Chapter 3
Clara
I went to the bathroom and slipped into bed, unsure of what the protocols were for a one-night stand. I'd never done anything like this before. I was hoping for some clarity, but he was asleep. I was in his bed but hadn't learned his name.
With trembling hands, I got out of bed and dressed as quietly as I could. I'd ridden here on his motorcycle, so my only option for leaving was a driving service, which was unlikely this far out, or calling a friend.
I thought of the available options and decided to go with Hattie.
I texted her.
Clara: Any chance you could pick me up?
Hattie: Where are you?
I texted her my coordinates and waited for her in the living room. When the lights shined through the windows, I grabbed my shoes and opened the door.
I got into Hattie's car, and she backed out without a word.
Once we were on the main road, she asked, "Are you okay?"
I let out a breath. "Yeah, thanks for picking me up."
"Of course."
"I didn't think a car would be available out here."
"I don't mind getting you. You want to tell me about it?"
I sighed, settling into the seat. "It was a lapse of judgment. But it's over now."
Her lips quirked. "Was he good at least?"
I thought back to the night, how he'd appeared on his motorcycle, and I'd climbed on the back.
How he'd taken me on a sightseeing tour.
It was nice. And then things had heated up at his cabin.
I still couldn't believe that I'd gone to a stranger's house and hooked up with him.
It could have turned out a lot differently. But I'd felt safe with him. "Yeah."
"So why are you sneaking out?"
I let out a breath. "I don't know what to do in these situations. He was asleep. I didn't think I should stick around."
Hattie was silent.
"What are the rules when you have a one-night stand?"
She laughed. "I don't make a habit of engaging in them."
I looked out the window. "First time for me. I just wanted something different."
Hattie glanced over at me. "And you thought hooking up with a stranger was the way to go?"
"It was impulsive and completely out of character for me.
But I'm not feeling any regret." I felt good, excited even.
It was like I'd gotten a rush from the entire evening, feeling the wind on my face when I rode on the back of his motorcycle, the thrill of being alone with him in his house.
And the sex was better than anything I'd ever experienced before.
Maybe that was because I was used to having sex after I'd gotten to know a man and felt comfortable with him.
Hattie grinned. "Then chalk it up as a good experience."
"Lately, I don't feel like I've made any decisions that were my own."
"Until now."
"I don't know what it means, but it was a onetime thing.
I have no intention of ever seeing him again.
" Maybe he was only in town for a bit. Hadn't he said he was meeting someone in town?
But he'd never said who or asked for directions.
Had I derailed his plans? Why was he willing to blow off his meeting for me?
Maybe he was looking for a diversion too.
"I'm glad someone had an exciting night. I went to the ball and then went home alone."
"Were you hoping to meet someone tonight?"
"I'm focused on getting more gigs with my hot chocolate truck, and I was thinking it would be good to go tonight to network with the other shop owners."
"You only sell when someone invites you to a town event?"
"Someone will let me know when they could use a hot chocolate truck. The jobs in Christmas Town have been steadier, and I was hoping to make it a more permanent thing. Aspen mentioned it once, but then she hasn't brought it up again."
"I'm sure it's hard to start a business.
I took over the one my grandmother had already built, so I haven't had to worry about establishing myself.
" In a lot of ways, it felt like an albatross around my neck.
I was tied to the store and couldn't get away.
I couldn't pursue other interests or even think about doing something for myself.
My family thought it was important that I continued my grandmother's legacy, and I always did what was expected of me.
"We're both going to get what we want," Hattie said confidently as she pulled next to my SUV.
Her headlights shone on the rancher. "I'm not even sure what that is."
Hattie smiled. "You'll figure it out."
Maybe tonight was the first step in figuring out what I wanted outside my family's obligations. "Thanks for picking me up tonight. I owe you one."
Hattie flashed me a smile. "Always happy to help. It's not like I was having an exciting night."
"This isn't normal for me." But maybe it was something I should do more often, not necessarily a one-night stand with a stranger but trying something different.
"You seem happy."
I did feel more alive. "It was fun."
"No guilt. No regret. Just enjoy it."
"I intend to." I got out of her car, unlocking mine. As I slid into my seat, I remembered the entire evening playing out like a movie from start to finish. It was surreal, and I couldn't believe I was that girl. But at the same time, it was exciting. I felt different somehow.
I could almost imagine I was the kind of woman who went after what she wanted. Who didn't always follow the rules. Who did the unexpected. Even if it was only for one night.
When I got home, I went to my bedroom and got ready for bed, feeling like a different person. When I looked in the mirror, my cheeks were still flushed pink, and my eyes were bright.
And as I slipped into bed, I wondered what he'd think when he woke up to an empty bed. Is that what he wanted? Or had he wanted me to stay?
No man wanted a one-night stand to stick around. I'd done the right thing in leaving. I turned over onto my side. What would we have done if I'd stayed? Would he have woken me up and wanted to have sex with me again?
Just the thought of that had my body heating up.
Maybe I should have stuck around to see what would happen.
But it wasn't worth the risk. I didn't want to feel the sting of his rejection.
The night was perfect as it was. No need for a repeat.
It would only detract from the magical quality of the evening.
The next day, I woke up, feeling like the evening had been a dream. I wouldn't have known that anything had happened, except for the fact that I was sore. It had been a while for me. Ever since my ex and I broke up, I hadn't wanted to be with anyone else.
At work, the reminder of our night together was always there. Every time I moved, my mind drifted to last night. I wondered if anyone saw me get on his motorcycle. If not, I could pretend that it never happened.
Hopefully, he was renting that cabin and only in town for a short time.
Soon, he'd be gone, and I wouldn't have to worry about running into him.
I just had to get through dinner tonight with my family, and then I could go back to pretending that nothing had changed.
I was still the good girl, the one who did what was expected.
But why did being bad feel so good? Had I been missing out all those years? I'd always secretly admired people who bucked their parents' expectations, who moved far away and had experiences very different from what anyone wanted for them.
My sole act of rebellion was one hot guy on a motorcycle.
I supposed it was a safe one. Nothing bad could come from it, and I'd never have to see him again.
No awkward morning after, no expectations, and certainly no hopes of commitment or marriage.
I'd already been in a long-term relationship and found it lacking.
Love faded over time. There was no guarantee that anything would last.
At one time, I thought the natural next step in my relationship with Andrew was to get married and have kids. But he'd never wanted that, or at least that was what he'd said to me when I finally got the courage to ask.
It had been a blow, one I hadn't been expecting, but I was proud of myself for walking away. I'd already wasted six years with a man who had no intentions of ever committing. And now I wasn't sure what I wanted.
I just had to make it through dinner tonight and not let on that anything was different. Then I could go home and remember every delicious detail about last night. It was one for the memory books.
But for some reason, I felt a letdown today, as if my body wanted one more night with him.
I closed the shop as usual at five p.m. Then I drove to my family's property, where my dad's parents had started Hart’s Inn years ago, and my brother Malcolm recently opened a restaurant.
The inn itself was a historic building located at the base of a mountain.
People came to enjoy the hiking, fishing, and other outdoor adventures, and then stopped by for dinner at the restaurant or to stay overnight at the inn.
Lately, the family had branched out, hosting weddings and other events.
My brothers were constantly looking to expand the business, but I wasn't part of the business decisions.
Growing up, I worked in the inn at the front counter and cleaning the rooms. After my grandfather died, I worked with Grandma in her shop.
She needed the help, and I enjoyed working there.
I just never intended for it to be my career.
I drove down the lane, passed the restaurant and the inn before turning onto the private drive that led to our family home. When the main house was turned into an inn, other buildings were built on the property for the family.
I parked next to the line of my brothers' trucks and got out. I didn't bother knocking on the door, just opened it and went inside. A football game was playing on the TV, and my dad was in his usual spot in the recliner with a beer in his hand.
"Are they winning?"
Dad grunted. "Of course not."
I leaned down to kiss his cheek, and he waved his hand. "Your brothers are in the kitchen with your mother."