Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
O ne year later
Mallory
“Ah, Sara, these look perfect.” I was giddy inside from seeing my first set of business cards. Maybe they were a little old-fashioned since scheduling, questions, and almost everything else was done online, but I’d always wanted a set of business cards for my incredible practice. I’d worked long and hard to achieve this goal and I planned on enjoying every minute of it.
“I’m glad you like them, Mal. Sorry for the delay.”
I pulled out my credit card, feeling more accomplished than I’d thought I would. “No problem. Perfect timing.”
She pointed to the machine in front of me and I laughed. When I’d last been in Stowe, Vermont, stores hadn’t installed the tap device yet. A lifetime ago. Ugly memories threatened to ruin the day. That wasn’t going to happen. I had a new life in familiar territory. Everything was going to be amazing.
“How’s the house coming?” she asked.
“It’s coming. Not very quickly, but it’s warm and the roof leak is fixed.” Every time someone in town asked about my dad’s house, I felt guilty. I’d known he’d needed help for years, but he’d been a proud man, determined to do everything he could by himself. The fall off the ladder hadn’t done him any good.
But that’s not what had killed him.
The ache behind my eyes returned. I’d been in town only a few weeks, yet I hadn’t processed his death or the fact I had his house and things to take care of.
There were so many memories. All of them special. So far, I’d only gotten rid of a couple of boxes of clothes, giving them to Goodwill. The rest seemed far too daunting.
Sadly, the memories were crowded with more than a single tragic event. I didn’t want to think of myself as a broken woman, but right now, I would admit to feeling a little beaten down inside.
“Suck it up, baby girl,” my father used to say. “Life is what you make of it.”
So here I was.
“It takes time. You’re opening a new business at the same time. Give yourself a little grace.”
Grace. My mother used to say that. “I’m trying. Thanks again.”
“Sure thing.”
As soon as I walked out of the small shop, I gathered a scent of fresh brewed coffee. That was one thing I adored about the smaller town. You could gather amazing scents on Main Street that weren’t mixed with the stench of gasoline or garbage. The little coffee shop had become a favorite of mine.
Of course Stowe had all the big box stores on the outskirts, but after living in Richmond for so many years, I preferred shopping local. Well, for most things. I’d certainly abused my Lowe’s card while fixing some things at the house.
However, tonight, I didn’t want the drive or to take the time. What I needed to finish a project I could get at the local hardware store.
I headed down the sidewalk, realizing just how many people still lived here after all these years. I’d told my dad I was leaving and never returning. He’d told me Stowe was in my blood, Vermont in my bones.
I hadn’t bought it. Now here I was.
The hardware store was surprisingly busy when I walked inside. With the best selection of nuts, bolts, screws, and nails this side of the Mississippi, the owners likely made their money one dollar at a time. They also had gardening supplies. I needed a rake for the leaves as well as a box full of nails.
The box of nails was easy to find, but I hadn’t realized just how many different rakes there were. God knew since I’d been living in a condominium, I was certainly no expert. After debating, I selected the one with the fiberglass handle. The last thing I needed were splinters in my fingers.
Hank was one of the owners and had been here every time I’d come inside.
“How ya doin’, Mallory?” He was always so happy to see me. He’d been my father’s best friend, drinking and barbequing buddies right up until the end.
“Not too bad. Gotta rake some leaves that have been there a long time though.”
He laughed. “Your mother was the gardener.”
“I know.” She had some of the most beautiful flowers in the world.
“This gonna be it?”
I noticed the Gorilla Glue on the counter and placed one bottle closer to the register. “Now, I’m done.”
“Just let me know if you need any help on that big house. Happy to do so.”
As if I was going to let a seventy-some-year-old man follow in my father’s footsteps and climb on a ladder. No, thank you. I was a veterinarian, not a medical doctor, even though I’d initially gone into nursing. “I think I got it for now.”
Something huge filtered into my side view and I turned my head. While I didn’t know but so many people in town, the rough and tough looking man who walked in was a stranger to me.
He was also the most gorgeous hunk I’d ever laid my eyes on. With wavy dark hair cresting just over his collar and long, muscular legs, he was the epitome of masculinity.
I found myself craning my neck to try to get a better look at him.
Hank obviously noticed, snorting slightly. “He’s pretty new in town.”
“Who is he?”
“Keeps to himself. I heard he bought the Ryan place up on the side of the mountain, but that’s just town talk.”
The house he was talking about was a masterpiece, at least according to my father. He’d gone on and on about how much money the Ryans had put into the house. Then they’d endured tragedies of their own, all but abandoning their beautiful home and returning to California.
The unknown man moved down an aisle out of my line of sight. Sighing, I realized that living in the big farmhouse was a lonely experience. How disgusting was it that it took the sight of a hot dude in the male species for me to come to that conclusion.
“I heard about the clinic. Congratulations. Your dad would be so proud of you,” Hank continued.
“I just wish he was here to be by my side. You know?” I scrunched up my nose, a gesture my father had adored.
“I certainly do.”
“Thanks, Hank.” I grabbed the items and turned around, immediately locking eyes with the stranger who was headed toward the counter. He had intense green eyes, the color reminding me of the Aegean Sea. With his leather jacket open, I had a clearer picture of just how muscular he truly was.
His chest was broad, his shoulders easily filling a doorway. With his steel-toed boots and dark jeans, he appeared straight out of an action thriller movie.
He wasn’t blinking, almost as if he was searching for something inside of me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable from how piercing the look was and turned away. I don’t know why but I hesitated before walking out, tipping my head over my shoulder to notice he was still watching me.
I felt no fear, just an intense intrigue.
With a smile on my face, I headed out, eager to get home to a glass of wine after hanging a few pictures. When the bag slipped from my fingers, I cursed and tried to grab it, only to dump at least a quarter of the box of nails onto the sidewalk.
I’d never been clumsy before. Why now?
I dropped down, scrambling to pick them up. The task accomplished, I rose to my full height, turning quickly out of embarrassment.
And smack into the man from inside the hardware store.
He was even larger up close, his massive body blocking out half the remaining afternoon sun. A crackle of something like electricity shot through me. They were wild, overheated sensations I’d never had happen before. The man was ridiculously tall, huge in fact. And so muscular that I had a feeling he could crush a man’s head with a single hand.
Where in God’s name was my mind running off to?
“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry,” I said and didn’t realize until he lowered his gaze that I’d placed my palm on his chest.
I found it difficult to react quickly around him, but I finally curled my fingers, pulling my hand away.
He slowly lifted his head, locking eyes with me and it seemed all time ceased to exist. His eyes were shaded by the waning light, but they were almost iridescent, shimmering in a way that mesmerized me. Neither of us moved, locked in a moment in time. His features were gorgeous, his entire face chiseled more than any man I’d known.
I wasn’t short by any means, standing at five foot ten, but he stood over me by several inches and I felt tiny in comparison. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Since he wasn’t uttering a single word, I concentrated on his scent. Maybe I’d expected the stale stench of sweat given how he was dressed. Instead, he held the fragrance of leather, cigars, and citrus with notes of exotic spices that I couldn’t pinpoint.
Whatever aftershave he was wearing, I could easily become intoxicated from it.
From somewhere, I heard a dog barking and that seemed to break the mesmerizing moment. He turned his head just as slowly in the direction of the sound. I couldn’t help myself, following his line of sight.
A truck was parked in front of the adjacent store and I was able to see a dog sitting in the driver’s seat barking his head off. The windows were closed and while it wasn’t hot, my natural protective instinct took over.
“If that’s your dog, you should never leave him inside without keeping the windows cracked this time of year. And never in the heat of summer. They can die within minutes from a heat stroke.”
I had no idea what possessed me to get into his business, but that’s the kind of woman I was. Pushy.
He tilted his head and the dog immediately stopped barking. I was impressed by his silent command, but still worried he was one of those dog owners. As he’d done before, he turned his head and I was certain the man was moving in slow motion.
This time when his eyes pierced mine, he wore a smirk on his face, the hint of amusement catching me off guard.
His expression also pissed me off more than it should. Maybe I’d been keeping too many long hours, but the guy could at least acknowledge my concern.
What did he do instead? He backed away, giving me a heated onceover before heading down the sidewalk toward his truck.
I watched as he climbed inside and huffed a strand of hair that had fallen from my ponytail from my face. There were jerks everywhere.
“This place is adorable,” I said casually as I tried my best to relax. Being able to enjoy a morning off, sipping a mimosa while I sat having brunch with a couple of friends was priceless. I’d needed the break more than I’d wanted to admit to myself.
“You win,” Jenny said as she glanced toward Marjorie.
Marjorie and I had grown up together, thick as thieves as my father used to tell me. Jenny was a more recent implant, but I’d met her a few times over the years when I’d visited my bestie. Now we considered ourselves the three musketeers.
“What did she win?” I teased.
Jenny shrugged. “I was certain you weren’t going to show, but Marjorie was insistent.”
“Uh-huh. That’s no fair.” I’d been scarce since moving back to town, jumping on the chance to own my own veterinary clinic when I heard it was going up for sale. It had taken eons of time for the paperwork and all the necessary filings. Then the closing.
The building hadn’t been in bad shape, but a few things had needed replacement. That had stretched my budget, so I’d been forced to do several projects on my own.
I wasn’t a real handyman, but I’d been proud of myself for sprucing up the place.
“Oh, it’s fair, girl, but I figured you’d finally take a deep breath since the hard work has been done.” Marjorie grinned. She’d been my shoulder to lean on when I’d arrived, getting me through my father’s funeral and the couple of weeks where I’d been in a fog.
With no other real family, I’d never felt so alone in my life.
It was good to have friends.
“So what did you win?” I chided further.
“I’m picking up brunch for all of us,” Jenny admitted, sighing as if she didn’t have a six-figure job and a fabulous inheritance from her folks to bank on.
“Then I’m ordering another mimosa with the good champagne.” I immediately raised my glass, searching for our very cute waiter.
Before I located where he’d gone, my eyes stopped on the person coming in through the door. The mystery man walked in.
A strange feeling gutted my stomach. Butterflies? I hadn’t experienced those since I was in college. Yes, I was attracted to the man, but really?
He appeared just as big and broody as he had the day before. Dressed in jeans and a sweater, at least the look made him appear friendlier. A pair of dark sunglasses hid his eyes and I noticed he’d yet to take them off.
The hostess approached him and I couldn’t tell if he’d said a word. He did point to a table on the other side of the room from where we were sitting. I spent a few seconds gawking at him since he didn’t have a clue I was looking.
Broad shoulders. Thick, dark hair tousled from the light breeze. A square jaw that appeared lightly covered with stubble. The dark brown leather jacket suited him. Instead of looking scruffy, it made him somehow appear like a movie star hiding out in a small town.
That would explain his lack of communication skills. Maybe his voice was recognizable.
“What are you looking at?” Marjorie asked from beside me.
“Just a guy I ran into at the hardware store yesterday.”
Jenny leaned back in her seat, so she had a better view. “Not bad. Where do you know him from?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know him. I literally ran into him yesterday.” I had to crane my neck to get a clearer picture of him. Only when he took off his jacket did he bother looking around.
I’d be damned if it didn’t seem as if he’d found my eyes staring at him. I ducked down slightly, which caused Marjorie to smack my arm.
“I can see you have the hots for him,” she told me, laughing after she did.
“I do not. I don’t know the guy.”
“You don’t need to know a man to… know him if you get what I mean.” Jenny was pleased with herself.
“Very funny. If I’m too busy to have brunch according to the two of you, then I’m way too busy to consider dating some guy who doesn’t speak and has no manners. And who might not be treating his dog like he should.”
“Opinionated much?” Marjorie snorted.
Jenny sighed as if falling in love. “He does give off those alpha he-man vibes that we all love.”
“Nah, I think he gives off serial killer vibes if you ask me.”
Now I was the one to smack Marjorie in the arm. “You’ve been reading too many romance books.”
“I think you mean not enough. I’ve seen the guy around.”
I hated to admit that I was interested. After my last experiences with going through with several chaotic and horrible blind dates, I was doing my best to swear off men. Besides, who needed a hot body when you had a furry one sleeping by your side?
Only I’d yet to rescue the menagerie I wanted. I hadn’t thought it fair to an animal to bring him or her to a new home and not have time to spend with them.
“Sweetie, you can’t blame the man you had a date with as being the entire problem with your lack of commitment.” Marjorie wrinkled her nose. She was trying her best to keep my mood from falling into the typical deep abyss of shadows and anger.
“It was one date. Just one!” I held up my index finger to make a further point.
“Exactly,” both women said together. I’d confessed one too many sins since returning. Although I wouldn’t call one horrible date my problem.
No, that was all about fear of the unknown.
And death.
Marjorie bumped my arm with hers. “Not trying to ride you, but what happened was almost three years ago. You need to live a little.”
“Work is my life.” And it was.
She growled. “That’s what I’m talking about. Hot sex isn’t a commitment.”
Maybe not, but I wasn’t ready to even consider caring enough about anyone to plan on spending time together.
“You have me curious,” Jenny said as she leaned across the table toward Marjorie, almost knocking over her Bloody Mary. “What do you know about the hunk?”
“Let’s see. He’s been in town a couple of months maybe. Comes in for supplies every once in a while, but from what I’ve heard, he keeps to himself.” Marjorie glanced in his direction again. I could tell she was interested in him. She couldn’t lie to me.
“That’s what Hank told me. I heard he bought the Ryan place? Up in the mountains somewhere?” I’d gone skiing in the mountains as a teenager, but at that point, there had only been a few remote cabins, all very rustic given the lack of infrastructure.
“Whew. Then he has money,” Jenny threw in.
“How much are we talking?” I sipped my drink, already a tiny bit lightheaded from how strong they were. Or maybe my blood sugar was just low since I’d eaten few regular meals over the last several weeks. “Not sure I’ve ever been there.”
Jenny snorted. “Try millions. I remember seeing pictures of the place in one of the local magazines. Gorgeous.”
“You don’t remember John Ryan’s place?” Marjorie seemed shocked.
I scrunched up my nose as I tried to remember. “Not really.”
“You lived in that damn city too long. Stunted your brain.” She rolled her eyes.
“Hey, Richmond is a beautiful city in Virginia. Seriously. What’s up with this house? Dad once told me there was a tragedy there, but he didn’t go into detail.”
The two girls looked at each other.
“What?” I asked, half laughing.
Marjorie lowered her voice. “John’s wife killed herself. He supposedly found her hanging from one of the exposed beams.”
“Shit.” I stole another glance over my shoulder. Bad karma.
“It was on the market for almost two years. No one touched it,” Jenny added.
“I can see why. Was it really that nice?” I glanced from one to the other. Given the look they were sharing, they knew more than I did.
Jenny laughed. “This girl has a lot to catch up on. Absolutely incredible. I heard they were asking over three million dollars. No one would touch it. The stigma and all.”
Small towns were famous for that.
I almost choked, forced to grab my cocktail napkin. “Wow. He bought it?”
“Yep. I heard with all cash. Get that.” Marjorie grinned like she used to when the two of us got into so much trouble with boys.
“That’s it then. He’s a drug dealer,” Jenny teased.
“He’d have to be a drug lord to have that kind of cash lying around.”
I glanced at Marjorie then leaned back in my chair once again, daring to take another quick glance.
I’ll be damned if he wasn’t staring at me without moving. There was something unnerving about the way he was looking at me.
That made no sense, but I had no doubt he was looking directly at me. Why?
“Wow. He’s staring at you,” Jenny whispered as if the man was standing right in front of us.
“Yes, he is. I don’t think he liked me very much.”
“What’s not to like?”
“I chastised him for keeping his dog behind closed windows in his truck.”
“Ouch,” both women said at the same time.
“One day maybe you’ll learn. Lucky girl,” Marjorie swooned. “He has that rough and tumble dangerous vibe. And it’s apparent he’s into your caustic mouth.”
“Very funny.”
Somehow, I wasn’t certain I was the lucky one. However, she was right. The stranger definitely had a vibe that screamed of danger.
I, for one, was going to steer clear of the man. I had a new life to live. Besides, the last thing I needed was any complications.
No matter how insanely gorgeous he was.