Page 67 of The Bitter Heir and the Beauty

That night, after Leonie goes to sleep, I take the cookbook upstairs with me to bed and make a list of recipes to try. Maybe I can make some of them for Maddock, yes, including the flapjacks.

The memory of us in the dusty secret passages, him keeping close to me, and the warmth he radiates prompts me to kick off the bedspread. Being so close to him made me feel heady.

All those times I found his gaze straying to me made me feel like I was in the spotlight—a place I avoided, unlike others in my family. But then I was disappointed when he didn’t look, which must mean something.

I don’t want to tell him that he was right, that I do like him but just didn’t realize it. I sure liked our kiss. And I’m rather fond of his deep voice. The way he can’t keep his eyes—or hands—off me. I’m a fan of the flannel and the firefighter command in his stature and composure. He’s a protector and maybe I needed rescuing. From the state of my life, but also parts of myself. Perhaps he met his match with me and I popped his big-headed balloon of arrogance so he could join the rest of us here on solid ground.

A creaking sound comes from somewhere in the house, but I mostly ignore the old sounds it makes. It must be settling with the weather change as the seasons shift closer to winter. Southern winter, but still. Don’t be fooled, it gets cooler here, relatively speaking.

I take a photo of the flapjack recipe and send it to Maddock in a text. It’s earlier on the West Coast and he’s probably working, but maybe he’d like to know that I’m thinking of him.

Me: These will be waiting for you when you get back.

He replies less than a minute later.

Maddock: Will you be, too?

Chapter 16

Gone West

I’m leading the wildland firefighter training for our new crew stationed between Carson City and Reno. Primarily, they’ll be responding to calls from city folk who’re visiting Tahoe, don’t have four-wheel or all-wheel drive, and get stranded. But from time to time, there are real disasters and these guys will be called to the line.

I’ve been there plenty of times, always the one out front, who volunteered to do extra, or the things the others avoided—latrine duty, anyone? My hand would go up. The point was to be disciplined enough to learn. But over time, with that came some bravado because even if I didn’t know what to do, I’d still answer the call. This is why I was surprised Leyton picked me to teach.

A few nights ago, he said he wanted me here because, for some guys, that level of commitment to learning leads to being intuitive. Or they just get stuck being brash boneheads. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones because even though I’ll still be the first to try to mitigate danger, my brazen—some would say cocky—behavior burned up. Extinguished. Could be because I no longerfeel like I have something to prove. Truth is, I only care about what a woman down in Hogwash thinks of me.

I missed these mountains, but I miss Honey and Leonie more. I’ll take the muggy air and mosquitos and the bayou if it means I get them too. Even though the crew has me busy, I look forward to our daily text exchanges. Sometimes hourly. We’ve video-called a few times as well.

Honey sends me a daily photo of her and Leonie. I’m not exactly the sentimental type, but this would make for a few pages in a scrapbook. The caption would be about our time apart and then the rest of the photos would be of our happy reunion.

Trust me, I’m counting down the days until I can make silly faces at Leonie and listen to her laugh. Have my morning cup of coffee with Honey, make dinner for us, and watch the transformation at the chateau.

Also, I’m especially excited to kiss Honey again. Her soft yet hungry lips on mine were unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Forget messing up my pulse, I’m a living, breathing five-alarm fire. I’m not sure there’s anything left of the old me and I don’t mind.

It’s odd how I went to Hogwash Holler thinking I’d run the town into the ground in an act of revenge against my ex, to make her look bad and regret all of her life’s decisions. Instead, I potentially got a family out of the deal.

At least, I hope so.

My phone beeps. It’s a few hours later in Louisiana than it is here, so Leonie is probably asleep which means we can talk, er, text.

Honey: I keep hearing things outside. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the crocogator has a posse and they’re partying in the woods.

Me: Lexi and JQ warned me about swamp zombies.

Honey: I just laughed out loud and almost woke up Leonie. Jesse and I made that up to keep everyone away from Shady Lane.

Me: So you could find the treasure?

Honey: We weren’t that dumb. Okay, we were. But I still don’t think it’s there, er, here.

Me: But other people do.

I belatedly realize suggesting that someone is out there might frighten Honey. Then again, nothing scares her. The woman is unshakeable. I wish I weren’t so far away. Even though she’s tough, I like the idea that she’d turn to me for safety and security.

Honey: It’s too early for the Hogwash Hunt.

Me: Pirates aren’t known for following the rules.

---