Chapter Three
Birdy
His truck is exactly what I expected from a man like Jude.
Big, with no frills, only practicalities.
I climb in and stare straight ahead. If I look at him, I might swoon.
I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous. I’m a grown woman.
But he has an effect on me like no one ever has before.
I don’t know if it’s his deep voice that reverberates with every word, or his intense stare, or that he doesn’t speak much.
Whatever it is, it’s making me feel all fuzzy and warm.
Jude gets in on his side, starts the engine without a word, and pulls away from his cabin. The silence isn’t uncomfortable at all, and I realize how lucky I am to be with someone I can sit in comfortable silence with.
I bite my bottom lip to stop from grinning. Nell’s going to have a field day when I tell her a hot mountain man rescued me from a bear. I can hardly believe it myself.
The road winds downward through the dark, with trees pressing close on both sides, but instead of focusing on the beautiful surroundings, all I can focus on is how close the passenger seat is to the driver’s seat.
And how fucking large his hands are on the wheel.
Honestly, he looks like a giant. I let out what I hope is an imperceptible sigh.
Jude’s the kind of man you usually only come across in movies or fairy tales.
I know he’d be able to save me from anything if I were…
I shake my head and give myself a stern talking to. Jesus, Birdy! Get a grip. You met this man once, and you’re already dreaming about being his girlfriend? No flipping way.
I look out the window instead of at him.
The truck takes a long curve, and the valley opens up below us, the lights of Timber Peak Valley scattered across the dark. It’s beautiful in a way that catches me off guard every single time, even after five years of living here.
“You live here long?” he asks.
“Five years. You?”
“Three.”
“And you’ve never come into town?”
Something that might almost be amusement crosses his face. “I come into town. Occasionally. When I need supplies.”
“I work at the flower farm on the south side of the valley,” I say. “Timber Peak Petals. I think I would have remembered you.”
“I come into town but have never been to that farm.”
“You don’t like flowers?”
“I like them, but I don’t have anyone to buy flowers for,” he says.
I perk up at that. This big, tough mountain man doesn’t have a girlfriend. It’s none of my business, but I’m still glad that I know this about him. Not that it changes anything. What would I do with this information anyway? Lean over, grab his flannel shirt, and kiss him? I snort at the idea.
“Something funny?”
I bite my lip, trying not to laugh again. “No, not at all.”
We hit the valley road and the trees open up. Streetlights and mailboxes appear with the familiar layout of the town center. I direct him to my apartment with short instructions, and he follows each one without comment. He pulls up outside my apartment building and stops the truck.
“This is me,” I say, which is obvious and unnecessary, but I say it anyway.
I unbuckle and push the door open. The cold air rushes in, and I step down onto the sidewalk, then turn back. He’s looking straight ahead through the windshield, both hands still on the wheel.
“Goodnight, Jude,” I say. “And thank you. Really.”
He nods. “Go inside, Birdy.”
Not goodnight. Not you’re welcome. Just go inside. Part of me is disappointed, but what did I expect? That this man, whom I only met hours ago, would walk me to my door and kiss me goodnight or something? I wish I were that lucky, but these things usually only happen in books and movies.
I take the stairs up to my apartment and unlock the door. My studio apartment looks exactly the same as I left it this morning, but something about it feels slightly different, and I can’t put my finger on why.
I walk to the window. Down on the street, Jude’s truck is still idling. It’s only when I turn on the central living room light that he pulls away from the curb. My heart skips a beat. Did he really wait until he was sure I got safely inside?
I watch until the taillights disappear around the corner. I make a cup of tea and tell myself that tomorrow, everything will feel completely normal again.
I go through the motions and head to bed, but after a short night, I wake up realizing that things still feel slightly different, like there was before meeting Jude and after meeting Jude, and nothing will ever be the same again.
By eight, I’m at Timber Peak Petals and have already told Nell everything that happened last night. For the first few seconds, she stares at me.
“A bear,” she finally says.
“A bear.”
“And then a man.”
“And then a man,” I confirm.
“A huge, barefoot, bear-fighting mountain man who scooped you up, carried you into his cabin, cleaned your wound, drove you home in the dark, and waited until you were safely inside.” She sighs. “Birdy, that is the most romantic thing I have ever heard in my entire life!”
“It wasn’t romantic. It was a medical situation,” I say.
“He watched your window until you flipped on the light.”
“He was being practical.”
“He carried you. Barefoot.”
“But only because I couldn’t walk properly, due to being in shock.”
“He carried you,” she repeats, as if I’m not grasping the significance of Jude’s actions. “Against his chest. And he lives up on Timber Peak? Alone?”
“Yes, alone.”
“Right. You need to bring him flowers.”
I snort. “Bring him flowers? No way.”
“He saved your life, Birdy. The man chased off a bear and drove you home. The absolute least you can do is bring him a nice arrangement.” She’s already moving toward the cutting station. “I’m thinking something woodsy. Masculine. Nothing too fussy. Some dried botanicals, maybe a bit of—”
“Stop. I can make my own arrangement,” I interrupt. “Although I’m not sure showing up at his cabin is a good idea. He seemed like he really valued his privacy.”
Nell arches an eyebrow. “After everything that happened between you two, the man wants you to show up at his cabin. Trust me.”
I put my hand on my hip. “You sound very certain for someone who can’t even talk to Reid at the hardware store.”
Her eyes narrow. “That is completely different, and you know it.”
“Well, was he there yesterday?”
She bites her lip. “That’s not important right now. Stop stalling and make that arrangement for Jude.”
I mock salute her and get to work. Twenty minutes later, I’m standing by the greenhouse door with a wrapped arrangement in my hands and absolutely no idea if I’m making a terrible mistake.
“Go,” Nell says.
“I’m going.”
“Today, Birdy.”
“Of course. In a minute.”
The sound of tires on the gravel path outside makes us both look up. Through the greenhouse glass, a big old truck rolls to a stop in the small parking area.
Nell appears at my side. “Who is that?”
“That,” I say, “is Jude.”
She fans herself with her trusty clipboard. “It is? Oh, wow.”
“Doesn’t mean anything. He’s probably looking for some flowers.”
“Birdy. He came to your place of work. That means something.”
The truck door opens, and he steps out, his boots hitting the ground. Jude stands in the parking area for a moment, looking at the farm sign as if he’s confirming he’s in the right place.
Then he spots me and walks toward the greenhouse door.