With a stiff upper back, I shifted my weight on the couch.
Alone.
I knew Lincoln wasn’t there as soon as I had enough sense to remember where I was at. I swung my legs over the side of the couch, sitting up and feeling a soreness between my legs that brought a playful smile to my lips. It had been the most incredible night.
Realizing I was awake, Bud yipped his usual “get your ass up and feed me” greeting. I kissed his sweet face, rubbing his ears, and stood.
In the small kitchen, I saw an empty coffee cup and underneath it, a little, handwritten note on a torn scrap of paper.
Went up to the Big House. Didn’t want to wake you—you sure looked pretty.
-L
The flutter in my stomach danced, and I tucked the note into my pocket. I made myself a hot cup of strong coffee, slipped on my boots, and wandered down the property toward the riverbank.
It was early, puffs of smoke rose from the house’s chimney, and I pulled my jacket a little tighter across my chest. The wide expanse of the land hugged the farmette and sloped downward toward the river. It was peaceful, quiet. The call of a loon echoed across the water, adding an element of eeriness as the morning fog still clung to the water.
I found a large group of rocks by the water, sat, and hugged my legs to my chin as I sipped my coffee and looked out over the land.
This is the perfect spot.
A tug of envy pulled at me as I thought about how rare it would be to find a location like this—access to the river, space for lodging, a big, beautiful house. The large house here was far from beautiful, but beyond the chipped paint and busted windows, the large wraparound front porch reminded me of how grand it must have been in its former glory. With enough patience and love, it would have made an incredible location for an all-inclusive guide service.
I knew that soon I would have to decide where I was going to land, but Lincoln’s words from last night echoed in my memory.
Please tell me you aren’t leaving.
When he spoke those words, desperation thick in his voice, I couldn’t deny him. I knew that staying was only temporary—temporary was all I ever had with men—but I was willing to see what staying with Lincoln meant.
“So, you’re staying around then?” A gravelly voice from behind my back made me jump, and a splash of hot coffee plunked on my thigh.
Rubbing away the burn, I turned to see the hard lines of Mr. Bailey’s face.
“Oh! Good morning,” I fumbled. “Uh.” I cleared my throat. “Yes, sir. If that’s all right with you, that is.”
He peered down at me; his green eyes were clear but held a hint of suspicion. “Makes no difference to me.”
“Thank you, sir. I do appreciate it.”
Mr. Bailey eyed me again before looking out onto the river. “You’re Steve’s granddaughter. Is that right?”
“Yes, Pop and I were very close.” My voice was laced with sadness.
“He was a good man, honest. I recall a little girl following him around every summer with dirt on her hands and skinned knees. I figure that was you?”
At that, I laughed. “Sounds about right.”
With a nod of his head, the conversation was over, and he turned to leave. I watched the man walk away slowly. Time had made his movements jerky, but he was still strong. Proud. My heart warmed to the crabby old man who remembered my Pop.
Pulling out my phone, I sent a quick text to Honey. We had so much to catch up on. She was expecting me back in Butte, but I had let her know that it would be at least a few days.
“There you are.” Mid-text, Lincoln’s voice had the tiny hairs on my neck standing up.
I looked up from my phone to see Lincoln, coffee in his hand, a smile on his lips, and his hair disheveled.
“Good morning.” I arched my back to stretch again. Lincoln’s eyes flicked down to my chest, but then he quickly found a stick and started tossing it to Bud, who happily retrieved it.
“I talked with the old man this morning.” His eyes tracked to Mr. Bailey who was almost to the Big House. “I let him know you and Bud will be staying on the property until you get settled. We’re on our own for sheets though.”
“That’s not a problem. I can go into town and get anything I might need. I really do appreciate it.” I toyed with the inside of my lip, looking down.
“What’s wrong?” He took a tentative step toward me.
“No, it’s nothing. I’m just wondering what rent might be to stay at the cottages. I have some money saved up, but wanted to be sure.”
“Joanna, you’re my guest here. No charge. As long as you’ll stay.”
It didn’t go unnoticed that he’d used the words “as long as you’ll stay” and not something like “as long as you need” or “for the weekend.” Curious. Lincoln wasn’t giving me much to go on so I would do what I could to be a good guest and not overstay my welcome. After all, he wasn’t asking me to move in with him. He was just being kind and helping me so that I didn’t have to stay in the dusky Chikalu Rose Motel longer than necessary.
“I have some things to take care of at the office. I need to see Finn . . .” Lincoln wasn’t looking me in the eyes.
“Of course!” I said, my nerves making my voice a little too cheery. Clearing my throat gently, I took a breath and continued. “I have some things I need to take care of. I’ll also get settled in one of the cottages. Does it matter which one?”
Lincoln reached into his pocket, revealing a small, brass key. “Cottage Two.” He placed the key in my palm, letting our fingers touch, and a zip of heat ran through me.
“Neighbors, then.” I winked at him.
He leaned down—arms at each side, caging me in—his delicious, masculine scent wafting over me. “I’m not sure you’ll get a whole lot of use out of that cottage, but it’s there if you need it.”
I paused, breathing in his pine-and-campfire scent, closing my eyes. He tilted his head, kissed my cheek, and slowly retreated.
In a daze, I watched him swagger back up toward his cottage, admiring his thick legs and round ass. Damn, that man could wear a pair of jeans. I shook my head. So much had changed in just a few days. I brought my attention back to my text to Honey. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to hide from all of her questions and that it would be easier to explain than text, I pressed call instead.
Honey was going to be more surprised than I was that I’d finally had the toe-tingling sex she was always bragging about.
Walking down Main Street in Chikalu Falls, Montana was a masterclass in small-town living. From the old ladies in the beauty parlor to the coffee clutch of men outside the diner, the town swirled with charm. Whether it was my upbeat mood or the innocence of the kids zipping down the sidewalk on their scooters, I had a little pep in my step.
I had talked with Honey for a solid hour where she made me rehash the events of the past few days. I left out a few of the more intimate details. Barely.
After we chatted, I looked into Cottage Two and realized I was going to need a few things to make it habitable. A broom, for sure. And sheets. And disinfectant.
It was neglected and needed a deep clean, but overall, it was just as cozy as Lincoln’s cottage and it was free. The fact that it was only steps away from Lincoln was also a major plus. I wondered how invested I should be about this cottage—would I be staying with Lincoln or expected to sleep at my own place?
Unsure of the details, I made my way down to the general store on the main drag of downtown. Sure, it would be a little more expensive than the big box store just outside of Chikalu, but I didn’t mind if that meant I could meander through town at my own pace. Mr. Richardson, the elderly owner of the general store, even insisted his bag boy carry all of my items out to my truck. It was a simple, sweet gesture that kept the smile on my face all morning.
My thoughts kept returning to Lincoln. Jesus, that man could stir up all kinds of lustful feelings. Not really sure what to do with the rest of my day, I popped into a ladies’ boutique on the corner.
The bell dinged at my arrival, but the only greeting I received was a “Morning, hun!” from somewhere in the back. The entire store smelled sweet but spicy, like a mix of vanilla and cinnamon. My tummy rumbled, and I wished for one of Honey’s cinnamon rolls.
A woman in her sixties with permed brown hair and navy-blue eyeliner walked up as I softly touched a few silky, delicate blouses. Nothing in here was even close to the tees or canvas work shirts that lined my drawers.
“Hi and welcome to Blush Boutique. I’m Trina. What brings you in today?”
I smiled, nervously tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m really not sure, just browsing? You have lovely clothing.”
“Well, I’m right around the corner. If you need anything, just holler.”
I smiled politely, unsure of what I was even doing in a store like this. It was an eclectic mix of blousy tops, jeans with bedazzled back pockets, and chunky silver jewelry. My mother would be in heaven here.
A woman browsing clothes across from me caught my eye. I’d recognized her face, but couldn’t place her name. She was around my age and lived in town with her daughter, who looked to be deep into the awkward phase of a preteen. When the woman caught me looking over, she smiled.
“Hey there,” she said, moving toward me. “I’m Maggie. You’re Finn’s friend, right?” She walked to me, her daughter staying behind to look around.
“Jo.” I smiled back. “Yes, Finn and I went to school together.”
“That’s right! You two were thick as thieves back then. Have you moved back to town?”
Her genuine warmth and kindness warmed me.
Yes.
The thought surprised me, unnerved me in such a simple moment.
“Oh, um, no,” I stumbled, unsure of where that thought had come from. “You probably heard that Finn broke his leg. I’m just helping out while he’s out of commission.”
“I did hear that! It caused quite a stir around here. Ms. Millie said that she heard Finn broke it saving a baby who’d fallen into the river.”
I had to laugh at that. “Fortunately for any babies around here, it was far less dramatic. He slipped.” I shrugged.
We shared a laugh. “I figured as much. It was nice running into you, but we should get going. Good seeing you, Jo.”
As Maggie left, a small pang of jealousy crept through me. Longing, maybe? I had never had many girlfriends and Maggie seemed so nice. I knew she was a single mom, and if she was shopping here, maybe we didn’t have that much in common, but simply talking with another woman felt really enjoyable.
I was ready to turn and leave when a small table of lacy lingerie caught my eye. It was tucked away in a back corner of the boutique. Moving closer, I eyed a few things, running my fingertips over the delicate edges.
“New love or old love?”
Blinking, I looked up at Trina.
“It’ll influence what I recommend. Are you newly in love or looking to rekindle an old flame?” Trina winked at me.
A ribbon of heat wound around my chest.
“New,” I answered. I glanced around to make sure that no one could hear me refer to Lincoln as a “new love.”
“Well, then time for him to get to know you!” She laughed. “Don’t be shy, honey, it’s why I’m here. What are we going for? Sweet and sexy or red-hot heat?”
“Red hot,” I blurted before I could even think about her question.
“That’s my girl! You’re going to want something over here then.” She moved left. In front of her were tiny scraps of fabric, little bows, and straps that I wasn’t quite sure how I’d get into.
A black lace balconette bra caught my eye. I picked it up and checked the sizing. Trina held up the matching panties—a tiny triangle of fabric with three thin black straps on each side that connected the front and back. Nothing but a slim line of black ribbon went up the back.
Desire pooled between my legs when I thought about Lincoln looking at me wearing nothing but the set. My ass would be out. My whole ass. I squeezed my thighs together to give myself a little tingly pressure.
“I’ll take it.”
After I paid, Trina folded the items in delicate tissue and tucked them into a small Blush Boutique bag. A trill of excitement ran through me—I couldn’t wait to try them on.
“Have fun.” She winked again. “Hope to see you soon, honey.”
Clearly, I was being charmed by this small town, and I had forgotten how warm and welcoming it had always felt. It reminded me of what grandma Nana used to say—there were no strangers in Chikalu Falls, only friends you hadn’t met yet.
After dropping off my bags, I spent the next hour or so tidying up the cottage, washing the new sheets, and arranging the bed. I bounced on the edge a few times—it squeaked a little, and I laughed to myself. I bet Lincoln and I could make a racket.
When I realized the fridge was unplugged, I was glad I hadn’t gone to get groceries yet. I plugged it in and figured I could keep myself busy until it cooled down. I grabbed my fishing pole and walked a stretch up the river and tried my luck in the fading afternoon light. I still hadn’t heard from Lincoln, so I decided to text Finn instead.
Me: What are you up to?
Finn: Slowly dying of boredom
Me: k
Finn: WOW
Me: haha. I’m out fishing by Mr. Bailey. No lunkers yet.
Finn: I thought you left town?
Me: Yeah . . . about that . . .
My phone immediately sprang to life. “Hey, Finn.” I smiled into the phone.
“Dude.”
“I know, I should have told you. Some…things…happened yesterday.”
“Sounds like it.” He didn’t sound annoyed or upset, but curious.
“Lincoln and I ran into each other last night at the bar. We had dinner together.” He didn’t respond, so I kept going. “He insisted on driving me back to the motel. He didn’t stay…but then he sort of came back?” The end raised like I was unsure.
“Huh. Well, that explains a lot, actually.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lincoln’s been completely out of his gourd today—walking around whistling, saying hi to people, being pleasant.” The thought of Lincoln in a good mood because of me sent a ripple of goosebumps up my arm. “I swear to god that fucker has been mooning over you all day. I’ve been giving him dirty looks and mumbling shit in his direction because I thought the fucker was happy that you’d left town!”
A laugh bubbled out of me. “You’re a good friend, Finn, but you can let him off the hook. We had a good time.”
“So, now what?”
Yeah, Jo. Now what? Play house? For how long?
“Well, I’m not really sure. Lincoln talked to Mr. Bailey, and he’s letting me stay in a cottage for a few days instead of the motel. Beyond that, I’m not really sure. But if you still need me, I can help with a few guide tours.”
“Fuck yeah, I need you! I’m pumped you’re staying around! Let’s do dinner tonight, we’ll plan it all out.”
We hung up, and I spent the next several casts thinking about what Finn had said. Lincoln was happy because of me? How long could I stay right next door to him and pretend I wasn’t totally falling for him? Moody, broody, sexy guys were way out of my depth. What if this was just a weekend fling for him? Pushing away the nagging thoughts, I was determined to relax and enjoy my time in Chikalu.
I refused to think this oddly felt like coming home.
