Remi and Alicia Can’t Fall Again (Grand Ridge is for Lovers #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Alicia

At least eight different cardboard boxes were ripped open—some flaps still stood straight up waving an apology.

Water puddled on the linoleum under my feet as I used a dishtowel to dry my hair.

When I’d spotted the terry cloth among books and dried goods, I’d thought I’d hit the jackpot.

But it turned out to be a single washcloth the size of my hand.

I couldn’t recall much of my frenzied packing. I had to have packed towels, though.

“Right?” I asked the boxes.

“I’ll pack later. I’d rather hang out,” I mocked; past me really sucked sometimes.

My job brought me to new locations every so often, and I knew what it was to miss Chicago and my friends—mostly my best friend, Sadie. Unlike other travel jobs, I didn’t know how long I’d be in Grand Ridge.

So, now I was tits-out in a dingy, little kitchen with windows so drafty the sheer curtain fluttered in the blistering breeze.

The sad excuse for a towel was drenched and my hair was still dripping when the front door to the unit connected to mine opened and closed.

I slapped the fabric with a wet smack to my chest as if it could provide any modesty and crouched behind the kitchen counters.

Heavy boots crunched on the front porch.

If my neighbor took a step to the right, they’d see my naked back and probably the top of my ass through the window.

Not exactly the first impression I was hoping to make.

“Is this a new low?” I mumbled under my breath. Goosebumps covered my arms and legs. A shiver passed through my body.

To my immense relief, the footsteps moved in the opposite direction.

I summoned all my courage and lifted my head enough to catch a glimpse of broad shoulders under a brown corduroy coat.

The wool-lined collar popped to brush the bottom of his stocking cap.

There wasn’t any reason for me to think it, but I had the sneaking suspicion that he was fine as hell.

Not that it mattered—I did not enter the dating pool in these little, middle-of-nowhere towns.

I was here to do a job and people liking me made it so much easier to do. Stealing the bachelors out of the dating pool would not make me popular, even if only for a brief fling.

Remaining crouched below counter-height, I shuffled toward the living room.

But then an engine cranked to life and spurred me to a full dash behind the wall separating the two rooms. With my arms crossed over my breasts, I peeked.

Through the long window next to the door, I watched an SUV back down the driveway to the other unit before pulling onto the quiet country highway.

The brilliant morning sun reflected off the windshield, blocking the driver from view. Hopefully, it also hid me.

I shivered again; this time it chattered my teeth.

Fuck a towel, I need clothes.

I’d driven myself and my dog, Furgie, up through the night.

The town had been asleep and covered in a blanket of white snow as I passed under the single traffic light, blinking yellow.

Even through the streetlights, there were stars dotting the midnight-blue sky.

Heading away from town to my new home, the stars had brightened and multiplied.

I hadn’t seen a night sky like it in years—the Milky Way was a cloudy stripe through the ink.

Parking under the carport on my side of the duplex, I had carried my pillow and blanket inside.

Furgie trailed behind me on the shoveled walk.

The building’s interior smelled like stale air and old carpet.

Wood paneling lined the bottom half of every wall.

In sock-covered feet, I climbed the stairs to the single bedroom and bathroom, then fell face first onto my temporary bed and quickly fell asleep with Furgie curled beside me.

She’d woken me just before seven itching so much the bed shook. When I couldn’t fall back asleep, I took her outside before taking a shower with disappointing water pressure.

Probably should have confirmed where my clothes were beforehand, but I didn’t.

I left a wet trail on the worn carpet as I rummaged through box after box.

For some reason the stupid washcloth was still clenched in my fist. My body had progressed past goosebumps and a shiver every now and then to shivering constantly.

There was a wood-burning stove in the corner opposite the sofa, but even if I did have the necessary fire-starting items, I never could get a good fire going.

Instead, it mocked me and my frozen state.

“God, I’m like ten minutes away from being hypother—Ah ha!” I exclaimed, pulling a sweatshirt out from among framed photos and a silly old phone shaped like a rainbow and cloud. I slipped the sweatshirt over my head. The soft inside fabric brushed my torso but ended just above my navel.

“Well, it’s something.” I set my fists on my naked hips. “At least most of the boxes are open at this point.”

On the sofa, Furgie snorted. Her snout wrinkled as she chewed on one of her hind legs. Crouching, I ran a hand down her back. “When I figure out how to leave this place with clothes on, we’ll go. We might even be able to walk the wetlands over on Shelby Road and see what we’re here to protect.”

She continued gnawing.

Technically, my work didn’t begin until Monday, but I could get a head start—like visiting local spaces for the vibe of the residence.

Maybe I’d figure out the best way to gain footing in the town.

It was a fine line to draw between convincing a community that I was here to help and not to be a busy body.

It’d be good to meet people before I started asking them to sign a petition for an emergency vote to rezone this parcel of land.

Furgie let out a few more snorts, her chewing intensified.

“Girl, you have been so itchy.” I scratched my nails along her side, and she rolled onto her back. I gasped and pulled my hand back.

Her stomach was lobster colored and splotchy. It clashed with her coppery fur and was definitely a different color than usual.

“Oh my effing God! Furg, what the hell?”

She flicked her eyes to me, her eyebrows shifting, before curling to gnaw on herself again.

“No,” I commanded, lifting her head. “You’ll make yourself bleed.”

The look on her face definitely claimed that would be better than what she was dealing with at the moment.

“I’ll figure this out.” I looked for my phone and to my immense surprise and relief, I spotted it on the side table.

Googling one handed, I continued searching for pants.

My cell service was terrible and the blue line across the top wasn’t moving at all.

There didn’t seem to be any way to increase my reception.

It was so easy to take for granted the built-in amenities of urban life that rural settings just didn’t have.

Pausing my investigation for clothes, I shuffled to a window, hoping that would help.

Apparently, my Wi-Fi needed to be hooked up yesterday.

I left my phone on the sill and went back to my quest for pants. Furgie continued itching, aggressively.

I found sweatpants packed with my cloth shopping bags. I still hadn’t found a bra or underwear, and I did not have “bra-less” boobs. But at least returning to my phone next to the condensation dripping window wouldn’t be torture anymore.

The Internet still wasn’t working. I sent out a text to Sadie, my assistant and best friend: Furgie is all red and itching like a motherfucker. Can you text me the phone number for a vet clinic in the area? I didn’t have much hope the text would send but I was desperate.

“Okay, let’s see if anyone nearby has unsecured Wi-Fi,” I said to Furg.

She remained focused on her task to break through her skin either by claw or teeth.

It didn’t take long for a list of three networks to appear on my screen. One of them had a really strong signal and didn’t require a password, EvrybdyHurts.

I scanned the room with wide eyes. “Furguson, who are our neighbors? ‘Everybody hurts’? That is alarming. I hope it’s a sex dungeon or they’re a dom or something. That is the only scenario I’m comfortable with.”

Worrying on my lower lip, I wished I could Google if there was information that the person with the network could learn about me just by connecting to it. On the sofa, Furgie rolled to her other side to scratch with her opposite hind leg.

I sighed. “I’ll sleep with a knife under my pillow.”

Less than a minute later, I pressed the speaker of my phone to my ear.

“Grand Ridge Animal Clinic, this is Nora. How can I help you?” a polite but uninterested sounding receptionist answered.

“Hi, I’m hoping to get an appointment for my dog. I think she might be having an allergic reaction. She’s itching like crazy, and she’s all red.”

“What’s your availability?”

“Any time today.”

“Oh, today?” I didn’t like Nora’s skepticism.

“If at all possible. At this rate, she won’t have any skin left by tomorrow.”

“Oh, no. Can I put you on hold for a moment? I’ll see what I can do.”

“I can hold.”

Her voice changed, growing further away before cutting to silence, “Hey, Peace and Love, you wanna do a lady a solid?”

I puffed a laugh.

“You still there?” she asked a short time later.

“I am.”

“One of our vets is willing to stay late for your appointment. If the situation becomes more urgent, come as soon as possible.”

“Oh my gosh, thank you.”

“No problem, so it’s still a couple of hours from now, but I have you scheduled for four-thirty.” She took my information and Furg’s. The sofa that came with the rental creaked when I lowered onto the cushion next to her, gently restraining her from itching.

Hanging up, I brushed a hand down Furgie’s side. Her leg kicked like it did when something tickled.

“Well, this is one way to introduce ourselves to the town.”