by Kay Correll
Like twenty minutes too close.
He couldn’t just decide to come back here. Not so close to her town. Hers. Not his. He had the rest of the country to live in. Her pulse thundered in her ears and she swallowed.
He reached out a hand toward her, almost touching her, but not quite. “I couldn’t decide if I was going to go over to Sweet River Falls and see you again. But I guess the fates have made that decision for me.”
For once, Nick thanked the fates. They hadn’t been kind to him recently, but now, with this chance meeting with Annie, he hoped his luck would change. His hand hovered just inches away from her arm, but she backed away and he let his hand drop to his side.
His heart still thundered in his chest from their chance meeting. Running into her—literally—after all this time. Fate. It was meant to be.
But the look on her face clearly showed she didn’t feel the same way about the fates. Her face held a look of anger and sadness mixed together.
Nick stood in front of her. His Annie. After all these years.
She looked down at the paper in her hand and frowned again. “Rentals?”
He couldn’t remember her frowning before. She was always his Annie with the quick smile. The bubbling laugh. The shining blue eyes.
“I need to find a place to stay until the end of the semester. I’m at a motel for now, but looking for somewhere to rent.”
A strange look came over her face when he said that. Her blue eyes clouded, and she frowned. Again. “Well, I’m sure there are plenty of places to rent here in Mountain Grove. You’ll find something.” She thrust the brochure back at him as if to rid herself of a forbidden book.
“I’m sure I will.”
Annie stood in front of him, searching his face, the shocked look still firmly etched on her own. She ran her fingers through the tumble of chin-length blonde hair framing her face. He used to do that. Run his hands through her hair. Her hair had always been so soft. And smelled like flowers after the rain. And enchanted him.
It still did.
“Nick. I’ve got to go. It was… nice… seeing you.” She said the words without an ounce of conviction.
“Maybe we could—” He reached out again.
“No, Nick. We couldn’t.” She spun around and, without a single glance back at him, hurried away down the brick sidewalk.
Chapter 3
Nora checked on the large meatloaf she’d put in the oven. It would be done in about thirty minutes. Beth and the boys should be here soon. Nothing like a family dinner to get her puttering around in her kitchen.
The kitchen door opened, and Jason entered the cabin with a burst of cold air. “Mom, I brought that loaf of homemade bread from the lodge like you asked.” He set the loaf on the counter and brushed a kiss on her cheek. “Seems like it’s been a long time since we had a family dinner.”
“It has been.” She pointed to the cabinets. “Could you set the table for me?”
“Sure thing.” He dropped his coat on a chair, reached into the refrigerator, grabbed a beer, and popped the top. After a long swig, he set it on the counter and gathered a handful of plates and silverware.
The door opened again, and the chaos that was her grandsons swept into the room. “Grams.” Trevor and Connor raced to give her a hug.
She wrapped her arms around them. This, this is what life was about. Her family. These boys. She looked over the top of them at her daughter. “You looked tired. Why don’t you sit while I finish up dinner?”
“I should help you.”
“I’m fine. You rest.”
“Hey, you put me to work.” Jason grinned as he finished setting the table.
The boys grabbed Jason’s hand. “Come on, Uncle Jason. Let’s play a game before supper.”
“You boys still have homework to do.” Beth put an end to the game-playing suggestion.
“How about I help you with your homework?” Jason led them out of the kitchen.
Beth shot him a grateful look and sank onto a chair. “I love those boys dearly, but they clearly want to see if they can exhaust me into a big pile of nothingness.”
“Raising kids is hard work.” Nora pressed a tall glass of tea into Beth’s hands. “Especially doing it mostly alone.”
“It is. But honestly, I think it’s almost easier now that Scott is gone. At least the fighting is over. And he wasn’t that much help with them anyway.” Beth sighed. “Please don’t tell me that you never knew what I saw in him, because, honestly, I don’t know what I saw in him either.”
“We all make mistakes in life. It’s what we do after we realize it that counts.” Nora put the homemade bread in the oven to warm. “So, how is work?”
“It’s going fine. I really have a good class this year. So many of them are eager to learn. A bit crazy with a room of third graders, but I do love that age.”
Nora looked doubtfully at Beth. “I’m not sure I could ever handle a room of kids that age. And I love kids.”
Beth laughed. “It’s a challenge some days. Between the class and the boys, I’m surprised I’m still sane. If I am sane…”
“You’re doing a great job. I’m proud of you. You’ve handled the divorce and raising the kids and your job, and you’ve done it well.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Now, how about we get those kids fed?” Nora peeked her head out of the kitchen. “Boys, wash up for supper.” She smiled at the commotion as they argued about who was going to make it in to get their hands washed first. Everything was a competition between those two.
Boy noise. She so enjoyed an evening of it.
After dinner, Beth helped her mother with the dishes while Jason helped the boys with their math. It was nice to have a night off from homework duty. Jason was always so patient with them, and they were crazy about their uncle.
“There, that’s the last of them.” Beth placed the last pan away in the cabinet. “Thanks for having us over. I’ve had fake dinners the last three nights for the boys. I just can’t quite seem to keep up with everything.”
“You can ask for help, you know.” Her mother eyed her over the top of her glasses.
“I just… I know. But you’re really busy, too. You have the lodge to run.”
“Well, Jason and I are always here for you if you need anything.”
“I know, Mom. Thanks.”
Beth walked over to the kitchen doorway. “Boys, five minutes. Then we need to head home.”
“I finished my math, but Trevor didn’t finish his.” Connor stood up and shoved his papers into his backpack.
“He’ll be finished in just a few minutes.” Jason sat patiently beside Trevor, their two heads bent over her son’s worksheet.
As soon as Trevor finished his homework, they headed home. The boys bickered in the back seat. “Come on, boys. Quit arguing.”
“Connor says I’m not going to make the baseball team this year.”
“Connor, quit teasing your brother.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Connor said it politely like he’d been taught, but she didn’t really believe either of the two boys would ever quit teasing each other. They were one year apart in school and hovered between best of friends and mortal enemies, depending on the day and their moods.
She got them inside and in bed and sank onto the sofa, a small glass of wine in her hand. She still had papers to grade before she could climb into bed herself.
Somehow, when she’d married the high school star quarterback a month after they’d graduated college, she hadn’t ever imagined that this is what her life would turn out to be.
Not that she was complaining. She loved the boys. At least she and Scott had gotten that part right. She loved living in Sweet River Falls and loved her teaching job. It was great being so close to her mom and Jason. The boys loved going over to the lodge. Things were mostly perfect, if a bit overwhelming at times.
She set down her glass of wine and grabbed the stack of papers. If she could finish grading these quickly, maybe
she’d have time for a nice relaxing bath before bed.
Chapter 4
The rentals Nick looked at in Mountain Grove were inadequate, to say the least. One was called an efficiency and had a hot plate and a small dorm-sized fridge. One was listed as a private bedroom but shared a bath with three college kids. A few others were okay, but he found reasons to cross each one off the list. They were not exactly what he was looking for. Not even close.
He circled another place to look at. A lodge in Sweet River Falls. Annie wouldn’t be pleased, but he probably wouldn’t run into her often.
But was that what he wanted? To not run into Annie?
No, he wanted to see her again. Talk to her. Listen to her voice. See her eyes. Those emotions he thought were long gone threatened to pulse through him again.
And he didn’t know how he really felt about that.
He glanced down at his new cowboy boots, just beginning to scuff up with one day’s wear. He smiled. It did feel right to be back in Colorado. He snatched his cowboy hat off his head and tossed it into the SUV, then headed down the road to Sweet River Falls. The lodge with the rental cabin was on the outskirts of town. Surely that would be okay with Annie, right?
Within twenty minutes he arrived in town. A new, large grocery store sat on the edge of town. He wondered if they’d put Mable’s Market out of business. He pulled onto Main Street. The town hadn’t changed much. It still had its quaint small-town ambience. New lampposts lined the street, and they’d put planters along the sidewalks. He was pleased to see that all the storefronts were occupied. He’d been secretly afraid that Sweet River Falls would go the way of so many small towns with a dying business district and empty shops. This looked like a bustling, healthy town, and it warmed his heart.
He slowly drove through town and headed to Sweet River Lodge. From what he could tell, the lodge was nestled between the Sweet River and Lone Elk Lake. Since his teaching schedule was fairly light, he hoped to have lots of time to hike around and be outside in the fresh air. When was the last time he’d taken a hike? It had been years. Probably since he’d left Colorado.
He pulled down the tree-lined road to the lodge and parked near the main office. The fresh scent of pines enveloped him as he swung out of the vehicle. A carved sign hung on a post out front pointing the way to a dining area, the lake, and cabins one through eight. He wondered how many cabins they had here. He looked up at the spectacular view of the mountains in the distance.
Yes, he wanted to rent here. It was perfect. He hoped they still had a cabin available because unless it was a real dump, he was determined to rent it. And maybe even if it was a dump.
Nora looked up from the reception desk as the bell over the front door chimed. A tall man entered and removed his hat.
He looked familiar.
Too familiar.
He crossed the distance in a few quick strides. “I’m looking to—” He stopped mid-sentence when he saw her and searched her face.
“Nora.”
“Nick.” He couldn’t possibly miss her icy tone, could he?
“I… uh… I didn’t know you worked here.” He twisted the cowboy hat he held clutched in his hands.
“I own the place.”
“You do? Oh… I…” He shifted from foot to foot.
“What are you doing here?” She thought she’d never see this man again. The man who’d broken her best friend’s heart. And she wasn’t sure that Annie had ever gotten over him. He needed to leave. And leave quickly before Annie saw him.
“I was hoping to rent one of your cabins. I saw them listed in the rental brochure.”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea.” She needed the money, but no way was she going to rent to Nick Chambers.
“I really need a place to stay.”
“Why are you even in town?” She glared at him.
“I took a teaching job in Mountain Grove.”
“Then why aren’t you looking to rent over there?”
“They didn’t really have what I was looking for.”
She’d give him that. Mountain Grove was a college town and catered to large buildings with students packed into them. It would also be hard to find a place to rent mid-semester.
But that wasn’t her problem.
“How about if you let me rent a cabin just until I can find something else? Please, Nora. I won’t cause any trouble.”
“What would Annie say if she knew you were back in Colorado?”
“She already does. I ran into her yesterday.”
Nora gaped at him in surprise. Annie knew he was in town and hadn’t told her? That didn’t sound possible.
Though Annie had known she was having the family dinner last night. She was probably waiting to tell her when they met for coffee later today.
The door popped open again with the chime of the bell, and Nora looked up. “Ah…”
This wasn’t good.
Annie stood in the sunshine spilling through the open front door.
“Hey, Nora, I thought I’d meet you here instead of—” Annie froze when she saw Nick standing at the reception desk. What was he doing here? In her town. Couldn’t he just stay in Mountain Grove? Twenty minutes away from her. That’s all she asked. Well, she’d prefer twenty hours away, but whatever.
Nick turned at the sound of her voice. “Annie.”
“Nick was just leaving.” Nora glared at him.
“I was trying to rent a cabin. I didn’t have any luck in Mountain Grove. I didn’t know Nora owned the lodge.”
“I told him to find somewhere else to rent.” Nora’s eyes flashed with protectiveness.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset anyone… I just need a place to live for a while.” His words sounded reasonable, but they held in their midst a dilemma.
There was no way she was going to let her trouble with Nick cause problems for Nora. Nora could use every rental dollar she could get during the slow season. A longer term rental would help her out. She crossed over to the desk. “It’s okay. Rent him a cabin. I know you have some openings.”
Nora looked at her skeptically. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” Nick smiled at her. That charming smile of his, not that she noticed it.
“Annie, why don’t you go on over to my cabin while I check Nick in? I’ll be over in a few minutes.”
She nodded because standing here with Nick smiling at her was not an option. “Okay.” She hurried out the door and back out into the sunshine, trying to keep her pace steady so she didn’t look like she was running away.
But she was.
Away from Nick and his smile. Away from the memories threatening to bubble to the surface.
She made herself slow down and walk along the path that wound along the river. The gurgling water did little to calm her nerves. All hopes that yesterday’s one chance meeting with Nick would be her last were dashed into pieces. If he stayed here in Sweet River Falls, she was bound to run into him now and again.
How in the world was she going to deal with that?
She’d just have to keep an eye out and try to avoid him. Hopefully, his job at Mountain Grove college would keep him busy.
Very busy.
She entered Nora’s cabin with the not-so-cleverly hidden key under the planter on the front deck. She put on the tea kettle and waited for Nora to join her.
They had a lot to talk about.
“Let’s just do a week’s rental, what do you say? That should give you enough time to find something suitable over in Mountain Grove.” Nora clicked on the keyboard, searching for an empty cabin. Rustic Haven, the one that needed the deck replaced and they hadn’t gotten around to painting the inside yet. Furthest cabin from the actual lodge and way away from her own cabin. Though it did have a nice view of the lake and he didn’t deserve a cabin with a great view. “Cabin fifteen, Rustic Haven.”
Nick handed her his credit card. “I really appreciate th
is, Nora.”
“Well, I’d really appreciate it if you’d try to avoid running into Annie. She doesn’t need you messing with her life again. I assume you’ll be busy in Mountain Grove.”
“I actually have a pretty light schedule there.”
“That’s too bad.” Nora knew she was bordering on rude but didn’t care. “Try to find something to keep yourself busy and far away from Annie.” The last thing Annie needed was Nick to come to town and break her heart again. Just seeing him had to bring up painful memories, and Annie didn’t deserve that.
“I’m not here to cause trouble.” He took the key she offered him.
“You just being here is trouble, Nick.” Nora handed him a map of the property. “Take the road out front, make a right. The cabin is by the lake.”
“I saw a sign for the dining room.”
“Yes, we have a dining room. The hours are on that map. Or you have a small kitchen in your cabin.” Not that she wanted him coming to the dining room. She didn’t much want to see him any more than Annie did.
“That will be perfect, thanks.” He started to walk away from the desk but paused and turned back. “The last thing I want to do is hurt Annie.” He walked out the door.
His words sounded sincere, but she didn’t believe one word that he said.
“Goodness, Annie. Why didn’t you tell me Nick was back?” Nora entered the cabin, shrugged off her coat, and dropped it onto a chair.
“I just found out myself. I ran into him in Mountain Grove when I went over there yesterday. I was going to tell you all about it today when I saw you.”
“I think Nick being back in town deserved a phone call last night.”
Annie sighed. “I just needed some time to process it. I was in shock. I never thought I’d see him again.”
Nora grabbed two teacups out of the cabinet. “I’m not sure why he thought taking a job so close to Sweet River Falls would ever be a good idea.”
