Plus, I had spent Christmas alone for the first time in years. I had put up and decorated a beautiful tree, but that was the extent of my holiday cheer. I made myself a pitiful turkey TV dinner for Christmas dinner and cried myself to sleep.
I know. Pathetic.
Chuck and Martha had taken that vacation they had wanted to take, and for the past seven weeks, life had been pretty slow and mundane. The motel didn’t get any new guests, and the men responsible for the renovations at Polly’s old store had been almost as secretive and quiet as the writer, despite their leader’s initial creepiness and perverted glares at my ass when he thought I wasn’t looking.
They had checked out yesterday, and although they said their work was over, no one in town had any clue as to what exactly they were doing or who was the new owner of the renovated space on Main Street. It had been a little mystifying at first, slowly developing into annoyed curiosity, and then angry demands that the people of Ludwig had a right to know what was going on in their own town. Soon, though, that passed as well, and people began to ignore the store completely, which had sat perfectly well with the four strangers from Austin.
The writer had checked out as well, a week before the renovators, a wide smile on his face and a loud declaration that his work here was done, and he was ready to return to civilization. I would have found that insulting had I not been happy to see him go.
With all three rooms now vacant, I had decided to lock the motel up for a few days and just spend New Year’s in bed, sleeping through the festivities, waking up when the world was back to its normal routine and the only difference anyone could recognize was the need to get accustomed to remembering the right date.
I felt like a hibernating bear, completely content with staying in my room until winter was over. I had even brought a few books up to keep me company.
Which was why the knocking that had woken me up annoyed the fuck out of me.
I pulled a sweater on and made my way downstairs, the cold floor making me shiver as I skipped to the front door. I had half the mind to verbally assault whoever it was who thought it a good idea to wake me up, but froze when I opened the door.
“Good morning, Miss Carter.”
I blinked several times, instantly recognizing Chance’s driver, Miles, but oblivious as to why he was here.
“Miles, right?” I asked.
The man smiled and nodded. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“As a matter of fact, you woke me up,” I said. “So, if Chance has anything to do with this, please let him know that if he wants to frustrate me this early in the morning, he should do it himself so I can scream at him instead of you.”
“Mr. Ridder actually sent me to pick you up,” Miles said, still smiling desp
ite my threat. “He would have done it himself if he believed you would have opened the door for him in the first place.”
“Smart man, your boss,” I said. “And what makes you believe I’ll come with you? I think I made it pretty clear to Chance where I stood in regards to…well, whatever.”
Miles nodded again. “He told me you might say that, and wanted to let you know that he is in no way trying to intrude on your life. He merely wants you to join him while he unveils his new business venture on Main Street.”
“That was you?” I almost yelled. “Chance bought the store? Why the hell would he do that? He doesn’t take a hint, does he?”
“I’m afraid not, Miss Carter,” Miles said.
“Well, you can tell him that I wish him all the best, and hopefully will not run into him while he’s here,” I said, closing the door.
Miles stopped me, and quickly pulled what looked like a small picture frame out of his inside suit pocket. It was barely the size of my palm as he handed it to me, and I looked at it in confusion. A dried lily had been expertly placed inside the glass frame. I looked up at Miles and frowned at him, waiting for an explanation.
“On the back,” Miles said with a smile.
I turned the frame over and read the inscription.
One of the lilies that was in my room.
The reason why we met.
Chance
I felt a short surge of emotions, and a small twinge in my chest. Stop playing hard to get. You’ve missed him, just admit it, and now he’s here and wants to see you. Go, goddamit!
I looked from Miles to the frame, then back at Miles again. He stood there waiting, his smile unfaltering, his hands behind his back.
“Give me fifteen minutes,” I finally said.