Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Ravi
I couldn’t walk away from a woman crying. She might tell me to take a hike, but I’d rather that than to ignore her.
When she rolled her window down, a lump formed in my throat from her beauty. I blinked, double checking I was seeing what I thought I was, her green eyes mysterious, her long black hair exotic looking.
I’d only arrived in Appleridge last week and had yet to see her because, believe me, I would remember a woman as gorgeous as her.
Seeing her crying alone in her car caused my heart to split in two. I hoped I’d be able to stop her tears.
I knocked on the glass, two short bursts from my knuckles, and she rolled her window down. I smiled as warmly as I could. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head as tears dripped off her chin and fell onto her shirt.
I rested one arm on the hood of the car and leaned forward. “People in small towns help each other in times of need, so let me help you.” I said it with my gentlest tone I could muster, not wanting to scare her off.
People told me I could come off a little overbearing, especially my younger sister Allie, who loved to give me shit, but I couldn’t help it. I needed to protect the ones I loved. It was a need I discovered inside me years ago and I was better off not fighting it.
She wiped her face and sniffled. “I fell walking out of the bar. Hurt my hands and knees. But it’s not a big deal. I’m heading home. I’ll clean myself up. Thanks for checking on me.”
“Wait right here. I have a first aid kit in my truck.” Before she could protest, I jogged over to my truck and grabbed my kit from the glove box. Lumberjacks like me always kept one in the truck and Crew, my boss, insisted we refilled them at least once a month.
Back at her car, she watched me curiously, her window still open.
“Can I slide into the front seat for a second?”
“Sure.”
“Great.” I said as I walked to the other side of her car. “I’m Ravi by the way. Nice to meet you.” I said as I sat in the front seat and placed the kit on my lap.
“Maisie. You’ve probably seen me at the market in town. It’s where I work.”
“Haven’t been yet. But I will be soon. I moved to town last week and my mom sent me a lot of food.”
“That’s sweet of her. Something my grandma would do.”
“Alright, let’s see the damage.” I said, nodding towards her hands.
When she laid them on top of mine, our skin touched, and a spike of electricity ran through me from head to toe.
What is that feeling?
“Whoa.” Maisie muttered and my ears picked up on the word, my insides warming. She feels it too.
While cleaning her wounds, the words go out with me sat on my tip of my tongue frozen, fear gripping me inside.
I couldn’t pursue someone right now. Not only did I not have the time, but I also wasn’t in the right place.
I already smothered my sister with my overprotective ass, how the hell would I act around a woman I loved?
Your sister is a different story…
“Did we have a little too much fun at the bar tonight?” I teased, breaking the silence.
Maisie chuckled. “No. Only two shots. Got an early morning tomorrow. But it would probably sound better if I told you I was drunk, huh?”
“No, because then I’d be asking you why you were driving home.”
“Good. I would hope so. But no, if I had planned on getting drunk, I’d be catching a ride home. My sister and her friends are grabbing an Uber.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
After tending to her wounds, I cleaned up the trash and placed my hand on the car door handle. I didn’t trust myself to stay a second longer, afraid of what I might do.
Kiss her.
Love her.
Never let her go.
“I hope the rest of your night goes better. Take care, okay?”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
With one last long and lingering look, I opened the car door and stepped out into the night, shutting the door on what might be my future.
Lucky for her, I was doing her a favor.
“What’s got you so down in the dumps this morning? It’s probably that damn black coffee you insist on drinking.” Allie made a face over her coffee mug before attempting a sip of hers. She stuck her tongue out. “Ew, not sweet enough.” She dumped another sugar packet in the mug and stirred.
“Is there any coffee in your mug?”
“Ha, ha, hilarious. Honestly, though, why the grump face? Are the muffins not fresh enough to your liking?” Allie grinned and nodded towards the apple cinnamon muffin untouched on my plate.
More like the woman from my dreams I met last night.
I groaned and scrubbed a hand down the side of my face and over my thick beard. “I didn’t sleep well is all.” I gulped the rest of my coffee, loving the way the bitterness burned my throat.
“I hate nights like that.”
“Yeah, me too.” All I thought about was Maisie. Her eyes, her smile, her hair I wanted to yank on and expose the tender flesh of her neck.
It took all my strength not to drive over to the Appleridge market and find her so I could tell her.
She’s mine.
How was this possible? I didn’t even know the woman’s last name.
“Ravi, sometimes I think I know you better than you know yourself. Something’s on your mind you’re not telling me.”
“It’s nothing, Al. It’s been hard adjusting to work, the long hours, and while I love our cabin, it’s so quiet, I can hear every little noise. I miss the sirens.”
Allie sighed. “I didn’t want to say anything but—” Her voice trailed off, and my stomach tightened.
I shouldn’t have brought her here. I should’ve taken the lumberjack knob and moved here alone.
But I needed to protect her. Being raised by a single mom put me as the man of the house.
I’d always protect my baby sister. Especially when our father wasn’t a good man.
He was in prison now for theft and drugs, but I could never be too careful.
My mom, on the other hand was badass. She could stand on her own.
She couldn’t leave her job in the city just yet, so my sister and I moved here first. I didn’t want my mom to worry about Allie while she worked her late nights. “I don’t like it either. And I miss Mom. A lot.”
“I know. I do, too. How’s your job going?” Allie took a job at the library, helping with shelving the books and working with customers.
“I don’t mind it. Keeps me from being bored every day. At least I’m surrounded by what I love in my favorite place. You know, I could visit mom in the city for a bit. Keep her company.”
“Allie, no. You know it’s not safe.”
“You need to stop worrying. He’s in jail. He won’t hurt me.”
I blew out a breath and pushed away my muffin.
“I’m not hungry, and I need to get to work.
” I stood up from the table and gathered my dirty dishes, grabbing a to-go bag from Ruby for my muffin.
She owned the bakery, Appleridge Sweets, and always had a warm smile on her face. “I’ll drop you off at work.”
As we walked outside, Allie wrapped her arm around my waist and tucked herself underneath my arm like she’s done several times before. “I know you worry, big bro, but trust me, he’s not getting out of jail.”
“I know, sis. I know.”
As my mind flooded with my usual worries, her face became my primary focus once more.
I needed to forget her. I wasn’t planning on seeing her again. I’d drive to the next town over for groceries if I had to.
Shit. How did my life suddenly feel so out of control?