Her Maine Attraction: A Small Town Romance (Pine Cove Book 1)

by Rebecca Gannon

  “Why wouldn’t you tell us?”

  “Because I feel like a complete fool. Again. I fell so hard and fast for him, and now I’m just…I don’t know. I’m usually the one with the ‘fuck men’ attitude, and the one who never cares. But I care.”

  “I’m sorry, but no,” Ash says. “Ally, we know you. We know you crave love like the rest of us. You’re human. You’re a woman. Don’t be afraid to feel. Please, don’t be afraid to feel. You’ve been living your life by yourself for as long as I’ve known you, and even if things turn out for the worst, I never want to see you shut yourself off again. You need to live, damn it. You need to love, and you need to feel pain. You can’t have one without the other. It’s the delicate balance we all deal with every day. It’s what you choose to focus on that makes the difference. Choose life, choose happiness, and choose you.”

  Tears that I didn’t even know formed fall from my eyes. I haven’t heard Ashley say something so serious since the day I told them all about my dad in high school. She had this fierce, determined look in her eyes when she told me I had them now to help me through anything I needed.

  Wiping my cheeks, I take a deep breath and look at my three best friends. They all share the same watery eyes and looks of agreement.

  “Okay,” I whisper. “I hear you.”

  “But do you understand me?”

  “Yes, I do. I don’t want to go back to how I was.”

  “Good.” She nods, wiping her eyes. “Now, let’s get out of here before we all have breakdowns in the middle of this café.”

  Standing, we bring our plates back up to Courtney and say our goodbyes. Mel drops me off at The Rusty Anchor to pick up my car before we head back to the cottage for lunch and cocktails out in the backyard.

  “I seriously love it here, Ally. I can’t believe you found this place,” Mel says, gazing out at the boats sailing by.

  “I know, and Dottie is so sweet, too. We sat together on the porch when I first got here and drank tea and ate pie. Then I had her come back a week later to teach me how to make it because I needed another blueberry fix. She’s one of those old gossiping biddies, but in the cute, small-town charming way.”

  “Dottie sounds like a cool old broad.” Ash smiles.

  “She is. I should call her again to come down for an afternoon. I know she misses her house, and I want her to see she left it in good hands.”

  “Where is she?”

  “She moved in with her daughter and family an hour north of here.”

  “You should buy this place from her,” Ellie says casually.

  I can’t say that thought hasn’t crossed my mind. More times than I can count over this past month, actually.

  “I thought about it. But I don’t know, that’s a lot of responsibility.”

  “True.” She nods.

  I want Pine Cove to be my new home, but the truth is, I had a whispered thought in the back of my head that with how good things were with Jake, we’d eventually move in together. Buying a house would be pointless then.

  Shaking those thoughts from my mind, I take a huge gulp of my drink and lean back in my chair.

  The thought has crossed my mind to ask if they wouldn’t mind staying in tonight, but I wouldn’t do that to them. The three of them drove up here for the weekend, and I’m not going to keep them holed up in my house just because my heart feels like it’s being squeezed by a vice.

  I left my phone inside, so when we come in to start getting ready for dinner, I cautiously chance a look at it.

  Shit. He texted.

  Taking a deep breath, I swipe it open.

  Hey, darlin’, what time is dinner tonight?

  Is he fucking serious right now? Nothing for over a day, and this is what I get?

  Nope.

  Fuck that.

  “Change of plans. We’re going to the bar again.”

  “What did he say?” Ellie asks, nodding at my phone.

  Reading them the message, their faces reflect my same reaction.

  “I’ll go get the wine. You go pick out a hot outfit,” Ashley tells me.

  “Yup. I’m probably going to need a whole bottle.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing you bought the whole damn liquor store in anticipation of our arrival. I was offended at first, but not anymore.” She smiles, heading into the kitchen.

  Downing two glasses while we get ready, I decide to go with a little black dress that shows a lot of leg. I curl my hair in big waves that fall down my back, and I do a subtle smoky eye so my blue eyes look even bluer. Finishing off my look, I smooth on a bold, dark red lipstick, and slip on a pair of black wrap-up heels.

  Twirling in the mirror, I smile. I look like a vampiress ready to go out and devour her prey. And I fucking love it.

  “Holy shit, Ally. You look hot as hell.”

  “Thanks, El.” I smile, pouring myself another glass of wine as the others come into my room. “You all look hot, too. Damn, this town definitely hasn’t seen a group like us before,” I say with a laugh.

  “Well, it’s good to see you’ve relaxed a bit,” Mel says, eyeing my glass.

  “Yup. This is my third glass, I feel sexy, and I want to dance. And maybe flirt with Alex a little.”

  “He’s hot,” Mel sighs, biting her lip.

  “Shit, Mel, go for it! I bet he’d give you a ride on the back of his bike if you asked.” I wink.

  “Yeah, no. That’s okay.” She laughs.

  “Oh my god, Mel, live a little!” Ash yells, throwing her hands up.

  “Alright, enough about me. Let’s just go. I’m driving since Ally’s already on her way to drunk.”

  “Not drunk. Tipsy. There’s a difference.”

  “Whatever you say, honey.”

  * * * *

  Pulling up to the bar, I check my phone and see that Jake has called twice and texted three times. Not even opening them, I slip my phone back into my purse and get out of the car.

  Walking into The Rusty Anchor, every head turns to us like last night, and I don’t blame them for staring because we look hot as hell.

  I keep my head held high as I make my way over to the same table we had yesterday, refusing to let anyone think I’m less than fine. I don’t know who knows what in this fishbowl of a town, but I’m not letting them see that their precious townie Jake has fooled me. I may feel weak on the inside, but I’m not letting anyone see that. I’ve had a lot of practice over the years.

  “Wow, we sure know how to make an entrance.” Ellie laughs. “I wish we got this much attention back home.”

  “I’ll get the first round,” I offer, making my way up to the bar, smiling at Alex.

  “Well, well, well, two nights in a row. I feel honored.”

  “Yes, I thought I’d grace you with my presence again.” I smile.

  “You look beautiful as always.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Same drinks as last night?”

  “Yes. And please make mine like you did last night, it was the best I’ve ever had.”

  “Now, sweetheart, I know I would be, but you haven’t been falling for my good looks or charm.”

  “What charm?” I scoff.

  “Wow, wound me further,” he says in mock hurt.

  Smiling freely for the first time all day, I take our drinks back to the table and hold mine up to toast. “Okay, ladies, we are here tonight to have fun and forget about boys. Cheers!”

  “Let’s get fucked up!” Ash exclaims, throwing her head back laughing, getting the attention of the surrounding tables.

  And that’s how the next few hours go for us. We drink, yell, laugh, and dance. Jake only crosses my thoughts every other second instead of constantly, so I think that’s a major improvement.

  “Okay, I’m getting another. Anyone need one yet?” I ask.

  “No, we’re good,” Mel answers, pointing to their full glasses.

  “’Kay, I’ll be back.”

  Sitting up on one of the bar stools, my dress rid
es up my thighs, exposing even more of my legs than before. Crossing them, I can feel the eyes all around me slowly raking up my body, eating up my bare skin like it’s theirs to have. Too bad for them, though, because it’s not.

  Leaning on the bar, I wait for Alex to see me and come over. “Another?” he asks, his eyes darting down to my chest in my low-cut dress.

  “Yes, please. Just for me, though.”

  As I’m watching him make my drink, I start to feel a tingling sensation creep up my spine, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand.

  Pushing my drink towards me, Alex looks over my shoulder and smirks. “Looks like your man is here.”

  “I don’t have a man,” I state firmly, squeezing the lime into my drink.

  “Well, Jake’s here regardless.”

  “What?” I ask, my eyes widening.

  Spinning on the stool, I meet his eyes from across the bar and I feel my heart clench in my chest. I can feel his gaze burning into me from here.

  Keeping my face neutral, I watch every stride he takes towards me – a wild and untamed aura cloaking him. But the closer he gets, the faster my heart beats, and the harder it is to hide my reaction.

  Holding me captive, he weaves through the people and tables separating us, his eyes never wavering from mine.

  When he’s only a few feet from me, he looks over my shoulder and growls. “Fuck off, Alex.”

  What the hell is he mad about?

  Starting at my feet, Jake rakes his eyes up my body, taking in all of my exposed skin. Closing the distance between us, he leans forward, and cages me in against the bar with his arms.

  “You haven’t been answering me,” he says, a hardness in his voice.

  “Neither were you,” I shoot back, not willing to give in to him.

  “I need to talk to you.”

  “About what?” I ask innocently, tilting my head to the side.

  “You already know about what.”

  “Oh, do I? If I do, it’s certainly not because you told me.” My eyes blaze with a new found anger I feel bubbling in me now that he’s standing in front of me. “You lied to me. You hid her from me. Do you want her? Just tell me and I’ll leave. I don’t stay where I’m not wanted.”

  “Darlin’, you don’t understand.”

  “Don’t call me that,” I spit back. “Not anymore.”

  Leaning in, his hot, sweet breath sends a shiver down my spine as he whispers in my ear, “You’re sexy when you’re mad at me, darlin’. It makes me want to run my hands up your smooth legs and under your dress to the place I know is already ready for me.”

  Holding back a moan, I straighten my spine and push him away. “I’m not playing games with you, Jake.”

  “Neither am I. Your dress is so fucking short every man in here has already fantasized about lifting it that last little bit to see what color lace panties you have on.”

  “Stop. Just stop. You have no right to be mad at what I’m wearing.” Shooting my eyes around the bar, I see half of the people in here are staring at us. “Everyone’s staring. If you want to talk, we can go outside.” Pushing him away, I step down from the stool and make my way towards the front of the bar and out the door, all the while feeling Jake’s eyes glued to my body.

  I walk down the side of the building before I turn to face him, crossing my arms over my chest. “Well?” I ask, waiting for him to say something. But he doesn’t. He just stares. “Who is she, Jake?”

  “My ex.”

  “That’s all I get?”

  “She showed up at my parent’s house yesterday looking for me. I refused to tell her where I lived, so I met her in town. We just had dinner.”

  “HA! Okay, Jake. You just had dinner, and chose not to tell me. And then proceeded to not answer any of my messages.” Shaking my head, I turn my back to him to take a deep breath. “I don’t forgive cheaters, Jake.”

  Grabbing my arm, he spins me back around. “I didn’t cheat on you, Ally. I’d never hurt you like that.”

  “Well, you’ve already hurt me. More than I’ve ever been before.”

  A pained expression crosses his eyes and he lets go of my arm. “I shouldn’t have come tonight,” he murmurs, backing away from me.

  “No,” I say firmly, “you don’t get to do that. I’ve spent the entire night and day wondering if we were over, and wondering if we were ever even together. Do you love her? Are you back with her?”

  He barks out a laugh. “I wouldn’t get back with her if someone paid me.”

  “Then why can’t you tell me anything?! Why are you always holding back? I’ve told you things that I’ve never told anyone, and you won’t let me in, not even a little bit. Why won’t you ever talk to me?”

  “Because she’s the one who fucked me up!” he yells, raking his hands through his hair. “She broke me. And I swore I wouldn’t let another woman have the power to do that again.”

  “Then what have we been doing?” I ask, throwing my arms out. “What has all of this been to you?”

  “I had to listen to her apologize to me tonight,” he says, not answering me. “The person I once loved and gave up everything for, had the fucking nerve to think I needed her apology. Do you want to know why I hate her? Why I’m so fucked up?” He takes another step towards me and I take one back, seeing the fire in his eyes.

  “I caught her and my best friend fucking in our bed. I came home early on leave and decided to surprise her. But it turns out she had the surprise for me. I followed her to Boston after high school. I was pre-law for her. And then when I was too much of a coward to tell her I didn’t want to go to law school, I joined the Navy. I gave her everything for eight years. We were going to get married–”

  “Married?! She was your fiancé?!”

  “And do you want to know why she was apologizing to me all these years later?” he asks, ignoring another of my questions as his eyes burn into mine.

  “Why?”

  “Because she thinks she finally understands how much she hurt me. But she doesn’t know. Going from man to man and never finding love isn’t the same as getting your heart ripped out from your chest and thrown into a shredder.”

  “Why should I believe you? How do I know you haven’t been waiting for her to come back? Or just biding your time with me?”

  “Are you fucking serious?” he growls. “I don’t want her. I want you. I need you. She came here asking for another chance and I said no.”

  Seeing red, I curl my fingers into my palms, trying to hold in my anger. “Why should I believe you?”

  “I’m not your dad, Ally. I’d never lie to you,” he says, stalking forward until I’m up against the side of the bar.

  “How dare you! You don’t get to throw that in my face!” I yell, pushing him away from me. But he just pulls me back and pins me against the wall.

  “It’s the truth. I’m not your dad. I’m not going to lie to you. I’m not going to pretend I’m something I’m not. I didn’t tell you about her because I didn’t want you to see me as weak. I want you to see me as the man you can count on, and the man who would do anything for you. Because I will.”

  “Showing vulnerability isn’t weakness, Jake. Telling you about my dad didn’t make me feel weak, it made me feel closer to you.”

  “I’m not built that way.”

  “So, what? You want me to understand all of this and forgive you? And then expect to never have you open up to me because it makes you feel weak? That’s bullshit. No,” I say, pulling away from the wall and walking away. But Jake pulls me back again.

  “I’m not letting you walk away from me, darlin’.”

  “You can’t stop me. I’m done, Jake.” I try and get out from his grasp, but I can’t.

  “No, you’re not.”

  “I’m not staying with someone who won’t talk to me about anything remotely emotional. You never tell me how you feel!” I yell in his face.

  Breathing hard, he pins me with his stare, a battle of wills that I refuse to back
down from.

  “I spent the past five years alone and isolated because a woman took everything from me. But then you came crashing into my life in the middle of the night like a fucking meteor. The second you opened the door in those little silk pajamas, I was a goner. I’d never seen a more beautiful woman in my life. And when I looked into your eyes…baby, I found heaven. I had found my light. I couldn’t take my eyes off of you. I still can’t. Just being near you, holding you, kissing you…I’ve never felt more alive or at peace in my entire life.”

  Reaching out, Jake brushes away the stray tear that rolls down my cheek, and I close my eyes at that simple touch, heat spreading across my skin.

  “Seeing her last night brought back all of the anger and pain I used to live with every day. I didn’t want you to see me like that. I couldn’t let you see me like that.”

  “You didn’t have to hide from me. I can handle shit, Jake. I’m not weak.”

  “I know you’re not. And that’s when something occurred to me today, and I was able to let go of it all.” His thumb brushes my cheek. “She doesn’t matter. The past doesn’t matter. You matter. You make me smile, and laugh, and feel alive for the first time in a long time. You make me happy,” he confesses, caressing my cheek. “I love you, darlin’. You’re my everything.”

  Tears spill from my eyes and I pull him those last few inches that separate us, kissing him with everything inside of me.

  He loves me.

  Jake Taylor loves me.

  I’ve never heard sweeter words spoken.

  Gripping his hair, I pull him closer, needing him like my next breath. Jake lifts me up, and I wrap my legs around his hips. Arching against the wall, I push myself against him, needing to be closer still.

  He pulls away, and I try and chase him with my lips, but he doesn’t let me. I know he needs to hear me say the words.

  Looking into his stormy blue eyes, I cup his cheek, rubbing his scruff along my palm. “Jake,” I whisper, tears flooding my eyes again. “I’ve waited for you my whole life. You’re something I never thought I’d have, or was worthy of. I love you, mountain man. With everything in me, I love you. You broke down my walls, and made the heart I had long ago gave up on, beat again. It beats for you. With you, I feel strong, beautiful, sexy, confident, and seen. You see me, Jake.”