“Thank goodness you were available to pick me up. That forest would have started creeping me out once it got fully dark out here.”
“Hey, it even creeps out the locals sometimes. You’ll be okay. I’ll make sure of it.” I stowed her bags in the back as she got inside the truck.
“You’re a firefighter, right?” she asked after I settled into the cab to join her. “Being the hero must come naturally to you.”
“It was my lifelong dream; all I’d ever wanted to do.” Too bad I never felt like one. The mistakes and missteps were all too easy to remember, and the successes sometimes felt like luck.
“That’s what Gigi said. You climbed onto her roof and rescued her dog, Sir Basil Dungarees, The First. She still tells that story. How old were you, ten?”
I grinned at the memory. “Yup, ten years old. We may never know how that old mutt got up there in the first place.”
“She’s on the third, now, you know. The current Basil is aflatulent little thing. Just something to watch out for in case you haven’t experienced him crop dusting the living room on his way to the backyard doggy door.”
“I have had the olfactory pleasure. I know he thinks it’s funny, too. Have you noticed the look on his face before he goes outside?”
“I have seen it, and it’s truly diabolical. And yet, you still go over there to play poker with her and her friends?”
“Talks about me a lot, does she?” I shifted my eyes in her direction before restarting the truck and found her looking at me.
A fiery blush covered her cheeks. “From time to time—uh, I mean, she talks about all her neighbors. You know how she is.”
“Yeah, I know.” I cast one last look in her direction before pulling onto the highway. “But I had to quit the game. Mrs. Hadley cheats; losing to her was starting to eat into my beer money,” I cracked. “She’s worse than the guys at the station. That and—never mind.”
She let out a laugh. “Oh, she’s notorious, always has been. That woman even cheats at solitaire. And is there a second reason? I need all the warnings. Gigi asked if I wanted to join the game while I was in town.”
“Well, her daughter is a little handsy, so you won’t have to worry about that. Tate calls her Handsy Hadley. Once I got divorced, it was open season. She’d grab my ass every chance she got. That woman hasn’t met an innuendo she doesn’t like.”
Her eyes widened in dismay. “I’m so sorry. No one should be touched when theydon’t want to be.”
“Yeah, and I couldn’t shove her off, or you know, defend myself beyond the words she chose to ignore. I couldn’t exactly punch her in the face like I would if it was a guy giving me trouble—anyway.” I cleared my throat, embarrassed.
“Does Gigi know? I can’t imagine her allowing that to happen.”
“No, I didn’t tell her. Mrs. Hadley is her friend, so I let it go. It was easier that way. Do you mind some music?”
She patted my arm. “Not at all.”
I turned on the radio, grateful she’d let me drop the topic. “Golden Hour” by Kasey Musgraves started playing, and it felt oddly intimate when she unconsciously began to hum along with the melody.
I focused on the road in front of the windshield and my clammy hands on the wheel. She was affecting me in ways I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.
She overwhelmed my senses. Between the soft light of the sun setting over the mountains and the sweet smell of her perfume permeating the air in my truck, I was surrounded by her. However, I was surprised at how at ease I felt despite being far outside my comfort zone.
“It’s good of you to come to take care of Gigi. I was worried watching her limp around on those crutches all week, and there’s only so much I can do to help her out with my work schedule.”
“She’s stubborn, for sure. I miss her all the time, and I’m happy she picked me to help.”
“I’m glad you’re here. How come I don’t know you? Your sisters always visit Gigi, hang out at the bakery, and Bookers.They’re around town a lot. But I rarely see you around.”
“Uh, I guess I was just busy with work and stuff. I mean, I was around. Just not as often, I guess.”
“Too bad.” I shot her a sidelong glance, pleased that the adorable pink blush still stained her cheeks despite my decision to stay away from her.
Chapter 3
Madi
Cole was right. I hadn’t spent as much time in Cozy Creek as my sisters over the last few years. I’d found it easier to go along with what Ross wanted to do, and he was a city kind of guy. Going on visits to Cozy Creek with me was the last thing he was interested in. I regretted it now that we were over. But at the time, I had looked at it as building my future with the man I intended to marry, hoping I could get him to love it here as much as I did.