CHAPTER SEVEN
Charley rolled down the window halfway as her car wound along the two-lane road that snaked toward Jessica’s house.
The afternoon sun filtered through towering pines and old oak trees, their branches weaving overhead like a natural canopy.
With the fresh air blowing in, she breathed in the sharp, clean scent of the woods.
If she were ever in the market for a house, she would definitely look in this area.
She could get used to the quiet roads, endless trees, and most of all, the peacefulness.
The thirty-minute drive felt more like an escape than a commute.
Her shoulders loosened for the first time since she had been back.
She was enjoying the full day off work. There were no contractors to deal with. No errands to run around doing, and no phone buzzing every two minutes. She almost didn’t remember what that felt like.
Charley wouldn’t lie; the last two weeks had been complete hell, and it was starting to show.
Even her aunt had commented the other day that she looked tired.
But Charley didn’t complain. This was what she signed up for when she accepted Alex's offer.
And in just a few weeks, it will be worth all the hustle and bustle and sleepless nights when the doors open.
She was also looking forward to moving into her new apartment. The thought brought a tiny smile to her lips. She loved her aunt and uncle and enjoyed staying with them, but she was ready to stand on her own two feet and begin a new chapter—a true fresh start per se.
As she drove, her mind drifted back to the man she encountered outside the clinic a few days ago.
He had been on her mind non-stop. Since hearing his odd warning about the building, she had spent the last couple of nights researching, and combing through public records and real estate filings.
But nothing jumped out. Everything she read was what she had already known.
Plus, the building had been sitting vacant for almost six years.
Yet something about the encounter with the stranger had stuck with her like a splinter she couldn’t quite remove. It was an instinctual pull to find the guy and understand what had rattled him so deeply.
Before she could spiral any further into her thoughts, her GPS chimed through the speakers.
“Arriving at destination,” the robotic voice announced.
Charley pulled up to a cedar-sided house nestled among trees. There were cars already parked along the gravel drive.
“Oh boy,” she muttered to herself, killing the engine. “Socializing with strangers. My favorite Olympic sport.”
She drew in a deep breath, pushed the mystery man to the back of her mind for now, and prepared to survive an afternoon of small talk with people she’d never met. At least there would be food.
She locked up her car and started to walk up the pathway to Jessica’s house. She clutched a small bouquet of wildflowers and a key lime pie she had made as a thank-you gesture. She was feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. Meeting new people was always a bit daunting.
Just as she stepped onto the porch, the front door swung open, and Jessica greeted her with a wide smile. “Charley! I’m so glad you could make it. Come on in.”
“Thanks for inviting me,” Charley replied, handing her the flowers. “These are for you. I also made a key lime pie.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet! Thank you.” Jessica beamed, taking the flowers and pie. “You’ll make Ray’s day because key lime pie is his favorite. Come on, we’ll drop these off inside, and then I’ll introduce you to everyone outback.
They walked through the house, stopping in the kitchen to drop off the pie and for Jessica to put the flowers in water.
Just as they were about to head to the back yard, the sliding glass door off the kitchen opened, and a man entered.
Jessica smiled widely. “Hi, honey. We were just on our way out.” She looked at Charley. “Charley, this is my husband, Ray.” Then she glanced up at her husband. “Charley is the woman I told you about, whom I met at the smoothie shop the other day.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Charley,” Ray said, extending his hand for a shake, which Charley accepted.
Ray was tall and imposing, but his warm handshake and smile put Charley at ease.
“It’s nice to meet you as well.”
“So, you’re the one who Alex tapped to manage her foundation here on the West Coast?” Ray asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
“That would be me,” Charley replied with a nod.
“I think it’s great to have a facility like that out here,” Ray said approvingly. “I’m glad Alex was able to get the funding she needed to make it happen. We need more support like that for our community.”
“I wholeheartedly agree that our veterans, service personnel, and their families need more support.”
Ray wrapped one of his long arms around Jessica’s shoulders before leaning down and kissing the top of her head. Jessica smiled and looked up at him, and Charley could see the love between them. It was heartwarming to see.
Before anyone could say more, the doorbell rang.
Jessica glanced at her husband. “Can you grab the burgers and hot dogs from the fridge while I get the door?”
Ray nodded. “On it.”
“Oh, Charley. There are drinks in the fridge and in the coolers out back. Please help yourself.”
Charley grinned. “Thank you.”
Jessica then spun around and disappeared down the hall, leaving Charley in the kitchen with Ray, who moved toward the fridge and started pulling out a platter of burgers and hot dogs.
“So,” Ray said, setting everything on the counter and opening a drawer for the grilling tongs, “Jessica mentioned that you used to live in the area.”
Charley leaned against the island, her hands resting on the cool granite surface. “I did. A lot has changed in the four years that I’ve been gone.” She wasn’t going to elaborate on why she left.
He chuckled as he sprinkled seasoning on the burgers. “It sure has. I’ve been here for thirty years, and I swear things change every day. Jess says the foundation’s almost ready to open. That’s huge.”
“It’s getting there,” Charley said. “Final inspection is coming up soon. Hopefully, after that, I can get more than three or four hours of sleep.”
Ray laughed. “Well, if anyone can pull it off, it sounds like it’s you.”
Before she could respond, she heard voices from the front of the house. It was Jessica’s voice, followed by a lower, familiar one that made her heart skip a beat. It couldn’t be, she thought to herself.
Just as Charley turned toward the hallway, Jessica reappeared, followed by a man she honestly hadn’t expected to see again—Pierce.
He looked completely different than the last time she’d seen him. He appeared more relaxed. His brown hair was slightly tousled like he’d run a hand through it on the way in, and his warm brown eyes scanned the kitchen with ease. He wore tan cargo shorts, a charcoal-gray T-shirt, and flip-flops.
“Pierce!” She called out, her smile widening.
Pierce’s eyes lit up, and his grin widened the second he saw her. “Charley?”
Ray glanced between them, his eyebrows lifting.
Jessica looked just as surprised. “Hold on, how do you two know each other?” she asked, gesturing between the two of them.
Charley let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “He sort of rescued me when I got stranded on the water two weeks ago.”
Pierce raised a brow, “Sort of? If I remember correctly, you were drifting about three miles offshore, with an entire fishing net wrapped around your propellers.”
Charley gave him a playful glare. “Hey, I was getting ready to call it in, until I saw you heading my way.”
Jessica gaped, looking at Charley. “Wait, seriously? That was you?”
Charley blushed and wondered who all had heard about her unfortunate ordeal. She nervously bit her lip. “Yep. That was me.”
Ray chuckled. “Well, that’s a hell of a way to make an impression.”
“What can I say? I aim to be memorable,” Charley said dryly, stealing a glance at Pierce. Her stomach did a funny little flip as she admired the sexy smirk he was sporting.
Jessica clapped her hands once. “Well, this just got more interesting.” As if sensing the connection between Charley and Pierce, she said, “While you two catch up, Ray and I will take some of the food out.”
As the sliding door clicked shut behind Jessica and Ray, Charley suddenly became very aware of the stillness in the kitchen and the fact that she was now alone with Pierce.
He hadn’t moved far from the island, still looking relaxed and casually leaning against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. His shorts and T-shirt did little to hide all his muscles.
Seeing him in a more laid-back environment, he looked even more comfortable and approachable.
And that, somehow, made her pulse pick up even more.
“It’s good to see you,” Pierce said, breaking the silence between them. His voice was warm.
“Same here,” Charley admitted, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. “I still can’t thank you enough for helping me with the boat situation.”
“Anytime,” Pierce said, smiling as he relaxed more against the counter. “So, how have you been? Settling back into the area okay?”
Charley smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’m doing as well as anyone can when they’re living out of boxes and surviving on protein bars.
It’s just been really busy. We’ve got final inspections coming up soon, so I’ve been running nonstop trying to make sure everything is in order. ”
Pierce nodded, listening attentively. He had that focused look in his eyes. The kind that made her feel like she was the only thing he was paying attention to.
“I think I’ll feel more settled once I move into my apartment,” she added. “I mean, I love my aunt and uncle, and enjoy their company when I’m not working, but it will be nice to be in my own place.”
“When’s that?” he asked.
“Next weekend.”
“That’s good,” he said, his voice low and easy. “Though it sounds like you’ve got your hands full.”