Chapter 3
Chapter Three
ZOEY
M y Louboutin sinks into the soggy grass of Pine Falls with a squishy sound, tipping me sideways.
I flail, catching myself on the car door handle just before my bag slides off my shoulder.
I glance down at the heels now covered in so much brown sludge, there’s not a trace of the iconic red sole visible.
Great. Now they’re ruined.
Somewhere between packing and closing a deal this morning, I made two crucial mistakes.
Not getting the precise location of the cabin I’m renting. Instead, I told my dad’s chauffeur to drop me “anywhere in town,” thinking it couldn’t be that hard to find my way in such a small place.
Not checking the weather app before leaving. When I said I wasn’t a nature girly, I wasn’t kidding, but in these shoes with this weather, I downright come across as unprepared. Not off to a great start.
I adjust the coat I’ve draped over my head as the rain doubles down, then wrench my heel out of the hole it was sinking into. Back on solid ground, wind whipping at the hem of my dress, I run across the street to find shelter.
“Miss!” Andrew calls from the car. “What about your luggage?”
“Uh? Leave it in the trunk!”
Smile falling, he stammers, “I h-have to get back to the city before five to drive your dad to his charity event. I’m sorry, miss.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck .
“Give me a minute,” I yell back.
How far can this cabin be? I fumble in my pocket, digging out my phone. I unlock it, and that’s when I notice my third mistake.
“Great. Perfect. Amazing.” Should have checked whether I had coverage in this town lost in the middle of fucking nowhere.
Eyes fixed on the screen, I turn back to join Andrew by the car again. I’ve barely taken a step when a truck roars by, sending a wave of cold, gritty mud splattering across my legs and skirt.
Yelping, I jump back. “Hey!” I flail my arms. “Asshole!”
The truck comes to an abrupt halt.
Uh-oh.
The door flies open, and a man straight out of Lumberjack Magazine steps out. Big shoulders, big thighs, big boots.
“What did you say?” he asks, marching toward me.
I plant my feet, refusing to back down. “You drove right in front of me, and now my clothes are wet and ruined. You could have killed me.”
“Maybe,” he snaps, nostrils flaring, “if you didn’t have your face buried in your stupid phone, you’d have seen there was a vehicle coming.” He gives me a long look, from my head all the way to my shoes, where he scoffs. “And who dresses like that with a storm rolling in? Ridiculous.”
“I didn’t check the weather before I left!” I yell like a frustrated kid. I don’t know why I’m telling him this. Why am I even arguing with this man who clearly doesn’t have any manners?
The stranger pushes a strand of dark blond hair from his face and tucks it haphazardly into his bun.
My gaze snags on the movement. Big hands too.
He gives me another slow once-over. “Next time, watch where you’re going, lady. And get yourself some warm clothes. It’s not fashion week.”
“Next time, don’t barrel down the street like a maniac and drench innocent people in with filthy gutter water,” I bite back.
I whirl around and storm toward Andrew. There’s no way I’ll let this ass have the last word.
The truck’s door slams, and a split second later, the vehicle speeds away. Good fucking god. I was told the people in this town were welcoming and friendly.
“Are you okay, miss?”
“I’m fine.” I yank on the handle of one suitcase, sliding it from the car. “Thanks, Andrew.”
Once I’ve set the second one beside it, I sling my tote over my shoulder, then drag my luggage across the street.
“Come… on…” I grunt, hoisting the bags onto the sidewalk.
As I wipe my hair from my face, I spot a small café on the corner of the street, and my lungs deflate. There has to be somebody who can help me find this damn cabin.
I stalk that way and push through the door. A bell rings as I step in, drawing the attention of the woman behind the counter.
She gives me a long look up and down and smirks. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, please .” I drag my belongings behind me and plop my ass on the closest stool. “I just arrived in Pine Falls and—”
The woman snorts. “You don’t say.”
I narrow my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Take a look around.” She nods at the dining area.
Slowly, I shift on the stool and scan the space.
Okay, yeah. I understand her point. The patrons of the café are decked out in leggings and jeans, many wearing boots similar to the kind that rude guy had on.
Backpacks are draped over chairs or set on the floor beside them.
Beneath the scent of coffee, the air is tinged with hints of damp wood and insect repellent.
I definitely stand out in a cherry-red dress, matching purse, and the Dior perfume I spritzed on when I left this morning.
It’s fine. I’m used to not blending in. It’s never fazed me before, and it won’t start affecting me now.
I think that’s what makes people tick. What forces them to give me their attention when I’m not even seeking it.
As if my lack of discomfort breaks some unspoken universal rule that leaves them outraged.
I turn back to the woman—Rosie, according to her nametag—who’s still watching me, her lips twitching in amusement. She seems to be about my age, with purple streaks slashing her black hair.
“Got it. It’s obvious I just arrived. Do you know where I can find this cabin?”
I take my phone out of my tote bag and open the photo album app, fishing for the confirmation email I had screenshotted before I left Vancouver.
“Oh, sure,” she says, leaning over the counter. “You’re a bit far out. Oliver lives on the outskirts of town, about a kilometer from here.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Who’s Oliver?” The listing didn’t mention an Oliver. Only that the rental was the perfect place to enjoy “the true essence of Pine Falls.”
“The owner of the cabin,” Rosie says. “And of Oli’s, the restaurant a few streets up.” She points vaguely out the front windows. “Can’t miss it. It’s always packed. If the house is available, he must be away on a trip with Charlee.”
This woman talks to me like I’ve been living in this town forever and would know who these people are, yet only moments ago, she was making sure I understood how obviously I don’t belong here.
“Who’s Charlee?” I ask, locking my phone screen.
Rosie’s brows shoot up. “Charlee Fletcher? You don’t know who Charlee Fletcher is?”
I make a face. “The only reason I know the name is because you’ve said it twice in the span of five seconds.”
With a roll of her eyes, she throws the towel she was holding onto her shoulder and snatches her phone next to the register. She extends it to me, a video playing on her screen.
I watch, and it hits me immediately.
“Oh, I know her.” I look up, sliding the phone back to Rosie. “I saw her documentary on a forest around here last week.”
“She’s our national treasure,” Rosie says proudly. “And Oliver’s girlfriend. When she’s shooting, and as long as his schedule allows, Oliver follows along. That might be why his cabin is available.” Her gaze lingers on my wet hair. “Do you maybe want a cup of coffee or tea? Something hot?”
My damp clothes cling to my skin, and cold sinks into my bones. I should probably find a way to get to my lodgings and change, but Rosie is smiling at me with a warmth I’ve rarely encountered, and weirdly, it makes me want to stay.
I straighten on my stool. “A grande cappuccino with cold foam, please.”
She snorts again. “Who do you think I am, Starbucks?” She lets out a huff. “I don’t complain when you tourists steal all our parking spots in the summer, but I draw the line at cold foam. I’ll make you a cappuccino in a bowl.”
“Will you mock me if I ask for oat milk?”
She shakes her head, her purple hair bouncing.
“I wish, but Pine Falls gets a lot of tourists throughout the year, and with them come all sorts of ridiculous requests like hazelnut syrup and cinnamon sprinkles. Gotta meet the demand.” She locks the portafilter in place beneath the coffee bean grinder.
“What brings you here, clearly not dressed for the storm coming in?”
Fidgeting with my fingers, I weigh my answer.
I did a little research on Pine Falls, and Dad talked my ears off about how vehemently the townsfolk opposed his resort concept.
Though when I went through our archives for more information, I didn’t find any traces of that failed deal.
It’s strange, since our company’s policy is to keep everything.
I meant to ask Dad about it but didn’t have time to connect with him again before this trip.
Based on the digging I did, I’ve gathered that one available plot of land will be discussed during the next town hall.
If they’re already a sensitive bunch, I can’t go around saying I’m here to build a hotel.
I can’t mess it up before I have the chance to present the project.
They need to get on board, even if it means giving them the illusion of a choice.
The process will be much smoother if they believe it was their idea all along. You know, marketing .
“I wanted a break from the city.” It isn’t a complete lie. Charlee’s documentary has overtaken my thoughts. As if it awakened something in me, and it’s been stirring relentlessly ever since.
“Ah.” Rosie places the bowl in front of me. “The classic city girl in need of a nature escape.”
With a whispered thanks, I take a sip, relishing the warmth already settling around my fingertips. “If I fall for a small-town man next, I’ll be a cliché Hallmark movie.”
“Who knows?” She shrugs. “Pine Falls has a couple of eligible single men.”
“The only guy I’ve met so far almost ran me down and splashed water all over me. Not off to a great start.”
Her eyes dance. “ Yeah , we have a few grumpy ones too.”
I tap on my phone screen, zooming in on the photo of the cabin, searching for landmarks that may help me find it. “So what’s the easiest route to get to Oliver’s?”
Rosie looks at my bags, then at me, and grimaces. “I’m sure someone around here can give you a ride. You can’t walk all the way there with those torture devices on your feet while dragging your entire closet behind you.”
Grunting, I drop my head to the counter with a thud. “I really wish I had checked the location beforehand.”
“That would’ve been smart.” Rosie nods to the windows on the right side of the café. “There’s a bookstore just up the street called One Last Chapter. The owner knows Oliver well. She may be able to drive you there.”
I glance up. “Now, that’s an idea.”
While Rosie goes back to work, chatting with patrons and refilling coffees, I drink the rest of my cappuccino. Once the bowl is empty, I gather my things.
“Thank you for the warm welcome, Rosie,” I say, leaving a ten-dollar bill on the counter.
“Hope you get to your cabin safe!”
Outside, the rain has slowed to a soft pitter-patter. Loaded down with all my belongings, I step out into it and cross the street.
As I approach the bookstore a few shops down, I take a deep breath. “Please, please, please bring me to my cabin.”
Inside, a woman with long black hair and tattoos swirling around her right arm turns to me, a smile lighting her whole face.
Next to her, a man leans on the counter, his elbows propped up casually. He glances over, curious. But the moment he catches sight of me, the expression falls.
Fantastic.
Of course I’d bump into the guy who almost ran me over.