Her Small-Town Romance
Jill Kemerer
Finding Her Way HomeCozy Lake Endwell, Michigan, seems the perfect place for Jade Emerson’s new t-shirt shop—and perhaps a fresh start. After a lifetime of letdowns, she is finally ready to face the future on her own. So when local wilderness guide Bryan Sheffield offers to help Jade overcome a past trauma, she warns him they will remain strictly business. But soon, with the help of Bryan’s big, complicated family and a boisterous St. Bernard named Teeny, Jade’s frozen heart begins to thaw. Now, Jade wonders if she can return the favor, bringing a little happiness to a man who has long kept his own sorrow under wraps…
Finding Her Way Home
Cozy Lake Endwell, Michigan, seems the perfect place for Jade Emerson’s new T-shirt shop—and perhaps a fresh start. After a lifetime of letdowns, she is finally ready to face the future on her own. So when local wilderness guide Bryan Sheffield offers to help Jade overcome a past trauma, she warns him they will remain strictly business. But soon, with the help of Bryan’s big, complicated family and a boisterous St. Bernard named Teeny, Jade’s frozen heart begins to thaw. Now Jade wonders if she can return the favor, bringing a little happiness to a man who has long kept his own sorrow under wraps…
“I’m not going to stand in your way.
It would be a mistake for you to blow off this opportunity.”
“What if I don’t get the job?” Bryan asked.
Blackness fell over Jade’s heart, which was ridiculous due to the perfect summer day. But how was she supposed to answer that? If he didn’t get the job, he might be willing to explore a relationship with her?
“You’ve been clear all along on two things. You’re moving, and you aren’t dating.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And you’ve been crystal clear that we’re just friends.”
“What do you want?” Jade shifted her weight to one hip. “You kissed me, knowing full well you plan on moving to Canada. I love Lake Endwell. I’m happy here. If you need to move, I get it, but I don’t want to be your backup plan.”
Hurt flashed in Bryan’s eyes, but she couldn’t, wouldn’t feel guilty. She twisted, unable to face him a second longer. Her mouth tasted of copper at the thought of being his second choice.
Just once in her life, she wanted to be someone’s first choice.
JILL KEMERER writes novels with love, humor and faith. Besides spoiling her minidachshund and keeping up with her busy kids, Jill reads stacks of books, lives for her morning coffee and gushes over fluffy animals. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Jill loves connecting with readers, so please visit her website, jillkemerer.com (http://jillkemerer.com), or contact her at PO Box 2802, Whitehouse, OH 43571.
Her Small-Town Romance
Jill Kemerer
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
—Psalms 56:3
To my writing team.
Shana Asaro, I’m a better writer because of you. Rachel Kent, thank you for your friendship and for guiding my career. Wendy Paine Miller, you’re the real deal and I treasure you. Jessica R. Patch, for holding me up with joy as we journey together.
Contents
Cover (#u0c6fcdf2-ddc5-5a13-a361-bc04cb6ebd00)
Back Cover Text (#uac517b4f-47da-5ce0-8310-b89a36e68588)
Introduction (#u1e63e576-a9ca-5eb8-8231-a5e260a2bad7)
About the Author (#u8f58ab22-ee84-56a3-bbaf-71216cfcc288)
Title Page (#ub95a1bd7-8240-56f9-93bd-8f345ad6940b)
Bible Verse (#uf1698393-c64e-567e-ae8e-962a5f9cbc9d)
Dedication (#u19cf9a09-2e8a-55ba-b294-9bb0141453bb)
Chapter One (#uca956ed6-7de0-5a35-a150-584e409d0b04)
Chapter Two (#u2193767a-ca6a-5005-8b5a-45ffd7ab73a5)
Chapter Three (#u12b6dd31-0f88-5e50-a26e-ca4d28596dfc)
Chapter Four (#ucc3704b8-9eab-5d89-81ab-20ee3e95038f)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#ulink_c42e307f-c251-5c92-8386-bd52e75fcd77)
Bryan Sheffield scanned the parking lot as he paced under the pavilion at Evergreen Park. His students, most likely retirees and a few college kids, should be arriving any minute. He had no idea how many people would show up for the free outdoor course. Ideally, ten or twelve. If teaching this class every Saturday morning helped him land an interview at Blue Mountain Retreat, he’d gladly instruct fifty people.
A swish of wind overhead set new green leaves in motion, and sunshine spilled through the branches to the ground. Michigan’s Lake Endwell in mid-April brought hungry squirrels dashing across the soggy grass. Robins flitted here and there. The park throbbed with pent-up energy after a long winter. Bryan could relate.
His watch said 7:55. Had the Parks and Recreation Department listed the wrong date on the website or something?
One tiny woman with long brown hair clutched her hands together as she weaved across the pavement. She appeared to be praying or chanting or...something. Odd. Maybe she was taking one of those prayer walks or whatever it was Aunt Sally mentioned some of the church ladies started doing recently.
He stopped pacing. What if no one showed up?
People would come. They had to.
He couldn’t spend the rest of his life surrounded by his happily married siblings, not when he would never have a wife and family of his own. He loved Lake Endwell, but his heart couldn’t take it anymore. He needed the change Ontario, Canada, offered.
Blue Mountain Retreat was interviewing outdoor instructors in June. That left less than two months to strengthen his qualifications. The director wanted an experienced leader comfortable teaching an array of professional personalities from charismatic to timid to eccentric. The ideal candidate would have expert knowledge of North American forests and a diplomatic, outgoing personality.
Bryan had never been described as outgoing. His ex-wife had put it in less flattering terms. Boring. Lame. Hey, he might not be the most exciting person, but no local would refute his outdoor knowledge.
Now it was 7:58. Where was everyone?
He studied the parking lot again. A family unpacked bikes from a silver minivan. An elderly man hobbled in the direction of the bird feeders located near the pond. And the strange woman? Marched his way, albeit in a zigzag pattern.
As she neared, he pegged her at about five feet tall and in her late twenties, but he’d never been good at guessing ages. She had rosy lips and big green eyes that didn’t seem to register her whereabouts. Streaks of cinnamon shot through her hair.
She was pretty.
Very pretty.
His pulse hammered like the bill of the downy woodpecker against the poplar to his left. She could not be one of his students. He’d mentally prepared for older folks, college kids.
He hadn’t prepared for pretty.
Green Eyes edged into the pavilion, her chest heaving as if she’d run six miles. Her face was white, and she blinked rapidly. “Is this the survival class?”
He widened his stance, crossing his arms over his chest. “Yes, this is Outdoor Survival 101.”
“Good. I barely survived the parking lot, so I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Great. His only student. Cute and probably crazy.
Real funny, God. I ask You to get me out of my five-year rut, and You give me this?
“I know what I’m doing.” Bryan rubbed the two-day stubble on his chin. “What was so bad about the parking lot?”
She grimaced, a visible shiver rippling over her. “Everything.”
He pressed his lips together. He did not encourage overly dramatic behavior. His sister Libby’s antics growing up had taught him that.
“Bryan Sheffield.” He thrust his hand out. Her icy fingers felt fragile in his.
“Jade Emerson.”
The name fit her on account of the eyes. “Since you’re the lone student so far, let’s wait a few minutes before heading to the trail.”
Jade practically collapsed on the bench of a picnic table. Her olive jacket covered dark jeans, and she wore rubber rain boots—burgundy with black polka dots. She reminded him of a princess, someone he’d read about in picture books as a kid, but her defeated posture didn’t match the images in his mind.
He hadn’t seen her before, and in a small town like this it meant she wasn’t from around here. One of his numerous relatives would have alerted him. Aunt Sally and the ladies from work were forever trying to set him up with any single woman in the county. He always politely declined, unwilling to reveal it wouldn’t matter who they set him up with—he wasn’t interested in dating or marriage. Once was enough.
“Are you from out of town?” he asked.
“Yes. Just moved yesterday.”
He didn’t know what it was like to be new in town. He’d lived here his entire life, but hopefully that would change this summer. “How did you find out about the class?”
She gave her head a little shake. “The website. I saw the class advertised a few weeks ago.”
At least he knew the Parks and Recreation Department listed the correct information. “So where are you from?”
“Las Vegas.” A bit of color returned to her cheeks.
“Sin City, huh?” Why would a pretty girl from Las Vegas want to move here?
“I prefer to think of it by its lesser known nickname, the Capital of Second Chances.”
Second chances? A second chance at Blue Mountain sounded good. He hitched his chin. “So what brings you to Lake Endwell?”
“I’m opening a store.” The words pulled from her as wispy and thin as threads of cotton candy.
“Oh, yeah? What kind?”
“A gift shop.” She fanned herself, but the temperature couldn’t be more than fifty-five degrees. “Custom-designed T-shirts and gifts. I’m still deciding on the inventory.”
A candy store, novelty shop and higher-end women’s clothing boutique satisfied the summer tourists. The town might not be able to support her store year-round, but Bryan kept his thoughts to himself. If Jade wanted to open a T-shirt shop, that was her business.
And his business? Wasn’t looking promising, not with one student.
He checked the parking lot again. “It looks like you’re the only one who showed up. Do you still want to take the class?”
“No.”
No? His chest had a slow leak or something. He should be relieved. But her no stirred up bits and pieces he’d been suppressing all week, like the sinking feeling he got when his younger brother, Sam, sneered, “You, teaching? You realize you’ll have to leave the house and be friendly, right?” As if Bryan had no social skills. He knew how to be friendly. But Sam’s words had kicked up doubts. Would his personality kill his chances with the director of the retreat?
Jade stood on wobbly legs, and her fingertips darted to the table for support. “I don’t want to take the class, but I will. I have to.”
He pulled his shoulders back. A part of him would prefer no students to this one. Too cute. Too out there. Too everything. “I can cancel today’s session.”
“No!” Her eyes widened. “Don’t do that.”
“Why not?” He suppressed a sigh. Did she want to be here or not? Maybe this would qualify him for the eccentric personalities the retreat director mentioned.
She shook her head so rapidly her hair waved behind her. Her face paled again. She wasn’t going to faint, was she? Bryan stepped forward, but she remained standing.
“It will ruin everything.”
Ruin what? He didn’t know and wasn’t asking. He’d grown up with two sisters. Their way of thinking had always been two steps ahead of his.
“Hey, it’s okay. Don’t get so worked up. We’ll go to the trail right now. No big deal.”
“The trail?” she squeaked. “Right now?”
“Yeah, isn’t that what you want?”
“I... I...” Her hands twisted as if she were wringing out a wet washcloth. “I think I’m having a panic attack.” Her breaths came in short, audible gasps.
“Here.” He took a paper bag out of his backpack and handed it to her. “Breathe into this. When you’ve got it under control, tell me what’s going on.”
* * *
Jade slumped on the bench and sucked in a breath. The paper bag crinkled into itself. When she exhaled, it puffed out again. She didn’t dare look at Bryan. First of all, he was a full foot taller than her, and her neck might snap trying to stare at him from her seated position. Secondly, the sight of him made her gooey insides extra mushy. His level of attractiveness on a scale of one to ten was a twenty. Those blue eyes reminded her of the desert sky, and he had a cleft in his chin. A cleft! No man should have such touchable dark blond hair.
And now he was restlessly waiting because he seemed to think she owed him an explanation. Which she did, after treating him to a full-blown episode of her ridiculous phobia. She pulled the bag away from her mouth.
“I don’t like forests.” There. She’d said it. And shoved the paper bag right back, daring him to mock her. His eyebrows drew together.
He probably couldn’t comprehend the thought—him so tall, so fit, so at ease outdoors. He was practically perfect. She scowled. The guys she found attractive were always practically perfect—at first. Their charm wore off as they grew condescending, dismissive. No, thanks. She had enough on her hands getting her shop established.
“Why don’t you like forests?”
A hysterical cackle rose in her throat, but she clamped her mouth shut, not allowing it to escape.
Why? Why indeed. Since her breathing had stabilized, she smoothed out the brown bag and set it on her lap. “I’ve never lived around many trees.” Except for the summer in Germany when she was seven—her heartbeat grew faint as the memories returned. He didn’t need to know her secrets. “They’ve always given me the creeps.”
“Oh.” He nodded, rubbing his chin.
Jade lightly massaged her temples. Trying to overcome this fear was impossible. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t tried numerous times. The excitement of quitting her job last month must have given her a false sense of power. Picking a town smack-dab in the middle of dense woods to open her business made no sense.
Except it did.
After Mimi died, Jade kept replaying the wisdom her grandmother shared over the years. One piece of advice had clung to her heart. Jade, honey, I hope you find your Lake Endwell, a place where dreams come true. Poppi and I always said we’d move there, but God had other plans for us. Listen to His plan for your life.
Moving here made perfect sense. Jade wanted her dreams—all of them—to come true.
“I’m missing something, right?” Bryan sounded uncertain. “If you don’t like the forest, why did you move here?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Is there anything I can do?” He propped his foot on the bench.
She hoped so. She’d set her moving plans in motion after poking through Lake Endwell’s website and stumbling across Bryan’s class.
An answer to her prayer.
Living here wouldn’t work unless she could tolerate trees. Yesterday she’d grown dizzy and hysterical driving through the tightly packed woods on the way into town. The thought of breaking down and getting lost... She shivered. How would she be able to make the thirty-minute drive to a mall, the discount stores or an airport unless she overcame this fear?
“I don’t have any experience with not liking trees.” Bryan’s eyes clouded over. “Not sure I can be of much help.”
Maybe Bryan’s class was God’s way of getting her here. Maybe He had another plan in mind for her to get over her affliction. Rising, she brushed off her jeans and willed her lips into a tight smile. “I’ll figure something out.” But what? She hadn’t felt this torn since hearing Mimi had cancer.
“Well, the least I can do is show you around the park.” His low, soothing voice unlatched the tightness around her chest. “You might not feel as scared if you know more about it.”
She added nice to her mental list comprising Bryan Sheffield. But then, didn’t they all seem nice at first? The nitpicking and disapproval began after they realized she wasn’t as great as they’d first thought. The story of her dating life.
“You don’t have to.”
Bryan tilted his head. “You obviously want to get over your fear or you wouldn’t have shown up today. I’m no therapist, but I know my way around the woods.”
“I must seem crazy.” Jade wasn’t a seven-year-old child anymore, and logically, she knew the chances of getting lost again were slim.
“Nah. I married crazy. You’re...” Crimson climbed his neck. “Never mind. Follow me.”
Married? Relief flooded her. Of course he was married. Married and safe. Now she wouldn’t have to worry about being attracted to him. She’d promised herself no romance until she got the rest of her life in order and figured out the right type of guy for her.
“Grab the paper bag,” Bryan said. “You might need it.”
* * *
“Surviving in the woods depends on a lot of factors.” Bryan kept his tone informal as they crossed a wide lawn toward a cluster of hardwoods. Why would anyone be afraid of trees? He could understand not wanting to hike for personal reasons, but to be afraid of the forest was a concept he couldn’t wrap his head around.
Right after class, he was typing fliers. Posting them around town. Asking Aunt Sally and his sisters to spread the word far and wide. Advertising on the radio if need be. He’d have full attendance at next week’s class. One student who was too scared to be out here would not qualify him for the job.
He needed that job.
Tuesday family dinners had become unbearable. All the private loving glances between Claire and Reed. The way Tommy glued himself to Stephanie’s side. Jake and Libby’s inside jokes. Bryan couldn’t take it anymore. He just couldn’t take the loneliness flooding him in their presence.
He glanced at Jade to make sure she wasn’t hyperventilating again. She matched his pace. Quiet, but breathing normally.
Why had he encouraged her to stay? So her emotional state touched a nerve. It didn’t mean she was his responsibility. He had no business spending time with someone so beautiful. And the slip about his marriage? Unraveled threads he’d fought to hide since Abby left. Yeah, she’d cheated on him, but he’d made vows, ones he didn’t take lightly.
A part of him had known the marriage would never work. He’d ignored his instincts and asked her to marry him, anyway. He’d been dazzled by her style. Flattered by her pursuit of him. Fooled into believing she loved him as much as he loved her. No one to blame but himself.
Which was the bigger sin?
The divorce?
Or marrying her to begin with?
“Um, Bryan?” Jade tapped his arm. He almost jumped.
“Sorry,” he said. “Yeah, so if you ever got lost in the woods...”
“Can we not mention getting lost?” Her serious tone made him smile.
“No problem.” Clear your head. It’s been years since Abby left. “Well, let’s say you were hungry and didn’t have anything to eat. There are plenty of edible plants if you know what to look for.”
“I’ll pack power bars and Tootsie Rolls.”
“What if you got lost and ate your entire supply?”
“Didn’t you get my memo about not discussing you-know-what?” She widened her eyes, her eyelashes curling upward.
“Right.” He continued forward until stopping in front of a grouping of trees. Jade stood about ten feet away on the lawn. Once more Bryan was struck by her size. A strong wind could blow her over as easily as a stray feather. He waved for her to approach. “Why don’t you come here so I can show you what to look for?”
“I’m close enough.”
He went back to her and waited. Why was she terrified? Was it because she was used to the desert? Had she been born afraid of forests? Or had she watched one too many horror films?
Finally, she sighed and followed him.
“This is a white birch.” He got the impression she couldn’t say a word and not from awe. He’d grown up hiking these woods with Granddad. Knew every bit of the surrounding area. He loved Lake Endwell—the evergreens, ferns, blue jays and sparrows, the scent of pollen, pinecones, the mucky ground after a hard rain. He loved it all. It would be tough to leave, but he couldn’t stay.
Bryan peeled a six-inch section of birch bark and handed it to her. “It’s textured on the outside but smooth inside. See? Smell it. It’s a good smell.”
The tight lines around her mouth eased. “It doesn’t have much of a scent.”
“Inhale. You’ll catch it. Mint, with a bit of history.”
“History?”
“Native Americans and early settlers relied on birch for a lot of things. It’s waterproof, so they used it for roofs, canoes, even shoes. The inner bark is edible.”
“I didn’t know that. It peels off in ribbons.” She inspected the strip, picking at the pale pink layers. He took it as a good sign.
“You can write on it, too. Take it home. Try it.”
“Okay.”
Bryan tugged a slim branch to her. She hopped with her hand over her heart. He moved it back several inches. The suppleness of new tree growth always impressed him because of the resilience. Age strengthened the wood. “Sycamore trees have white bark also, but it’s not papery like the birch’s. If you aren’t sure if a tree is a sycamore or a birch, check the leaves. Birch trees have small, oval-shaped leaves. Sycamore leaves are big and shaped like a hand.” He held his palm up, fingers together, to show her.
Jade rose on her tiptoes and extended her neck. “Why does it matter if I know which is which?”
“Survival.” Bryan let the branch spring back into place. “The white birch has pure, drinkable sap. It’s sweet. If you had a Swiss Army knife on you, you’d have a potential source of hydration. Chop a small triangle out of the trunk, and you can catch the moisture and eat the inner flesh.”
“Couldn’t I drink from that?” Rotating to the side, she pointed to the pond.
“You could, but you’d have to boil the water first. It’s full of algae and other contaminants. Besides, you might be somewhere where there isn’t a water source.” He spotted an overgrowth of weeds. “Before we continue, I have to warn you about certain plants.”
“Great,” she muttered, but joined him.
“Over there.” He nodded to a green vine. “That’s poison ivy. You can tell because it has three pointy green leaves.”
Jade hung back, flourishing her hand in the direction of the weeds. “Is that poison ivy, too?”
“No. That’s honeysuckle. It has individual leaves.” He didn’t dare lop off the poison ivy, but she didn’t seem to be willing to come near it. “I’m not sure if you can see this, but all three leaves are coming from the same stem.”
“Oh. Okay, I get it.”
Bryan returned to her side. “Poison oak has three leaves also. There’s a saying in the woods, ‘Leaves of three, let it be.’ Avoid them or you might get a rash.”
“Avoiding them won’t be a problem.” She lifted one shoulder and smiled. Once more, he was all too aware of her appeal. She was even prettier when she wasn’t terrified. She tapped her finger against her chin. “You know, I don’t feel as nervous right now.”
“Good. Now that you live in Lake Endwell, you might find hiking becomes your new hobby. Nature is generous. Give it a chance.”
“Hiking as my hobby? Doubtful.” Jade tucked the birch bark into her jacket pocket. “What do you mean, nature is generous?”
He plucked a young blade of grass from the ground and held it out. “It’s all connected. The ground gives nutrients to the plants, and the plants provide food and shelter for the birds, insects and animals. Everything you see in this park is generous.”
“I never thought of it that way.” Shielding her eyes, she raised her face to the sky. “I’m not sure I’m ready for all this.”
“Take it one day at a time.”
“But that’s the thing. I’m kind of okay now, but I know we’re not going to stand on the lawn for two hours next week.”
“No,” he murmured. He hadn’t considered she’d want to continue taking his class, not when she could barely tolerate the birches. “We won’t.”
“I think I’ve had enough forest-related instruction for the day.” A breeze lifted the ends of her hair. “Can we check out the pond?”
“Sure.”
Side by side they squished through the grass.
“Do you come here a lot with your wife?”
Bryan almost stumbled. He had that one coming. He shouldn’t have said anything. Shouldn’t have mentioned a wife.
He might be divorced, but it didn’t mean he was single.
“No,” he said. “I can’t say I do.”
Chapter Two (#ulink_379818fe-0f6c-5e65-bec2-44d0b7d615ef)
Why hadn’t he told Jade the truth?
Bryan tossed his keys on the foyer’s rickety table in the tan bungalow he shared with Sam. Days like this he missed coming home to his older brother, Tommy. For years the two of them lived here, watching baseball, ordering pizzas and sharing the silent bond of failed marriages. But Tommy was happily married again, living two miles away in a new house near the lake with his daughter and pregnant wife.
Continuing into the kitchen, Bryan opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of iced tea. The fact Tommy had created a future for himself made Bryan want to believe it was possible for him, too.
However, Tommy had remarried his ex-wife. Bryan would never remarry Abby. For one thing, she’d gotten hitched two weeks after their divorce was final. For another, she didn’t love him. Probably never had. Their marriage had lacked substance. Didn’t make their split any less painful, though.
He padded across the worn carpeting and dropped onto the beat-up leather couch.
“Anybody home?” Dad called from the front door. After wiping his work boots on the mat, he tugged them off and took a seat in the recliner next to the couch. “How did your class go?”
“Okay.” Bryan drummed his fingers on the arm of the couch.
“Lots of folks show up?”
“Only one.”
Dad raised his eyebrows. “One, huh?”
“Yeah, and she probably won’t be back. I’m typing up fliers later. I’ll get more people next week.”
“This class is important to you, isn’t it?”
A twinge of guilt poked at his conscience. Bryan had always been close to his father. Dad had done a good job raising the five of them after Mom died. But Dale Sheffield could not keep a secret, and the last thing Bryan wanted was town gossips whispering about his plans. They’d chattered for months about Abby’s indiscretions and the subsequent divorce. He’d just as soon drive pine needles under his fingernails than have the citizens of Lake Endwell discussing his life ever again.
Sam appeared from the hallway leading to the bedrooms. He yawned, shoving his hand through rumpled hair. “Hey, Dad. Bryan.”
“You look like you need a pot of coffee,” Dad said. “Or are you sick?”
“Long night. I’m hiring an assistant manager. The new dealership took off better than I expected.” Sam plopped onto the couch next to Bryan. His black basketball shorts and faded green tee made him look more like a college student than the CEO of Sheffield Auto. Sam had opened his own dealership after Christmas, which brought the total to five across three counties. Bryan managed two and Tommy the other two. “How did your class go?”
“Only one girl showed up,” Dad said. “She might not be back.”
Sam snorted, grinning. “Way to go, Bry. You scared her off, didn’t you?”
Bryan squirmed. He hadn’t scared her off. Not in the way Sam implied.
But you lied to her.
“Don’t say that.” Dad frowned. “Bryan knows the woods better than anyone, except maybe your granddad, may he rest in peace.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Sam reached for the remote and cocked an eyebrow at Bryan. “I still don’t know why you put the course together. This whole thing is pretty random, if you ask me.”
Bryan didn’t answer. His little brother noticed too much.
“Bryan is sharing his knowledge,” Dad said. “My father would want him to. I don’t remember you ever wanting to get your feet muddy in the woods. Maybe you should take the class.”
What a horrible idea. Bryan glowered at the bottle of iced tea in his hand. He didn’t need Sam making wisecracks while he tried to teach. It was difficult enough getting the students there. He didn’t want to fight for their respect, too.
“I’m more brains than brawn.” Sam tapped his temple.
Bryan sniffed. “More mouth than anything.”
“Hey, my conversation skills made up for your silence. You barely said a word to Lily and Kayla last weekend.”
Dad cocked his head to the side. “Who are Lily and Kayla?”
Sam stretched his arms over his head and yawned again. “Paulette insisted we meet her cousin’s daughter and friend.”
“Roxanne and Paulette are as bad as Aunt Sally.” Bryan screwed the cap back on the iced tea and set the bottle on the end table.
“Worse,” Sam said. “Kayla and Lily were nice and all, but I don’t need to be set up, especially not by middle-aged meddlers at work. I can find a date on my own.” He jerked his thumb at Bryan. “Now, this one needs all the help he can get.”
“Leave me out of it.” Bryan lurched to his feet. “I don’t want help.”
“Sure you don’t. You’re a real dating machine.”
“That’s it.” Dad rose, holding his hands out. “I’m tired of you two arguing. I’ve been saying it for months—this living arrangement isn’t working out. Maybe it’s time for one of you to move.”
“No...” Bryan shut his mouth. He’d almost blurted Sam would have the place to himself if Bryan moved to Canada this summer. If he didn’t keep a tighter lid on his plans, the whole family would be lining up to talk him out of them. He already dreaded their inevitable rant about his commitment to Sheffield Auto if he got the job. “We’re fine, Dad. Just messing with each other.”
“Don’t take things too far.” Dad gave them both a long look before asking Sam who he had in mind for the assistant manager position. Bryan let out a breath.
One problem averted. What about the other?
In this tiny town, Jade would find out soon enough he wasn’t married. He should have told her the truth right away. He didn’t want her first impression of him to be a lie. It took a lot of courage for her to come today.
It wouldn’t be hard to find her. He’d call Aunt Sally.
He owed Jade the truth.
* * *
This place was quiet. Too quiet. Dusk had fallen, which meant Jade would be exposed to outside eyes as soon as she turned the lights on.
Buy curtains.
Another thing to add to her list. Not tonight, though.
Jade sank low into her navy couch. People said small towns were so cozy and great to live in, but this silence felt eerie. Where were the traffic sounds, planes flying overhead and sirens? Without having her cable hooked up, she couldn’t turn on her television for companion noise. What she did hear unnerved her. The wind made a rippling whoosh through the siding every now and then, and the relentless drip, drip of the bathroom sink matched the pulse pounding in her temples.
Would she ever be comfortable enough to call this town home?
She yawned, not bothering to cover her mouth. At least she’d made a dent in the unpacking. After her embarrassing hyperventilation session with Bryan, she’d driven back to the one-bedroom apartment above her soon-to-be store. A set of stairs outside led to the tiny kitchen with cabinets painted gray. Newer dark laminate countertops were speckled with silver flecks. In the front of the apartment was a decent-size living room complete with beige walls and tan carpet. A short hall revealed a bathroom and her bedroom—beige, of course.
She loved every square inch of it.
A knocking sound came from the kitchen. Jade shot to her feet, grabbed the empty bronze candleholder from the end table and crept through the piles of boxes in the kitchen. Another knock sounded.
Just the door. She exhaled, setting the candleholder on the counter, and opened the door a sliver.
“Hi.” Bryan loomed in the doorway. He appeared taller and his shoulders broader than when they were outside earlier. “Sorry to bother you, but I, well, I need to talk to you about something.”
Her heartbeat galloped, partly because he was even more handsome than she remembered, and also because he’d tracked her down like some sort of stalker. Had he followed her here? She remained behind the door, using it as a shield. “How did you know where I lived?”
“My aunt Sally. Sorry, I’m not a creeper. I didn’t follow you or anything. It’s just, well, nothing is a secret in this town. Aunt Sally is friends with Jules Reichert.”
“My landlord.”
“Yep.”
What did he want to talk to her about? He probably felt sorry for her. Or was asking her not to come to class because she needed professional guidance. So help her, if he handed her the card of a therapist to work through her fears, she’d rip it up in front of him. She’d tried counseling. It hadn’t worked. She would only try it again if truly desperate.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt you, but I need to clear something up. You could call it a confession.” Bryan shifted from one foot to the other.
A confession? Her spirits perked right up. Confessions didn’t involve condescending advice about her problem.
“Yeah, so earlier, I made it sound as if I’m married, but I got divorced almost five years ago.”
“Oh.” Divorced. There went his unavailable status, which was too bad, because him being single complicated things. The fact he’d found her to clear up a tiny misunderstanding said a lot about his character, though.
“Um, I—” he massaged the back of his neck “—well, it was wrong of me to mislead you.”
She prepared to give him her thanks-for-stopping-by speech, but he looked so contrite and uncomfortable on her doorstep. Sympathy overrode her good judgment.
“It’s not a big deal.” She leaned against the doorframe. She’d play it cool. Pretend she wasn’t attracted to him in the slightest. “I just want to be able to live here and drive to Target or a shopping mall, and, you know, go to one of the parks without hyperventilating.”
His lips lifted into a lopsided grin. “I could help with that.”
“I don’t know if anyone can help. I’m not exactly the ideal student.”
“Yeah, but you’re my only student. I can’t afford to be picky.” His blue eyes teased, and her tummy flipped.
“That’s true.” She nodded in mock sincerity. Why couldn’t she say goodbye and close the door? Flirting with him would get her heart in trouble the way flirting always did. When would she learn? Still, she didn’t know anyone here, and loneliness weighed heavily on her shoulders.
“Have you eaten yet?” he asked. “There’s a pizza place around the corner.”
Her stomach rumbled. Empty, silent apartment? Or pizza with all-wrong-for-her Bryan Sheffield? Before she could talk herself out of it, she nodded. “Let me grab my purse, and I’ll meet you outside.”
Less than a minute later, she joined him on the sidewalk in front of her building. No light poured from the large front window, making the store appear abandoned. The chilly air slipped under her collar. She zipped her jacket to her neck.
“This way,” Bryan said.
Jade fell in beside him. The sun had gone to sleep, and the stars blinked on one by one in the clear, ink-black sky. “I can’t remember the last time I stepped out at night and saw such bright stars.”
“Really?” He kept his hands in his pockets.
“Yeah, I grew up in a seventies ranch house in Winchester, a suburb of Las Vegas not too far from downtown. City lights hazed the sky.” A far cry from her current rural address.
“I’ve never spent much time in the city.”
“No? The air smells different here.” Jade tried to pinpoint the source. If she had to label it, she’d call it fresh.
“What does it smell like in Vegas?” His unhurried strides made it easy for her to keep pace with him.
“It depends. If you’re on the sidewalks of the Strip, you’ll smell gasoline fumes, exhaust from the line of taxis and cigarette smoke. Basically, you’ll smell cigarettes everywhere outside in Las Vegas.”
“Can’t say I’m a fan of those.”
“Me, neither. I worked for an advertising company geared to the hotels. I loathed crossing through the lobbies when I had to go on-site and not just because they reeked of cologne. The colors, noises and smells were an assault on the senses.”
“Advertising, huh?”
“Yep.” She rubbed her cold hands together. “The competitive job atmosphere wasn’t my thing. Too cutthroat.” She’d never had the heart to play politics the way her coworkers had. If they wanted an account, they did whatever it took to land it, even if it meant taking credit for someone else’s work or schmoozing people they didn’t care for.
“Did you like living in Vegas?”
Mimi’s smiling face came to mind. So many good memories. “Yes. It was home. Living in Michigan is going to be an adjustment.” She burrowed deeper into her jacket. “The main reason I loved it there was because of my grandmother. I lived with her most of my life. Poppi worked at Nellis Air Force Base, and after he died, Mimi didn’t want to move.”
“So you lived with your grandmother until now?” He didn’t sound judgmental, merely curious.
“Well, there were a few months on my own in New York City, but Mimi got stomach cancer, and I moved back in with her.”
“To take care of her.”
“Yeah. She raised me.” Those terrible final weeks with Mimi had been excruciating, yet in many ways, joyful, too. Hospice had helped Mimi die peacefully. Jade had no doubt she and Mimi would be having cozy conversations in heaven for eternity. “I hope you don’t think I did it out of duty. I loved her.”
“She passed, then?” When they reached Main Street, he turned left.
“Two months ago.”
Jade paused as Bryan opened the wooden door of a brick storefront. Light spilled onto the sidewalk from the huge window. Lake Endwell Pizza was etched in bold black letters with a traditional font. Not flashy, but good, smart branding. A little round table for two had been centered under the window, and a young couple simultaneously reached for slices, then laughed as cheese stretched from their pizza back to the metal pan.
“You coming?” He swept his hand for her to enter. She savored the aroma of oregano and garlic and enjoyed the warmth of the room. He led her to a rectangular table for four next to an exposed brick wall. Teenagers clad in black tees, jeans and white aprons joked behind the counter. Most of the tables, all wooden, were occupied. No one looked out of place here. Jeans, sweaters and hoodies ruled.
Bryan scrutinized a menu as if it held the secret to world peace. She didn’t bother picking one up. Three women in their fifties laughed at something, and Jade smiled. Their happiness was contagious.
“What toppings do you like?” He peered over the menu.
“Anything but onions. Oh, and no anchovies.”
His lips curved up, and her breath caught in her throat. What a smile. Maybe she would have been better off staying home in her empty apartment. She had a bad habit of falling for a killer smile, then being left to pick up the pieces when its owner vanished.
A scrawny teen with a pen in one hand and a slim pad of paper in the other appeared next to their table. “What can I get you?”
They ordered drinks and the Deluxe minus onions, and the kid disappeared.
She tilted her head to the side. “So is this the best pizza place in town or the only one?”
“The best.”
“Hey, Bryan.” A tall, dark-haired man waved and approached their table. Following him was a stunning young woman with long blond hair, dark skinny jeans and a baby-blue sweater that perfectly matched her cornflower eyes. They made a striking couple. The blondie kept tugging on the man’s arm, shaking her head and whispering something.
The muscle in Bryan’s cheek flickered. “Libby. Jake.”
Jade’s brain went into overdrive. Who was this mystery couple whom Bryan clearly didn’t want to see?
“Jade—” his eyes were all apology “—this is my little sister, Libby, and her husband, Jake.”
“Hi, nice to meet you.” Jade shifted and smiled.
“My pleasure.” Libby backed up a step. “We won’t keep you.”
“You don’t mind, do you?” Jake pulled out the chair next to Bryan and sat.
“We don’t want to interrupt.” Libby gave Jake a pointed glare.
“But, Libby, all the tables are full.” Jake grabbed a menu. “I’m starving.”
“Please, join us.” Jade gestured to the empty chair next to hers. Libby draped her purse over the back of it.
Bryan asked Jake about his job, but his eyes met Jade’s. Questions lurked in there, ones she couldn’t decipher.
“So, Jade, tell me all about yourself.” Libby gave Jade her full attention. She beamed with interest...and hope. Why the hope?
“What do you want to know?”
“How did you meet my brother?”
“Well, I moved here yesterday...”
“Oh! The T-shirt shop, right? You’re in Mrs. Reichert’s building around the corner. I think it’s a fantastic idea.”
Jade didn’t know how to respond. How did Libby know so much?
Bryan’s eyes glimmered with amusement as he said, “No secrets in this town.”
Apparently not. “Yes, I specialize in custom-designed shirts.”
“Embroidered?” Libby splayed hot-pink fingernails on the table. Jade couldn’t help but be charmed.
“Sometimes. Mostly I make standard screen prints, but I enjoy playing around with glitter lettering, rhinestones and shimmer decals.”
“Glitter and sparkles?” Jake snorted. “Sounds right up Libby’s alley.”
Libby’s laugh tinkled. “Exactly. You’ll have to show me some of your designs.”
“I’d love to.”
“So how did you two meet?” Libby’s lips parted slightly as she gestured to Bryan, then to Jade.
“Jade’s from Las Vegas. She’s taking my outdoor course.” The way Bryan said it discouraged additional questions. A point in Bryan’s favor. He was discreet.
“Outdoor class.” Libby made a face and stuck her tongue out. “Don’t tell me you’re a nature nut, too, Jade.”
“No.” She grinned. “I can’t say I am.”
“That’s a relief.” Libby brought her hand to her lips. “Oh, me and my big mouth. What if you were obsessed with the outdoors? My sister, Claire, is always saying I need to think before I speak.”
Jade laughed. “I wouldn’t be offended. I don’t know much about nature.”
“Well, Bryan will help you. He knows everything there is to know about trees, bugs, fishing, making a fire. He’ll go on for hours about soil and worms and how the silver undersides of leaves mean rain’s coming.” Libby turned her attention to Bryan. “I mean that in the nicest possible way.”
His jaw clenched, but he didn’t reply.
Libby continued. “Talk about uncanny. I mean, you moved here yesterday, you want to learn about nature and Bryan just happened to be teaching a class this morning. It’s as if God planned it.”
Jade did a double take. She’d thought the same, but hearing it from a stranger? She stole a peek at Bryan. He frowned as though he, too, pondered Libby’s words.
“What’s Las Vegas like?” Jake asked. “I’ve never been there.”
All the things Jade loved about it bubbled up inside. “It’s hot, loud and over-the-top. A fun place to visit. There’s so much to do—that is, if you can handle the crowds.”
“I’m not much of a crowd person.” Jake grinned.
“Tell me about it.” Libby shook her head. “That leaves you out, too, Bryan.”
Everything Libby was saying didn’t add up to the picture Jade had been painting of Bryan, the one where he was another too-good-to-be-true guy poised to let her down.
It didn’t matter. Jade was not interested.
“How many are in your family?” Jade asked Libby.
“Depends on how you define family,” Libby said. “There are five of us kids. Add Jake, Reed, Stephanie and Macy, plus Dad. And Aunt Sally and Uncle Joe, and...”
Libby listed more names, but the pizza arrived. Bryan dished out the slices. Half an hour later, Jake and Bryan paid the bill, and they all walked Jade back to her apartment.
“It’s so cute.” Libby stopped in front of the store. “If you need help with decorating or anything, call me.”
“Thanks.” Jade liked Libby already. “Do you all want to come up? It’s a disaster, but...”
“Oh, no,” Libby said. “We’ll let you settle in. It was nice to meet you.”
With his arm slung over her shoulders, Jake steered Libby in the opposite direction.
The air had grown even cooler, and Jade shivered under her coat.
“So,” she said. “I guess I’ll see you next week.”
He frowned. “You still want to come to the classes?”
“Yeah, why?” Had he changed his mind during pizza or something? If he told her he wouldn’t teach her anymore, she didn’t know what she’d do. Her backup plan was dicey and not well thought out. Sure, she could try finding another counselor, but would that cure her when past sessions had failed? She was counting on Bryan’s class. Lake Endwell was too important—the key to her dream life. She didn’t want to start over somewhere else.
“More people will be there,” he said. “You might not be ready to go into the woods.”
“Oh, right.” Her good mood disappeared. She’d assumed she’d be the only one to show up, the way she’d been today. But he was correct. If more people came, she wouldn’t be ready to hike in the woods. It might take weeks—months—for her to be prepared. An overwhelming urge to crawl into bed and duck under the covers came over her.
“What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?” The intensity in his stare made her blink twice, and her pulse quickened.
“Unpacking, why?”
“Maybe I can get you up to speed so you can continue the classes.”
He clearly didn’t know what he was up against.
A Bavarian cottage at the foot of the famed Black Forest. The last week of her summer in Germany. Those mean neighbor boys playing a trick on her.
Why had she been so trusting?
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “You don’t have to...”
“Yeah, I do. Libby was right. The timing and everything.”
“Honestly, you don’t...”
Bryan took a step closer. Her nerves twitched like Mexican jumping beans.
“Meet me at Evergreen Park around two o’clock.” He gently took her by the elbow. “I’ll walk you up.”
Jade climbed the steps to her apartment with Bryan directly behind her. Once she unlocked the door, she opened it and faced him. “Thanks for the pizza.”
He nodded. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll be there, whatever you decide.”
She slipped inside and locked the door behind her.
She’d lived here all of twenty-four hours and already teetered on the edge of the danger zone. Not that Bryan seemed interested, but still. She couldn’t help being attracted to him.
Hadn’t she promised herself to keep her priorities straight? First on the list was opening the store. Second was overcoming her fear of the woods. She had no business beyond friendship with anyone until she figured out what she’d been doing wrong in her previous relationships.
After tossing her purse on the table, she padded down the hall to her bedroom. Maybe she was overtired. She barely knew Bryan.
Libby was right. God planned the outdoor class. He was helping free her from the chains paralyzing her. Maybe Bryan had the key to unlock them.
God, what do I do? Go to the park tomorrow? Even though I think he’s really cute and seems nice and honest? Or is this a test? Are You checking to see if I was serious about not dating?
Jade fell back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. She’d sleep on it.
* * *
“I assume the move was successful.” Jade’s mother had a distinct accent. Part American, part French with a hint of German. Her rich alto voice matched her vast intelligence. “Did you hire the moving company I recommended?”
Jade had been unpacking all morning, trying to decide if meeting Bryan at the park would be smart or dumb. She propped her cell phone between her ear and shoulder. “Hello to you, too, Mom. I rented a U-Haul. I’m proud to say, I drove it here all by myself.”
Her mother didn’t answer. Jade surveyed the boxes piled high that still needed to be dealt with. Her dining table overflowed with odds and ends. Where was she supposed to put everything?
“You know how I feel about U-Hauls,” Mom finally said. “I don’t understand why you didn’t hire the company I emailed you about.”
The company had given Jade an estimate of over five thousand dollars, that was why.
“They were pricey, Mom.”
“I told you I would pay for it.”
“No, thanks.” She poked through a box and pulled out an adorable silver lamp with a paisley navy and cream shade she bought from a thrift shop. “I’m twenty-seven years old.”
“What does your age have to do with your safety? Tell me you didn’t hire a stranger to unload the truck when you got to town. He could have murdered you.”
“Actually, I did hire a stranger. I googled ‘moving companies who hire serial killers’ and requested the freakiest-looking guy they had.”
White noise didn’t cover the icy stillness. “That’s not funny, Jade Marie.”
“Just my twisted attempt at a joke.” She added Stop baiting Mom to her mental to-do list.
“I don’t approve of you taking unnecessary chances, and I’m not pleased you moved to the middle of nowhere.”
When had Mom ever approved of her decisions? “Don’t worry, when I arrived in Lake Endwell, I hired a reputable service to unload the truck. Yes, I checked their references. They did a good job. Anyway, how is Gerald? Have you two found a breakthrough on the cancer trial yet?”
“He’s fine, and negative on the breakthrough, but we’re working on a fascinating hypothesis...” Excitement colored her mother’s words. Jade’s stepfather, Gerald, and her mother worked in Lyons, France, for the World Health Organization. Both renowned cancer researchers, the two were perfect for each other. Jade’s father, on the other hand, was a celebrated heart surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, where he lived with his second wife, a board member of a nonprofit for underprivileged children.
Brilliant. All of them.
And generous.
Good people.
Sometimes Jade felt bad her exceptional parents had produced such an ordinary child. She’d brought home Bs and Cs on her report cards. Flunked math in third grade. Didn’t make varsity tennis. Didn’t win a single match. She’d chosen a nonmedical field of study. She hadn’t even graduated with honors. It was a wonder her mother still talked to her. Her father certainly didn’t.
“...the cells stopped replicating... Jade, are you listening?”
“Yes, Mom.” Jade wadded a piece of packing paper and looked for a wastebasket. She opened the cupboard under the sink. Did she own trash bags? Nope. She tossed the paper on the floor. “I hope the replicating thingy gets the results you want.”
“Not a ‘thingy.’ It’s... Never mind. The world is relying on us. Now, listen, this move of yours might not work out, and I think you should consider an alternate plan. We’ll get you settled in an apartment in Paris. Gerald’s sister’s friend works at a prestigious advertising company. It would mean working at an entry-level position in marketing, but you’d have a job. Just don’t...”
Jade held her breath. Don’t say it, Mom.
“Just don’t settle.”
Her shoulders drooped. She’d heard it a million times. At first, she thought it meant something good, that she was special and deserved more, but as she matured, Jade realized her mom actually meant, Don’t disappoint me.
Her mother sighed. “This T-shirt thing was acceptable while you were in college, but you need to think of your future. And the world’s future. We’re all in this together, you know. How will T-shirts help society? Think about it.”
“Okay, Mom. I will.” Society always ranked high on her mother’s list of priorities. “Listen, I’m practically wading in boxes. Can I let you go? I’ll never get them unpacked if I don’t.”
“Certainly.”
“Give my best to Gerald.”
“Will do. Au revoir.”
Jade pressed End on her phone and set it on the counter. She didn’t want to save the world. She just wanted to design some shirts. Was that so wrong?
Mom meant well. Truly, she did. And she had a point about helping society. Did the world need another gift shop? Probably not. But designing T-shirts all through college had been fun. More fulfilling than advertising. An entry-level job in marketing sounded awful, even if it was in Paris. And Mom and Gerald lived five hours away. Five hours or fifteen hours wouldn’t make a difference. Jade would be on her own in Paris or Lake Endwell.
Alone and lonely.
The past two months without Mimi clawed at Jade’s chest. She grabbed a framed photo of them off the floor and carried it into the living room. Using her sleeve, she swiped the dust off an end table, placing the picture on top.
Mimi, you would tell me to go to the park today. You’d encourage me to open the store. You’d tell me I’m brave. I won’t let you down.
She glanced at the clock. She had just enough time to meet Bryan.
Chapter Three (#ulink_939e67b0-376a-5929-94e2-7e3d9895268c)
“You made it.” Bryan waited for Jade as she approached the pavilion. Part of him had hoped she wouldn’t show up today. But the other part, the irrational side, had been searching the parking lot for her cherry-red compact car.
“I made it.” Jade’s pale face and jerky movements said it all.
If the forest was too much for her, Bryan could at least say he tried to help. He’d move forward with his class guilt-free. And if she did make it into the woods? She’d be one more student to add to his spreadsheet along with the hours and skills he taught each week. He’d typed and printed fliers after church this morning, and Dad and Aunt Sally promised to help distribute them to local businesses tomorrow. Next Saturday would be different. He’d have a full class. With or without Jade.
“I did some research about overcoming fears.” Bryan gestured for her to join him. She trembled beneath her puffy black vest. She’d pulled her hair back in some sort of braid. Black jeans and a pair of lace-up hiking boots completed her outfit. She looked cute. And terrified. “Have you heard of exposure therapy?”
“Yes. I’ve heard of it. One therapist wanted me to try flooding.”
“Then you’ve been through therapy? I read about flooding. Total immersion, right? That’s kind of extreme.” He pushed up the sleeves of his fleece pullover. The websites he’d skimmed last night had given him ideas how to help her, but he didn’t want to push her or accidentally make things worse. He wasn’t used to offering advice unless it had to do with an automobile. “I figured you were basically trying the exposure method by coming to my class, so you might try some gradual things I read about on a few websites.”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “Sure. I’ve read them, too. Step one, look at pictures of trees. Step two, watch a video of the forest. Step three, come to Evergreen Park.”
“See,” he said, smiling. “You’re already a quarter-way through the list.”
“Remind me again, what’s step four?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I didn’t memorize them, and I forgot the printout at home. But if you want, we’ll go to the blue path.”
She blinked rapidly, and he heard her breathing quicken.
He straightened his arms, palms out. “We’re not walking on the path. Just standing at the entrance.”
Her fingertips fluttered to her throat. “Okay.”
They strolled along the grass. The weather was still cool, and the air hinted at rain later.
“Sorry my sister barged into dinner last night. My family can come on kind of strong.”
“I like Libby,” she said softly. “She’s welcoming. And Jake seems nice.”
“Yeah, he is. He’s good for Libby. Keeps her grounded. She’s good for him, too.” Bryan glanced at her. “Are you doing okay?”
“So far.” She moved stiffly. “How many times have you taught Outdoor Survival 101?”
“None. This is my first time.”
“Really? You’re good at it. You’re patient. And knowledgeable.”
The compliment filled him, made him stand taller. Helping Jade might be beneficial to both of them. His conversation skills could use a boost. Talking about facts and figures was easy. Random chatter was beyond him.
“Tell me more about your store,” he said. “It looked empty last night.”
“It is empty. I ordered a printing machine and an engraver. I’m still researching what furniture I want to use to display everything. The rooms need a coat of paint, too. I’m excited to get started.”
“How did you get into T-shirt designing?” Bryan enjoyed the way her face brightened when she discussed the store.
“I got a part-time job at a novelty shop right after I graduated from high school. I loved working there. My boss taught me everything—all the secrets to making quality designs. It’s the only thing I’m truly good at.”
“I know the feeling. I’m good at running my car dealerships, but this—” he stretched his arm out “—I’m best outdoors.”
“I can tell.” She smiled up at him, and he gulped. He’d known he was lighting matches over dry tinder when he’d invited her today. Her easy manner and open smile made him want to offer things he shouldn’t. Last night, Libby’s crack about God’s plan had hit a nerve. The more he’d thought about it, the more he was convinced helping Jade was God’s plan. At least for today.
He pressed forward. “Almost there.”
* * *
“I don’t like this.” Jade studied the path entrance, then closed her eyes. Impressions from twenty years ago flooded her. Clutching Charlie, her stuffed puppy. Being surrounded by trees, trying to keep up with the boys, but they ran too fast, their laughter fading. Branches and leaves had scratched at her cheeks, her hair, her clothes. Which way to turn? Where was the path?
She opened her eyes again. A wide paved lane stood before her, and a light gust of wind lifted the end of her braid.
This fear was too big. She needed more than an outdoor guide. She needed shock therapy or something.
Attitude, Jade.
Mimi would say nothing was too big for God. Until Jade turned twelve, she’d prayed every night for the Lord to cure her, but the panic remained, so she figured God’s answer was no, and she’d stopped praying about it.
“Let’s stay here a minute.” Bryan’s tall, athletic presence reassured her.
“We skipped about five steps on the therapy list.”
“You’re doing good.” His fleece-covered arm brushed her sleeve.
She physically restrained herself from clinging to him and begging him to take her away from this place. Why couldn’t she be normal? All the pep talks she’d given herself over the past weeks had been pointless. Anxiety ruled her outdoor life.
He touched her hand. “Jade?”
“Oh! What? Sorry, didn’t hear you.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Oh, you didn’t.” She shook her spinning head. The ground wasn’t as firm beneath her new boots as it had been near the pavilion. The opening of the path was close. Too close. Nausea threatened.
“Maybe this is a mistake,” Bryan said. “You don’t look so great.”
She willed her lungs to accept more air than the shallow breaths they currently allowed. “Gee, thanks.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He looked up at the sky.
She didn’t need to gaze upward to see a drop cloth of gray. If the sun would come out, maybe the scene in front of her wouldn’t appear as sinister. Actually, the view didn’t match the one in her mind. The blue path cut through scattered trees, not a thick forest like in Germany, and mallards quacked overhead. Happy sounds.
“My grandfather took me here all the time when I was younger. I know every inch of these woods. You’ll never get lost with me by your side.”
She didn’t doubt him. He exuded confidence out here. Maybe if she tethered herself to him, she could take a few steps in there without breaking out in a terrified sweat.
“I miss Granddad.” Bryan crouched and picked up an acorn. “Wish I could hike with him one more time.”
“I understand.” She fought the urge to close her eyes again. “I wish I could have coffee with Mimi again. Sounds as if you and your grandfather were close.”
“We were. Mom died when I was eight. Granddad and I spent a lot of time together after her death. Dad had his hands full with the babies—Sam and Libby. My other sister, Claire, was still little, but I’m pretty sure she considered the young ones hers, so she helped Dad. My older brother, Tommy, came with Granddad and me to hike and fish, but after a couple of years it was just the two of us.”
“Why didn’t Tommy go anymore?”
Bryan grinned. “He discovered sports.”
“You’re not into sports?”
“I played some, but I liked being outside with Granddad better.”
She relaxed a fraction and squinted, attempting to see the trees in a different light.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but did something happen to frighten you?”
“You could say that.” She shoved her hands in the pockets of her vest. “It was a long time ago.”
He edged closer. His tall, solid frame comforted her for some reason. Made her want to lean in, rely on him to protect her out here.
Not smart. He’d leave her. Everyone else did.
“How long ago?” Bryan flicked the acorn into a bush.
“Oh, I was little.” Did she want to talk about this? Mimi had tried to help, but every time they neared a wooded area, Jade had grown hysterical. Eventually Mimi stopped trying and told her there were some things best left to God.
“How little?” Bryan asked. “Toddler or teenager?”
“In between. I was seven.” A nervous laugh escaped, and her shoulders tensed until they reached her ears. All alone in Germany. Mom was at work. The neighbor boys had gotten a kick out of playing a prank on her, leaving her alone, wandering. Sweat broke out on her forehead. “It’s not something I talk about.”
Understanding flashed in his eyes. “Fair enough.” He motioned for her to follow him to a park bench several feet away.
Jade perched on it, facing what looked like a Christmas tree. She loved Christmas. Not all trees were bad.
Bryan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I had nightmares after my mom died.”
She knew all about nightmares, too. “Yeah, I have bad dreams—well, one bad dream. About the forest.”
“Is it night or day?”
“Night.”
“Would it be as bad if it were daytime?” he asked.
“I think so.”
“Why?”
“It’s so dark, it doesn’t matter if it’s night or day. I’m alone. There’s no path. Everything closes in, the leaves and branches grab me.”
His serious expression assured her he didn’t think she was silly, or if he did, he was good at hiding it.
“What are you trying to do in the dream?”
“Escape. I want out of there.”
“But there’s no way out.”
“Exactly.”
“Do you run?”
“Eventually.” The branches always tore at her face and hands, and she’d fall to her knees, sobbing in terror as orange and yellow eyes multiplied. She didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “Tell me what’s so great about this place.”
Bryan took the change in subject in stride. “Spring brings Lake Endwell back to life. Next week you’ll see wildflowers popping up. Squirrels say hello when you wind through the path. Inhale and you smell it all—the earth, air, pollen—and it’s good.”
“I think I’d rather light a candle in the safety of my home.”
“Give it a chance. Beats any candle. The weather will warm up soon, and you’ll really have fun. Swimming, fishing, bonfires. This area is all about the outdoors.” He brushed something from her shoulder. She hoped it wasn’t a bug. “What did you feel when we stood in front of the path?”
What did she feel?
Overwhelmed, claustrophobic. Scared.
Several birds flew past, and in the distance she heard birds calling.
“Never mind. Your face says it all.” He stood, holding his hand out to help her up. “Will you let me take you somewhere else? Don’t worry, it’s basically a lawn with a lone tree here and there. Most of the trees are way off in the distance.”
She put her hand in his—strong, comforting—and rose. “Where is it?”
“City Park. I want to show you the lake. It’s the least-threatening place I can think of around here. It might give you a different impression of the area.”
“City Park? It still exists?” A delicious buzz spread through her chest. “Tell me it’s the same one that was here fifty years ago.”
He shot her a quizzical look. “Yeah, why?”
Could it be possible she’d find the spot she’d heard about so many times from Mimi? “My grandfather proposed to my grandmother at City Park. It’s one of the reasons I moved here.”
“Just one of the reasons, huh?” His blue eyes twinkled. “I wonder if you’ll tell me the others.”
She doubted she’d tell Bryan the other reasons she’d tucked in her heart.
A place where dreams come true. The store. Friends. Maybe a husband down the line. Babies. Definitely babies.
A thread of hope wrapped around her soul. Bryan watched a hawk flying above them. The sharp planes of his jaw displayed the determined lift of his chin.
Opening the store would be enough for now. Wanting too much too soon would be asking for trouble.
Jade waved in the direction of the parking lot. “What are we waiting for?”
* * *
Ten minutes later Bryan hopped out of his black truck, jogged to the passenger’s side and opened the door for Jade. A wide expanse of lawn dotted with picnic tables stretched before them. Branches of a weeping willow tree swept the ground, and in the distance, the lake appeared gray under the overcast sky. He hoped coming here would make her a little less tense.
He also hoped she hadn’t minded him prying earlier. Bryan usually accepted when people said they didn’t want to discuss something. After all, he didn’t volunteer to air his soiled past, but when Jade said she didn’t want to talk about whatever happened, curiosity started eating at him.
What had happened to the little seven-year-old green-eyed girl that still had the power to make her lips turn white and her lungs seize at the thought of entering the woods?
Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
“Not the best day for the lake.” He helped her down, shutting the door behind her. “It’s usually turquoise with silver shining off it. It’s still something, though, don’t you think?”
“It’s beautiful. I haven’t had time to explore the town yet.” Her cheeks glowed as she pointed. “Oh, is that the gazebo?”
“Want to see it?”
“Yes! Is it new? Or has it been here long?”
“It’s been there ever since I can remember. Even made it through the tornado two years ago. Half the town was leveled, but not this park.”
“A tornado? How awful. Were you affected?”
“Oh, it affected me.” He strolled beside her. “Libby and Jake’s wedding was scheduled for the next day, but they had to postpone it. The tornado destroyed Uncle Joe’s Restaurant where their reception was being held. My sister Claire and Jake’s brother, Reed, were trapped inside. But it turned out okay. I now have two brothers-in-law, Jake and Reed.”
“You have a big family.”
“Tell me about it.” He loved his family, but sometimes he wondered if there had been a mistake on God’s part. They were all exuberant. Nothing like him.
“I’m an only child.” They reached the gazebo, but Jade didn’t go inside. She pointed to an old, stately beech tree. “I think that’s it!”
“What’s what?”
She ran to it, bending her neck back to view the dark gray trunk where spring leaves waved from branches. Her fingers trailed the bark as she circled it. “I’m looking for a carving.”
“You might be looking for a while.” Hundreds of carvings had survived the years. He’d never marked the tree—didn’t care for permanent displays for anyone to mock—but most of his friends had.
“It’s supposed to be a heart with F plus M inside.”
He searched for hearts. “What do the letters stand for?”
“Frank and Mimi.” Her bright face popped out from behind the trunk. “He proposed to her here.”
“Mimi was her real name? I thought it was her nickname, like Grandma or Nana.” No wonder Jade beamed, touching the tree. He wanted to find the carving for her.
“Yeah, I always called her Mimi. I’m not sure why.”
He searched the lower portion. Bryan craned his neck, hoping he’d missed something. “Are you sure this is the one?”
The sparkles in Jade’s eyes disappeared as she put her chin on her fist. “I don’t know. Mimi always said it was a tall tree close to the gazebo with the lake shimmering behind them.”
This one must be it, but he didn’t see the markings. “It would have been a long time ago.”
“Maybe we’re not looking high enough.” Jade peered up.
“That’s not how it works. Trees grow upward from the tips of the branches, and the trunks thicken as they age. The carving won’t be higher.”
“Oh.” Jade’s lower lip pushed out. “I guess this isn’t it.”
A thin layer of moss on the bark caught Bryan’s eye. He brushed it away with his hand. “Check this out.”
Jade flew to his side. “Oh!” She covered her mouth, and her shining eyes met his. Whoa. Her delight was doing something to his pulse. He backed up two steps.
“That’s it,” her voice cracked. “It’s really there. You found it. Thank you.”
His chest expanded. How did she do that? Make him feel eight feet tall over something so minor?
Jade traced the faded heart, the letters, and sighed. “Dreams do come true.”
A romantic. Bryan curled his fingertips inward until the skin pinched. What dream did Jade want to come true?
The store, of course.
Maybe more. Maybe she wanted a guy to carve their initials in a tree.
Too bad he wasn’t a make-it-permanent, let-the-whole-world-see kind of guy anymore.
“I’m glad you found it,” he said, not meeting her eyes.
So he was attracted to her. Big deal. He’d been attracted to several women since Abby left, but he’d reminded himself what was at stake. Technically, God forgave him for signing the divorce papers, but how could Bryan knowingly put himself in that situation again?
He wouldn’t. He’d had his mistakes flaunted all around town when Abby’s ex arrived and made house calls to their apartment for a full week while Bryan went off to work in obliviousness.
Everyone in Lake Endwell knew she cheated on him.
Everyone knew she left Bryan for another man.
And the town busybodies talked about it for months.
Jade was taking pictures of the carvings with her phone.
She was all alone in town, afraid of the very things he considered amazing. This afternoon proved she couldn’t handle his class, but he couldn’t just leave her to wade through her problems alone.
An idea formed. One that made him queasy.
He wanted her to see Lake Endwell through his eyes.
Lord, don’t ask me to do that. It’s too big a risk.
“Bryan?” Jade asked, a gentle smile on her lips. “Thanks for taking me here.”
Uh-oh.
It might be okay. He was older, wiser, and hopefully, he’d be moving soon. He wouldn’t be around to see who snatched Jade up and carved her initials in this beech tree.
“Sure.” He rubbed the back of his neck, uncertain how to broach the subject. “Um, I don’t think you’re ready for my class.”
The light in her eyes snuffed out.
“But,” he continued, “I want to help. Why don’t we keep meeting on Sunday afternoons? We can work through the rest of those therapy steps.”
* * *
“What?” Jade scrunched her nose. Seagulls noisily landed a few yards away.
“Well, you’re new here, and I don’t want to worry about you passing out at a picnic.” His smile teased, but she couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Why would he offer that? Either he felt sorry for her or it was his way of letting her know he was interested. She’d rather have him feel sorry for her. Less complicated that way.
“What would you get out of it?” she asked. “I’m not your responsibility.”
“I don’t need to get anything out of it.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’ll be fine. I can work through those steps on my own. You’ve already done so much.”
His frown and the way he crossed his arms over his chest assured her she’d offended him, although she wasn’t sure how.
“I’ve barely done a thing.”
“Yes, you have. I’ve been in Evergreen Park twice in two days, which is twice more than I expected in such a short amount of time. And you found this.” She flourished her hand to the tree.
“Are you really going to work through the steps on your own?” He narrowed his eyes.
“I can’t ask you to give up all your free time.”
“A few hours a week?” He scoffed. “It wouldn’t be much. What’s the real issue?”
She couldn’t take him up on the offer, although it appealed to her. Her own personal outdoor expert—and a gorgeous one at that—patiently helping her get used to the woods? Who wouldn’t want it? But she’d owe him, and owing meant strings, strings she was unwilling to tie if it meant he’d cut them later.
“I don’t know. I have a lot on my plate with opening the store and everything.”
Bryan seemed to see right through her. “If I told you something, would you keep it confidential?”
She nodded, hoping it wasn’t going to make her life more difficult.
“I applied for a position in Ontario. It’s a corporate retreat, and I’d be one of their outdoor instructors. But to get an interview, I need to prove I’m experienced. The human resources director wants to see logs of my classes. Hours taught, number of students. That sort of thing.”
He was moving? Jade tried to pay attention as the information raced through her brain. She should be thrilled, but disappointment overrode her previous thoughts. His offer wasn’t out of pity or attraction. “So you basically need to write down our hours and what we do?”
“Yeah. Their hiring process starts in June. It would give us five to seven weeks. I think we could make a lot of headway in getting over your fear.”
All her reasons for declining fled. All but one. He might be moving, but the attraction she felt was very real. Could she keep it under control for a month or two?
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, wanting to say yes, knowing she should say no.
“It would help me out.”
That sealed it. In twenty-four hours, Bryan had done nothing but help her and make her feel at home. The least she could do was return the favor. “I’ll pay you.”
“You’re not paying me.”
“Why not?” She could justify the whole thing more if she paid him.
“That’s not why I asked, and frankly, I don’t need the money.”
Of course he didn’t. She wanted to think about it, to talk herself out of it, but she took a deep breath. Bryan could help her with her phobia. He had an uncanny knack for distracting her when she felt overwhelmed. She’d just have to protect her heart.
“I’ll find a way to pay you back.”
“If something comes up, you’ll be the first to know.”
Chapter Four (#ulink_277d6d3a-60cd-5cbe-8386-bc9f7df48125)
“Who was with you at the park today? Sally mentioned driving by and seeing you with a girl.”
Bryan stacked two empty pizza boxes on the kitchen counter and waved for Dad to join him in the living room. He hadn’t considered the rumor mill when he’d offered to help Jade. In small towns like this, gossip spread as quickly as dandelion seeds on a windy day.
“You? With a girl?” Sam snorted and tapped his fingertips together. “It’s about time.”
“How did you meet her?” Dad asked.
“Does Aunt Sally ever stay home?” Hoping they would drop the subject, Bryan sprawled out on the couch. The Detroit Tigers were playing tonight, and the lingering scent of Italian spices filled the air. “Shouldn’t she be watching one of those Real Housewives shows she complains about?”
“I thought she gave up on them.” Dad rocked back in the recliner, propping his feet up on the footrest. “Didn’t she switch to some show with a single guy?”
“The Bachelor?” Sam asked.
“Yeah, that’s the one.” Dad nodded. “Bryan, you going to tell us or not?”
He clearly wasn’t getting out of it. “Jade is the student I mentioned. She can’t make the Saturday morning classes, so I’m tutoring her on Sundays instead. That’s it.” If he hadn’t given Jade his word, he’d march over to her apartment and come up with an excuse to get out of spending Sundays with her. But he’d offered, and he kept his commitments. Well, all but one. The most important one. His marriage.
The doorbell rang. No one ever rang doorbells in Lake Endwell.
Dad reached the door first, and a huge beast of a dog plunged inside. A pink leash trailed the giant.
What in the world?
Lucy Bloomhall, a data-entry clerk at one of Bryan’s dealerships, followed the dog into the living room. Lucy carried a large tote bag. Her blond hair was windblown, and her face had a dazed appearance.
“Here you go, Mr. Sheffield.” She smiled at Bryan, and her gaze lingered on Sam. She blushed. “Thanks again for taking her. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d turned me down. My parents wanted to help, you know, but Mom’s allergic, plus they’re traveling to Montana in a few weeks. I couldn’t find anyone to watch Teeny for me.”
He scratched his chin, vaguely remembering telling Lucy her dog would be fine while she spent part of her final college semester studying in Spain. Something to do with art. Or architecture. He couldn’t remember, except it started with an A. She’d been frantic when she flew into his office last week, and he’d been poring over the profit and loss statements.
“Her bowls are in there, and she loves the Kong toy. You won’t have any trouble with her. Oh, I have more food in my car. I’ll bring it in.” Lucy swiveled and practically sprinted across the porch.
The dog had jumped onto the couch. Slobber dripped from her mouth to the leather cushions.
“What. Is. This?” Sam stood in the middle of the room, gesturing at the dog, at Bryan and back at the dog.
“Looks like a Saint Bernard. She’s a beauty.” Dad bent to scratch behind her ears. She licked his face. The pooch had white and brown markings with black fur around her eyes. A noise outside startled her. As she leaped off the couch, her tail caught a lamp, flipping it to the ground with a crash before she escaped out the front door.
Bryan flew after her. “Catch it!” He made it to the bottom porch step, but Lucy gripped the leash and was attempting to drag the dog back to the house. Bryan jogged to her. “Let me.”
Adoration glowed from her hazel eyes. “Thanks again. I know Teeny will be in good hands. My flight leaves tonight. Oh, before I forget—I wrote down all my contact information. It’s in my purse.”
Teeny lurched ahead, almost yanking free from Bryan’s hand. Strong dog. He didn’t want this responsibility, but—he looked at Lucy as she rummaged through her purse—could he really break her heart and make her find someone else when her flight was leaving in a few hours?
His life kept getting more complicated. And he didn’t like it. Not one bit.
She beamed, handing him the paper. Girlie handwriting. Her i’s were dotted with little circles. “If it’s not too much trouble, would you text me a picture now and then? I’m going to miss this girl.” She wrapped her arms around Teeny. When Lucy straightened, tears glistened in her eyes.
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