Chapter 4
Chapter Four
MATT
“ I t’s gonna be an adjustment.” I slump against the counter. “I’ve never taken care of her for this long. I’m scared I’ll mess something up.”
Lola glances up from the register. “You won’t, come on. You and Daphne are so close, and she adores you.”
I rub my beard. “But she’s still a teenage girl who needs extra care, and I’m not all that fluent in that department.”
“You know how to take care of your sister, Matt.” She gives me a pointed look. “You’ve been doing it since she was born.”
“It’s just—”
The door of Lola’s bookstore bursts open, and instinctively, we turn toward the commotion.
Standing in the doorway is the stranger I nearly ran over.
She’s just as beautiful as she was when I rolled by her, despite her wet clothes and the obvious tiredness on her face.
All long legs and smooth curves that made me do a double take when I got out of my truck an hour ago.
It’s those damn heels—the ones she shouldn’t be wearing in Pine Falls, the ones that define the muscles of her calves perfectly and give her a few more inches—that keep my rapt attention.
She’s ridiculously underdressed for this weather, but still, I can’t bring myself to look away.
At the threshold, she’s frozen in place, still clinging to the door handle, her focus fixed on me.
“Can I help you?” Lola asks.
The sound of Lola’s voice startles her, and she tears her gaze away from me. “I didn’t realize Pine Falls was this small.”
“Huh?”
“Must be your lucky day,” I shoot back.
Lola frowns at me and whispers, “Do you know her?”
“She jumped in front of my truck earlier.”
The stranger scoffs. “I did not jump in front of your truck.”
Lola lets out a low whistle, her brows rising high, side-eyeing me.
“ You ,” the woman says, pointing at me, “almost ran me over.”
I hold my hands up. “Let’s agree to disagree and call it a day.”
Her expression hardens, and she presses her lips together in a thin line.
She’s been here for thirty seconds, and she’s already riled up.
I shouldn’t like it. But seeing how easily I can spark a reaction out of her is entertaining.
I’ve never witnessed someone getting this bothered by a little taunting.
She moves closer, dragging her heavy luggage behind her. “I’ve had a long day, and I could use a bath and a bottle of wine right about now, so if you could help me, I’d be willing to forget that you almost killed me.”
She fumbles in the pocket of a coat that looks more expensive than my house and pulls out her phone. With a series of taps on the screen, she turns the device to Lola. “Rosie at the café mentioned that you know the owner of the cabin I’m renting. She thought maybe you could drive me there.”
I glance over Lola’s shoulder. “You’re staying at Oliver’s?”
The stranger stares at me. “You know him too?”
“He’s our best friend.” Lola offers her a warm smile. “I can give you a ride, but…” She checks her watch. “It’s just me today, and I can’t close the store before I get my delivery at three.”
The woman’s eyes swim with despair. She’s shivering, partly because of me. Her hair is plastered to her face, her expression drawn, like she’s at her wit’s end. She could use a little sympathy, even if she came barging in here like an entitled city jerk.
I sigh. Fine. “I’ll drive you.”
She whips her head in my direction, her shoulders tensing. “You will?”
I shrug. “Yeah, why not.”
“Oh. O-okay then.” Voice pitched high, she darts her gaze around, as if she’s looking for the suitcases parked beside her. “Now?”
“Yeah, give me a minute, okay?” I slip my keys from my pocket and hit the unlock button on the fob, nodding toward my truck. “You can climb in if you want. I’ll be right over.”
“Yeah, okay. Uh… thanks.” She turns around, her movements wooden, as if my offer throws her off.
Come on, I’m not that mean. Actually, I’m not mean at all. She’s the one who called me an asshole.
“Hey!” Lola adds as the woman pulls the door open. “I didn’t catch your name.”
“Zoey,” she says.
Zoey . The sound of her name is like a soft brush of her lips against the shell of my ear.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Lola, and this is Matt.”
Zoey nods and dips her chin. “I’ll go wait in the truck.”
“You remember which one it is, right?” I wink, and her cheeks turn pink.
After she’s stepped out and the door has closed behind her, Lola gently pushes me. “Behave.”
“It’s just a little fun teasing.” I press a kiss to her hair and back away. “Thank you for the pep talk. You should stop by to say hi to Daph before school starts.”
“Will do.”
I head out to my truck. “Sorry for keeping you waiting,” I say to Zoey as I approach. She’s standing next to the passenger door, watching me.
Why didn’t she get in? It’s warm and dry, and she wouldn’t look so… puppy-like.
“Are you?” she volleys back.
“Not really.” I load her suitcases in the bed, then climb in and crank the heat for her. As I shift into reverse, my finger grazes her thigh, and the cool softness of her skin sparks a tingling sensation that works all the way up my arm.
“Sorry.” Despite my best effort, the word still came out strangled.
I back out, a hand behind her headrest. “So, what are you in town for?”
“Ah, you know… I needed to get away from the city and connect with nature.”
Her tone is detached, her expression flat. There’s no way that’s why she’s here. It’s none of my business, though. I’m just trying to make polite conversation.
“If you want to connect with nature,” I glance down at her shoes, “maybe you should lose the heels for the rest of your stay.”
I shift into fourth, and my finger brushes against her thigh again. And for a split second, I swear she presses her leg further into my touch.
I release the stick and grip the steering wheel.
“Noted,” Zoey says, her voice tight. “I’ll buy some more appropriate footwear tomorrow.”
A handful of minutes later, we approach Oliver’s cabin, and I slow.
Zoey leans closer to the windshield, and for the first time since I met her, her eyes sparkle, her whole face lighting up with it.
“Oh, I can work with that,” she says as the log cabin comes into view, snugged between the forest and a lake.
I hum. “Wait until you see inside. The place is gorgeous. Oliver and his grandpa built it. They used trees from this forest and spent hours in the woodshed putting it together.” I point to the small outbuilding just visible behind the house, then drag my finger over to the dock.
“Oli added this later. Great diving into the lake from there.”
“It’s like I’m cutting myself off from civilization,” she says, inspecting the pointed roof.
With a huff of a laugh, I park next to Charlee’s car, twigs snapping under the tires. I slide out and pull her suitcases from the bed, and as I round the truck with her luggage, I spot her still struggling to climb out of the passenger side.
I smirk and hold my hand out. “Would it be mean if I said I wish I could follow you around just to witness how you ‘connect with nature’?”
Groaning, she swats it away. And without help, she jumps down, though not without almost twisting her ankle when her heels make contact with the uneven ground.
“I may be from the city, but that doesn’t mean I can’t handle myself in Sticksville.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Sticksville? Really?” I scoff, stalking toward the cabin. “Unbelievable.”
“Hey! Wait!”
Without slowing, I climb the couple of stairs that lead to the front porch and drop the suitcases onto the wooden decking.
This is why I stay in my small town, surrounded by people I know and trust. It’s why I don’t mingle with the city folks.
I can do without their judgments and arrogant attitudes.
I’ve already had a go at it once. Been there, done that.
Four years later, I still think about the time in my life that took so much from me.
It was nothing but a blip in hers , I’m sure. I should have known better.
I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my thirty years of existence, but that one taught me more than any other in the last decade.
Zoey climbs the stairs behind me. “I’m sorry,” she says, voice dripping with sarcasm. “I didn’t realize you’re one of those people who tie their worth to where they live.”
Annoyance builds in my gut. “I didn’t realize you’re one of those people who tie their worth to their expensive shoes,” I shoot back.
She holds my gaze, and I don’t budge. The seconds tick by, but eventually, she looks away. “You know what? Thanks for the lukewarm welcome to town, but I’m exhausted and cranky. I could use a shower and some sleep.”
“Here.” I dig my keys out of my pocket, find the one for Oli’s place, and slide it into the lock. “Welcome to your home,” I bite out as I open the door.
Zoey blinks at the door standing ajar. She opens her mouth, then closes it. This happens once or twice more before she finally blurts, “ You have a key to the house I’m staying in?”
“You’re staying at my best friend’s place. Of course I have a key. But I won’t use it while you’re here. It’s for emergencies only.”
She narrows her eyes at me, unconvinced.
I shrug, a smirk tugging at my lips. “I swear on your shoes.”
With a tired exhale, she walks past me. “Thank you for the ride.” She puts one hand on the door, her attention darting from me to it and back again.
Message received.
I take one last look at her—her eyes, her mouth, the tips of her dark hair curling on her shoulders, her tight dress, her sculpted legs—and allow myself to feel the physical attraction. But I leave it at that, a physical thing, and back away.
Though as heat colors her cheeks, I can’t help but grin. “Enjoy your stay in Sticksville, city girl.”