Page 13 of Love By a Landslide

“Jonathaaaan . . .” His sister shook her head, giving a half-hearted warning.

“You know . . . Chuck Chuck Bo Buck . . .” Jonathan sang.

“Don’t . . .” Frankie implored, hand reaching up to rub her forehead.

“Banana, Fanna, Fo, Fu—”

“We get it!” Miguel blurted, cutting off his friend.

“Come on, Jon . . .” Frankie groaned.

Pleased with himself, Jonathan picked up his beer and relaxed back into his chair. Frankie—most people, actually—regularly accused him of being too corny, but he couldn’t help it. He came by it honestly. Their father had been crowned the king of dad jokes, eliciting daily groans from the Miller women and anyone else who happened to be withinearshot. Jonathan, on the other hand, ate it up, even when he was in that awkward, parent-resenting teenage phase. He and his dad would huddle together at the dinner table and try to concoct the most ridiculous puns and one-liners, and then roar with laughter when everyone else just rolled their eyes. Jonathan’s heart swelled at the memory.

I miss my dad.

“Explain something to me,” Zac chuckled, shaking his head in disapproval. “How is it that you have so many awful dad jokes, and you aren’t even a dad yet?”

Jonathan shrugged and gave a goofy grin, masking the unintended sting of the question.

He’d hoped to be a dad by this point. Had desperately wanted a family. But his dreams of fatherhood were swept away down the same river that took his wife from him. And while he kept it together for the most part, he was unwilling to put himself in a similar situation again. It was more important to be without anyone who truly relied on him. Sure, his staff counted on him to manage the company properly and have their backs, but that wasn’t life or death. He didn’t date seriously. Didn’t want kids of his own. He even decided against getting a dog. Was he lonely? Sure, but he also slept like a baby at night knowing he wouldn’t let anyone down. He could settle for being Uncle Jonathan to any kids his friends and sister planned to have. Being the fun uncle who swoops in with candy, toys, and fart jokes. That he could handle. Low stakes. Low risk.

Miguel spoke up, perhaps noticing the pain such a simple question had caused his friend and changed the subject. “So, Jon, you said the whole summer is going to be busy, huh?”

“Yeah,” Jonathan said as he accepted the fresh pitcher of beer and appetizer plates from one of the bar servers with a smile and wink. “Thanks, Stella.”

“You got it, sweetie,” she purred as she reached forward and picked up the empty pitcher. Giving Jonathan’s shoulder a squeeze, she meandered to the next table.

Jonathan filled the glasses skillfully, passed them around, and continued his response to Miguel’s question. “Busy is good. Not just because of the money, which helps, but because I like talking with strangers. Chat for a few hours then see you later. Some pretty interesting people come out to the boonies this time of year.” His smile dropped as he remembered what he had scheduled for the morning.

“Fly in your beer?” Zac joked.

“No. It’s just that I have a trip I am doing tomorrow that I’m not thrilled about.” Jonathan drank half of the beer in his glass, attempting to wash away the dread with the hoppy, golden liquid. “I’m leading a couple on a backpacking trip up Mount Stuart.”

“What’s so bad about that? Mount Stuart’s a great hike.” His sister scoffed. She was right. The two of them had managed that hike numerous times—as kids even, back when their dad was still around.

“They’re newlyweds or just got engaged or something. I don’t remember. Either way, I can practically hear the smacks of kissing along the trail, and how much you wanna bet they’ll run off for a quickie when I’m not looking.”

“So, get someone else to guide it. That’s the perk of being the boss man,” Zac offered with a smug snort.

“Can’t. All the other guides are either on river runs or out of town.” Jonathan shrugged, accepting his fate. “It’s only a two-night trip. I’m a big boy. I can handle it. Plus, it’s an easy two thousand dollars.”

Zac raised his glass. “To easy money!”

The rest of the group raised and clinked their glasses together, laughing. “Easy money!” they all called in unison.

As laughter faded and side conversations began, Jonathan felt a prickle of the hairs rising on the back of his neck. His attention diverted to the tavern’s entrance as a cute brunette walked in. The waning sunlight pouring through the front door bounced off the cascade of glossy waves that trailed halfway down her back. Stella grabbed a menu and led the mystery woman to a table in the corner. Following close behind the server, she moved with a subtle fluidity, punctuated by the swerve of her generous hips. Her warm smile crinkled the corners of her glittering jade eyes as she thanked Stella and sat down.

Jonathan’s tongue felt thick in his mouth. The heavyka-thunkof his heartbeat rattled his ribcage so hard that surely his friends could hear the vibrations.

She was hypnotizing.

This woman was either new to town or a tourist; he definitely would have remembered seeing the little smoke show sauntering around Leavenworth.

I should stop staring.

His palms itched as she tucked a lock of wavy, chocolate hair behind her ear. How would it feel running his fingers through the silky mass and fisting a handful of it? It must be soft and lush.

Who are you?

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