“And you’re a painter?”
“No. I’m a gallery assistant in Manhattan. The summer camp will actually be my first commission job as a painter.”
I kicked off my wet boots and socks, and rested my feet up on the coffee table. “What about your parents? Are they from New York too?”
She walked back into the main room and narrowed her eyes on me. “Do you always ask this many questions?”
“I didn’t think I was. They’re just the basics, Tia. You can ask me the same amount if you want.”
She sank down onto the other sofa, pulling up her knees up to her chin. “I don’t need to. I already know your basics.”
“Oh, really? You think you’ve got me all figured out, do you?” I glanced up at the clock on the wall. “You only met me a couple of hours ago.”
“I’m pretty good at figuring people out.”
“Well go then. Impress me.”
She flashed me a sexy, mischievous smile. “Your name is Colton Haxley. You’re the Chief Ranger of Bluerock. You were born here and your parents live nearby too. You’re an adrenaline junkie. My guess is, when you’re not working, you’re hanging off the edge of a mountain or bungee jumping to your death.”
“Not bad. But none of that’s a secret.”
Her eyebrow raised up in challenge. “You want something more?”
God, did I. Give me everything you’ve got, Tia.
She stared me down with those hypnotic eyes, figuring me out. I could feel her searching me, digging beneath the surface for something hidden far away.
Tia nibbled on her bottom lip and giggled. “Fuck. You’re right. I got nothing.”
I chuckled at her and relaxed back again. “Phew. I was worried for a second then that you were gonna steal all my mystery.”
“Give me some time, and I’ll have you all figured out.”
I flashed her a flirty smile. “Maybe I’ll have you figured out first, beautiful Tia Lopez.”
She rolled her eyes, resting her head back on a cushion. “Are you like this with all your guests?”
“Like what?”
“Stupidly charming.”
“Well, Mrs Rayfair called me a selfish pig tonight, so what do you think?”
She laughed, sending a bolt of electricity up my neck. It was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard. All I wanted to do was keep making her laugh, smile, and talk. Something told me that on a regular day, Tia was like her own little hurricane. Those sly looking smirks were enough proof for me that this girl spoke her mind and didn’t put up with bullshit. Maybe that would have scared most men off but not me, and not tonight. I craved that sassy storm to distract us both from the real one above our heads.
I could see her relax with every passing second. She looked up at the TV, rewatching the game highlights. “You had money on this game?”
“Uh huh. I was losing before I found you. Like I said, you’re good luck.”
She scoffed.“Well, I wouldn’t be placing all your bets on me, if I were you. Tonight’s been proof of my bad luck.”
I frowned at the comment. “How can you say that? You’re safe, healthy and alive. And you got a free novelty sweater out of it all.”
She giggled, snuggling down into the cushion. “Well, I guess it’s not the worst night of my life then.”
“And you got to meet me. You’re very fortunate, Tia. I’ve never been blessed with meeting me.”
She laughed a little louder, tugging at my heartstrings. “I’ll try to remember that.”
We both looked up at the TV as the sports news turned into the weather updates. It was late. Way past midnight, but the local news would bring updates all through till the morning.
“Can I ask you something, Colton?”
“Anything.”
She fiddled nervously with the cushion zipper, a worried look on her face. “Will the storm destroy the summer camp? It’s not even totally built yet, is it?”
“You’re worried you won’t have a job tomorrow?”
“Should I be?”
I took a deep breath, trying to predict the damage we’d face tomorrow. “It’s in a good location, so I doubt the river hit it. That being said, half built structures are the first to go in these kinds of winds.” I smiled reassuringly at her. “No point worrying about it now, darlin’.”
“No, I guess not.” She glanced up at the TV again, her eyes full of unease.
I looked up at the screen myself, taking note of the details running across the bottom. It was the usual. Closed roads, damaged properties, power cuts. We would have our work cut out for us with the clean up alone. But that was the good thing about living in a small town. Everyone chipped in and everyone helped each other out. No matter what the damage was, we would have it taken care of in no time.
I glanced back over to Tia, about to offer her some more reassurance, but she was fast asleep. It was understandable after the night she’d had. She was exhausted. Hell, so was I. But I couldn’t deny the satisfaction I felt knowing that she was comfortable enough to sleep here with me.
Tia came across as a person who valued her personal safety. Perhaps tonight wasn’t the first time she’d come face to face with danger. I suspected as much, when she instinctively kept that poker in her hand the entire drive up here, but when I saw the fear in her eyes at the unlocked door, well, it didn’t take a genius to connect the dots.
The first time I clocked eyes on her, all I saw was absolute terror. But as the night went on, Tia began to relax with me. That sweet smile. That gorgeous laugh. So much so, that she had felt safe enough to drift off by my side.
I got up and dug out a blanket from under the information desk. Being careful not to wake her, I gently lay it over her curled up body. She sighed a little at the warmth, and I felt the corner of my mouth curl up. She really was beautiful. The fates had well and truly blessed me tonight.
But I wasn’t a fool. I knew my luck would run out sooner or later, just as it always did.
The Rayfairs would leave, only to return next year to cause me more headaches. The money in my pocket would soon but spent up on the storm’s aftermath, leaving me to stretch the park budget to its limits once again. And beautiful Tia would leave. Back to New York. back to her fancy life in the city. Far away from the small town and the wildness of the Rockies.
It rang a familiar bell in the back of my mind.
I shook away the dark memory and lay back down on the sofa, attempting to focus all my attention on the TV. No matter how hard I tried though, my eyes kept drifting over to her, fast asleep in my home.
Fuch, yeah. Fate had definitely spoiled me tonight.
Chapter Seven
Tia
My eyes fluttered open to the cheery news anchor reading out last night’s lotto numbers. Before she even got to the last ball, my body sprung up off the sofa. For a moment, I had completely forgotten where I was, and by the time my brain caught up to speed, my muscles had already flooded back in with panic.
I glanced around the ranger station, taking deep breaths, reassuring myself that I was safe. The dawn had filled the place in a warm glow, and the fire was nothing but ash and embers. When my eyes hit the sofa by my side, I froze.
Colton was fast asleep. His tall frame was far too small for the loveseat, and his limbs hung lazily off the edges. But he was completely out cold. His broad chest dipped up and down, steadily.
Had I slept by this man’s side all night? It wasn’t the first time I’d woken up next to a man I barely knew, but after the night from hell, four weeks ago, I had become increasingly picky about my sleeping habits.
After Lily’s death, I refused to have anyone in the apartment with me at night. Friends offered to stay, or invited me to crash at their place until I felt safe again. It wasn’t going to happen though. I needed to know I was completely alone. I would lock the place up tight with my three newly installed locks and grab the couple of hours rest that my mind would allow.
It was a miracle alone that I
had managed to sleep here without a single lock on the door, never mind the stranger by my side. But perhaps that was why I’d rested so easily. Something about Colton made me feel truly safe. Had any threat come smashing through that door, he would have risked his life to keep it from me. Were there really men in the world like that? Selfless and brave to the point of stupidity? In all my twenty-five years, this was the first one I’d ever found.
But I wasn’t looking for a hero. No matter how gorgeous he was.
I crept around the coffee table, careful not to wake him, and dashed into the kitchen. My clothes were hung on the back of a chair, clean and dry. Colton must have dealt with it as I slept. My jeans had weathered the mud well. They looked as good as new. My shirt, on the other hand, had a huge tear down the side. My mind drifted back to where I might have torn it, but I didn’t want to delve on the trauma of last night. Instead, I tossed it in the trashcan by the door.
I pulled my jeans up over the tight pants I was already wearing and squished my feet back into the mud covered boots. They were still filthy, but dry, and I needed to get out of here fast. I couldn’t risk Colton waking up before I was gone.
I knew exactly what would happen if I did. He was far too charming and hospitable that he would no doubt offer me breakfast and maybe even a ride into town. And whilst it didn’t sound like a bad thing, I knew what would follow. The way Colton had looked at me last night. The way he stroked my cheek. The way my name rippled across his tongue. It didn’t take a genius to feel the air change in here as the night went on. Had we not been so exhausted, I was sure the conversation would have continued and his flirtation only grown.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be against it. Afterall, he was a very attractive and decent man. But I was in no state to walk down that path right now. I had to focus on my reasons for really being here. And although the universe seemed set on pushing me off course, I wasn’t backing down just yet.
I spotted my cell phone on the kitchen table and rushed over to it, hopeful of any sign of a signal.
Just one bar, please.
My joy faded fast when I couldn’t even get the damn thing to switch on. I double checked that my credit card was still inside the cover and made a mental note to buy a new charger as soon as I came across a store. Stuffing the phone in my new sweater, I headed for the front door, but Colton’s desk was still pressed up firmly behind it.
Shit.
If I tried to move it, I’d no doubt fail and wake him up with the noise. Glancing around the station, I tried to find another escape route. I stopped, hearing a laugh in the back of my mind. I was so stupid. This wasn’t just a ranger station. It was a visitors centre and a gift shop. Not to mention, Colton lived here! All that in one building, there had to be another door somewhere.
I snuck through to the gift shop, scoping it out. And there it was. Between the bookcase and the fishing poles. A fire door. Part of me felt betrayed that Colton hadn’t mentioned it when I freaked out about the security of the place. I didn’t have time to dwell on that now though.
I braced myself for an alarm to ring out at it being opened, but there was nothing. Letting out a breath of relief, I carefully closed it behind me and relished in the crisp forest air.
The sun was peeking out over the mountains, and the birds sang as though nothing had ever happened. In the distance though, I could still hear rushing water down in the valley below. The river might still be high, but at least the sky was clear, and the morning, bright and beautiful.
I had never been the outdoorsy type. There was no such thing as vacations when I was a kid, and the furthest I had ever been before this trip was Pennsylvania. But looking out on the lush forest, nestled in the gigantic mountains, it was breathtaking. I could finally see why Lily had loved this place.
I rounded the station, passing Colton’s truck and a wooden sign leading to the campsite. It was at that moment that I realized, I had no fucking clue where I was going. This really was the middle of nowhere. And with no phone or any directions, I was lost before I even stepped ten feet away from the station.
A faint yapping noise grabbed my attention, and when I turned around, a small brown dog raced towards me and jumped up at my legs.
“Good morning!” The woman from last night called over to me as her husband loaded up a dark blue SUV.
The little dog by my feet, wagged its tail and nipped at my finger tips. “I didn’t recognize her with all that mud washed off.”
She gushed a little, picking up the excited pup. “Well, I did the best I could. We will have to get her in the groomers as soon as we’re home. Not to mention a dietician, and the doggie yogi. She’s riddled with anxiety, poor baby.”
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. Talk about a pampered pooch.
“We didn’t get a chance to properly meet last night. I’m Quinn Rayfair.” She gestured back to the car. “And this is my husband, Barry.”
“Tia.”
I looked up past the SUV and spotted the small cabin they had stayed in last night. It was up a small slope, hidden away under giant fir trees. A hand painted sign poked out of a small flower bed by the porch. Rabbit Hut.
Cute.
Quinn caught me staring and rolled her eyes. “It was a ghastly night’s sleep. The whole place was filled with dusk. Next year, I’m booking for Europe. I’m done with this place.”
“Oh, come on honey. We’ve had some wonderful times up here. One bad trip isn’t worth getting upset about.”
“Wonderful times? You mean all the activities you like to do. There’s only so much hiking a girl can do, Barry. Kiki was so sick of it, she ran away!”
I cringed as the argument grew louder. I was desperate for Colton not to hear. “Could I possibly get a ride off you guys?”
Barry flashed me a grin. “Absolutely, Tia. Hop in.”
* * *
The drive to town got worse by the second. Quinn and Barry argued the entire time and Kiki howled in the back. By the time I saw the sign for mainstreet, my head was pounding.
The first building we approached was an old boxcar diner. My stomach growled at the sight of it, and I yelled over the noise to Barry, “You can let me out here.”
Quinn made a revolted sound and looked back at me. “Really? There’s a wonderful lodge by Shard Lake. You’ll get a lovely hotel suit, and the food there is at least edible.”
“This is fine. I think I saw a motel on my way over here last night. I’ll make my way there after I’ve eaten.”
She made the same disgusted sound, along with a shocked laugh. “You mean the one on the highway? That place looks like something from a horror movie.”
“She’s right,” Barry added. “You can do better than that. I thought you had money? Didn’t you book the Marigold?”
Urgh. These people were total snobs. And no, I didn’t have money. My accommodation had been paid for by my new boss. I opened my door and forced out a polite smile. “Thanks for the ride.”
I slammed it shut and watched the car drive away. My mouth watered as I bolted over to the old diner and tried the door. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until now. But the place was closed, despite what the opening times read.
Across the street, I spotted a small bakery and made my way over. Turning the corner to the front of the store, a gasp escaped my mouth.
A huge oak tree had fallen from the town square, smashing on top of two cars. Further down, a street light had crashed through a bookstore window, and part of the town hall’s roof was completely gone. Debris littered the street, and the small park in the town square was now a huge, muddy swamp.
Although most of the town appeared shut, the streets were still busy. Workmen were already winching the tree out of the way, and a group of men climbed up ladders to access the broken roof. Outside the bakery, two women handed out hot drinks and cookies. And despite the damage, I couldn’t help but giggle at a group of children, splashing around in the flooded park, dressed in raincoats and bright rubber boots.
I wandered over to the older lady, who was handing out the coffees. “Excuse me. Are you open?”
“Not today, sugar. Grab a coffee and a cookie though.”
Before I could respond, she thrust a cup into my hand whilst the other lady handed me a flower shaped cookie. “Oh, um thanks. How much do I owe you?”
She shook her head and carried on handing out drinks. “No paying today. They’re on the house.”
“Really?” I wasn’t used to all this small town generosity. From Colton giving me my pick of the clothes rails, to the warm coffee in my hand. Kindness of strangers was a whole new concept for me. I didn’t want to appear too much like a tourist and shook the amazement from my face.
“Are you all right, sugar?” she asked. “You look a little lost.”
Was it really that obvious? “Do you know where I could buy a charger from around here?”
She furrowed her brow. “A charger?”
“Yeah, you know, for my phone?”
She continued to look at me with a blank expression. “A charger? For your phone?”
“Yes.” Why did she act like I was speaking a different language?
“Well, maybe a phone store?”
“Great.” I smiled back. “Where would I find one?”
“Candace, maybe. It’s the next town over. About a thirty minute drive. That’s if the roads are open yet, of course.”
There was no way I was going to another town. I had only just arrived in this one. “There’s nowhere in Bluerock I can buy one from?”
“There is a store up on Kane Street that sells TV’s. Maybe they would have them.”
“Oh, awesome. Where would I find that?”
She chuckled a little at the question. “Oh, that place won’t be open today, sugar. You’ll be pushed to find anywhere open today. You know, we had a little weather last night.”
Irritation rose up the back of my neck. A little weather. “You don’t say.”
Lost at Heart: A Steamy Small Town Romance (Bluerock Series Book 2) Page 5
