Falling for the Grumpy Lawyer (Moonridge #3)

Chapter 1

Amelia

Fall

This was it—my fresh start, a new chapter in my life. The autumn leaves swirled around my car as I pulled into the quaint town of Starfall Creek. A mix of excitement and nervousness fluttered in my chest like the butterflies that danced alongside the colorful foliage.

“Ames, you're going to love living here,” Sydney's voice chimed through the car speaker. “Everyone is so friendly, and the town is just charming.”

“I can't wait to do some more sightseeing, Syd,” I replied, my voice wavering slightly with anticipation. “And I'm really looking forward to being closer to you and Blake.”

“Speaking of which, are you almost here? The baby's been kicking up a storm, and I swear he's excited to meet his Aunt Amelia already,” Sydney said with a laugh.

“Should be there in a few minutes. Just passing through Moonridge right now.” I glanced at the rearview mirror, fixing a stray strand of my freshly highlighted blonde hair. New life, new look. At least I hadn’t cut bangs in my hair. That would’ve been a disaster.

“Great! We'll be waiting for you at the Maple Tree Inn. Drive safe, okay?”

“Always,” I reassured her, but my thoughts betrayed me. Moving from Phoenix, Arizona to Vermont was a big change. What if I couldn't find a new job? What if I didn't fit in with the locals? What if—

The car ahead of me came to an abrupt stop. My reflexes faltered, and I slammed on the brakes too late. The sickening crunch of metal echoed through the quiet street as my car collided with the one in front of me.

“Amelia, are you okay?” Sydney's frantic voice barely registered as my heart hammered in my chest.

“Y-yeah, I'm fine,” I stammered, my gaze fixed on the crumpled fender of the car ahead. “I just rear-ended someone.”

“Stay calm, Ames. I'll send Blake over to help. Send me a pin of your location, and take a deep breath.”

“Thanks, Syd.” Disconnecting the call, I took several steadying breaths before stepping out of my car.

The smell of exhaust filled my nostrils as a tall man with salt and pepper streaks around the front stepped out of his car. My stomach flipped. Despite his furrowed brow and clenched jaw, Teddy Cranston was still as handsome as when I’d first seen him during my brother Blake's proposal to Sydney. Expecting him to be reasonable about the situation, I relaxed my shoulders and smiled at him.

As he turned to face me, his striking blue eyes were filled with annoyance.

“Are you alright, Teddy?” I asked cautiously, hoping to defuse the situation.

“It’s Ted, and I’m fine,” he grumbled, inspecting the damage to his car. “But my new car isn't. Do you have any idea how much this is going to cost?”

“It was an accident,” I said, hoping he would hear the sincerity in my tone.

“An accident? You were clearly distracted and not paying attention. I could sue you for damages and negligence.” Teddy snapped, his grumpiness only adding fuel to the fire.

“Once upon a time, I went to law school too. And you don’t have enough to win this argument. Besides, maybe if you weren’t such a brake rider, this wouldn’t have happened.” Heat rose from my chest to my ears.

“A brake rider?” he retorted, crossing his arms over his chest. “That's rich, coming from the person who couldn't keep her eyes on the road.”

He had me there. It was a backroads kind of highway. I’d figured it was safe. “Look, I’m really sorry.”

“Fine,” he replied, his tone icy. “I’ve already called the cops, and I will notify my insurance. We'll see what they have to say about it.”

“Sounds fair to me,” I agreed, maintaining a cheerful demeanor despite the tension between us. We exchanged information and snapped photos of the damage. My new life in Starfall Creek was starting off with a bang—literally.

A few minutes later, an old Crown Victoria with Moonridge County Sheriff’s Department badging pulled off onto the shoulder of the two-lane highway. A young, clean-shaven deputy stepped out of the vehicle and pulled his pants up like Urkel from Family Matters. He barely looked old enough to drive, much less able to legally carry a firearm.

“Mr. Cranston, your new car? That’s a real shame,” he said, touching the back of the grey Model-Y Tesla. Ted shook the young deputy’s hand.

“Thanks for coming out so quick, Henry. This is the woman who rear-ended me.”

Henry shook my hand before he pulled out a notebook and licked his fingers, flipping to a blank page. “Now, tell me exactly what happened.”

I held my tongue as Teddy told his side of the story. His tone was disdainful and arrogant. I couldn’t believe I’d thought he was handsome. I rolled my eyes at him. He caught me and glared.

“Yes, I accidentally hit him,” I said. “But he was an absolute break-rider the whole time. . .”

Just then my brother drove up in his white work truck.

“Howdy, Blake,” Henry said. “I think we’re okay here. Just a simple fender bender.”

“A simple fender bender?” Ted growled. “This is a brand new car.”

“Serves him right for buying a flashy car,” Blake mumbled so only I could hear him as he gave me a hug. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. Henry and Ted exchanged a look.

“I thought I recognized you,” Ted said, annoyance laced in his voice.

Blake ignored Ted's sneering and turned to the young deputy. “Henry, this is my sister Amelia. She’s moving here from Phoenix.”

“Very nice to meet you, ma’am.” He tipped his head to me. “I’m not going to ticket you, but I am indicating that you are at fault for the wreck.” He pointed to the police report he had started to fill out.

“Yes, thank you, officer.”

“What do you mean you’re not going to give her a ticket? She was at fault.” Ted’s face turned almost purple with fury.

“She was, but you are a notorious brake rider, especially since you bought the new car. The accident could’ve happened to anyone.” He handed us each a copy of the report and said goodbye.

“Is your car still drivable?” Blake asked, running his hand around the front of the car.

“Yeah,” I said, my white Nissan Rogue didn’t have too much damage. Ted’s on the other hand, had a nice big dent in the back of it now.

“This isn’t over Amelia. You’ll be hearing from my insurance company.” He glared at me, but still politely nodded goodbye to Blake and me. He was a strange character—angry and arrogant, but still well-mannered.

Good thing I had excellent coverage. “See you around, Teddy,” I waved with a smirk. I was really sorry it had happened, but he was fun to irritate.

“It’s Ted,” he growled, opening his door.

“I know,” I called after him before he slammed his door shut.

He drove off, his wheels dusting us with debris and dead leaves.

Was he always that grouchy? Or was it because I’d just wrecked his new car? Not that I could blame him. I’d be furious too.

“Well, I guess follow me to the Inn. Leah and Sydney are dying to see you.” Leah was my sweet and spunky niece from Blake’s first marriage. She was one of the main reasons I was happy to move twenty-six thousand miles from my hometown.

The sun cast a warm golden glow over the quaint Maple Tree Inn as I pulled into the driveway. My heart swelled with anticipation. I’d visited here a few times over the last year, but it was different now that this town was going to be home.

“Amelia!” Sydney called out from the wrap-around porch. She looked radiant, her red hair cascading down her back, and her pregnant belly emphasizing the happiness that radiated from her. As I stepped out of my car, Leah appeared beside her, their smiles welcoming.

“Welcome home, sis,” Blake said as he enveloped me in a side hug. His protectiveness and warmth, were like a shield against any lingering doubts or concerns. I had missed being near family. My dad had moved out here a couple of years ago, and things just weren’t the same back in Phoenix without him.

“Thanks, it's great to be here,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

“Come on, Aunt Amy! Let me show you around!” Leah chimed in, her hazel eyes sparkling with excitement. She grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the inn's entrance. “We made some changes since you were last here.”

“Okay, okay!” I laughed.

As we entered the inn, the cozy atmosphere immediately embraced me. The scent of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air, and the soft sounds of laughter and conversation drifted from the warmly lit parlor. Some of the guest were milling about.

“Wait until you see what we've done to the place,” Blake said, guiding me through the familiar rooms and hallways. “We just finished building an addition, and we're hoping to host weddings and become the wedding destination in the Tri-county area.”

"Wow, that's ambitious," I teased.

“Here it is!” Leah exclaimed as she flung open a set of French doors, revealing a beautiful garden filled with twinkling fairy lights and blooming flowers. It was a breathtaking sight. It was easy to envision couples exchanging vows beneath the canopy of trees.

“And over here,” Leah led us to an enormous barn-style building with hardwood floors. “This is where the receptions will take place.” She did a quick twirl in the center. Suddenly she looked like she was still six years old wearing a princess dress.

“Sydney and I have been working on this for months,” Blake explained, his eyes shining with pride. “We wanted to create a place that would bring people together and celebrate love.”

“Blake, it's stunning,” I said, my voice filled with genuine admiration. “I'm so proud of you guys.”

“Thank you, Amelia,” Sydney replied, her hand resting on her swelling belly. “Blake certainly outdid himself.”

A sense of warmth and belonging washed over me. This was where I was meant to be—surrounded by family and love.

“Welcome home, Amelia,” Sydney whispered, leaning in for a hug. “We're so glad you're here.”

“Me too,” I said as I embraced her, hoping to fill the hole my broken career had left behind.