Before We Were Us

Chapter 1

Jonah Landry elected to stay busy on the day his entire future hung in the balance. That’s why the axe was poised over his

head when the death rattle of his sister’s Jeep Gladiator reached his ears.

Finally.

He swung the axe down, slicing into an upright log, and left it there. Then he grabbed his Henley shirt and headed up the

slope of the resort’s wooded property. A carpet of pine needles padded his eager steps and a nattering squirrel cheered him

on. He drew in a deep breath of crisp autumn air heavy with the smoky scent of last night’s bonfire.

His long strides made quick work of the distance. He pulled his shirt into place just as Meg stepped from her truck.

Her shoulder-length auburn waves glinted in the sunlight, and her pale skin was flushed from the trip to Portsmouth in her

air-conditioning-free vehicle. “You know we have a log splitter, right? Or were you just hoping Lauren would catch a glimpse

of your six-pack and start drooling?”

“It’s called nervous energy . Where is it?”

She gave him a blank stare. “Where is what?”

His heart might have stopped beating. It definitely seized in his chest for a long, panicked moment.

“Just kidding,” the little brat singsonged, smiling as if his whole future wasn’t on the line here.

He was just about to throttle her when she shoved a small cream-colored box at him. He grabbed it and withdrew a rich blue

velvety box.

“You’re welcome. I had to park three blocks away and wait fifteen minutes while they—”

“Thank you.” The lid gave a quiet squawk as he opened it—and there it was, tucked into a soft blue nest. His irritation lifted

like autumn fog off the lake.

Lauren had changed a lot in the six months since she’d come to work at Pinehaven Resort, but she still had a penchant for

sparkly things. And the brilliant oval diamond dazzled.

Tonight he would take her out to eat at The Landing. Then they would go for a ride on the lake in the same boat where he’d

professed his love for her a month ago. The memory of that moment sent a rush of heat through him. When she’d stared up at

him, her heart in those beautiful eyes, he’d wondered if he’d died and gone to heaven. What had he ever done to deserve this

beautiful, resilient woman?

The sound of Meg’s laughter pulled him from the sweet memory.

He scowled at the teasing sparkle in her eyes. “What?”

“You are such a goner.” She was still laughing.

He snapped the case closed, unable to work up any real irritation on today of all days. “Shut up.”

A few weeks ago he’d seen the ring in a display window in Portsmouth but knew a proposal was premature. Oh, he’d wanted to

marry her. He’d known right away she was the one for him. Well, once he’d stopped hating her. But he hadn’t been sure Lauren

was quite there yet.

Until two weeks ago when they’d sat in the gazebo at Bayview Park. Swaths of pink streaked the sky, a glowing stage for the

sun’s final act of the day.

Her head rested on his shoulder and her hand lay on his chest. “I think I could stay here forever.”

It wasn’t often she was so open, so unguarded. He was careful not to overreact, though he couldn’t prevent the way his heart

two-stepped in response. “In Pinehaven?”

She snuggled closer, burying her face in his chest, uncharacteristically shy. “In your arms.”

Jonah had called Garrett Jewelers the next day and purchased the ring.

“What are you wearing?”

His sister’s question snagged his attention. “I don’t know. Khakis and a button-down, I guess.”

Meg rolled her eyes, seeming more sixteen than twenty-one. “Wear the navy khakis with your camel oxfords and matching belt

and the blue button-down—she likes the way it matches your eyes.”

“She does?”

“Don’t wear a blazer—she’ll be suspicious. You never wear a blazer.”

“You’re a little bossy.” Sometimes he forgot his sister was all grown up. Hard to believe this was the same freckle-faced

little girl he used to help with algebra and chemistry.

“You made a reservation, right? The Landing fills up on Saturday nights.”

Give me a break. He spared her a look.

“What time should I bring the boat to the marina?”

“As soon as we leave for supper.” What would Lauren think when she saw their boat just steps from The Landing? Would she realize

what was about to happen? How would that make her feel? Would she be excited? Nervous?

“You know what you’re gonna say, right?”

“I believe ‘Will you marry me?’ is traditional.”

Meg sighed. “You’d better come up with more than that. This should be the most romantic moment of her life.”

A knot of worry tightened in the pit of his stomach. “No pressure there.”

“Just tell her how you feel. Is that so hard?”

He’d given this plenty of thought already. He had a few ideas swimming in his mind. But he didn’t want to memorize some speech.

Didn’t want this to be scripted. It should come from the heart, in the moment. Hopefully his heart wouldn’t go blank.

And when he was finished she’d give him that wide smile, green eyes lit and happy and perhaps glazed with a sheen of tears...

and she’d say yes.

His thoughts slipped gears. The ground dropped from beneath him. She would say yes, wouldn’t she?

They hadn’t dated very long, but he was sure. That didn’t necessarily mean she was though. Maybe she needed more time. She hadn’t been raised in a warm home

with a solid example of love and marriage. His hands shook as he pocketed the jewelry box, which missed the pocket entirely.

He fumbled with it before it plunked to the ground.

Meg chuckled as she retrieved it. “Look at you. You’re a mess. Relax, it’s gonna be fine. She doesn’t suspect a thing.”

Hardly his biggest concern at this point. Was he rushing things? Why hadn’t he put more thought into this? What if his proposal

scared her off for good? “Like, doesn’t expect it because tonight seems like an ordinary day, or doesn’t expect it because

it’s months too soon for a lifetime commitment and she’s not even sure I’m the man she wants to make it with?”

Meg tilted her head, a smile curving her lips. “Aw, you’re cute when you’re insecure. I’m so telling Lauren about this once

she has that ring on her finger—and she will have that ring on her finger.” Meg patted his arm, wrinkled her nose at the sweaty

dampness, and withdrew her hand. “She’s gonna say yes, Bro. Would I set you up for failure?”

“There was that time in middle school...”

“Please. You could’ve done so much better than Maddy Benton.”

His sister had had uncanny insight even as a gangly teenager. And though she loved messing with him, she always had his best

interests at heart. She and Lauren had grown close over the summer. If Lauren wasn’t ready for this, Meg would know.

“Stop worrying. Tonight’s gonna be perfect.” She moved to the bed of the truck. “But you can work off that nervous energy

by helping me unload all this stuff.”

Jonah checked his watch, then grabbed a bag. Three hours and counting.

***

From her spot on the bay, Lauren Wentworth’s pet project was just a patch of weathered red peeking through the dense forest.

The trees were just starting to turn, a sprinkle of gold and orange against the deep green pines. She had no doubt the New

Hampshire fall would delight her.

She drew the oars through the water, pushing the boat toward the pier, where her dog, Graham, sat waiting. His yellow coat

gleamed in the sunlight.

“Look, honey,” Beth Cabot said from the back of the boat. “It’s a loon.”

George lifted his old-school camera and snapped a photo. “He’s a little late heading to the Atlantic, isn’t he, Lauren?”

“The young ones sometimes linger longer than their parents.” She’d learned a lot about loons since her arrival in March. She’d

learned a lot about many things.

She rowed closer to Graham and the boat dock belonging to Pinehaven Resort. The resort traffic had slowed since last week—Labor Day weekend. High season was officially over, and their guests would now consist mostly of older couples. Some of whom couldn’t get out on the water without assistance. Leaf peepers would soon flood the state, but peak season was still weeks away.

Lauren could finally turn her attention to the big barn on the property adjacent to the resort. The “buffer” property, Tom

Landry had called it. Lauren had found the old relic by accident one day, back when she considered her position at the resort

a mere stepping stone to her dream job back in Boston.

My, how things had changed. She gave the oars one final pull and the boat drew alongside the pier.

Graham stood, backend wagging, ears perked, brown eyes sparkling.

“Miss me, buddy?” Lauren grabbed the dock post and pulled them in, tied the rope around the cleat with some precision. She

offered a hand to the couple, who were in their upper seventies but still spry.

“Thank you, dear.” Back on land, Beth petted Graham, who soaked up the attention. “We so wanted to take a lap around the lake

this year, but our shoulders just aren’t what they used to be.”

“I’m always happy to get out on the water. Let me know if you want another ride before you leave.”

A minute later as Lauren waved them off, she spotted Jonah heading down the sloped ground toward her. Her heart clutched at

the sight of him. Even in an old T-shirt and jeans, he did it for her. His work around the property kept him fit and muscular,

and the summer sun had darkened his skin to a deep bronze. The ball cap, worn low, called attention to his handsome facial

features: light blue eyes, a slightly crooked nose, and lips that were perfection.

Those lips tipped as he approached. “You took the Cabots out on the lake?”

“Great day for a boat ride.”

He brushed her mouth in a quick kiss that made her anticipate their upcoming evening. Their gazes held for a beat. Yeah, a night with Jonah was just what the doctor ordered. Their summer schedules had been hectic, and working for a family meant there was a lot of family time. She wasn’t complaining. She loved each one of the Landrys. But time alone with Jonah?

As if reading her mind, he pulled her close and kissed her again, his lips taking their sweet time with hers.

“Mmmm,” she murmured long seconds later. “Nice.”

“Just nice?”

“Just perfect.”

He gave her that sleepy-eyed look she’d come to love. “Ready to be wined and dined?”

“I can hardly wait. But a shower’s definitely in order, and I think I’ll lose the ponytail and resort polo.”

“But you’re so cute in resort wear.” He kissed her nose.

Impatient for his attention, Graham nudged between them.

Jonah ruffled his fur. “Hey, bud. Yes, I see you. It’s been all of thirty minutes. Meg just got back with the supplies. Did

the Browns finally check out?”

“Just in time. Fran’s cleaning it now. Should be done by three. I was just gonna head back to the barn and see how the hayloft

looks with all the stuff gone.” While she’d been working yesterday, he and Meg cleared out the space, which had been filled

with decades of junk.

“If anything, it seems even bigger. Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand and they set off, Graham on their heels, across the property

toward the path that led through the woods.

Birds chirped from the spiny branches of a hemlock tree, and the wind whispered through the leafy canopy. They’d spent their

recent spare time clearing brush and weeds from around the barn’s exterior, exposing the stone base. It would take a lot more

work to transform the old building into the venue she saw in her imagination, but Lauren was eager to see her vision materialize.

She was excited for the future. It might look far different now at twenty-six than she’d once imagined, but it was somehow better and clearer than those wispy dreams that had carried her through college. The reminder that she might be running from her past pressed like a boulder on her chest.

But she pushed away the unsettling thought as their conversation turned to business matters. They made their way through the

thick woods, their footfalls silenced by damp pine needles. Soon the path opened to the clearing, and the sun shone on the

structure, highlighting the recently exposed side walls and rock base. Lauren couldn’t help but smile.

“You gaze at this eyesore like it’s the Holy Grail.”

She jabbed him with an elbow. “She’s not an eyesore. She’s a diamond in the rough and she’s gonna be beautiful. You just wait—every

bride in the county will want to say her vows here.”

He squeezed her hand. “I don’t doubt it for a minute.”

He slid open the creaky barn door, and as they passed through the doorway, the air immediately cooled. Lauren’s nostrils filled

with the musty scent of earth and time long past. Sunbeams flooded through filmy windows, and slivers of light cut through

cracks in the vertical boards, dust motes dancing in their beams.

Now that the space was clear of debris, she could envision the final product even more clearly. They would maintain the barn’s

rustic integrity but add embellishments: twinkle lights, a chandelier, and a grand stone fireplace at the west end of the

barn that would seem as if it had grown here.

“You have that look on your face again.” His smile was full of affection. “Just a peek at the hayloft—we have reservations.

And you have all winter to whip this place into shape.” He grabbed the aluminum ladder that leaned against the wall adjacent

to the loft. “Ladies first.”

And up she went as he steadied the ladder. A moment later she caught her first glimpse of the open loft. It wasn’t her first time up here, but the junk had hidden the square window in the center of the back wall of the loft. It now shed a soft glow over the space. Some rags and a bottle of Windex sat on its ledge, but judging by the film of dirt on the panes, they hadn’t been used yet.

She stepped onto the platform that didn’t even squeak at her weight. “Oh, this is perfect. We’ll be able to fit at least six

extra tables up here. We’ll need a railing built to code. And another chandelier to cozy it up. But the view is great, isn’t

it? They’ll be able to see all the action from up here, and the photographer will have a wonderful vantage point.”

Jonah cleared the ladder, then stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I love your passion for this

place. Have I mentioned that?” He pressed a kiss to the crook of her neck.

Smiling, she tilted her head to give him greater access. “You just love my passion, period.”

“You’re not wrong.”

She closed her eyes and sank into the moment—something new to her. She still had to remind herself to stop and savor the moments.

Not to be in such a rush to do more, climb higher, get ahead. Oh, she still wanted to do all those things.

But the tranquil moments were also nice. Very nice.

His lips had worked their way up her neck and jaw, and then he was turning her in his arms, his eyes hooded with want.

“You have that look on your face again,” she said.

And then his lips were on hers. She never tired of his kisses. He somehow hit the mark between commanding and reverent with

expert precision. His touch and taste were familiar by now, equally soothing and stirring—and she craved both with an addict’s

obsession.

His hands roved over her back as hers worked into his short brown hair, displacing his cap. She barely heard it thunk to the ground. Her hands followed the line of his shoulders and down to his arms. She loved his arms. Adored how secure she felt within their confines. Her heart was so full. She didn’t know love could feel this way. But now that she knew, she was greedy for more.

From below, Graham’s impatient bark brought her back to planet Earth.

Jonah decelerated the kiss, reluctance in the slow steps of his withdrawal. In the way he set his forehead against hers, as

if not quite ready to let go of her. Their breaths came heavily, mingling together. “Reservations.”

She took delight in the ragged edge of his voice. “I know.” And now that her brain was starting to function again, she remembered

she’d planned to wash her hair, blow-dry and curl it, the whole deal. Not to mention her nails. They were in terrible shape.

“I can’t wait to have you all to myself tonight,” he said.

“Me too—also the black-and-blue filet, if I’m honest.”

He chuckled, pressed a kiss to her forehead before he drew away. “That’s my girl.”

He glanced back at the window. “I’m gonna clean that window before I head home to shower. Ran out of time yesterday.”

“All right. I’ll meet you in the lot a little before seven?”

“No way. I’m coming to your door like a proper gentleman.”

“Have it your way,” she said, secretly delighted. She gave him a peck on the lips and tossed him a smile before she stepped

onto the ladder and began her descent. Her gaze took in the spaciousness of the barn from above. She would almost hate filling

those cracks where the sunlight sneaked through. It would be such a beautiful place for a wedding. Perhaps someday, in the

not-too-distant future, she and Jonah would—

Her weight-bearing foot slipped. She grasped the sides. Too late.

Gravity took her. Panic stole her breath. A startled cry ripped from her throat.

And then there was nothing.