Springtime at Hope Cottage

by Annie Rains

  Josie looked down at Maddie. “I don’t know. What do you think? We’ve tasted Dawanda’s fudge, looked through the crafts, and we’ve gotten Tuck to win us a prize.”

  Maddie pointed up ahead. “There’s live music down there. Let’s go listen.”

  “A music lover, huh?” Tuck asked, weaving through clusters of people who’d stopped to chat, effectively clogging up the walkway. “My sister used to love to listen to the live music when she was young too. I’m willing to bet she’s down there right now with my nephew.”

  If Maddie really was his daughter, she had an aunt and cousin somewhere out here that she hadn’t met yet. And a second grandmother and grandfather. His mom was likely somewhere here too, teaching the community about the dances, games, and foods of the Cherokee people. His mom would go nuts over her first girl grandchild and likely insist on teaching Maddie all about her Cherokee heritage. It’s important to know who you are and where you came from, his mom had always told him. Cherokees are strong. You are strong.

  “I see some of my friends over there,” Maddie said. “I can go hang out with them instead.”

  Friends? He thought Maddie said she didn’t have any. This was great news.

  “I’m guessing you and Josie don’t need me getting in your way anyway,” she added, a slight gloom falling over her again.

  “That’s not true,” Josie objected. “But you’d probably rather be with them than us fuddy-duddies.”

  “You have to stay in your chair,” Tuck told her, bracing for an argument. “There are too many people that could knock you down out here on your cane.”

  Maddie shrugged. “Whatever you say, Dad.”

  It was just her typical sarcasm, of course. She didn’t mean it but it still knocked the breath out of him for a moment as he watched Maddie wheel herself toward the cluster of girls.

  “How’d it feel?” Josie asked, leaning into him. “To hear her call you that.”

  “She was just being a smart-ass.”

  “Even so.” Josie looped her arm through his. He liked the feel of that almost as much as hearing his daughter call him Dad.

  “I don’t need a DNA test. She’s mine. I can feel it.” He swallowed hard and then looked at Josie, who was smiling back at him.

  “I think you’re right.”

  People bumped against them as they passed, but for a moment, as he looked at Josie, they were the only ones here at this festival.

  Josie looked away first. “Hey, what’s that over there?” She pointed at a booth up ahead.

  “Oh. That’s probably Michelle Waters. She’s the editor in chief of Carolina Home magazine. She sets something up every year. Come on. I’ll introduce you to her.”

  They headed over, and sure enough, it was Michelle. Tuck had treated her once for lateral epicondylitis, otherwise known as tennis elbow.

  “Hey, hey. My favorite physical therapist,” Michelle said, offering him an easy smile. She moved her arm around for show. “Good as new, thanks to the best physical therapist in town.”

  “Glad to hear it. Michelle, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. This is Josie Kellum.” He realized his arm was still looped with Josie’s.

  From the look in Michelle’s eyes, she’d made the obvious assumption. And surprisingly, he didn’t mind.

  “Josie Kellum of Living Life magazine?” Michelle asked. “I heard you were in town. It’s so nice to meet you. Great article on Sweetwater Springs last year, by the way.”

  Tuck nudged Josie playfully. “Looks like my mom was right. You’re a celebrity around here.”

  “Far from it.” Josie turned back to Michelle. “Kaitlyn keeps a copy of Carolina Home at the inn. I flipped through it while I was there.”

  “Well, here. Take a complimentary copy.” Michelle picked up a magazine and handed it over. “We focus on everything that goes on in the state. Vacation spots, events, well-known people, people who make a difference but don’t get noticed the way they should. If it happens in North Carolina, we write about it.”

  “Thanks. I’ll take a look tonight,” Josie said.

  Tuck held back his objection, because he was vying for Josie’s undivided attention tonight.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The sun was on its descent behind the mountains, creating a neon-orange melting pot in the sky as Josie and Tuck pulled out of the Sanders’s driveway and headed back to Blueberry Creek.

  “Maddie seemed to have enjoyed herself today,” Josie said, looking over at Tuck. “You too.”

  He gave a quick nod. “It was a great day. Thanks for dragging me out.”

  “You’re welcome.” She’d noticed how Tuck had catered to Maddie today. It was more than just a friendly gesture or because he was her physical therapist. He’d played the role of father today, and he’d been a natural at it. Any girl would be lucky to have him as her dad. And any woman would be lucky to have him in her arms.

  Tuck’s gaze slid to meet hers in the dim truck as if sensing her train of thought. “You’re thinking how irresistible I am right now. Admit it.”

  She laughed. Tuck was joking around a lot more often, she’d noticed. “Getting more irresistible by the second. Thank you for winning me my first festival stuffed animal.”

  “You’ll have to keep it forever,” he said.

  She hugged it against her. “Wouldn’t dream of getting rid of it.” She didn’t let herself consider why she adored the little kitten so much. It was more than just because it was soft and cute and the first thing a guy had ever won for her.

  Swallowing, she looked outside the window, watching the sky transform by the second. “It really is beautiful here.”

  “No place on earth like this one.” He scratched his chin. “I have to confess I was miffed when a journalist named Josie Kellum wrote about my town, inviting more tourists here. Sweetwater Springs is one of the nation’s best-kept secrets in my opinion, and you outed us.”

  “Sorry.”

  He tipped his head. “Liar.”

  “You’re right. I’m not sorry. It’s been good for the town though, right?”

  He nodded. “Very. And that benefits me and my sister Halona’s business, your friend Kaitlyn’s—everyone’s. I’m glad you wrote it. And I’m glad you came here to see how great a place this is yourself.”

  “Me too.” She’d been in town for only three weeks now but already she felt at home.

  “How was your knee today? It was a lot of walking. You okay?” he asked, looking over with concern deepening the lines on his forehead.

  He was protective of Maddie for good reason. But he also looked out for Josie’s well-being. Like his mom had said the night she’d brought them stew, people needed someone to take care of them. Or maybe they didn’t need it but it sure did feel good. “My knee hasn’t given me any trouble in over a week.”

  “Great.”

  They pulled into the driveway of Tuck’s home, and he cut the engine. Josie didn’t move for a moment, unsure of where her next steps would take her. Up the stairs to her garage apartment? That’s where she probably needed to go. Inside with Tuck for a nightcap? That’s where she knew she was heading. She’d made enough excuses to distance herself from this man. She was done.

  “I need to let Shadow out,” he said.

  “She’s probably chomping at the bit to go.”

  “Probably.” He looked at her for a long moment. His eyes on her weren’t enough though. She wanted more. “The sunset is long past, but if you’re not tired, I can pour you a drink, and we can sit on the back deck for a little while.”

  “I’m not tired,” she answered quickly. Which was true. Even though she probably should’ve been exhausted after their eventful day, her body was restless.

  Tuck pushed out of his Jeep and led her inside. Shadow barked in greeting and then propped her paws on Josie’s thigh.

  “She says she missed you.”

  “You speak dog?” Josie asked.

  “Of course.” He walked through and opene
d the back door. “Go ahead, Shadow. We’ll be out in a minute.” He headed to the kitchen and retrieved a bottle of wine and some glasses. After he poured them both a generous helping, they stepped outside.

  The night had gotten cooler as the sun disappeared. Josie pressed her hips against the railing of the deck while holding her glass. Then Tuck came up behind her and bent to kiss the exposed skin of her neck. She closed her eyes, barring the beauty outside so that she could focus entirely on the feel of his mouth scraping his delicious five o’clock shadow over her skin. His hands anchored low on her waist as the weight of his body pinned her in place.

  Josie wriggled just enough to turn in his embrace and lifted her mouth to his, tasting the bittersweet trace of red wine on his lips. The kiss went on until she reached for his hand. Her heart raced with the proposition she was about to make. “I’m ready for bed now.”

  His eyes darkened as he seemed to understand exactly what she meant. She wasn’t tired, and she didn’t want to retreat to her apartment above the garage. Not this time. Tonight, she wanted to go to his bed and continue what they’d started.

  “Are you sure?” he asked, trailing a finger down the line of her jaw.

  “Very.”

  The consent was barely out of her mouth before they were kissing, hands roaming, and chasing each other into the house with Shadow following behind. Tuck closed the back door, grabbed a treat from a jar on the kitchen counter, and tossed it toward Shadow. “As promised,” he told the Lab. Then he reached for Josie and tugged her toward the hall that led to his bedroom.

  She’d already waded into deep waters with Tuck. Going any further would put her in over her head. She knew that, even as her feet continued forward. Even as she lifted her shirt over her head and moaned when he touched her body. As she traced her own fingers down the muscled contours of his chest and abs.

  She knew it, and yet, she didn’t care.

  * * *

  Birds tweeted outside the window, pulling Josie from the most amazing dream. A purple-colored bird like the one she’d seen on her hike behind the Sweetwater Bed and Breakfast fluttered ahead of her, seeming to lead her toward something wonderful.

  Curious about the little bird, Josie followed. The air was cool and fresh on her skin as she walked briskly along the yellow-brick path. She was apparently Dorothy in this dreamland, and instead of Toto as her sidekick, she had a magical purplish-pink bird. A castle appeared in the distance as she walked. The Wizard of Oz would know how to send her home.

  Josie stopped walking. “I don’t want to go home though,” she said as she looked down at her ruby-red stilettos. She had a closet full of heels in her New York apartment but none were as eye-catching as these.

  She bent her ankle to admire one and accidentally clicked the side of her left heel to her right. On a gasp, she started shaking her head. “No, no, no. I don’t want to go home. Not yet.”

  The call of birds tweeting in the distance grew louder as the purple bird zipped all around her. Looking up, she realized the castle and its wizard were disappearing. She didn’t want to go home so soon.

  “Not yet,” she moaned, curling into the pillow.

  “Josie?”

  Tuck’s voice was her final pull into reality.

  She cracked one eye, then both, blinking him into focus.

  “Good morning, beautiful,” he said with a smile.

  “I was having the weirdest dream.” Her voice was coated with sleep. She wasn’t a morning person, not until her first cup of coffee.

  “Yeah? Was I in it?” he asked, dipping to sprinkle kisses along her bare skin. She could get used to waking up like this.

  “No.” She rolled to her side and propped her body up on one elbow. “But you should’ve been…Is that coffee I smell?”

  “Yep. You were sleeping pretty good so I got up and made us breakfast.”

  Her eyes widened. “Really?”

  “Figured you’d be hungry after last night,” he said.

  “You’d be right. Let me get dressed”—brush her hair and teeth too so she didn’t scare him off—“and I’ll join you.”

  “Or…” He nipped her lower lip.

  “Or?” she asked, her body humming with a sudden need that the cooked breakfast in the kitchen couldn’t satisfy.

  “Or breakfast could wait a few more minutes,” he suggested.

  “Yes, it can.” Josie let herself fall back on the pillow. Food and coffee could definitely wait.

  * * *

  Sunday was Tuck’s favorite day of the week for so many reasons. Today it was because he had a beautiful woman in his bed and he didn’t have to rush off for anyone or anything.

  “Are we ever going to get out of bed?” Josie asked, lying across his outstretched arm. They’d had breakfast and then dove right back under the sheets.

  “Not today,” Tuck said, half teasing. “I suppose I’ll have to let Shadow out again at some point but not for a few hours.”

  Josie burrowed into the crook of his arm. “I never lie in bed all day.”

  “Too much of a workaholic?” he asked, already knowing that about her. He wanted to know more though. He wanted to find out everything there was to learn about this woman in his bed.

  “Guilty as charged,” she said.

  “Well, it’s my mission while you’re here to help you slow down,” he said, kissing her shoulder.

  “Oh, is it?”

  “Payback for dragging me out of the cozy confines of Hope Cottage for a dance and a festival.”

  Josie laughed. “Seems like we complement each other nicely.”

  “It does. So tell me about your family.”

  She turned her body to look up at him. “I’ve already told you. My mom was a single parent.”

  “Brothers or sisters?” he asked.

  “Just me.”

  “Your dad?” Tuck asked. “Or is that too personal?”

  She shook her head. “No. Dad was a financial guru in the city. He paid child support, and that was all. Mom got remarried to my stepdad when I was in college.”

  “Do you like him?”

  “My stepdad? Yeah, he’s nice. She deserves a guy who pampers her for once.”

  “So do you. I can’t believe I thought you were spoiled at first impression,” he admitted while stroking his finger along the side of her bare arm.

  “Not anymore?” she asked.

  “No.”

  She seemed to wait for him to say more. “Well, what changed your mind?”

  “You did. You’re not at all what I expected, Josie Kellum. You’re a pleasant surprise.”

  “Hmm,” she hummed, looking at him again.

  “What?”

  “I like your version of pillow talk. Makes a girl feel all mushy inside.” She sat up, revealing a bare back.

  Without thinking, he reached out and touched her. “Hey, where are you going?”

  “As my grandmother used to say, the day is wasting.”

  “Lying in bed with the guy you spent the night with is a waste of time?” he asked, trying not to take offense.

  She glanced over her shoulder. “No, that’s not at all what I meant.” Closing her eyes, she shook her head softly. “See, this is why I don’t have a boyfriend back home.”

  “Because you’re always running?”

  She opened her eyes and narrowed them at him. “I’m not running.”

  He kept his gaze steady. “Sure you are. We’re all running from something. Only a person who doesn’t want to live their life spends all their time with their head down working.”

  A muscle twitched along her cheek. He’d hit a nerve.

  “The hole in that theory is that I haven’t worked enough since I’ve been here with you.”

  Tuck grinned. “Every outing we’ve had has been research for you in some way. I’ve seen you pull that little notebook of yours out of your purse. Your brain has been on overdrive every moment.”

  “Not every moment,” she said, one corner of her
mouth lifting softly.

  He gently traced a finger along the soft skin of her back, loving every curve. This was the danger of him getting involved with someone. He invested too much, wanted too much, even if he wasn’t willing to admit it. “Spend the day with me,” he said. “Just you and me.”

  “What?”

  “And not for research or any other pretense but because you want to. I promise it won’t be a waste of your time.”

  A full smile upturned her lips. “It’s a good thing I don’t have someone like you in New York, because I’d be at the unemployment office.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m one of a kind.” He tugged her body toward him, pulling her until she was lying on top of him. Eyes to eyes, lips to lips, chest to chest, heartbeat to heartbeat. It was lucky he didn’t have someone like her who was staying, because he could fall way too easily. He’d been down this road before, and it had led somewhere wonderful. Then somewhere awful. He wasn’t ready to travel it again.

  “What will we do if I say yes?” she asked, kissing his jawline toward his ear.

  “If?” He raised a brow.

  “Fine. My answer is yes but I still want to know what I’m saying yes to.”

  “I need to see a man about a horse.”

  She pulled back and giggled. “Seriously? I’ve gone from the Wizard of Oz to a John Wayne movie in one morning?”

  Tuck swiped a lock of hair out of her face. “I’m not even sure what that means,” he said on a laugh. “But I’ve been making plans to put a few horses in the field beside the garage. For therapy purposes. A man has a couple for sale. I told him I’d take them for a ride.”

  “I’ve never ridden a horse before,” Josie admitted.

  “Well, there’s a first time for everything, right?”

  She rolled off him. “I can’t believe I’m about to say so but this sounds like fun.”

  “Fun is good. No work allowed today,” he added. And no falling any harder for the woman he was with either.

  * * *

  Josie held on to the horse for dear life. “If I fall off this thing, you will pay.”