Chapter 12
Amelia
The next morning, Mom’s sitting in a chair by the window, a blanket draped over her lap, even though it’s not that cold. She looks tired but peaceful, her fingers lightly tapping against the armrest as she stares outside.
I stay in the doorway, keys already in my hand, but my feet refuse to move.
I need to meet Adrian, but looking at Mom like this makes a lump form in the back of my throat.
What if something happens to her when I’m gone?
What if she needs me and I’m not there? Hazel and Jasper would use their phones to call me, right?
Putting aside my negative thoughts, I focus on the positives, such as Adrian agreeing to let me interview him, and how today will be a quick meeting.
I step closer. “Mom, I’m heading off. You gonna be alright?”
She turns to me with a slow nod. “Yes, sweetheart.”
I hesitate, searching her face for any sign that she’s just saying that for my benefit. “I won’t be long,” I promise. “Just gotta get this meeting done.”
She gives me a small smile. “What’s it about?”
“A fundraiser.” I grab my keys off the counter. “We’re trying to raise money for some medical equipment.”
“Oh, that’s great,” she manages, fighting a yawn and giving me an encouraging smile despite the exhaustion in her eyes.
“Yeah.” I linger for another second more. “It’s just the first meeting, so we’ll be throwing ideas around.”
She hums in approval. “Honey, I’m sure it’ll be great.”
“Call me if you need me.” I kiss her on the forehead before heading out.
The drive is quiet, passing houses that still have autumn wreaths hanging on their doors, mini pumpkins, and fall garlands draped along the porch railings.
When I pull into the lot, I spot his Mercedes-Benz parked at the edge, right where the gravel meets the trees. And there he is, leaning against it, like he was made to be part of the scenery.
The sight of him makes me smile before I even realize it.
He’s in black jeans today, paired with a blue sweater that brings out the color of his eyes. Freshly shaved, his jawline sharp, his eyebrows slightly pinched like he’s assessing something—probably me.
I step out of the car with my camera, and my gaze immediately catches on the two coffee cups in his hands… One noticeably bigger than the other.
He lifts them slightly. “Here’s your caffeine hit.”
I cross the lot toward him. “You got it from Genevieve’s Diner.”
“You doubted me?”
I take the bigger cup, feeling the coolness seep into my fingertips. “Did you tell her how awesome the pies were?”
“I did,” he says, taking a sip of his own coffee. “Told her next year, I’ll need to put an order in.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Good luck with that. People have been begging her to take orders for years. She won’t cave.”
“She likes the line, huh?” he asks with a mischievous grin.
“She likes the buzz,” I correct. “The thrill of selling out. It’s a power move.”
“Hm.” He cocks his head, studying me. “I can be persuasive.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Can you now?”
His eyes glint with something unreadable, and for a moment, we just stand there, the air crackling between us.
He pushes off the car and nods toward the trail. “So, where’s this famous bridge?”
I gesture for him to follow. “Come with me.”
The fundraiser stuff is still running through my head as we make our way along the flat path. I’m at ease as we walk, but when I look over, he seems wound up, shoulders tight, a firm hold on his cup. Maybe I should start easy… ask about normal stuff like his job.
Girl, get yourself together. This is just for the article. We’ve done dozens of interviews, and this is no different.
The bridge comes into view ahead, stone pillars rising above the riverbank, weathered by time.
“You need to see it from underneath first, then from the top.” I nod, sipping my coffee.
“Thanks for last night,” he says, glancing at me. “It was nice. Keith had a great time too.”
I nod. “It’s good to see Keith looked after. He’s done a lot for us.”
Adrian hesitates. “He’s done a lot for me too.”
His gaze flickers to me, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Just with Mom’s diagnosis, you know…” I add softly.
Understanding, he nods again.
We reach the base of the bridge. The small river flows beneath it, the water rushing over rocks. The sight of it is breathtaking in a quiet, understated way. I haven’t come here in a while. I’ve been preoccupied, but every time I do it feels like this, and I remember why I love it so much.
“Wow,” he murmurs, tilting his head back.
I snap a couple of pictures with my camera, then glance at him. “Maybe I should be taking your photo for the article.”
He shakes his head and holds his hand in front of the lens. “Not yet.”
I lower my camera. “Well, you need to think about where I’m getting this picture from because it has to be good.”
“Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.”
We make our way to the top of the bridge. From here, the view stretches out in every direction; the river flowing below and the forest stretching out beyond it. The kind of view that makes you want to stop and just take it all in.
“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” I ask.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but wow, this surpasses anything I could’ve imagined,” Adrian agrees as I take another step forward, and suddenly, my foot slips.
I flail my arms, but before I can even think about falling, Adrian grabs my wrist and pulls me against him.
“Gotcha.”
My breath catches, and my hands press against his hard chest, his sweater soft beneath my fingers. He smells like a dessert… dangerous in its own way.
I swallow hard and step back. “Thanks,” I mumble, my fingers twisting the camera strap.
His hand falls away, and I shiver, but not from the cold.
I shouldn’t be thinking about this. But he’s strong and handsome, and it’s been a long time since I’ve even thought about a guy. Life has been in the way; my job has been my focus. And romance? Not even on the radar.
Not that it should be now.
Definitely not with him.
I clear my throat, steering myself back to why I’m here. “Let’s just sit down.”
We take a seat on one of the wooden benches, and I pull out my notepad and pen.
“Of course, that’s been in your pocket the whole time.”
My cheeks heat. “Adrian.”
A trace of a smile crosses his face. “Mm-hmm?”
“Do you like your job?”
His expression shifts as he thinks about it. “Most days.”
I smile, but it fades as I think about my own answer. My honesty might earn his trust, so I decide to admit my true feelings. “I love my job.” I pause, my fingers tightening around my pen.
He waits as I take a breath, watching me with a patient look.
“I wish I could be reporting on more,” I say. “Fashion. Lifestyle. High-end subjects. I love my community, but it’s just…” I shake my head. “A little boring.”
He tilts his head to the side. “Is it just this town, or?”
“It’s the town,” I say. “I’ve thought about moving to New York with my sister, Aurora, but my family needs me.” I’m disappointed to give up that dream, but it’s not what matters most.
Adrian watches me closely, no judgment in his face, just genuine curiosity. His soft gaze makes it so easy to continue opening up.
“I couldn’t leave my mom now since she’s unstable. And my siblings… they’re too young to deal with that.” I lift my chin, forcing a smile. “Anyway, I’m supposed to be asking you the questions.”
He smirks. “You won’t get much out of me yet. We’ve got a fundraiser to organize first. After that, I’ll give you all the answers and the photo you want.”
“Alright.” I open my notebook, and he watches me, amused.
“So,” I say, flipping to a new page, “I’ve already spoken to Ezra, Milton, and the mayor and received approval. I said we want to host it in the town square in a months’ time. How does that sound?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I think a themed event would work best.”
“Christmas, then?”
I nod. “The winter celebration. We need to plan the food, the activities… probably test a few games. There must be prizes. We need the whole community involved.”
I’ve been writing down names since he agreed to do the fundraiser, even contacting a few because we don’t have much time, and there’s a lot of people in this community. And I don’t want to leave anyone out.
“Sure. How do you want to do this?”
“A Saturday works best,” I say, tapping my pen against my notepad. “People have Sunday to recover, we have time to clean up, and then Monday, hopefully, we have enough money for the equipment.”
Adrian leans back on the bench, his arm draped lazily over the backrest, fingers tapping against the wood. The faintest grin tugs at his lips. “That sounds like a plan. Could really work to get at least one fixed.”
“Fixing will be less money to raise.”
“I’ll put the money up to host the event. And the goal will be to raise one hundred thousand dollars.”
I nod. “Then let’s do this.”
The feeling between us changes, shifting with a new sense of determination.
I flip to the next page in my notebook, the paper crinkling under my touch.
As I shift my grip, my fingertip catches the sharp edge.
I’m not normally this accident prone, but something’s different today, and I don’t understand why I’m so nervous.
“Ah.” I shake my hand as a sting shoots through my skin.
“Paper cut. Let me see.”
I giggle, shaking my head. “I don’t need a doctor.”
He ignores me completely, taking my hand in his before I can protest. His grip is firm yet gentle, and I don’t bother pulling away.
He brings my finger close to his lips. I think he’s going to kiss it, but he stops short, his warm breath brushing over my skin.
This is dangerous, and I know it, yet my heart does this little skip that I haven’t felt in years.
I suck in a breath, startled by the gentle warmth of his mouth on my skin.
“Better?” he asks, leaning back.
I curl my fingers, slipping them from his grip. “Is that what you do with all your patients?”
His lips pull into a wolfish grin. “No. You’re the first.”