Chapter Eight

 

 

 

AVERY

 

If he got two minutes of sleep last night, Avery was lucky. He couldn’t bear to go back to the house and face Dina. He had heard every word of what Casey had told him. He just wasn’t ready yet.

So instead of going back to the house, he had crashed on Katie’s couch.

He hated to tell himself I told you so, but the phrase seemed so fitting. Avery had finally let his guard down and now he was paying for it. His heart hurt, if that was possible. Every time he thought of that guy, that douchey guy that showed up on the doorstep of Mountain Meadows, he wanted to punch something. He had called Dina his girlfriend. And Dina didn’t deny it.

A frog sat in the back of his throat. He choked up a bit, wondering what was going to come of his future with Dina. He wanted to believe Katie and Casey were right. That if he just manned up and spoke to her, everything would be okay. It had to be.

He really missed her. He told her he loved her. And she told him she loved him, too. Not once did he doubt that what she said was true. He could see it in her eyes, what she felt for him. It was as real as what he felt for her. They just needed to get on the same page.

To do that, they had to be in the same room.

Finally, it was time for him to pull his head out of his ass and go home…to Mountain Meadows. That home was temporary. Once he resolved this thing with Dina, he was going to tell her about his meetings with Lauren and ask her to help him pick out a house for the two of them. If he was staying in Hope Falls, he wasn’t going to stay alone. There was no way in hell he was going to sleep another night without Dina in his arms.

Well, unless he was on duty.

Avery sat up, scrubbed his hands over his face and let himself out of the house without making a peep. He had no interest in waking the bear and having her growl at him anymore. He knew what he needed to do and he was finally going to do it.

 

 

 

DINA

 

“If you think you’re going to make me wait one more minute, you’re out of your goddamned mind,” Dina shouted at her boss.

“Adina, you need to watch your tone, young lady.” The older man gritted his teeth and stared her down.

“What are you going to do? Fire me?”

When Dina arrived yesterday in the late afternoon, Mr. Marchman had refused to see her. He asked his secretary to pencil her in in the morning. She was furious. She didn’t have time to mess around. She needed to get back to Avery and try to explain what the hell had happened. Now, this jackass was trying to push back her appointment.

Dina had had enough. She wasn’t waiting any longer. They were going to talk. He was going to waive her contract, and she was going to go back to Hope Falls and live happily ever after. It was that simple.

“You’re walking a very tight rope, Adina. You need to watch yourself or you’re going to make this more difficult than it needs to be.”

There was a time when this man scared her, bullied her, but those days were long gone.

“With all due respect, Mr. Marchman, I am here to finalize my separation papers. I am going to be relocating out of the area and will no longer be able to work here. According to the fine print, I am able to get out of my contract so long as I don’t take a job at a rival firm. And I am not.”

The old man sat back in his chair and glared at her. “Adina, I need you here to finish this account. It can’t be done without you.”

“Sure it can. Tad can handle it.”

“I’m not letting you out of your contract until it’s done.”

“Then, you must know my contract does specify my work hours. If I must stay, I will refuse to work overtime. Without putting in extra hours, I imagine the project will be complete sometime around Christmas.”

“You know that’s not possible. If you don’t get it done within the timeframe specified, you’ll be—”

“Fired?” she said. She knew she had him five different ways to Sunday. She was playing hardball and bluffing a bit, but she didn’t care. She didn’t have anything to lose…but Avery. And that wasn’t an option.

“I will see to it that you don’t work in this industry again,” he said as she put the documents in front of him to sign. The lines were flagged, and she watched as he scrawled out his name in four different places, each one giving her the freedom she needed to leave the big city and never look back.

 

 

 

AVERY

 

The house was eerily quiet when he got back. He didn’t expect to see Dina when he walked in the door, or even when he went upstairs. Her car was gone. Yet, he was surprised to see something waiting for him on his pillow.

 

Avery,

I have to head back to the city to tie up loose ends at work. But, I’m coming back to Hope Falls. And to you.

I love you,

Dina

 

She left a note. He sat on the bed, holding it in his hands and smiling. She had really left a note. Why that meant so much to him, he didn’t know. He just knew that it did. It made him happy. It made him feel like she cared. It. Made. Him. Feel.

He wanted to call her, to hear her voice, but he didn’t give in to the desire. When he spoke to her again, it had to be face to face. He couldn’t have this important conversation over the phone. He wanted to be able to hold her and kiss her. And hold her. And kiss her some more.

Avery was still staring at the note when his phone rang. He fished it out of his pocket and saw that it was Casey.

“Hey, bro. What’s up?” he asked.

“I know you have some shit going on, but we’re still on for this afternoon, right?” Casey asked.

Avery groaned. He had forgotten all about it. He had wanted to surprise Dina, but now that wasn’t going to happen. He didn’t know where she was at the moment, and he had no idea when she was going to get back.

“Yeah, I guess. Where am I supposed to go?” Avery couldn’t remember what day it was much less the details of an event that he didn’t really want to do. It didn’t matter what he wanted though, or that he was a decorated hotshot firefighter. He was the new guy, so he did what he was told.

“Meet me at the high school gym.”

 

 

 

DINA

 

“Where is everyone?” Dina asked when Katie finally answered her phone. “It feels like the whole town is shut down.”

“High school gym,” Katie shouted. “I gotta run. Meet you there.”

It was a half hour walk to the gym, but Dina welcomed the fresh air. There were a lot of cars in the parking lot and a lot of women in the stands when she walked in. A. Lot. Of. Women.

She looked around, surveying the area when she caught sight of Katie and Sue Ann. The two waved her over and she tried not to step on anyone’s toes as she cut through the crowded bleachers to have a seat.

“What is all of this?” Dina asked.

“Only the best thing in Hope Falls since I perfected my pot roast,” Sue Ann said.

“It’s the annual high school booster club fundraiser,” Katie said. “It’s a hoot.”

“What exactly is it?” Dina asked. She was all for giving back, but there was a man she had to see about a thing called love.

Before they had a chance to respond, Shelby was standing on a makeshift stage holding a microphone.

“Are we having fun or what?” she yelled. “Thanks for coming back after the break.” Cheers erupted from the ladies. “Not that I thought you wouldn’t. This has quickly turned into one of Hope Falls favorite events. So, are you ready to get started again?”

More cheers. Dina looked around, still wondering what the heck was going on. The women were going crazy. You would have thought they were getting ready to see a male stripper show in Las Vegas. Not that she had any experience with that.

“This one should be interesting,” Shelby said. “He’s hot, he’s adorable, and he’s very much taken, but he’s been given the green light to take part in this event in the name of charity. Casey Palmer, get your sweet ass out here.”

What in the world? Dina thought. Casey walked out onto the stage with his messy blond hair and surfer dude look, waving to the crowd. She could see the moment his eyes met Katie’s. The two gazed at each other with bright smiles, laughing.

“Let’s start the bidding at twenty dollars,” Shelby said. “Do I have twenty dollars for this sucker so the band can get new tubas?”

Oh my. Dina was so happy she didn’t miss this. They were right. This was a hoot. Dina sat forward watching her friend, knowing this was going to be an insane amount of entertainment.

Katie raised her hand. “Fifty.”

Another woman a few rows down called out, “Seventy.”

Katie’s eyes grew wide. So did Dina’s and Shelby’s.

“A hundred bucks,” Katie shouted, her fist punching the air.

“One-fifty,” the other lady called out.

Dina stole a glance in Casey’s direction. He seemed like he was trying to smile, but it was coming off like a wince. He shrugged as his eyes grew larger.

“Five hundred,” Katie yelled.

“Sold,” Shelby yelled back. “He’s all yours. Thank you for your donation.”

“Five hundred?” Sue Ann elbowed her. “Are you crazy? You can have the cow for free.”

“It’s for a good cause.”

Dina laughed. “Yeah, her piece of mind.” This was a riot. She was sad she’d missed part of it. Next year, she thought. She would be the first one here to watch the fun.

“And now, we have Hope Falls newest and finest firefighter,” Shelby yelled. “Let’s give a warm welcome to Avery. Come on out, you stud.”

Dina’s eyes were glued to him from the moment he stepped up to the stage. He looked nervous, and shy. This wasn’t his cup of tea, she knew it. Though, she also knew he wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to give back to the community. His community. He was staying. She let out a long sigh of relief. Things were going to be okay.

“Let’s start the bidding for this hotshot at fifty dollars.”

He stood there with a blush coming over his cheeks, and his hands clasped in front of him. He looked so serious and like he wanted to laugh his ass off at the same time.

“Fifty!” someone shouted.

Avery’s head turned to the sound of the voice. And so did Dina’s.

“Seventy-five!”

“One hundred!”

“One-fifty!”

With each shout, Avery and Dina both followed the voices.

“Two hundred!”

“Three!”

“Four!”

“Five!”

“Six!”

Sue Ann elbowed Dina now. Hard. “Are you going to let these hussies steal your man? Or are you going to get him?”

“Seven!”

Sue Ann grabbed Dina’s hand and held it up. “Go!” she said.

“One thousand dollars,” Dina yelled. Avery’s stare finally met hers. There was a moment when she didn’t hear a thing. There was silence all around them. She wanted to rush the stage and grab onto him and never let go. Instead, she was rooted to her seat, staring at him with tears and hope in her eyes.

Shelby pointed to her. “Sold! Now, come get your man!”

Dina didn’t move at first. Sue Ann nudged her again and Katie yelled, “Go, Dina!”

Her eyes peeled away from Avery’s and she looked at the two woman next to her.

Katie smiled. “It’s okay. Go. Everything is going to be fine.”

There was no doubt Dina was nervous. She went over their conversation in her head the whole drive back to Hope Falls. She just never thought they’d be having it in the high school gym in front of the town’s entire female population.

The commotion continued as Shelby called up Eli for auction. Dina didn’t pay much attention though. She shuffled through the bleachers, trying to get down and get to Avery.

When she reached the bottom, he was there waiting for her.

She looked up at him, a weak smile on her face and tears puddled into her eyes. He cocked his head to the side and smiled. It was that knowing grin—the one that told her everything was going to be okay because he would always be there to catch her if she fell.

He didn’t say anything. He opened his arms, and she sank right into them. She pressed her cheek against his chest and inhaled a deep breath of air, taking in his scent and allowing it to tickle her senses. She melted into his embrace, feeling the strength of his hands on her back and waist. It was like they were the only two people who mattered.

She was back and she wasn’t going anywhere. He was staying.

They. Were. Home.