Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

T he late afternoon sun beat down on the school parking lot as Tom leaned against his truck, finishing a phone call with Principal Hastings. They’d just wrapped up their discussion about the installation schedule for the new security system, and Tom was making a few final notes on his tablet before heading out.

Movement caught his eye—a woman struggling with a large tote near her car.

His first instinct was to help. His second was to mind his own business when he realized who she must be. Chestnut hair, with a slight curl to it that escaped from a messy bun, petite but strong-looking, determination radiating from every line of her body as she wrestled a tote out of her car that was almost comically oversized for her frame.

Not your problem, he told himself firmly. But the sight of her struggling made his grip on resolve loosen. Before he could second-guess himself, he was already tucking the tablet under his arm and heading her way.

“Need a hand with that?” he called out, his voice even, as if he hadn’t just lost a battle with his better judgment.

She looked up, and Tom’s carefully constructed defenses took their first hit. Her eyes were a warm hazel, flecked with hints of gold that seemed to catch the light, and they narrowed slightly in concentration as she focused on him. There was a smudge of chalk dust on one cheek, softening her features in a way that tugged at something deep inside him. Her messy bun had begun to unravel, letting a few strands fall around her face, and the combination of her focused expression and unintentional charm was enough to leave him momentarily speechless. She was, without a doubt, the most captivating thing he’d seen in a long time.

“No, thank you. I’ve got it.” Her voice was pleasant but firm, tinged with a particular stubbornness he recognized all too well—like seeing his own reflection in the mirror. Her chin lifted, firming with determination as she adjusted her grip on the unwieldy tote, clearly intent on proving she could handle it herself.

“You sure about that?” He watched as the tote wobbled precariously. “Because from where I’m standing?—”

The tote slipped, and Tom moved without thinking, catching it before it could hit the ground. The momentum brought him close enough to catch a whiff of something floral—not perfume, maybe shampoo and utterly delicious.

“Thanks,” she said, slightly breathless. “Though I would have caught it.”

“Course you would.” He found himself fighting a smile. “But then you’d have crushed whatever’s making that clinking sound.”

“Science equipment.” She blew a strand of hair from her face, her tone carrying a hint of self-deprecating humor. “For an experiment about states of matter. Which I’ve come to realize is too ambitious for the first week.”

Tom raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching with the hint of a smile. “States of matter, huh? Solid, liquid, gas?”

She nodded, a touch of pink creeping into her cheeks. “That’s the idea. But now I’m thinking I’ll just stick to name tags and icebreakers.”

“Ambition’s not always a bad thing.” He shifted the tote to get a better grip. “Where’s this headed?”

She hesitated, and he could see her weighing her independence against practicality. “Room 23. But really, I can manage.”

“Probably.” He started walking, leaving her little choice but to follow. “But why should you have to?”

She fell into step beside him, and he noticed she moved with a natural grace, even while navigating the uneven sidewalk. After a moment she broke the silence. “You’re not from around here, are you?” she asked.

“What gave it away?”

“Most locals can’t wait to tell me their entire family history and connection to the town.” A wry smile played at her lips. “Usually within the first thirty seconds of meeting me.”

Tom thought of the MacGregors and their elaborate schemes. “Yeah, some people around here are pretty invested in... connections.”

She laughed, but didn’t mention her relatives and he didn’t blame her. He wouldn’t claim them either.

They reached her classroom, and Tom set the tote carefully on a desk, taking in the already organized space. Stars with student names hung from the ceiling, and a reading nook by the window looked invitingly cozy.

“I’m Ella,” she offered, extending her hand. “Ella Kingsley.”

I know, he almost said, but caught himself. Instead, he shook her hand briefly. “Tom Dalton.”

Her eyes widened with recognition, and he tensed, wondering what she’d heard about him. But she just said, “You’re installing our new security system.”

“That’s right.”

“Principal Hastings mentioned it this morning. Said you’re the best in the state.”

He shrugged, uncomfortable with the praise. “It’s not complicated. I just like to be thorough.”

She started unpacking the tote, laying out glass beakers and safety goggles with careful precision. “Well, thank you. For the help and the security upgrade.”

Something in her tone made him look closer. She was beautiful, yes, but it was more than that. There was a steadiness to her, a quiet strength that reminded him of still waters running deep.

This is exactly what they wanted, a voice in his head warned. The MacGregors planned this .

The thought straightened his spine. “I should go.”

She glanced up, surprised by his sudden shift in tone. “Oh. Alright.”

“Good luck with your experiment.” He headed for the door, then paused. “And welcome to Harmony Falls.”

He felt her eyes on him as he left, knew he probably seemed rude or unstable, switching from helpful to distant in the space of a heartbeat. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d just stepped into exactly the trap he’d been trying to avoid.

“Not happening,” he muttered, climbing into his truck. But even as he drove away, he couldn’t quite forget the way she’d smiled, or how natural it had felt to talk to her, however briefly.

He’d have to be more careful in the future. The MacGregors might be playing matchmaker, but he wasn’t going to be their pawn.

No matter how intriguing their chosen match might be.

Ella sat in her car, key in the ignition but engine still off, trying to make sense of what just happened. Tom Dalton had gone from helpful to unapproachable so fast she practically had whiplash. One minute he was catching a falling tote and almost smiling, the next he was practically sprinting for the exit.

“Small town oddness,” she muttered, but something about his reaction nagged at her. She’d seen recognition flash in his eyes when she introduced herself, followed by what looked almost like resignation.

“Nope,” she said firmly to her empty car. “Not going to overthink this.”

She started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. The quiet drive home gave her too much space to replay everything in her mind.

Back at her apartment, Ella kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto her couch, pulling out her phone. She needed a dose of sanity, and there was only one person who could provide it.

Bella answered on the second ring. “Please tell me you’ve met a hot lumberjack or discovered your house is haunted. I need entertainment.”

“No lumberjacks,” Ella said, smiling despite herself. “But I did meet a security expert who apparently has a split personality.”

“Ooh, mysterious. Hot?”

“ Bella .”

“That’s a yes.” She could hear the grin in her friend’s voice. “Come on, give me the details. Now.”

Ella sighed. “There’s nothing to tell. He helped me with a tote, we talked for approximately ten minutes, and then he practically ran away.”

“Sounds promising.”

“Did you miss the ‘ran away’ part?”

“No, that’s what makes it interesting.” There was a rustling sound, like Bella was settling in for a good gossip session. “Tell me everything. Starting with how hot he is.”

“You’re impossible.” But Ella found herself describing Tom—his height, his quiet strength, the way his blue eyes had crinkled at the corners when he’d almost smiled.

“Mm-hmm,” Bella hummed knowingly. “And how long did it take you to notice all these details in your brief ten-minute encounter?”

“Ugh. I hate you.”

“You love me. Now, what’s this about him running away?”

Ella described the sudden shift in his demeanor. “It was weird. Like he suddenly remembered he was supposed to be somewhere else. Anywhere else.”

“Or like he’s fighting an attraction?” Bella suggested. “Some men do that, you know. Especially the broody ones.”

“He’s not broody, he’s...” Ella paused, considering. “Okay, maybe a little broody. But that’s not the point.”

“What is the point?”

“The point is, I didn’t move here for romance. I moved here for a fresh start.”

“And who says those have to be mutually exclusive?”

Ella turned to look out her window, to see the pub across the street. “I’m just wary. It’s a small town. Everything in this town seems to be tangled together somehow. Did I tell you about the Scottish welcoming committee?”

“Only three times. I still think they sound adorable.”

“They’re not adorable, they’re...” Ella searched for the right word. “Over the top. It’s like they’re waiting for something, but I don’t know what.”

“Maybe they’re time-traveling highlanders sent to protect you,” Bella suggested cheerfully.

Ella snorted. “You’ve been reading too many romance novels.”

“Says the woman who just spent five minutes describing a stranger’s eyes.”

“I did not—” Ella stopped, rewinding their conversation in her head. “Okay, fine. But I’m not interested. He’s clearly not interested. End of story.”

“If you say so.” Bella’s voice turned serious. “But El? It’s okay to be interested in someone. Jacob would want?—”

“Don’t.” The word came out sharper than intended. “Please.”

A soft sigh came through the phone. “Alright. But promise me something?”

“What?”

“Don’t close yourself off just because you’re scared. Being hurt means you were brave enough to try in the first place.”

Ella’s throat tightened. “When did you get so wise?”

“Please, I’ve always been wise. You just never listen to me.” Bella’s tone lightened. “So, tell me more about these MacGregor brothers. The youngest one sounds cute.”

“He’s married. They all are.”

“Dang. All the good ones are married or time travelers.”

Ella laughed, grateful for her friend’s ability to lift her mood. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yes, but I’m also right. About everything. Including hot security experts who run away.”

“Goodbye, Bella.”

“Keep me posted on the brooding!”

Ella ended the call, shaking her head but feeling lighter. Trust Bella to turn her confusion into something approaching amusement.

Still, as she got up to start dinner, she couldn’t help but wonder about Tom’s strange reaction. There was a story there—she just wasn’t sure she wanted to know what it was.

She’d given the men in this town way too much of her time. She had lesson plans to finish, a classroom to organize, and a new life to build.

Everything and everyone else would have to wait.

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