Chapter 6
Georgia
“Oops. I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying any attention to where I was going.” I laughed, immediately thankful the person I’d collided with wasn’t all male and eager to find out every gory detail of my life.
Roxanne smiled, completely unaffected that I’d had my mind absorbed in creating a list of the top ten reasons I should keep a wide berth from the handsome, arrogant Wolfman.
“Don’t worry. I have a habit of typing on my phone even when I’m walking in traffic.
My dad says he’s going to get a call that I was flattened by a truck one day.
Social media will eventually be the death of me. ”
“I will say you’re very good at it. I took a glance at the team’s Instagram account last night. Impressive numbers.”
“Well, thank you very much. Share that with my father so I can get a raise before I’m old and gray.” She raised her voice while darting a look over her shoulder at the coach’s open office door.
“Don’t bother,” he called back. “Budgetary concerns.”
She grimaced while shaking her head. “See what I have to deal with around here? A whole lot of testosterone and pushback while being completely unappreciated.” Her voice was much louder than necessary.
“I’m beginning to understand the feeling.”
“Ah, the guys have already gotten to you.”
With a slight roll of my eyes, I glanced down the hallway to ensure we were alone.
“Let’s just say I’ll be the one with the gray hair in a couple months.
” The comment was a stark reminder I’d added red highlights only a few days before.
Not that it was much of a disguise, instead more of an attempt to become a different woman entirely.
Finding my way included a psychological shift.
Not necessarily unlike the one I’d tried to suggest to Ford a couple of hours before.
She laughed and the sound was infectious enough I joined her. “They take a little getting used to. Hey, I’m headed out. What do you say we grab a glass of wine or a margarita on the way back to North Bend? And that was presumptuous of me. You could have a family you need to get home to.”
“No family. Just me.” I looked away, debating all the unpacking I had to do, which in truth wasn’t that much.
I’d purchased some things on my cross-country trip, finding almost every cool thrift shop there was, but what I owned could be placed in three huge storage tubs.
“You know what? I could go for a margarita.”
“A girl after my own heart. Let me grab my purse. You can follow me in your car.”
“Perfect.”
Fortunately, the trip involved a smooth ride on I-90, but once you got off the interstate, there was a world of difference between Seattle and North Bend.
Arriving in the little town almost felt like being taken back in time to a quiet, simpler life.
With the afternoon sun just beginning to set, I was given a spectacular view of the mountains and deep, thick forests surrounding the area.
There were lakes and rivers, the outdoors important to the residents as evidenced by the hiking trails and sporting goods stores. While there were a few big box locations and fast-food joints, the smalltown presence gave the downtown a quaint, picturesque, and almost Hallmark feel.
Completely different than living in the heart of Baltimore.
The little restaurant and bar combination was adorable, a neighborhood setting located inside a house likely built in the nineteen-twenties. With a long bar and blackboard used for a limited menu, the moment I walked in, my mouth watered from the rich scent of freshly baked bread.
“Wow. This is unique.”
Roxanne waved to one of the guys behind the counter before finding a booth near the back.
With dark paneling and artistic, almost Tiffany-style swinging lamps, the low-level lighting added a cozy ambience.
There was even a fireplace in the corner and in my mind, I envisioned what being here would be like around the holidays.
Maybe a place like this would abate the loneliness that I’d already started to feel.
“Roxy. Nice to see you. Who’s your friend?” The guy was tall and rugged looking with a cropped beard and eyes that were not only shimmering in the warm lighting but were only meant for her.
I bit my lower lip to try to keep from reacting. Sadly, I could sense she didn’t want to have anything to do with him and his puppy love could potentially get on her nerves. “Georgia Wallace, Seattle Wild’s latest massage therapist.”
“Oh, fabulous. Maybe you can work on their issues with highly toxic testosterone.”
“Jake. Be nice in front of our new townie. She doesn’t know about us yet and I don’t want to scare her off right away.”
He lifted his head, studying me briefly yet long enough I could easily tell he’d read me like a book.
I wasn’t certain whether to be impressed or annoyed.
When he smiled, the action lit up his face.
“Welcome to North Bend. In honor of our newest resident, the first round is on me and I’ll whip up something in the kitchen just for you ladies.
Now, what would you like to drink? We are the town’s best microbrewery. ”
“You’re the only microbrewery,” Roxanne corrected.
“Shush. As you said, she doesn’t know us yet.”
“That’s very kind of you and I’m glad to be here,” I told him.
So far, everyone I’d met had been very nice.
Well, with one exception. However, the Wolfman wasn’t going to get under my skin.
“You wouldn’t by chance be able to make a top shelf margarita on the rocks but made with fresh limes. Would you?”
He leaned over, placing his hands on the table. The man was huge. “A lady of discerning tastes. For you, comin’ right up. Your usual, Roxy?”
“No. I think I’ll have what my new friend is having.” Seeing the sassy look she was giving Jake, I had a feeling she and I were cut from the same cloth. How refreshing. And I wouldn’t need to worry about my friendship, including staying out late.
“Excellent choice.”
As soon as he walked away, she tossed her purse from her lap to the end of the bench. “That man is…”
“Pretty sexy,” I finished for her.
“He’s not so bad. He’s just somewhat infuriating.
You know the type who refuses to take no for an answer.
But don’t get me wrong; there isn’t a bad bone in his sexy body, but he’s just not for me.
A shame too since he owns a great business, comes from a wonderful family, and owns a gorgeous house just outside of town. ”
“Hmm… Are you sure you’re not interested? That was a glowing resume.”
Her grin was full of mischief. “We went down that road once. Let’s just say it didn’t work out too well. We’re better as friends. But if you’d like to know more about him…” Her look turned positively evil with me on the receiving end.
“Uh, no. I’ve sworn off men for a very long time.”
“Bad breakup?”
“You could say that.” My tone changed and Roxanne was intuitive enough to pick up on it.
“I don’t know what really happened with you because my father made some promise he wouldn’t break a trust. He just mentioned you needed a fresh start and he was happy to be able to help.
So you don’t need to worry, but I will tell you that if you want to share anything, I’m known for being a pretty good listener. ”
“I might take you up on that. I’m just… careful and nothing against you.”
She threw up her hand. “Honestly, no offense. I can tell you that almost everyone in this town comes from decent people. There are a few yokels that I’ll steer you away from, but mostly it’s salt of the earth people.”
“Okay, now I need to ask you a question. What is it with all the girls hanging around outside the arena? I was almost knocked over when I left.”
Roxanne rolled her eyes. “Oh, that. They’re puck bunnies.”
“That’s what Ford called me when we first met.”
“Ouch. They’re women who fawn over hockey players. Every sport has them but there’s something very… let’s just say special about puck bunnies and the guys love them.”
“Including Ford?”
With the speed of a sloth, her grin widened. “You like him.”
“Oh, hell, no. I was just curious given his attitude.” My quick denial was undoubtedly caught. Only my body enjoyed his presence, the traitorous bitch.
“O-kay. Ford is an odd duck. You might find pictures of him with a few hanging all over him, but he’s not interested in them.
Not like Finn or Daniel. Holy shit. I worry about one of them getting STDs.
You’ll see them at every game. Just wait.
If the team makes the playoffs, it won’t matter what city we’re in, there will be plenty of puck bunnies to spare. ”
“Thank you for the warning,” I mused, thankful she was easy to talk to. “Is your family from North Bend?”
“Oh, heavens, no. We moved here when I was a teenager. Let me tell you the culture shock was well, shocking, so much so I tried to run away from home twice.”
“That bad?”
“You have no idea the difference from Seattle, but you will. Even back then, I knew there was something extremely different about half the people here.”
Before I had a chance to ask her to elaborate, the drinks arrived.
“Here you are, ladies, my special concoction,” Jake said as he placed the festive margarita glasses in front of us. “And we’ll start with our pastry chef’s famous bread.”
“I can attest to the bread being famous, along with the whipped honey butter. To die for.”
“Thanks, Jake,” I told him, hoping one day a man would look at me in the same passionate way as Jake was doing with Roxanne. You could easily tell he had her best intentions at heart.
He hung around long enough for me to take a sip, licking salt from the rim first. “And?”
“That is the best margarita I’ve ever had.” And it was.
His entire face lit up. “An appetizer is on its way. Enjoy.”
The music was soulful, the atmosphere relaxing, and being here was a fantastic way of being welcomed into town. However, my mind was churning with questions. “Your father alluded to this town being different. So did you. What exactly does that mean?”