, but keeping enough to the imagination to make him want to see more.
Willa’s got good taste in clothes.
I move to walk back to the table, but Noah snags my wrist and pulls me against him, burying his lips next to my ear.
“I’m going to do things to you tonight that you never even knew were possible.”
My heart skips a beat, and I have to bite my lip to keep from gasping. Af
ter taking a steadying breath, I back up and smile. “Promise?”
“You are sassy tonight, sweetheart.”
“I’m sassy every day, I’ve just turned it up a bit tonight.”
“Any particular reason?”
I look at the table and take a shot. This time, I miss the pocket by a mile. “I’m happy.” I shrug as I sit on my stool and take a sip of my beer. “And it feels good.”
Noah brushes his thumb over the apple of my cheek before walking to the table and whooping my ass.
He sinks every damn ball he aims at, including the eight ball at the end.
“You’ve done this before,” I say with a frown, sticking my lower lip out in a pout.
“A time or two,” he says with a laugh. “Let’s play again. I’ll give you some pointers.”
I perk up, excited at the thought of Noah pressed against my back as he shows me how to hit the ball.
“What just went through that pretty mind of yours?”
“I always enjoy having you pressed up against me,” I say and step off my stool. “So, yes, please show me how to play.”
“You’re going to kill me,” he mutters.
* * * *
“Where are we going now?” he asks two hours later. I insisted on driving tonight because I didn’t want to tell him in advance what I had planned. I wanted it to be a surprise.
“Somewhere fun,” I reply with a smile as I pull my hair up into a messy bun, trying to keep it from blowing in my face as I drive the topless Jeep. Once my hair is fairly secured, I start the engine and drive toward Whitetail Mountain, the opposite direction from home. “You’ll like it.”
“I won’t argue with that.” He sits back and enjoys the drive, and when I turn onto the mountain road, he looks at me in surprise. “We’re going up the mountain?”
“Just a ways,” I reply, not giving away our destination. Just about a mile before the ski resort, I turn down a dirt road and park at a lookout, where the entire valley is spread out before us. It’s dark except for the lights from Cunningham Falls and the homes around Whitetail Lake. “Okay, you must know where we are.”
He shakes his head as if he’s confused, acting completely innocent.
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