The truck dipped and rattled as he turned onto a well-worn dirt path. Several cottages came into view off in the distance; all painted in crisp white paint with the doors each a different bold color.
“The cottages are on the property of the town’s bed and breakfast. The owners maintain the cabins and we can utilize the dining services at the main house as well. They rent these out kind of like extended stay rentals.”
“Wow, they’re adorable.”
“Wait until you see inside. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
Eric pulled the truck up to the cabin with the bright green door, my favorite shade of Kelly green, then cut the engine. He pointed at the cottage next door with the royal blue door and explained that was where he was staying. It actually comforted me to know that he was willing to give me space and was close enough if I needed him.
“Is there anyone else staying at the cabins?” I asked as he exited the truck and moved to my side.
“I think it’s just us until the weekend. The owners of the bed and breakfast say that they get a lot of tourists on the weekends, so they’ll rent them out if they aren’t occupied.”
“Hmm. . .” I thought about the fact that we’d be alone in the middle of the woods without anyone close by.
“Don’t worry, Willow. We’re safe here. The owners have security systems installed and I’ve heard a rumor that this town is one of the safest places we could be.”
Skepticism ran strong through me. I wasn’t sure how a town this small would have any safety measures comparable to Wellington University or Boston as a whole. I guess I’d be sleeping with my bottle of mace tucked under my pillow.
“Let’s get you unpacked and we can go grab some dinner at this place called Angie’s Diner. It was highly recommended for some out-of-this-world comfort food.”
I wasn’t a picky eater but diner food wasn’t at the top of my list of favorite things. I was going to have to trust Eric on this one. And I feared that I was going to have to trust him with a lot more than just my food choices.
“Oh my god, what kind of drugs did they put in this?” I asked as I took another large bite of the diner special meatloaf. It was one of the best meals I had ever had, and I had eaten at some of the most prestigious restaurants in Boston when my family wanted to indulge me.
I watched as Eric took his own hearty bite of his dinner and closed his eyes in delight. The way his face contorted in pleasure reminded me of how he looked when he orgasmed. Remembering our night for that split second sent a shiver down my spine. I was afraid to trust my instincts around Eric. My body craved him almost as much as I was going to crave this dinner in the future.
But I knew that I needed to keep my distance from him. Eric was a temptation that my heart couldn’t handle. I had my reasons and I knew that I’d need to explain them to Eric, especially since he seemed to want to spend more time with me in and out of the bedroom, but I wasn’t ready yet. I also worried that he wouldn’t understand.
The waitress, Edith, stopped by our table and refilled our drinks before asking if we were enjoying the meal. I could only nod since I had shoved my mouth full of the meaty goodness.
A few of the locals stopped by our table, inquiring if we were passing through or staying for a while. Their faces lit up when Eric clarified that he was the new owner of Golden Mountain Vineyards and Venue. It was interesting to hear the locals tell stories of the parties they had held in the past and how they were looking forward to using the larger space.
I was amazed how Eric would listen so contently to their tales and describe how we could set up the venue to suit their needs. At one point, the mayor had even stopped by our table and wanted to book the venue for the grand opening. He had plans to shut down the city and celebrate a new venture for their town.
As Eric and I left the diner, our meal compensated by the mayor, I found myself more excited to be in this small town than I had been when I started at the university with big dreams.
Casually we walked up the sidewalk, passing a hardware store and a fabric retailer. Glancing in one of the windows of a clothing store, I noticed the woman standing behind the desk holding up a beautiful ivory dress that I had seen in the latest issue of Vogue, and my eyes practically bugged out of my head. It was no other than Cassidy, the world-renowned designer.
Time ceased to exist as I stood there slack-jawed, watching one of my fashion idols restocking the racks with clothing.
“Everything okay?” Eric asked as he joined me and peered inside the window.
“I. . .I think I’m going crazy. Please tell me that isn’t Cassidy Connelly and I’m just seeing things.”
“What would happen if I couldn’t tell you that?” he replied, turning his body to face me.
“I think I’d have to find a place to settle down and move here permanently.”
Eric’s answering chuckle brought my attention away from the store window as I looked up at him in a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
“What’s so funny? I’m being serious.”
“If I knew that Cassidy’s store would be the way to your heart, I would have introduced you when we arrived.”
My body jolted back as if I had been electrocuted. The shock was that overwhelming. “What?” I managed to say.
“I met Cassidy and her husband at a charity event in New York a couple of years ago that was being held at one of my clubs. We’ve kept in touch. In fact, she’s the one that had mentioned the need for a larger venue, especially since the retirement and assisted living facility had opened. They have more young families moving to town.”
“Wow, just when you think you know a guy.”
“If I knew that meatloaf and pretty clothes were the way to your heart, I could have remedied that the night I took you home.”
I knew that he was joking, but it still stung like a slap to the face. Would he ever forgive me for leaving in the middle of the night? He didn’t know how I had woken up in a cold sweat, fear threatening to strangle me. I could feel the tell-tale signs of a panic attack brewing and that wasn’t something that I wanted this perfect man to witness. I had barely made it back to my apartment before the lights gave way and I fell headfirst into the darkness.
In one single night, he had made me feel things I had never felt before. Cherished. Treasured. Loved. It was overwhelming. My parents barely paid me any mind since my mother came into her inheritance and boyfriends had never wanted anything more than to show me off to their friends. Even Jolee, my wonderful cousin, had met the man of her dreams and had little to no time for me any longer.
Time. That was all I asked for, all that I wanted, but it was fleeting and I never expected it any longer from anyone.
“So, Ms. Ward,” Eric said, breaking me free from my internal musings. I hadn’t even realized that we had walked away from Cassidy’s store and were now standing in front of a building called Allie’s Alley. I wasn’t exactly sure how that had happened but I was thankful that I was here with Eric. If I had been in Boston, there is no saying what may have happened. “How are your bowling skills?”
“Bowling?”
“Yes. Seemed like something fun to do to welcome you to Carson.”
“I’ve, ugh, never been bowling.”