Page 31 of Love Me Reckless

“Great.” I have a lot to learn, but knowing I won’t get bored is extremely satisfying.

“That’s good to hear,” she says.

“Did I just see you on the patio?” I crack my window while Carson cruises to the exit.

“Yes. Photo shoot for our wedding planner at the ranch.”

“Your family uses you as a marketing asset?”

“Why wouldn’t they?” In the background, I hear a softding. Like from an elevator. “You’re still good for November sixth and seventh, right? With your work schedule and everything?”

I’ve already checked. “We’re still on.” I roll my window all the way down because it’s suddenly too hot in here.

Carson slows at the gate, and the guard gives us a quick once-over before letting us through.

“Whew. Okay, bye,” Kirilee says.

I drop the phone into my lap and stare out the window, the breeze cooling my face.

“You two sound awfully chummy,” Carson says, shooting me a sly look.

“I’m helping her with something.” I wish it was helping her ditch douche date, but would her family just find areplacement?

Carson nods. “Be careful, man. Her dad could exile you to a distant planet.”

“Right,” I say and force a full breath into my lungs.

We getour first snowfall that Friday, which gives me a taste of winter in Finn River. Climbing the towers in my new insulated jacket and sturdy winter boots takes longer. My hands get cold if I stand around too long. The icy wind blowing down the slopes seems to find every open crevice in my jacket. Though the rising sun melts the clouds by ten o’clock, and by lunchtime the snow is gone too, it’s a reminder that in just over a month, the ski area will be open.

And I still have no idea how I’m going to fix my problem. I bought a pair of cheap used skis and boots from a garage sale I stumbled onto on my way home from the grocery store a few days ago, so I at least have the equipment.

I’m heading home after an extra-long shift thanks to high winds that kept the helicopter grounded until late when just inside my neighborhood, I see a gray-haired woman engaged in a heated conversation with someone I recognize thanks to the long hair swept into a high ponytail. On the grassy section of the sidewalk between Kirilee and the woman rests a colorful wooden box on a 4x4 post and a shovel.

I pull my truck over.

“You can’t just hijack people’s front walkways,” the gray-haired woman says, her face tense.

“But I have a permit from the city,” Kirilee says. “I can show it to you.”

“Everything okay here?” I ask as Kirilee turns. Her green eyes are wide with an expression that pleads HELP ME.

“No, it is not,” the woman snaps from behind her, jamming herfists to her hips. “I come home from work to find this monstrosity taking over my yard.”

Monstrosity? I give Kirilee a wink and say to the woman, “No problem, we’ll build it somewhere else.”

I refocus on Kirilee. “Would you be willing to move a few blocks?”

She’s upset and flustered, but she huffs a full breath and nods. “As long as people use it.”

“Have a good day,” I tell the woman, who scowls.

I glance around for Kirilee’s car. There’s a black BMW SUV parked on the other side of the driveway with the hatch still open.

I pick up the little library mounted on the post. Kirilee follows my lead and grabs the shovel, the giant diamond on her ring finger flashing like a beacon in the fading light. I focus on setting the little library in the back of her car, but seeing that ring is like a punch to the gut. In my mind, Carson’s warning starts playing on repeat.

“Follow me, okay?” I tell Kirilee.

She gives me a curious glance, then flicks her gaze at the grumpy woman walking back up her driveway, muttering to herself. “Okay.”

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