Page 2 of Come Around
“Don’t be so sure,” I reply. “Not everyone gets hit with the Fit Mountain curse like you two did.”
The “curse” is what locals call the tendency for mountain men to fall hard and fast when they meet their match. One day they’re normal, the next they’re obsessively in love and acting like cavemen. It happened to my dad with Lainey, and to several other men in town. I always thought it was bullshit, just an excuse for grown men to act like possessive idiots.
“You’ll see.” Dad takes the stool next to me and claps a hand on my shoulder. “When it hits you, you’ll understand.”
I roll my eyes again, but there’s a small part of me that envies what they have.
Even with all of Highland Rye’s success, I still come home to an empty house, and sometimes that emptiness feels like it’s inside me too.
But I don’t say any of that. Instead, I decide to change the subject.
“How’s the baby?” I ask Lainey. “Still cooking nicely?”
Lainey gives me a look that says she knows exactly what I’m doing, but she lets me change the subject.
“Your future sibling is doing great. Doctor says everything looks perfect. Twenty weeks along and growing right on schedule.”
Dad’s face softens as he looks at her belly. “Still can’t believe we’re having a baby.”
“Believe it, mister.” Lainey grins. “This little one’s going to have you wrapped around their tiny finger.”
I smile at their happiness, even if the conversation about settling down made me restless. Maybe I should head home and work on some new songs. The label wants material, and sitting here watching my dad and my best friend be disgustingly in love isn’t exactly inspiring.
“I should probably get going.” I stand up and toss a ten on the counter. “Thanks for the coffee, Lainey.”
“But you barely even touched it.” She frowns. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, I promise,” I tell her. “I’m just tired from the tour.”
My Dad claps me on the shoulder. “Take care of yourself, son.”
I’m already turning toward the door when the bell chimes again.
And that’s when the world stops. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen has just walked into the diner.
She’s petite, with curves that make my mouth go dry. Her long blonde hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, and when she turns, I see that her eyes are a brilliant green, like emeralds.
Suddenly, I can’t move. Can’t breathe. Can’t look away as the woman —my woman, something inside me snarls— walks to the counter, her hips swaying in a pair of jeans that should be illegal. My heart slams against my ribs as one word thunders through my head, drowning out everything else.
Mine.
“Hey, Mike,” she says to the cashier. Her voice is musical in a way that makes my dick ache. “Just the usual, please.”
The cashier—Mike, apparently—smiles at her.
“Coming right up, Sami.”
Sami. My woman’s name is Sami.
I hate that Mike knows her name. I hate that he gets to smile at her like they’re friends. I hate every man who’s ever looked at her.
What the fuck is happening to me?
I’ve seen beautiful women before. I’ve had supermodels throw themselves at me after shows. But this woman? She’s different.
She’s...everything.
“Um, hellooo?” Lainey snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Axel? What the heck is wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
