Chapter 3
Chapter Three
LARK
T he shuttle from the SeaTac airport to Echo Cove smells like a potent mixture of sweaty socks and marijuana, and that’s the kindest possible description I can give after eight hours on a plane and my rental car being canceled as soon as I stepped off the tarmac.
As soon as the Welcome to Echo Cove sign comes into view through the cloudy windows, I breathe a sigh of relief. I haven’t been home since I moved away over a year and a half ago, and I miss everyone like crazy.
Very few locals actually leave Echo Cove for good, so most of my friends and all of my family still live and work in town, so thankfully I was able to snag an open condo at the last minute. Visions of a collapsing into a soft, warm bed after a scalding shower make me groan, and the woman next to me gives me an incredulous look.
“What?” I snap. “I’ve been traveling all day, sue me for being excited to get off this hellhole of an excuse for public transportation.”
Her eyebrow raises in what looks like disbelief, likely at my tone, but after a few silent moments of her stern gaze locked on my face, she grins. “I like you, little spitfire. I’m Carol.”
She holds out her hand to shake as I gawk at her. I’ve been told that my prickly personality can be off-putting, and I’ve been called a bitch more times than I can count, so for this stranger to not only accept my attitude but enjoy it ? It feels like the only bright spot in this nightmare of a week. She reminds me of Quellis who I already miss so much more than I expected.
I meet her smile with a small one of my own and take her hand. “Lark. I’m sorry for snapping at you, I’ve been told my personality can be hard to swallow.”
Carol’s grin grows as she pats my hand. “Strong women often have personalities to match, my dear. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re too much as you are. The right people will meet you head on and love you no matter how spicy your attitude gets.”
I’m mortified when tears well in my eyes, but her smile softens in understanding. I think now that I’m finally home, Jake’s callous words from the salon have begun to sink in and I’m realizing he hit a sore spot. The empathy in this stranger’s warm brown eyes does wonders to patch up the gaping hole my ex left in my self-confidence.
A need to change the subject comes over me, so I stare at Carol more intently, searching for something to ask to turn her attention away from my emotional baggage. I would guess she’s in her early fifties, around my parents’ age, and her eyes radiate kindness to match the smile lines around her mouth. Her hair is mostly white with some thick streaks of brown, making me think that’s probably her natural color.
Clearing my throat, I give up my search and try to make small talk. “So what brings you to Echo Cove? Do you live here or are you just visiting?”
She blessedly allows the change and a look of affection crosses her features, deepening her smile lines. “I’m popping in on my son for a surprise visit. And honestly, I was feeling the itch for some more ink and there’s an incredible shop here that opened last year.”
With that little bomb, she takes off her sweater to reveal two nearly full sleeves of incredibly detailed and colorful tattoos. I gape at them and reach for the arm closest to me. “May I?”
“Of course! I didn’t sit for hours on end to hide my art from curious eyes. Look away!”
Her left arm is a mishmash of vibrant beach landscape and sea animals done in a watercolor style, and the attention to detail in each design has my jaw nearly touching the cracked leather seat below us.
“Holy shit , Carol! These are beyond incredible. You’re seriously telling me you had these done in Echo Cove?”
“This shop has a magical way with the irons, and I wouldn’t trust any other artist to paint my canvas.”
I run my fingers across a starfish, stunned by how realistic it looks. Her words tickle some distant memory in my brain, a question about her son sitting just on the tip of my tongue, but a pair of sea otters catch my eye and I let out the smallest squeal of excitement. Otters are my favorite animal and one of the only things that elicits that level of childlike excitement.
Carol chuckles, running her fingers across the otters inked on the inside of her left wrist. “This was my first tattoo. I told him to choose something he thought I would love and the sweet boy picked something that represented me and his late father and made me cry. ”
My heart melts just the tiniest bit towards this man I’ve never met. Any man who treats his mom so well is a good noodle in my book. “That’s so sweet, Carol. It sounds like you raised a good man.”
We pull up at the shuttle terminal and I mentally try to calculate just how far I’m going to have to drag two huge suitcases and a carry-on. Echo Cove is only three square miles, so it’s not too far no matter where you are in town, but it’s a warm day and I’m already so tired.
Carol follows me off the bus raises a brow when I groan watching the bus driver pull my suitcases out of the under-bus compartments. I turn to her with a grimace. “Remember when I said it’s been the travel day from hell? My rental car was canceled and I have to lug all my stuff to the condo I’m renting on the other side of town.”
She doesn’t respond with words, instead moving forward to grab her bag and then snagging the handle of one of mine. My eyes widen, but she just smiles happily. “Grab a handle, spitfire! You’re holding up the show.”
Shaking my head in disbelief, I follow the stern order and grab my other two bags from the bus driver, thanking him.
Carol and I spend the two-mile walk talking about anything and everything, including the reason I moved back so abruptly and the things Jake said when he was breaking up with me. By the end of my tale, she’s spitting mad and telling me her son would never treat me so terribly in the same breath.
I can’t help laughing at her antics, because throughout this whole journey she’s been talking up her son to me, which I have to assume is her own not-so-subtle way of trying to play matchmaker. Although I’ll give credit where credit is due, if her son is half as wonderful as Carol says, I’d be an idiot not to take a chance on him.
When we finally reach the small collection of condos near the beach, Carol is kind enough to wait with my bags while I head inside the main office talk to the leasing agent.
The reception desk is empty, so I ding the bell. A small older woman with bright purple hair rushes out of a back room with a can of diet coke in her hand and a chagrined smile on her face. “Hello! I’m so sorry about that, I was just taking lunch. Our office manager is out sick today, so it’s just little old me.”
Keeping my expression free from the scowl that wants to settle on my mouth takes a Herculean effort, but I manage. Barely. “Hi, my name is Lark Monroe, and I’m supposed to be picking up the keys for condo 4C today?”
Her mouth drops open, the deep purple lipstick on her lips leaving a mark on her straw that makes my eye twitch. I’m all for wearing whatever makes you feel beautiful, but something about lipstick on straws has always bugged me.
“I…oh. Oh no. Oh dear, this isn’t good.”
My brow rises at the panic in her tone, and the flustered receptionist begins rambling. “Umm, so that condo was rented out last month, but there was an error in our computer system that showed it as available, and I think what happened is that our leasing agent rented the property to you by mistake. Completely unknowingly, but…by mistake nonetheless.”
My jaw drops open for the second time today, and rage boils under my skin. My cheeks feel so hot I briefly wonder if they match the cherry red streaks of hair that frame my face. “So let me get this straight. Your office rented me a condo that not only was already occupied , but also took my deposit and didn’t bother to contact me once the error had been realized?”
Her face blanches, and I roll back my words and realize how harsh my voice got. Taking a deep breath, I paste on a brittle smile. “I apologize for raising my voice. I understand accidents happen, and I won’t take up any more of your time. Will you let me know if something becomes available though?”
She nods frantically and reaches out a hand that I meet with only the slightest hesitation. “Of course, and I’ll write you a check now for the deposit. And again I am so sorry. My name is Leah, and if you need anything at all just call the office.”
I smile at her and turn to walk out before my anger gets the best of me and I take my ire out on the innocent receptionist. Carol takes one look at my expression and hisses a breath through gritted teeth. “Uh oh.”
A huff escapes as I grab my bags and start walking the opposite direction. “Carol, you have no idea. Apparently the condo I rented was already occupied and my application was accepted by mistake. My parents downsized after my brother and I moved out to a tiny one-bedroom cottage, so living with them isn’t an option either.”
She gets a twinkle in her eye, her lips quirking to the side as she pulls out her cell phone. “If you’re open to something a little… unconventional , I may have a solution to your problem.”
I take a minute to think over every option I have, and shrug when I realize I have nothing to lose. Maybe I shouldn’t trust a woman I met less than two hours ago to find me a place to stay, but I’m feeling a little bit reckless and a whole lot ready for change. Mimicking her words from earlier, I grab my bags and stare at her with a small grin. “Come on, you’re holding up the show!”
“You know the owner of this house? And you’re sure they have a room for rent?”
Carol snickers, which should set off alarm bells in my head, but I’m too busy drooling over the architectural wet dream in front of us. The house itself is a stunning mix of East and West Coast vibes, while still looking perfectly at home in our sleepy little beach town.
Not only is it painted my favorite shade of blue, but there are gorgeous red poppies lining the beds in front of the huge wraparound porch, and nearly the entire yard is comprised of raised garden beds with a mass of various flowers crowding the space.
It feels like this house was meant to be mine, and I wonder if I can sweet talk the owner into selling it before I have to move out. Or maybe they’ll try to sell during next year’s Tourist Purge and I can snap it up before it even goes on the market.
As I’m struck dumb staring at my dream house, a large man exits the front door dressed for a workout, and suddenly my attention shifts from my dream house to my dream man . He’s huge. It’s obvious he well passes six feet, and in the cute little shorts he’s wearing, his thighs look like fucking tree trunks. His entire body stretches against the confines of the shorts, tee, and calf socks he has on, each item bulging in a way that shows off his muscles without looking grotesque.
The outfit on anyone else might look try-hard or douchey, but on this gorgeous man? It’s as good as high fashion. His silence gives me the opportunity to take in everything from his build to the layers of colorful ink covering every single inch of available skin, from his neck to his calves.
My slow perusal ends with his face, which is just as stunning as the rest of him. High, chiseled cheekbones rest under warm golden eyes that remind me of buckwheat honey and are framed by thick dark lashes. A backwards baseball cap mostly covers his hair, but what little I can see of it is short and dark, the lack of length accentuating his wide smile and a jaw that looks sharp enough to cut glass. The silver hoop through the left side of his nose tops off the whole emo-vibe he’s got going on.
I’m embarrassed to realize Carol has been speaking this whole time, but I try to cover it with a scowl as I turn to the woman at my side. “What the hell is happening right now?” I snap.
“Hey!” the stranger barks. “Don’t talk to my mom like that.”
My cheeks flush, but I’m not sure if it’s with anger or embarrassment at being called out. My scowl turns into a glare as I meet the giant’s gaze head on. Irritation burns hot in his pretty eyes, turning them a darker shade of brown. The color is like a rich dark chocolate glaze, shiny and enticing.
Carol coughs out a laugh and moves forward to hug the man and pats his enormous bicep before moving back to my side and linking her arm with mine. The gesture lessens my scowl the slightest bit, but I don’t let it drop completely.
“Lark this is my son, Liam. Liam, this is my new friend Lark,” she says, a beaming grin taking over when our eyes widen simultaneously in response to her introduction.
Tattoo shop. New to Echo Cove. Liam.
Holy shit. This is Keelan’s best friend.
It looks like Liam is having the same revelation I am because he snorts, and the next thing I know he’s bent over with his hands on his knees, gasping for air between deep barks of laughter. “Oh my god,” he coughs. “Everyone told me you could be a little prickly at first but damn . With that hair, you’re like a little Red Grafted Moon!”
I glance to Carol helplessly only to find her holding back giggles of her own despite the confusion in her eyes. She sees my clueless look and finally breaks, covering her mouth with one hand and whispering so only I can hear her. “My boy is a huge plant fanatic, and lucky for you, I actually know this one. A Red Grafted Moon is a small cactus that has a red, flower shaped bulb on the top. Don’t tell him, but I kind of think it looks like an infected dick.”
Out of all the things she could have said, that’s what finally cracks my calm facade, and I start laughing hysterically. Only my laughter quickly turns into hiccups, which turn into tears, and then before I know what’s happening I’m sobbing into my hands and being guided around the back of the house and lowered onto the most comfortable couch I’ve ever felt.
I’m not sure how long it takes me to calm myself down, but thankfully Carol is armed with tissues when I do so I can clean up my face. Nothing says good first impression like a snotty nose and red-splotched complexion. I grimace when I feel Liam’s large body drop down next to me, making the long cushion bounce and nearly upsetting my balance.
“I’m so sorry for losing it like this. It’s been a really long seventy-two hours and I haven’t slept in more than thirty-six of those. I tend to cry when I get overtired and I was hoping to be safely in my condo before it happened.”
Carol just nods along like this is all perfectly normal, but Liam looks concerned. I don’t know that either expression is a comfort right now, but they’re all I’ve got before the onslaught of crazy that will be my mother when she finds out I’m home for good.
I know I told Quellis I was only going to be gone for a few weeks, but the minute I stepped off the plane I realized just how much I missed the northwest. I feel the most like myself when I’m here in Echo Cove, and I don’t want to give up that feeling again. So unless something drastic happens, I’m calling base and sticking around.
Now I just have to find somewhere to live.