Page 95 of Unforgettable

Pappy loosens his grip on my shoulder and turns his focus on my dad.

“I hear ya,” Dad grumbles.

“What are you hearin’ from out West? Son, you oughta see our boy with this Landmark girl…Scarlett.” Pappy smirks. He points at me and shakes his head, his smile getting wider and wider. “She’s something special and I’ve never seen this one so smitten.”

“You’re kidding. Why am I just hearing about this?” Dad frowns, but he’s having a hard time holding it, too happy about this news.

“We’ve been a little preoccupied with more important things.” I take a long gulp of coffee. “And why don’t we talk about Pappy and the way he was turning the ladies’ eyes in Landmark?”

Pappy lets out a loud snort and his ears turn red. “Don’t know what this kid is talking about. Tell him about Scarlett!”

“Pappy’s right—she’s remarkable. Gorgeous, smart…capable of singlehandedly running Landmark Mountain on her own.”

I see her on top of me in that bubble, the way her body felt moving over mine, one of many memories of that night that I can’t stop reliving.

I exhale a long, ragged breath. “And I might’ve blown it with her already. We…had words last night. I was just getting on her good side again too.”

“I can’t imagine you blowing it—not with the way I saw her looking at you. Fill your dad in on the backstory while I’m in the hoppah,” Pappy says, standing. “All that time at the hospital and I’m about to have a medical condition of my own. Been backed up for days, say a prayer that I come out of this alive.” He walks toward the door and calls over his shoulder, “Take your time and save what I haven’t heard yet until I’m back. I’ll check and see if the queen is up while I’m gone.”

Never thought having a one-night stand would be something I’d discuss with my dad and grandpa, and it’s not like any details are given, but it’s part of our story. I couldn’t have known that one night with Scarlett would change my life…

And now I need all the help I can get to make sure I don’t lose her.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN

CONFESSIONS

SCARLETT

I wake up foul.

Too little sleep.

Angry at Jamison.

The whole thing with Danny…

I’m feeling foolish about all of it.

My to-do list is pages long. It’s been a while since I’ve had this much to do. It used to fire me up and today I just feel daunted by it, but the good news is it helps get my mind off of last night.

Barely.

After walking the dogs while it’s still dark out, I get to the lodge before the crew starts arriving to set up for the annual Easter egg hunt. We used to do it on Easter Sunday, but in the past few years, we’ve done it on Saturdays, so Bethany Christian and St. Mary’s won’t get offended when all of Landmark skips their egg hunts for ours.

It’s a big to-do. Pictures with the Easter bunny—Albert dressed in a bunny suit. Or live bunnies for those who prefer that. Callum brings over a few of his nicer goats for the kids to pet, and Lar and Mar close up the shop with a sign on their door that says,Find your Happy Cow pastries at the Landmark Mountain egg hunt!

There’s still snow on the ground around here, but that’s never stopped us. What could be better than aski down the hill and find the eggskind of day? The inside of the eggs are filled with small packaged candy, tokens for the games inside the Landmark Mountain game room, and coupons for the local restaurants and activities. Everyone who enters the hunt is given a number and at the end of the event, the big prize is a massive basket full of the best goodies Landmark has to offer. Every shop on Heritage Lane contributes to the basket, and even some off of the main street.

Right before the festivities begin, I get a text from Jamison and I read it but don’t text anything back. Not because I don’t want to, but because in the next moment, I get caught in the crosshairs of a snowball fight and end up taking on the teenage boys with a few snowballs of my own. And then we think we’re running low on baskets, but I find the stash tucked in the side room of the banquet hall, no idea how they got there.

But Jamison…I can’t seem to get away from thoughts of him. An apology is promising. I’m just not sure what the hell he was thinking, but if he can apologize about things…

Vera calls me saying I’m needed in the lodge—the family in 303 hasn’t checked out yet and they’ve already been asked twice. I’m on my way inside to give her backup, deep in thoughts of Jamison, when I feel surrounded and it’s my brothers walking alongside me without saying anything until I notice them.

“What?” I say, jumping when I realize it’s them. “And all of you? All of you at one time—what did I do to deserve this?”

Wyatt puts his arm around me. “This is always a busy day for you and we heard the Hawaiian shirt lover is out of town…what can we do?”

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