globe-trotting photographer.
She looked out the window. The ash just beyond the French doors that led to the patio was nearly leafless. Winter would be here soon. Even if their Indian summer lasted long enough for Paul’s wedding—and the post-wedding retreat Meg was planning for the cousins—Mia knew her goal of getting her house started this fall wasn’t going to happen. If Ryker’s claim was legit, the land could be tied up in the courts for years before she could build.
“Do you think the weather will hold till after your wedding?”
“I hope so. My kids are giddy about being able to go to Meg’s cabin with her and the folks.” Once Paul and Bailey named the date of their wedding, Meg had volunteered to take all four nieces and nephews to her cabin so the newlyweds could honeymoon in private. “OC says the first snow will hold off until early November. Something about the thickness of the bark on the aspens…I don’t know. But I sure as heck hope so.”
He leaned in to give her a quick peck on the cheek. “Thanks for the pearls. Gotta dash.”
November.
As she walked back to the kitchen, she replayed the first part of her conversation with her sister. They’d been talking about Ryker Bensen and Meg’s property issues.
“Is he cute?” Meg asked.
Mia pictured him doing yoga. “He’s young. Fit. Healthy. And good looking. What does that have to do with anything?”
“You have a crush on him.”
“A crush? Meg, I’m thirty-six, not fifteen.”
“Single women of a certain age are entitled to one pass…maybe two.”
Mia wondered if Meg was speaking from experience.
“A pass, huh? To have sex?”
“If that’s what you want…what you need. Maybe for you, a little lust will do. You’re under no obligation to take things beyond that first, dizzy thrill, Mia, but if you want to keep your juices flowing, then, dammit, do it.”
“Don’t swear.”
“Yes, Mother.”
They’d both cracked up and the advice giving had ended. Thank goodness. Because Mia had enough problems in her life without adding a crush—especially a juices-flowing, dizzy, lusting, thrill kind of attraction.
She was tossing the salad, getting ready to call the kids to the table when Emilee walked in from the garage. “Wash up and call your brother, please.”
A grunt. Probably the best Mia could hope for.
She watched her daughter, who, despite Mia’s momentary hesitation about becoming a mother, was more precious to her than air, trudge down the hall. The kid was breaking her heart, and Mia didn’t seem capable of doing anything right.
A crush, huh?
There’d been an attraction. Definitely two-sided. His response to her kiss proved that. But it had been so long since she dated—flirted, since she did anything the least bit naughty, she didn’t have the slightest idea how to begin.
Maybe you start by admitting you’re attracted, she thought.
And there was no denying that. She’d been thinking about Ryker Bensen all day. Not only was he gorgeous, he was living the carefree life she could only dream about. He was several years her junior. Despite the hundred or so hits his name brought up on Google, she knew practically nothing about him—except that he claimed to own her land.
Was he completely the wrong choice for a crush? Absolutely. But maybe her sister was right.
Why couldn’t I have a little fun if I keep my head about me?
And when hadn’t Mia Zabrinski kept her head about her? Only once—when she’d fallen in love with Edward. And she’d learned her lesson the hard way. She was never falling in love again.
*
Ryker set the alarm on his phone then tossed it toward his pillow before moving to all fours to arch his back in the “cat” position. His small propane heater made the tent nice and cozy; his battery-operated lantern gave off a comforting glow. But neither took the edge off Ryker’s anxiety. He’d never liked the middling time between twilight and darkness. Normally, the murky gloom
She looked out the window. The ash just beyond the French doors that led to the patio was nearly leafless. Winter would be here soon. Even if their Indian summer lasted long enough for Paul’s wedding—and the post-wedding retreat Meg was planning for the cousins—Mia knew her goal of getting her house started this fall wasn’t going to happen. If Ryker’s claim was legit, the land could be tied up in the courts for years before she could build.
“Do you think the weather will hold till after your wedding?”
“I hope so. My kids are giddy about being able to go to Meg’s cabin with her and the folks.” Once Paul and Bailey named the date of their wedding, Meg had volunteered to take all four nieces and nephews to her cabin so the newlyweds could honeymoon in private. “OC says the first snow will hold off until early November. Something about the thickness of the bark on the aspens…I don’t know. But I sure as heck hope so.”
He leaned in to give her a quick peck on the cheek. “Thanks for the pearls. Gotta dash.”
November.
As she walked back to the kitchen, she replayed the first part of her conversation with her sister. They’d been talking about Ryker Bensen and Meg’s property issues.
“Is he cute?” Meg asked.
Mia pictured him doing yoga. “He’s young. Fit. Healthy. And good looking. What does that have to do with anything?”
“You have a crush on him.”
“A crush? Meg, I’m thirty-six, not fifteen.”
“Single women of a certain age are entitled to one pass…maybe two.”
Mia wondered if Meg was speaking from experience.
“A pass, huh? To have sex?”
“If that’s what you want…what you need. Maybe for you, a little lust will do. You’re under no obligation to take things beyond that first, dizzy thrill, Mia, but if you want to keep your juices flowing, then, dammit, do it.”
“Don’t swear.”
“Yes, Mother.”
They’d both cracked up and the advice giving had ended. Thank goodness. Because Mia had enough problems in her life without adding a crush—especially a juices-flowing, dizzy, lusting, thrill kind of attraction.
She was tossing the salad, getting ready to call the kids to the table when Emilee walked in from the garage. “Wash up and call your brother, please.”
A grunt. Probably the best Mia could hope for.
She watched her daughter, who, despite Mia’s momentary hesitation about becoming a mother, was more precious to her than air, trudge down the hall. The kid was breaking her heart, and Mia didn’t seem capable of doing anything right.
A crush, huh?
There’d been an attraction. Definitely two-sided. His response to her kiss proved that. But it had been so long since she dated—flirted, since she did anything the least bit naughty, she didn’t have the slightest idea how to begin.
Maybe you start by admitting you’re attracted, she thought.
And there was no denying that. She’d been thinking about Ryker Bensen all day. Not only was he gorgeous, he was living the carefree life she could only dream about. He was several years her junior. Despite the hundred or so hits his name brought up on Google, she knew practically nothing about him—except that he claimed to own her land.
Was he completely the wrong choice for a crush? Absolutely. But maybe her sister was right.
Why couldn’t I have a little fun if I keep my head about me?
And when hadn’t Mia Zabrinski kept her head about her? Only once—when she’d fallen in love with Edward. And she’d learned her lesson the hard way. She was never falling in love again.
*
Ryker set the alarm on his phone then tossed it toward his pillow before moving to all fours to arch his back in the “cat” position. His small propane heater made the tent nice and cozy; his battery-operated lantern gave off a comforting glow. But neither took the edge off Ryker’s anxiety. He’d never liked the middling time between twilight and darkness. Normally, the murky gloom
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