4. Indiana
“ O kay.” The tiny woman claps her hands together.
“Let’s get you moved into your new place.
Knox is probably waiting for us.” Knox. The name plucks on a string tethered to an embarrassing memory.
I quickly dismiss it, swinging my camera strap over my head.
Winnie’s here to take me over to my temporary home until the cottage is fixed, and the nervous energy in me is most likely just a side effect of having only tea in my system this morning.
“Sounds good, I just need to grab my bags over by the door.”
“Need any help?”
“Nah, it’s only two small bags. Should I just follow you?”
“Yeah, it’s only about a thirty-minute drive or so, and it’s a pretty one.”
“Great. Everything I’ve seen so far has been beautiful. I can’t wait to see more.”
“I saw you had a camera. Do you take all the photos for the websites you work on?” she asks, pointing to my side where Han’s camera hangs from the worn leather strap .
“I actually need to get a new one eventually. This is my sister’s I’m borrowing. I haven’t been the main photographer for the projects I’ve worked on, but I took all the photos for the mock-ups I showed you.”
“Those were great. I’m chomping at the bit to see what you do with the site.”
“Everything here makes me want to take a picture of it—Thistle and Sage is no exception. You did something special there.”
“Ah, thanks. Well, you’ll have plenty of sights at the lake. Knox’s property is one of the most beautiful I’ve seen,” she tells me before holding the door for me.
With every new snippet of information she gives me, it just makes me more excited to see this place.
I let my mind wander as we walk out of the hotel and down the sidewalk to my car.
I stow my bags in the trunk before getting into the driver’s seat.
Winnie pulls away from the curb, and I do the same, following close behind her as we clear downtown and make it to the main road.
As soon as we hit the two-lane highway, I roll my windows down, letting the wind whip my short hair around in front of my sunglasses.
Being out on this road is surprisingly thrilling.
I watch the mountains in the distance become bigger the further we travel into them.
I’m daydreaming about exploring them when I see Winnie’s right blinker ticking.
Slowing, I turn onto a side road that takes us deeper into the forest.
If I didn’t have a good sense about people, I might think Winnie was taking me to a secluded lake to murder me—or maybe I’ve just listened to one too many true crime podcasts on my runs.
We drive along a river for another ten minutes before we turn again onto a winding dirt road, marked only by a mailbox that looks like a cuckoo clock.
My chest aches at the sight. Making me homesick for a tiny apartment that’s filled with laughter and eccentric art. I blink, and the trees start to thin.
When they do, I have to remind myself to also watch the road. This view is—indescribable. Stunning, unreal, movie set material. The smile on my face physically hurts because I’m grinning so hard. Are you kidding me? This is where I get to live?
A large, green, two-story house catches my eye, sitting just up the way a little farther.
There’s a familiar-looking yellow and tan truck parked beside it.
It could be a coincidence, but it looks just like the one I took a picture of yesterday in town.
We slow even more, coming to a stop in front of the big house.
From here, I can see a smaller white one, similar to the big house, about half a mile down the dirt road from this one.
It’s so cute I can’t stand it. I squeal.
Inwardly. On the outside, I keep it together like an adult.
When I get out of my car, I’m drawn toward the sparkling lake.
I push my sunglasses up onto my head, breathing in the fresh air.
My vision begins to blur, emotion climbing up my throat as tears threaten.
Oh god, how embarrassing. I wipe at my eyes and put on a bright smile, turning just as Winnie gets out of her car.
“Come on!” She waves me over, and I jog to her side as we approach the house.
“Winnie. It’s gorgeous out here. I’ve never been anywhere like this before,” I tell her, and then she does something that has my throat threatening to tighten again. Linking her arm into mine like we’ve been friends for years, she falls into step with me, sighing contently .
“I know. It’s like a little secret hideaway.
We love coming out here in the spring and summers, occasionally in the fall for a bonfire or camping trip.
” Her casual familiarity takes me by surprise but is absolutely welcomed.
I squeeze her arm in mine once more before we take the final step up to the porch.
Winnie knocks on the door before she rings the doorbell.
I take another moment to peek behind us, admiring the view once more.
“You’re late,” I hear a deep, gravelly voice huff out behind me.
I turn to meet the owner of that voice, who I presume will be my new landlord.
Our gazes collide, a rush of recognition there.
His navy-blue eyes widen slightly, confusion swirling in them.
They widen further when Winnie stumbles backward, tripping over her own feet and into me, causing me to tumble off the porch into perfectly manicured hedges. Shit.
It’s first time in years that I’ve seen the man who left me a little heart sick at a pizza place in Brooklyn, and I just showed up at his house without warning before falling off his porch.
“Indiana! Oh my gosh, are you alright?” I hear Winnie ask nervously. I want to die. Please just leave me here and tell my family that I had a great last few moments. I went peacefully, sinking into the ground—gracefully.
No such luck. As soon as I ask the universe to swallow me, the sunny day is eclipsed by him . A god. A god I would happily wor?—
“Are you alright?” His deep voice scatters my thoughts as he reaches out to offer me his large hand. I gulp but take it. Electricity hums beneath my skin at the contact.
Upright again, I dust myself off. Maybe it didn’t look as bad as I think it did—as bad as my ass feels. That’s gonna leave a mark. “I’m fine. Happens all the time.” Okay, wait. What the hell am I saying? No, it doesn’t .
“Have you fallen off that many porches?” he asks, disbelief coloring the rich tone of his voice. My hands rub at my lower back where the hedges dug in.
“Well, actually no. I’ve stood on plenty, but this would be the first I’ve actually taken a tumble off of,” I ramble, wiping my hands on my shorts. Why am I so fucking nervous?
“I wouldn’t judge you if there had been more. I’ve fallen off plenty of them,” Winnie tells me reassuringly. I can’t help the laugh that escapes at her confession.
Looking back at Knox, my stomach does a little flip at his smirk.
Oh holy shit, he looks good. Better than I remember.
There’s some crinkling happening around his ocean-blue eyes, and the specs of gray hair at his temples have me biting my lip.
Don’t get me started on the brawny-man build and the way his shirt fits snug across his chest. He’s the most gorgeous man I have ever laid eyes on, and I’ve seen him before—been stood up by him before.
Fuck. I have to look away to keep myself from staring. Down, girl.
“That’s putting it lightly. How many times have you fallen on flat ground?” he asks her, his voice teasing now.
“Aaand we’re done talking about me,” she says in a singsong voice. “Knox, this is Indiana. Indiana, Knox.” She waves her arm in our direction.
“It’s nice to see you,” I tell him, holding out my hand.
Again. I add in my head. He’s gigantic. I remember him being a big guy, but somehow, he seems even bigger.
The family resemblance between him and Rhett is easy enough to see.
Dark hair, dark brows, built like a lumberjack, but those eyes. Holy fucking shit, those eyes.
Knox’s brows are furrowed, but he doesn’t say anything, only holds out his hand to me.
I take it, his engulfing mine, and he moves our hands up and down once before releasing me.
It’s brief, a barely there connection, but I feel it.
In more places than my hand. It’s like it was before, what made me say yes to a date with him in the first place— a date he stood you up for, Indie. Please play this a little cooler.
My face heats when I realize he’s just staring at me, so intently that I think he can see into my head. Is he reading my mind right now? If I told you that you had a great body, would you hold it against me? He arches his brow at me. Gasp! Can you read my mind?
His inspection moves from my face to the top of my head. Reaching out, his hand slips into my hair, and I have to stop myself from nuzzling into it. Thank God I do because when he pulls it back, he’s holding a twig. Oh. Okay, so no to the mind reading.
“Did you hit your head?” he asks me, eyes full of concern.
“No, I-I’m fine. Really. My b-back may be s-sore later, but I’m okay,” I stutter out, nerves suddenly running rampant. I turn my attention to Winnie. She’s grinning at me like a lunatic. I widen my eyes at her. Classic signal for help me. She snickers but speaks up.
“Alright. Well, now that you’ve been introduced, we should probably head down to the house so you can get settled,” she says.
“Right,” I agree, then look back at Knox. He’s still looking at me like I’m some kind of puzzle to work out but he hasn’t acknowledged any previous meeting. “Thank you again for letting me stay in your guesthouse. It’s beautiful out here.” I wave my hand in the air in a sweeping motion .
“Not really much of a choice,” he mumbles. Ouch. I open my mouth to say something—anything—because he’s being so fucking rude for someone who blew me off all those years ago. Then it hits me. He doesn’t remember me. That night was obviously a much bigger deal to me than it was for him .
How mortifying.
Out of the corner of my eye I see motion and flinch, letting out a small yelp before realizing it’s a dog. A pretty one. It jumps up on me but it’s gentle, not demanding.
“Well, hello there,” I say.
“Sally!” I hear from the stairs. The dog immediately sits back. Whining beside me, begging me to pet her. I do, reaching over to run my hand through her soft fur.
“I need to get Hazel to Mom and Dad’s before heading into town, so I’ll leave you ladies to it,” Knox announces.
“I thought the dog's name was Sally,” I question.
“It is,” he answers plainly.
I don’t understand. It must show on my face because he clarifies.
“Hazel is my daughter.” He has a daughter?
“Daughter?” I ask, my voice betraying my attempt at casual, sounding shocked and going up an octave.
“Yes,” he confirms, handing me a key. “Here’s your key, electric and water are turned on.” He turns then pauses next to Winnie. “See you at dinner tomorrow, Win,” he says on his way up the stairs.
“Sure, thanks again, Knox,” I call. He nods, his squinting eyes widening slightly before he disappears into the house, muttering something about my size, while the dog— Sally —happily pants beside me .
I’m not sure what I expected of my first full day here, but moving in next door to the only man who’s ever left me wondering what might have been wasn’t on the agenda. Him not remembering me leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and a lump in my throat.