Page 2 of All Because I Found You

Cedar was the next block over, and Raelyn squinted at the house numbers, searching for twenty-two. “Where are you? Thirty-seven. Eighteen. Who the heck numbered these houses?”

Finally, at the end of the block, she spotted number twenty-two posted on a marker at the end of a very long driveway. She drove right onto the secluded driveway without a second thought. Trees lined either side of her, making it impossible to turn around if she needed to. Not that she would. She wasn’t leaving until she secured a venue.

The driveway, which was turning into more of a dirt road, curved to the left, and Raelyn continued to follow it until it opened up to a large lot. An early twentieth century farmhouse with dark brown weather worn shingles and several small porches sat at the top of the lot.

“That doesn’t look haunted one bit. Nope.” Raelyn closed the car door and took a hesitant step toward the old house. Two modern rocking chairs sat on one of the small porches, and if one of them moved, Raelyn was going to get right back in her car and leave.

She glanced around the property. Another barn was to the left, and fields stretched for what seemed like miles around the rest of the area. The location was not only secluded but beautiful. It was a surprise she had no idea this house existed, especially since she knew every person in town.

Three steps led to a door, and she made her way up them, knocking as soon as she reached the top. She waited and waited and waited, then knocked again, louder this time. She didn’t see a car, but there was a garage to the right and the door was closed. Nobody would take their car out, then shut the door. Right?

She pressed her lips together and spun from the door toward a window. It would be rude to peek inside. What if the person just got out of the shower and was naked? It’s not like she had anywhere else to be today. Securing a venue for her client was her number one priority. The rocking chairs looked sturdy and a little less like the ghost of old man Cletus would be sitting in them watching over his farm.

The door creaked open and Raelyn jumped. Her stupid wedge went left and her foot went right. She caught herself before face planting on the person’s doorstep.

“Can I help you?” the deep voice asked.

Raelyn plastered a smile on her face and straightened. “Hi.”

The man was younger than she expected. Had to be only a little older than her twenty-seven. He didn’t open the door fully, keeping it half closed as if she was going to push through and rob him.

The one side of his face was hidden by the doorframe and his chin length hair was brushed over to that side. The part of his face she could make out showed a strong jaw, surrounded by dark auburn hair, and gunmetal blue eyes that looked frighteningly familiar.

“My name is Raelyn Shaw, and I was hoping to discuss possibly holding an event at your barn on Beaver Creek.”

“No,” the man said and pulled back to shut the door.

“Wait!” Raelyn cried out. Desperation was overtaking, and there was no telling what lengths she would go to.

“I beg you. I’m an event planner, and my client’s venue was destroyed in the recent hurricane. She’s set to marry the love of her life in two weeks, but she has nowhere to hold the event. Your barn would be the perfect place.”

“It’s a barn. Not a place to hold a wedding.”

He hadn’t closed the door in her face, so she was taking it as a win. Now she just needed to close, and she was a pro at closing.

“But it could be with the right touches. You wouldn’t have to do a thing. I would clean up the space, bring everything in, and when the event is over, I would take everything out, leaving it exactly as it was if not a little cleaner.”

“I would love to help, but I’m sorry.”

“If you say no,” Raelyn said, “I’m just going to try harder. We can save each of us a lot of headache if you just agree to go to the barn with me and let me see what I’m working with. From what I can tell, the structure is sound, and the space is open. Other than some farm equipment, it looks party ready. And I’ll pay you. My client is from a wealthy family, and there is no price that will be too high for them.”

“I don’t care about money.”

“Then what do you care about?” she asked, not expecting the widening of his eyes, followed by the slight tilt of his lips. Progress, maybe?

“I care about being left alone.”

“And I will do exactly that once you give me a tour of the barn and agree to let me use it for the wedding.”

“Has anyone ever told you you’re pushy?”

“All the time. What’s your point?”

He let out a sigh, and she hoped that meant he was cracking.

“I can come back later.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

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