Page 3 of Hard Road Home

“Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I guess we were never here at the same time before. I don’t really know her apart from working together these last few months. She was still a kid when I left for Canada.”

“I didn’t expect her to still be working here.”

“It works well with looking after Colin.”

“Her son?”

“Didn’t you know?”

“I wasn’t sure. She called him something else when I’ve been here. A nickname.”

Bonnie couldn’t help smiling. “Coddles. He rebelled once he turned three. Everyone has to call him Colin, including his mum.”

“They’re doing okay?”

“It’s tough, but her dad is supportive and she likes working here. She gets to meet people, which she wouldn’t if she stayed home on the farm.”

He nodded, his gaze unfocused. “I think I should sleep in here.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t get my things shifted. The inn is full to overflowing so this is the only spare. The one I’m in is your room, you should have it.”

“I don’t know how long I’ll be staying. It’d be stupid to move you out for a few weeks. I understand you plan on being here a couple more months.”

“I don’t need to go back to Canada until the beginning of September.”

“We did a show at Calgary. I meant to go visit you at the ski resort, but when I rang you’d left to come back here.”

“Your gran needed help. My contract was coming up for renewal. It worked out.”

“But you’re going back?”

It wasn’t what she wanted, not that she could tell Xander. “They said they’d have me back. It’s a big resort with three top-class restaurants, plus the usual bars and cafes. They’d find a place. I’m not fussy.”

“You’re into snow sports?”

She laughed. “Nope. Still two left feet. It’s a nice place with nice people. I like the crew.”

“Fair enough.” He picked up the shirts from where she’d dumped them on the bed. “We’ll take these back and I’ll bring my stuff around.”

She followed him from the room, pushing aside the half-remembered desire to follow him to the ends of the earth. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. I’ll hardly be in my room, anyway. I have the concert to get organised. The roadies will arrive in a week.”

“Where are the other guys in the band?”

“Staying at the pub on the mall. We decided a few years back, it would be better. Leave me more time for the grandparents.”

It seemed like he was over-explaining. “It would have been a squeeze to get them in anyway. Most of the rooms were booked twelve months ago by people who attended last year’s festival.”

“Not surprising. Better get moving. I left my gear at the pub ready for tonight and the guys are expecting me.” He shoved her shirts back into the half-open drawer and pushed it closed. “Are you coming tonight?”

“Yes. Don says he can handle any late check-ins.” It’s not like it was all about him. She would have gone anyway for the sake of the community spirit. Not that she had a reason to make excuses.

He hefted his backpack over one shoulder, his lean frame stronger than it looked. “I’ll drop my bags in the other room and head off. Catch you later.” A flash of his brilliant smile and he was gone. Bonnie sat on the bed and stared at the space where he’d been. It had been four years. Plenty of time to get over him. Except that a hundred years would never be enough. Especially when he didn’t seem to realise they weren’t an item anymore. Or was he treating her like a friend?

Friend might even be worse.

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