+ Excerpt +

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I'd made it a habit to drink my coffee on the small balcony of my new apartment. Ever since my house flooded, I'd had no choice but to move into Jameson's place above the garage on my family's Christmas tree farm. The one bedroom was small compared to the four-bedroom house I'd built a few years ago when I realized the odds were against me finding someone who could love me for me.

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I was grouchy on the best of days. Most women didn't stick around longer than it took me to get them off. To be fair, I probably said something that made me sound like an asshole. I couldn't help myself.

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Ever since my mother died, my life was different. I took care of my siblings, helped my grieving dad, and pursued my dream of being a cop. I protected others. That was my job.

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I heard the rumble of a vehicle traveling way too fast down the lane. Nothing else was down here except for Daphne's cottage which had been left empty since she moved in with Cole.

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I set my coffee down and hopped into my cruiser. I probably should have taken the truck, but whoever this was needed the extra authority my badge carried.

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The small, red car pulled up to the cottage. The trunk was propped open and the back seat was filled with boxes. If I was on duty, I'd give her a citation for blocking her rearview and speeding. But I wasn't on duty, and this was technically private property.

I got out of my cruiser, reaching for the gun in the holster I wasn't wearing. I felt naked as I approached the driver's side door. Whoever this was trespassed on private property. I should call it in.

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Right when I decided to go back to my cruiser and call it in, the door opened, and a woman stepped out.

“Charlotte? What are you doing here?” My voice was incredulous, the irritation climbing my spine.

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Her eyes wide, she said, “Moving in. What does it look like I'm doing?”

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“Moving in?” I glanced from her car to the cottage. “You're moving into the cottage?”

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“Uh-huh.” Her voice was amused as she moved around to the trunk and tugged on a piece of luggage. It was way too big for her and didn't budge.

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Without a thought for what I was doing, I moved to assist her. Once the hard case was on the gravel between us, I stepped back. I was supposed to be encouraging her to leave, not helping her unpack.

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Drawing myself up to my full height, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Who said you could move in?”

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“Al—” Her lips twitched.

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I couldn't see how any of this was funny. “My dad said you could move into Daphne's cottage?”

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“He said Daphne's been living with Cole for a while, and this place is sitting here empty. It was in the contract for my employment.”

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I remembered telling my dad not to include that in the contract. I used to help out more with the farm, but Dad had slowly been taking back control, and I didn't like it. It was his decision, but it meant I'd be running into Charlotte on the farm.

“I live in the apartment above the garage.”

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“That's right. I heard that your house flooded. How is everything?” Her expression morphed into concern for me.

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“Fine.”

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“Let me know if you need any help.”

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She was offering me help? What could she do to renovate my house? I had a feeling she was just one of those people who offered even if she didn't have a specific skill set. It was just who she was.

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She continued to pull luggage out of her trunk, setting it side by side on the driveway.

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I was locked in place, my mind spinning with all the things I should be doing. Telling her to leave. Putting the luggage back into the truck.

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When it was empty, she smiled at me. “Looks like we're going to be neighbors.”

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“Yeah, that's not going to work for me.” The words came out slowly measured.

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Her brow furrowed. “How so?”

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My gut tightened. I couldn't have this woman living so close to me. Her sunny demeanor drove me crazy. I couldn't understand how anyone could be so happy all the time. I was happy with my life. Content.

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I didn't need anyone stirring up trouble, and I had a feeling this woman had the power to do that. But what could I say? I don't want to live next to you. I wasn't even that much of an asshole.

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The sound of a pickup truck rambling down the lane reached us.

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“That must be Al.”

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We were the only ones living on the property at this point. She wasn't living here yet.

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Dad's truck ambled to a stop behind us, and he opened his door and stepped out. “Oh, good. You're here to help her move in.”

Charlotte moved to Dad and hugged him. “Thank you so much for letting me live here. It's absolutely delightful.”

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Seriously. Who said words like delightful?

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“We're happy to have you.”

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I ground my teeth together. There was no we about it.

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Dad nodded in the direction of the main house and barn. “I'll head back. I just wanted to make sure you were settling in okay.”

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Charlotte beamed at him. “We're working on it.”

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“Thanks for unloading her stuff for her. I appreciate it.”

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Now, I was stuck. My dad had clearly stopped by to help Charlotte unload her things. I couldn't let him do that. “No problem.”

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Charlotte rolled two suitcases to the porch. Once she was out of ear shot, I said to Dad, “I'm not happy about her living here.”

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“I figured that. But you're moving out as soon as your house is fixed.”

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That was going to be longer than I wanted.

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“And she needs a place to stay. She's been living at the inn.”

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She had been working as a receptionist at the Mathews Inn for a while. I didn't see what the problem was with letting her live in a hotel.

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“They need to rent out that room.”

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Why couldn't she find a place of her own? Why did she have to live here? And why now, when I was here too? It was like fate was fucking with me, and I didn't like it one bit.

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Dad clapped my back. “I'll make some lunch. When you're done with this—” he nodded toward the front door of the cottage where Charlotte had already slipped inside”—Stop by.”

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“Will do.”

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Dad moved toward the truck before he paused and looked over his shoulder at me. “Oh, and Teddy?”

“Yeah?”

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“Try to be nice to her. I don't know what it is about you and her, but she's a nice girl.”

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She wasn't a girl. She was all woman. I hadn't wanted to notice, but there was no getting around her curves.

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“She's had a little trouble.”

My heart picked up, my police instincts going into overdrive. “What kind of trouble?”

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Dad's forehead creased. “I'm not going to tell you things she told me in confidence. She'll be safe here.”

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She wasn't safe? My heart twisted.

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“Make sure she gets settled in.”

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“I can do that.” Now I wanted to know why she needed to hide out on Calloway property. It was a nugget of information about her that I couldn't let go.