Page 13 of No Good Deed

Carl walked in, carrying a tray. “Hi everyone. I thought you could use a snack.” Oreo yipped, making Carl laugh. “I didn’t forget you. I’ve got a treat for you as well.”

He set the tray on the old trunk. Two mugs of hot cocoa. Homemade cookies and a plate of fruit. He took a dog toy off the tray and squatted down to talk to Oreo. “Kimi said this kind of toy is good for you. There’s a treat hidden inside of it, but you have to figure out how to get it out.”

Oreo’s butt wiggled and his tail wagged almost too quickly to see. Carl set the rubber toy on the ground and Oreo pounced.

Laughing, Carl headed back to the kitchen. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

They were definitely matchmaking, but Troy didn’t mind. He handed Piper a mug and she brought up her legs beneath her, bringing her a little closer to him. “Tell me more about Samuel.”

Troy opened the photo album. “We don’t have many photos from the time, but my Gramma kept all of the albums and the stories. A few people already lived in the area, but more moved in with the mill. Instead of plowing down trees to build more homes, Samuel insisted people use this town. He provided a horse-drawn cart to bring people from the town to work and back home daily.”

He flipped through the pages. “Samuel named the business Phail Sawmill and the town took on the name of Phail.”

Looking through the photos reminded him of his connections to the past and he doubled down on his determination to improve the town’s prosperity. It had been a successful place for decades and it could be again.

For the next couple of hours, they sipped cocoa, looked through albums, and he told stories of his family and his history. Piper asked dozens of questions and took tons of notes on her tablet.

She didn’t share her ideas, but she would often sit back and type furiously for several minutes before asking another of her insightful questions.

Now, their thighs touched while they held photo albums on their laps. Oreo had curled up on the couch beside Piper.

Troy’s heart ached.

This was what he’d always wanted. A woman who intrigued him at his side, sharing his life. A connection to someone who had the same goals and ideals.

He’d always wanted a family of his own. A wife. Kids. A dog.

He could imagine all of that with Piper.

But she was leaving in two weeks.

CHAPTER 6

Damaged Goods

Troy spent the morning working the store, catching up on paperwork, and ordering supplies. Carl and Jim had taken Piper with them as they ran errands in neighboring towns. They wanted her to see how other towns operated in this area of the world.

It was another thing he hoped to change in the future. It would be great if the men could get all of their supplies in town rather than spending money elsewhere. He hoped Piper was coming up with lots of ideas.

She said she needed a few more days before she shared her thoughts. Everything about her manner promised she was happy with her ideas. He wanted to pester her to share, but figured it was better if she was left to follow her own process.

Troy was itchy to see her again. He missed her even though he’d seen her the night before and would see her when she returned. How was he supposed to convince himself she was leaving town and he wasn’t looking for temporary?

He’d never felt as instantly comfortable with a woman as he did with Piper. Their personalities meshed and conversation never lagged. She was interested in so many things and her brain popped with creativity.

Everyone who came into the store asked him how she was enjoying the town. There were more than a few not-so-subtle suggestions that he and Piper made a great couple. The entire town appeared to like her and they hadn’t even heard any of her suggestions yet. He knew exactly how they felt.

When she walked into Phail General with her dog and the B&B owners a few hours later, his entire being lit up. He was definitely ridiculous. “How’d the errands go?”

Jim grinned. “Great. We showed Piper how much better it is in Phail than any of the other towns.”

She smiled. “These two could be your town ambassadors.”

Carl rubbed his hands together. “I like the sound of that.” Then he looped his arm through Jim’s. “We’re going to make lasagna for tonight, so you’d both better bring your appetites. We’ll see you in a few hours.”

They hugged Piper before they left. While the couple was friendly with everyone, he wasn’t sure he’d ever seen them hug a guest before. She made an impression on everyone.

When the men were gone, Piper turned to him with another smile. “Do you mind if Oreo and I hang out here for a while? The wind is bitter out there and I don’t want him to freeze.”

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