Chapter 24
I nside Mel’s Mechanic Shop, the air was thick with the rugged scent of grease and rubber, the kind of smell that clung to overalls and meant something was getting fixed.
Behind the counter, Alex stood with her back to the door, phone tucked to her ear, completely absorbed in conversation and blissfully unaware of the entrance behind her creaking open.
Lou strolled in with purpose, Will close behind, and Lady trotting in like a four-legged executive on a surprise inspection.
From his perch near the office door, Fetch offered a bark of welcome, tail thumping the floor like a built-in drumroll.
He didn't move, but his eyes sparkled with mischief—as if he already knew this reunion was about to get interesting.
“I’m sorry—he’s on his way here? To McKenzie? The mechanic shop ?” Alex said into her phone, her voice rising an octave as she froze mid-sentence. “ Any minute ?”
Still turned away from the door, she balanced the phone between her shoulder and cheek, freeing both hands to fluff her hair and pinch a little color into her cheeks—as if a quick touch-up might distract from the fact that she’d been babysitting a mechanic shop all day, now covered in its signature scents and stray debris.
“I had no idea he was coming,” she continued, sounding slightly panicked. “I smell like oil and brake dust.”
Lou nudged Will playfully with her elbow, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
Will didn’t react right away—his gaze was locked on Alex, who was mid-fluster, phone still wedged between her shoulder and ear, cheeks flushed with more than just the color she'd pinched into them. He grinned, the kind that crept up slowly and settled in like it had no plans of leaving. There was something delightfully surreal about it all—like he’d accidentally wandered onto the set of a small-town romantic comedy and just realized he was the leading man.
And from the way his eyes lingered on Alex, wide and warm, there wasn’t a doubt in Lou’s mind that he had zero interest in finding the exit.
“Is he staying here? Just for the day?” Alex asked into the phone, her words tumbling over each other. “I have so many questions. First, I need to find my lip gloss.”
She ducked beneath the counter and fished through her bag, too focused on her mission to notice her audience. When she popped back up and caught sight of Lou and Will standing in plain view, her eyes went wide.
“They’re here,” she whispered urgently into the phone, ducking her head like a guilty teenager. “Yep. Heard everything. Mhm. Got to go.”
She hung up quickly and stuffed her phone into her back pocket like it was suddenly too hot to hold.
“Wow. Hi,” she said, blinking at them. “This is a...”
“Surprise!” Lou sang, clearly reveling in every second of the awkward, blush-worthy moment.
She placed her clipboard down on the counter with a theatrical thud. “Would you mind signin’ this, hon?” she asked, sweet as sugar.
Alex eyed the clipboard warily. “Petition?” she asked, picking it up. “I don’t remember this from our last council meeting.”
“Sponsoring this one myself,” Lou said with a proud smile. “It’s about time we have term limits.”
Alex raised a brow. “We already have term limits with regular elections.”
“Not on town committees,” Lou pointed out. “Old Betty Jean Haskins has long served on every committee from the Christmas Festival to the Fall Harvest and twenty-seven others. She thinks she runs the town. Time for her to go.”
Alex let out a soft chuckle. “Um, Lou. Haven’t you been on these committees longer than she has?”
“Well, that’s different,” Lou said, waving a hand. “I’m president of the committees, and that’s an elected position. I can’t help it if the people vote me in to head everything around here.”
Shaking her head with a grin, Alex signed the clipboard. “Just doing your civic duty?” she teased, handing it back.
“Darn tootin’,” Lou replied with a wink before turning her attention to Will. “How long are you stayin’ in town, big fella?”
“Not sure,” Will said with a shrug. “I didn’t plan this out well. Brought a bag just in case.”
“Well, if you’re still here in a week, you’re practically a local and can sign this thing, too,” Lou said with a wink.
“I’d be happy to,” Will said, smirking. “Betty Jean Haskins sounds like a real problem. Thanks for escorting me around, Ms. Shaw.”
“Not a problem, and it’s Lou,” she corrected as she moved toward the door. “Ms. Shaw sounds as stuffy as old Betty Jean Haskins.”
“Noted,” Will said with a chuckle.
Lou turned back with one last helpful nod. “You can stay at the B&B. The mayor has a room for spontaneous guests.”
With that, she was gone, leaving a soft jingle of the door in her wake.
Alex leaned on the counter and offered a shy smile. “Welcome to McKenzie Ridge,” she said.
Sunlight warmed the pavement as Will and Alex strolled side by side, their steps unhurried and easy. Lady trotted at Will’s side, while Fetch padded confidently beside Alex, tails wagging like they were old friends catching up.
“So you just hopped on the train with a bag and hoped for the best?” Alex asked, a mixture of amusement and disbelief in her voice.
Will shrugged, his grin easy. “Worst case, I take the evening train back.”
She laughed. “Actually, the evening train’s a one-way to McKenzie. It heads back down the mountain in the morning.”
He blinked. “So I’m stranded.”
“Looks like it,” she said, smirking.
They strolled down the block, the rhythm of small-town life swirling around them—laughter spilling from open doors, chimes jingling in the breeze.
The dogs trotted ahead with purpose, like they knew exactly where this was headed.
And if fate had anything to say about it, things were only just getting started.
“Don’t suppose you have that vacant room Lou mentioned?” Will asked, flashing her a hopeful smile that teetered between charm and mischief.
“I might,” Alex replied, her tone casual—though the gleam in her eyes suggested she was already leaning toward yes.