Long Hard Road (Crestwood Valley)

1. Madison

“This can’t be right.” I checked the map on my phone and prayed that I had made a wrong turn. After two days in my car, I just wanted a hot shower and a comfortable bed. When I’d randomly decided to leave home, I hadn’t given a lot of thought to just how much I was going to hate taking a long road trip by myself.

“What the hell is this place?” With the map still directing me to turn off the highway, I quickly dialed my assistant.

“Are you there?” Kaylie asked.

“I don’t know. I thought you had rented me a cabin.”

“I did. It has two bedrooms and a beautiful view of the mountains.”

I craned my neck in a futile attempt to see what was waiting for me ahead. “What can you tell me about Crestwood?”

“Not much. It looks like a really cute little town. If you stay on the main road, it will take you right to the downtown area.” Kaylie’s computer chimed an alert and I could hear her typing. She was a queen of multitasking. “There’s a café, bookstore, some boutiques, a few restaurants, and a couple of bars.”

“I probably shouldn’t start drinking until at least noon.” I checked the clock and it was barely time for breakfast. “What time am I allowed to check in at my cabin?”

“You’ve got a couple more hours. Didn’t you read the information I sent you yesterday?” Kaylie was annoyed. I wasn’t great at paying attention to details. It was why I paid her so well.

“I’m going to find some food and coffee. Not necessarily in that order.” The shower would have to wait. Now that I’d started thinking about food, that was all I could focus on. “I’ll let you go, Kales. Thanks for getting this all set up for me.”

“No worries. Drake has already called twice asking where you are.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That you decided to take an impromptu vacation and when you are ready to speak with him, you will initiate a call.”

“Perfect. Thanks.” I owed Kaylie a very nice bonus after the work she’d done these last few days. She really was the best assistant in the business.

She hung up without a proper goodbye as per usual. I pulled off the shoulder of the road and headed in the direction of downtown. The roads were slick with some fresh, wet snow and I should’ve rented a more substantial car rather than drive my sports car all the way from Nashville. The giant red truck riding my ass seemed to agree.

I wasn’t going to drive at an unsafe speed just to appease a man with a small-dick complex. If he didn’t like it, he could just go around me. I made a mental note to look into buying a truck so I wouldn’t have to spend every drive into town worrying about someone else killing me with their supersized vehicles.

It wasn’t hard to find the café since the main street of downtown Crestwood pretty much encompassed all of downtown. Before getting out of my car, I checked my reflection in the mirror. It was strange to see my hair bleached platinum blond and sporting a new style. The natural curl of my hair usually brought it to just past my shoulders, but straightening it had added several inches. Except for the hair by my face which had been chopped into long bangs that I had to push out of my eyes.

That was another big change. The irises were the same emerald shade, but they were no longer framed by fake lashes or highlighted by bright eye shadow. I wasn’t wearing any makeup in public for the first time in a very long time.

“New me, new life,” I mumbled.

That new life almost ended abruptly when my foot slipped out from under as I stepped out of my car. I was lucky that I was still holding the car door and I was able to keep from completely wiping out. The damn asphalt was too slick for my heeled boots. I made another mental note to look into finding some appropriate winter clothing.

The bell above the door chimed happily as I pushed it open. I was met with a blast of warm air from an overhead vent and the smell of vanilla, cinnamon, and coffee. My stomach growled to make itself known. Never one to deny myself pleasure, I marched toward the counter.

“Hi!” The woman behind the counter flashed a megawatt smile. She was a pretty woman, probably not much older than me. Her name tag said Amelia.

“Hello.” I pointed to the glass display case. “I’ll take the biggest cinnamon roll and a large coffee.”

“Coming right up!” She turned to grab a coffee cup. “You’re not from around here, are you? What brings you to Crestwood?”

I was envious of the woman’s energy and her genuine friendliness. This was a woman who actually enjoyed chatting with strangers.

“Just taking a little vacation,” I said.

“Where are you staying?” Amelia put the coffee in front of me and slid open the display case.

“I’ve rented a cabin somewhere around here. I was looking for someplace remote to clear my head, but I was a little nervous about staying too far outside of civilization.” In truth, I hadn’t bothered looking at the information that Kaylie had sent me on the cabin she had selected. She was good at her job and I trusted her.

“My neighbor’s aunt is renting out her dad’s cabin. He had to go into assisted living last spring and she decided to fancy up the place and rent it out. I haven’t seen all the new updates they’ve made, but it’s a beautiful piece of land.” Amelia added a giant cinnamon roll to a plate and placed that next to the coffee. She rang up my order and I paid, leaving a generous tip in the jar next to the register.

“Enjoy your time in Crestwood,” Amelia said. “Maybe I will see you around.”

“Maybe.” I forced a smile. If things went according to plan, I would see as few people as possible. I hadn’t come to Crestwood to mingle with the locals. I’d come to hide away in a remote area while my life went to shit.

When I turned to find a seat, I noticed a table with three teenage girls who were looking at something on their phones. I heard the light strum of a guitar playing a familiar song.

“Shit,” I mouthed to myself, keeping my head down and letting my hair shield most of my face. It didn’t just prevent them from clearly seeing my face, it also prevented me from seeing that a man at the table closest to me had just pushed back his chair and stood. I barely avoided sloshing my coffee all over him, but I did manage to splash it on my hand. “Ow. Fuck.”

A large hand closed around my arm. “Sorry, miss. Are you alright?”

I looked up and nearly dropped my coffee along with my jaw. The man in front of me was staring at me with concern while I was staring at him in awe. He was gorgeous. Dark hair cropped close on the sides and a little longer on top. It had a perfect wave to it that was just begging for me to slide my fingers through it. He had equally enticing eyes, the color of a gray sky just before a storm.

“Um, yes.” I somehow composed myself enough to string together two sounds that passed for a confirmation. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”

That was a laughable excuse considering this man was a few inches over six feet with broad shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist. Missing a man that large, and that beautiful, was impossible.

“No worries. I’m a bit of a wallflower. I tend to blend in with my surroundings.” His smile was crooked, lifting higher on the right side. “Pretty much the opposite of you.”

I just kept staring at him.

“You’re sure you’re okay?” His grip on my arm tightened.

“I’m good.” I laughed awkwardly. “It’s just been a long few days.”

“Been there.” He gestured to the table he’d just vacated. “It’s all yours. Some food and caffeine will help clear the brain fog.”

“That’s the hope.” I flinched when he stepped closer to pull out a chair. “Oh. Thanks.”

“You’ve got your hands full.” He winked at me and stepped back. “Enjoy. This place has the best cinnamon rolls in the state and the coffee is damn good, too.”

I nodded and put down the plate and mug before sliding into the seat he’d pulled out. When I looked up to ask his name, he was already walking away. He chatted with Amelia quickly and she handed him some napkins. Then he returned to my table and handed them to me. “For the spill.” Then he smiled his crooked smile and walked away.

In the haze of lusting after him, I had forgotten about the coffee that had splashed and burned my hand. Of course I had been a clumsy dork in front of the hottest man I’d ever seen. Not to mention practically mute. It was probably for the best since the attention of a hot man was the last thing I needed right now.

The cinnamon roll was amazing and the coffee was delicious. I hung out at the table until it was time for me to meet the woman who was renting out the cabin. Kaylie had sent me the information a couple of days ago and I finally got around to reading her message. She had included detailed directions for finding the cabin, plus the contact information for the landlord.

I followed the road to the end of Main Street and then turned right. I passed a bar that looked like it had seen better days and a gas station. Beyond that was a field with three cabins spaced equally apart. I turned down the dirt road leading to the first cabin and breathed a sigh of relief that my new temporary home appeared to be in good condition.

A woman with a sleek, dark bob and prim sheath dress stood on the porch. She raised a hand to greet me with a wave as I exited my car.

“You found it! I was hoping the directions I sent would remove any possible confusion.” The woman stuck out her hand. “I’m Maggie. These three cabins are all under my control. This will be yours for the next month. The next one is my brother’s, but it’s being rented by a local for now and I live in the third cabin. If you need anything, just pop on over or give me a call. Nate will also gladly help you out if I’m not around. He’s very handy and not too bad to look at either.” Maggie laughed and waved me forward. “Come on. I’ll give you the quick tour and you can get settled before dark.”

Maggie was efficient with her tour. She showed me inside and explained how to work the locks. Then she took me to the kitchen and pointed out where to find the coffeemaker and toaster. Extra blankets and towels were in the linen closet. The cabin was small and cozy, with a wood-burning fireplace.

“There’s more firewood by the back door and Nate will get you more if you need it. Just ask. His family owns the largest ranch around and they always have plenty of firewood. He’ll also handle your trash. Just leave it on the back deck before Monday mornings.” Maggie was like a cyclone, ripping through the cabin as she listed off everything I needed to know.

I was so used to other people handling everything for me that I paid extra close attention to everything she said. Maybe I should’ve taken notes.

“Just call or text if you need anything,” Maggie said after showing herself to the door. “Welcome to Crestwood, Madison. Enjoy your stay.”

It was a nice thing to say, but I wasn’t in Crestwood for enjoyment. I was just trying to survive the next month.