by T. Thomas
I nodded. “It was. I didn’t know how to cope, so I used all the money I had saved up for college to take a road trip around the United States to spread her ashes in all of the places she wished she could have visited. I ended up here, and it just – the town just spoke to me.”
He smiled then. “It happens like that sometimes,” he admitted. “You just see something, and it calls to your soul.”
And the way he was staring at me, I kind of felt like he was talking about me.
A young girl walked up to our table, breaking his intense stare. She had blonde hair pulled up in a high ponytail with a bow in it that was the colors of the local high school. Her make-up was done to perfection, and the smile on her face was super bright but definitely genuine.
And her cheeks flushed at the sight of Chase. Obviously, he was the local guy everyone seemed to want.
“Um, hi, Sheriff,” she said shyly, setting two menus down in front of us. Her eyes brightened when she saw me. “Oh, you just opened the bookstore next door, didn’t you?” she asked me.
I smiled at her. “I did, yes.”
She was immediately gushing. “Oh, my God, my friend – Jamie – told me you can special order books if we request them. Can you do that?”
I laughed. “I sure can. Tell me what the book is and the author.”
Chase laughed softly as he opened his menu when she clapped her hands together, clearly excited. “There’s a new indie romance author out, and her books are to die for.” My smile widened. “She has a book called Nobody But You – her name is Taylor Jade. Mom doesn’t believe in ordering anything from Amazon, but can you order it for your store so I can finally get a copy?”
I nodded, pulling out my phone to make a note. “I will do it this evening. If she has other books—”
“She does!” the younger girl beamed.
I laughed. “I will definitely order them for you as well, and I’ll put a small stock up on the shelves as well, so if any of your other friends want them, they’re available.”
“Oh, my God – thank you!”
She threw her arms around my shoulders. Panic clawed at my throat. Max barked, moving between us at the same time Chase jumped up from his chair, gently pulling the girl back from me.
Max laid his paws on my lap and pushed his face against mine as I tried to suck some air into my lungs. I wound my arms around him, digging my fingers into his fur. “I’m okay, boy,” I whispered, my heart still knocking crazily against my chest.
“I’m so sorry,” the girl profusely apologized, looking thoroughly freaked out. I swallowed thickly, tears suddenly burning in my eyes. I hated feeling like a freak, and right then, I could feel the eyes of everyone in that restaurant on me.
“It’s okay,” I told her, trying to give her a smile, though I knew it looked extremely forced. I stood up on shaky legs, and Max pressed his body to my side. I latched onto his harness. “Can we reschedule?” I asked Chase.
He nodded, understanding in his eyes. Swallowing thickly, I quickly walked out of the restaurant. I bit back my tears, forcing a smile on my face for Jamie as I told her goodnight and began to close up the shop.
I was about to lock the front door when Chase appeared, two carryout containers in his hands. He gave me a small smile.
“I thought eating without a crowd of people would be more preferable,” he said quietly.
Oh, dear God, my heart.
We settled down in the coffee shop area at one of the small tables. “Nana said this was what you normally order unless you were feeling like something new, and she admitted that wasn’t often.” I couldn’t help it – I laughed. I was a woman of routine. “I’m sorry our dinner got ruined. Emily is very enthusiastic, and she’s a hugger.”
“So, I gathered,” I mused.
He flashed me a smile. “Excuse me for being blunt when I say this.” I tensed, slowly raising my eyes from my food to look up at him. His expression was solemn, but there was understanding in his eyes. “Whatever has you so afraid, you don’t have to be afraid of that here.”
“And who’s to say I’m afraid of something?” I asked, forking a piece of ravioli and sticking it in my mouth.
“Me,” he said bluntly. I almost choked. I quickly swallowed some water. “I served overseas in Afghanistan for three years – got shipped over right after I finished basic training.” I set my fork down, giving him my undivided attention. “I saw things I can’t unsee that I wish I could.” I swallowed thickly at the fear and horror that flashed in his eyes for a split second. “When I came home after my contract was up, I wasn’t the same person. But my sister, Farrah, finally had enough and forced me to go see a therapist. And my sister forced me to find my purpose, much like you have.”
He drummed his fingers on the table. “So, yes, whereas what I went through is probably much different than what you did, I do understand it, Meredith.”
I sighed heavily, looking out the tall, floor-to-ceiling windows next to our table. Mr. Jenkins was out walking his poodle to get his evening exercise in, just as he always did.
Everyone here was on a routine, and I craved routine – needed it after that horrific day changed my life forever.
“Come on; let’s eat,” Chase coaxed. I turned my head to look back at him, coming out of my head. He flashed me a warm smile. “By the way, is there a chance I can get you to ring up that book I saw earlier?” he asked. “I told my sister about it. She wanted to get over here to come purchase it and meet you, but she’s been busy with cows all day.”
“Cows?” I asked him, a bit confused.
He laughed. “She’s a veterinarian. Went to school and came back home to work with farm animals. Some people here swear she’s more trustworthy than a regular doc.”
I laughed. “That sounds like something Mrs. Crawford would say.”
Chase grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’re learning,” he praised. My cheeks warmed. “Mrs. Crawford doesn’t trust a doctor as far as she can throw one, and at her age, that’s not at all.”
“She swears by her herbs,” I told him. “In fact, I came down with a cold a couple of days after moving here, and she heard me sniffling in the grocery store when I was trying to buy medication – gave me some herbs and a couple of teas to drink, and the next day, I was good as new.”
“She and my mom got into it when I was a little boy,” he said, pausing to take a bite of food. “I’d fallen off my bike – broke my arm. Mr. Crawford found me crying on the side of the road, and Mrs. Crawford was with him. They took me home to my mom, and she and Mrs. Crawford had to have argued for a good fifteen minutes about taking me to the hospital because Mrs. Crawford swore the hospital was going to give me diseases.”
I laughed. “She’s a lively character.”
He grinned. “That she is, but everyone here respects her, even Mom. The entire town was extremely saddened when Mr. Crawford passed, but Mrs. Crawford just lit her sage and her herbs, and she said she would continue living for him.”
I had to blink back tears. “That’s incredibly sweet,” I murmured. “Love like that hardly exists anymore.”
Chase shook his head, his eyes burning as they met mine. I shifted in my seat. “I believe it exists everywhere – just most people are too afraid to wait to find it and instead settle.” He shook his head. “I’ve always believed that as long as I remained patient, that burning, passionate love would fall right into my arms.”
I quickly darted my gaze away from him, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. But it wasn’t from anxiety this time.
No, it was because the man sitting across from me kept saying one thing, and I felt like he was insinuating something completely different.
“Coffee?” I suddenly asked him, needing to get up and do something.
He smirked, his eyes lighting up with laughter. I huffed, unable to help myself. He barked out a laugh and leaned back in my seat. “Coffee sounds great, sweetheart.”
That name again.
&nb
sp; I quickly stood up and moved behind my coffee counter, making the same order from this morning. “By the way, sweetheart, if you’re looking for the way into my heart, you’re on the right road.” I splashed milk on the counter as my cheeks flamed. “Coffee will send you right through my heart and into my soul.”
This man.
I was raising the blinds in my coffee shop when Chase strode in, a wide grin on his face. For a week now, this had become our routine. Every morning, he came in at the same time I was raising the blinds on my windows, and he took the same coffee I’d made him the first time.
Every evening, he brought me dinner from the restaurant next door. It always contained my favorite ravioli.
This morning, he was in jeans and a camouflage hoodie, a pair of worn boots on his feet. A camouflage cap was sitting on his dark curls, shading his blue eyes.
“Not working today?” I asked him, instantly moving behind the counter to make his coffee.
He shook his head. “It’s my one day off a week,” he told me. “I was hoping I could pull you away for the day.”
I paused, the milk raised in mid-air. “Away?” I asked cautiously.
He nodded. “Away. Picnic for lunch. Take you to meet my sister since she’s working with a new horse and can’t get away.”
I stammered, unsure. I set the milk down and licked my suddenly dry lips, flattening my palms on the counter. Being in the bookstore with Chase had been a safe territory for me.
Venturing outside of the walls with him was frightening.
“Easy,” he soothed. I slowly raised my eyes to his. “I won’t hurt you, and Max will always be with us,” he promised.
Max whined and pushed at my legs. I curled my fingers into his fur, running my eyes over Chase’s face. Seeing nothing but sincerity in his gaze, I drew in a deep breath and nodded at him. “Okay,” I said softly. “Just let me check with Mrs. Eldana and make sure she’s going to be okay for the day until Jamie comes in. And I have to be back by seven to close up.”
He nodded. “Deal,” he said with a smile.
I drew in a deep breath and finished making his coffee, ringing him out before going to Mrs. Eldana. She just smiled at me from her chair behind the book counter. “Now you go on and have fun with Chase, you hear me? That boy is smitten with you, Meredith.”
My cheeks flamed, and not wanting to embarrass myself further, I quickly rushed away from her towards Chase, Max walking at my side. Chase cast me a warm smile. “Ready, sweetheart?”
I nodded, grabbing my hoodie from the coat hanger by the door, slipping it on over my head. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I told him honestly.
He held his hand out to me, offering me the opportunity to hold his hand. With my heart thumping crazily in my chest, I placed my hand in his, allowing him to link our fingers together. “I was hoping you’d say yes,” he told me as he walked past his truck, moving down the sidewalk. I instantly grabbed Max’s harness with my other hand. “Every Sunday morning, those that aren’t at church are normally at the small farmer’s market we have, selling jams, pies, cookies, and fresh vegetables. Have you been yet?”
I shook my head at him. I’d wanted to go, but the crowd I always saw freaked me out too much to ever venture in with just Max.
Chase squeezed my hand, that understanding look in his eyes again. “Hey, just keep your hand in mine and keep Max by your side, and no one will come close that you don’t want, okay?”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He gently squeezed my hand again in response. We walked in a comfortable silence as we walked towards the farmer’s market. When we got to the market, I was almost overwhelmed with all the scents. It all smelled so heavenly – so good – and I was dying to get my hands on some cakes and cookies.
“You like candles?” Chase asked me as he led me over to the first, small booth that held a ton of different candles and waxes, all in fall scents.
“I love candles,” I told him. I reached forward and picked one up, lifting it to my nose. “Oh, this smells so good,” I breathed. With a smile, I held it up, wanting him to smell it, too. He flashed me a grin before leaning down slightly to smell the candle.
“Brinley always makes the best smelling candles,” he told me. “You want this?”
I nodded. “But hold on, I’ll probably grab a couple more,” I told him, unable to help myself. I was a candle fanatic, and having candles lit always soothed my anxiety. I didn’t know why, but they did.
“I’m guessing candles are the way to your heart?” Chase lightly teased.
I blushed and shrugged. “Possibly,” I flirted, surprising myself.
He barked out a laugh and grabbed a candle, his hand still never leaving mine. He sniffed it before holding it up to my nose. “Oh, my God,” I gushed, blinking back tears. It smelled like a perfume my mother used to use during the holidays that always made her smell like a sugar cookie. “How many more of those does she have?”
“She,” a woman about my age said as she appeared behind the booth, surprising me, “has ten more. How many do you want?” she asked me.
“All?” I asked. Her eyes widened. I blushed. “It’s just – they smell like a perfume my mom used to wear around the holidays,” I explained.
Chase, surprising me, leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of my head, lingering for a moment before standing back up to his full height.
He knew.
He understood.
“Sure,” the woman said with a wide smile, turning to a box on the tailgate behind her. “My name’s Brinley, by the way. You must be Meredith. Gossip vine’s been goin’ wild talkin’ ‘bout you and Chase here,” she told me.
My face was basically on fire. “I was warned everyone would gossip,” I said, unsure of what to say in this situation.
She laughed. “Every woman within two hundred miles of here has been trying to snag our dear sheriff’s attention,” she told me, placing each candle into another, smaller box, wrapping each one individually for me to keep the glass around them from breaking. “For a minute now, I’ve been wonderin’ if he swings for the other team, if you know what I’m sayin’.”
I laughed, unable to help myself. Chase rolled his eyes. “Stop being a brat, Brinley,” he scolded her. “And tell my sister to stop running her mouth to everyone.”
Brinley laughed. “You tell your sister that yourself,” she told him, closing up the box.
He grunted in response and hooked his arm around the small box, never letting go of my hand. “That’ll be fifty even,” Brinley told me. “I normally charge twelve per candle, but since your new to town, I’ll give you a hefty discount.”
I shook my head. “No, please – what would be the full amount?” I asked her.
She waved me off. “My mind is set. There’s no changin’ it. Fifty even.”
With a sigh, I slowly released Max’s harness and dropped Chase’s hand so I could pull a fifty out of my wallet. Brinley smiled wildly at me as I passed her the bill, making sure our fingers didn’t touch. I quickly put my wallet back into my pocket and grabbed Chase’s hand again, squeezing it tightly as I gripped Max’s harness.
“Hope to see you around again, Meredith,” she told me with a wave as she turned to her next customer.
“We should cart these back to your place, and then we can come back,” Chase told me.
I nodded in agreement. As soon as we were out of the farmer’s market, I breathed a little easier, loosening my grip on his hand a little. I hadn’t realized I’d been holding it so tightly. “Thank you for being there with me,” I told him, meaning it from the bottom of my soul. “I’ve been wanting to go, but the crowds . . .”
He flashed me a grin. “I’ll come here with you anytime, sweetheart. Now come on. Let’s get these to your apartment so we can come back and fill you up with cupcakes and cookies.”
I laughed. “Are you sure that’s the true reason you want them?”
He flashed me a grin that had my soul warming. “
I plead the Fifth.”
After going back to the farmers market and grabbing more candles, cakes, and cupcakes I probably didn’t need but couldn’t resist, Chase was taking me out to meet his sister.
I was extremely nervous.
“Are you sure she’s going to like me?” I asked him. Chase had become a very soothing, grounding force in my life in such a short amount of time, and I couldn’t stand the thought that his sister might not like me.
He grabbed my hand in his and laced our fingers together. “Breathe,” he soothed. “She’s going to love you; I promise. There’s nothing to worry about; I swear.”
Drawing in a deep breath, I nodded my head. “Okay,” I whispered, trying to trust his promise.
