Lacey

THE GUEST COTTAGE NEEDED some serious work. Every piece of furniture had been covered in sheets to stop the dust, but it had managed to seep through anyway. I wasn’t accustomed to cleaning; despite not having the time in my old life, I also didn’t have the inclination. My working hours were ridiculous and so Bryan and I hired a cleaner who kept the place clean and tidy. She collected our dry cleaning and did our laundry. I looked around this guest house or a better description would be wooden shack, and I knew I needed to hire someone. There was no way I could stay in this hovel.

It was a one bedroomed, one story wooden home with a living area and a very basic kitchen and bathroom. The furniture had seen way better days, and the bed looked like it had been present since the prohibition era. I sighed and set down my luggage, pulling my cell from my purse to call Jessa. I noticed a message from Bryan and my heart sank. What the hell did he want?

Bryan: We need to talk, I heard you left the city? What the hell Lace?

Lace? He didn’t get to give me cutesy names any more, in fact he didn’t get to message me full stop, that’s what our lawyers were for. Bryan was always so nice, so lovely, a great guy or so people always used to say to me, ‘You’re so lucky, he loves you so much’. Yeah, he had loved me, he had let me get away with murder and backed up all my decisions on what color sofa we would order or what vacation we would take and when. If I went out with the girls seven nights of the week he would shout, ‘have fun’, never ‘be good’ or ‘what about me?’ Bryan was too nice and I was too busy to realize that I needed more. Things were fine when we first separated but now they were sour he needed to leave me the hell alone.

I called Jessa, too scared to sit anywhere in the dusty shack, especially since I was wearing my white, Gucci Capri pants. “Hey,” she answered after a couple of rings.

“I can’t stay here,” I rushed out.

“I have no idea why you headed there in the first place,” she chuckled, “a farm? Lacey, really? The last time you saw dirt was planting that time capsule at high school graduation.”

I sighed, “this place is like a fucking timewarp, where the time is turn of the last century and the warp is that I’m poor.”

She laughed again, “You do know we’re just kids from Wisconsin right, not part of the British royal family?”

“I need a stiff drink, I’m not sure I can sleep here.”

“Where the hell are you? Surely there’s a Hilton or a Howard Johnson you can check into?”

“This town is tiddly,” I squeaked, “I haven’t even seen the town yet, big mistake. I came straight to the farm and the guest house I was promised is more a hell hole.”

“God, Lace, you can’t just take things slow? You had to high tail it from the city before you even had a real plan.” I heard the clunking of something in the background and knew she was doing some jobs whilst talking me through my latest bad decision. 

“I needed out: my marriage is broken, my boss is a pervert and I hate every person in New York, it's official.”

“Are you overreacting?” I heard the humor in her voice.

“No,” I pouted.

“A pervert?” she questioned, “I thought you had an argument?”

“He grabbed my ass and offered to bang me,” I tutted, “so I lost it.”

“You love when people offer to do you,” she laughed, “please.”

“Well not some middle-aged workaholic with body odor issues,” I whined, “anyway quit digressing and listen to my real problem here. This place is horrendous, and I need a Jacuzzi bath, white towels and crisp, white sheets.”

“Google the nearest five-star and get back on the highway,” she added helpfully, “or just get on a plane and come here. We have a plush guest room.”

“Yeah and two pesky kids who never sleep.”

She sighed, “stop hating on my kids. You’re Monty’s Godmother, if I die you get him.”

I laughed lightly, “don’t die for fuck's sake.”

“Is it really that bad?” she asked seriously.

“Yes,” I hissed, “I need a drink and then it might not be.”

“Go investigate the town and call me back,” I heard a wail and knew our time was up as Mom duties called.

“Okay, love you, J.”

“Love you too, stay safe crazy lady.”

“I will.” Shutting off the cell I looked around one more time to make sure it was as bad as I initially thought. I moved to the bedroom and pulled back the dust sheets to reveal an unmade bed. There were no sheets and surely that was an oversight? I decided to go drive into town and see what was there and also drop by the big house and ask for some linen.

I locked up the cottage, leaving my suitcase inside, which with all its contents was probably worth more than the wooden building. Then I climbed back into the rental and drove back through the dirt road to the farm.  The black truck was gone, but I pulled up anyway and tentatively walked to the front door to knock. I didn’t get a great welcome the last time and therefore didn’t expect the red-carpet treatment but it seemed no one was home. I looked through the window to confirm there were no live bodies wandering around and then gave up to drive into Celebration Falls. Maybe there would be a Bed, Bath and Beyond or at least a Target. A girl could dream.

I climbed back into my SUV and drove out of the farm and followed the signs for ‘Celebration Falls’, I was sure the place was going to be nowhere near as exciting as it sounded. What the hell had I done? It was a knee jerk decision to check out my investment and now here I was about to sleep in filth and driving through barely tarmacked roads where buildings could not be seen for miles. The natives had proved to be hostile so far and I could do with a Bellini to take the edge off.

 I followed the road, flanked by what I assumed were my fields, lush with high, yellow crops. After almost ten minutes I rolled into civilization. I passed a crossroads where there were roads of dwellings each side and stumbled across what I assumed must have been the town. There were signs leading to Main Street and in no time at all I turned into a wide concrete street, with parallel parking either side and typical red bricked properties filling each side of the street. The beauty of nearby mountains was visible behind civilization and I took a moment to appreciate the serenity of the setting. I couldn’t see any large department stores and sighed at the realization that I was dealing with small town shops and I very much doubted they had what I needed.

I climbed down from the SUV and my eyes roamed up each side of the street looking for something that resembled a store. The place was quiet, beautiful in a remote sort of way, but quiet all the same. I saw what I thought was a bank, a coffee shop that advertised food, a diner, a number of other shops and just a few doors down I saw the words General Store.

“You lost?” I heard a deep voice rumble behind me and turned to see a big guy stepping towards me from a red truck that had parked next to me.

“No,” I smiled, my eyes glanced over him from under my shades and I noticed blue overalls tied at the waist around a grey t-shirt that showcased his toned body and on the tee were smatterings of grease. He was clearly a mechanic and a hot as hell one at that. My mouth turned into a wolfish grin and I held back licking my lips. He was edible. He had strong forearms that he crossed as he walked towards me, which made his biceps bulge and when I managed to move my eyes away from his body up to his face, he smiled as I was caught ogling, without my sunglasses to hide my eyes. This dude was on fire. He had a grin that cut dimples into his clean shaven cheeks; short, buzzed hair; and bright, blue eyes that popped, framed by the longest eyelashes I had ever seen on a man. God, he was to die for and judging by the smile, he knew it.

“You look lost, took a wrong turn on your way to Barney’s?” he teased and I grinned, shaking my head and moistening my lower lip with my tongue. Usually cheek from a guy would irritate me but it was good to get some male attention after the disaster this trip had become.

“That’s pretty sexist,” I popped my hip out and placed my hand on it, “assuming that all women do is shop.”

“Well, are you looking for a store?” he stopped a little way in front of me and I had to lean back to look up into his face. I was short, five foot four on a great day and so heels made me feel normal sized but in my sliders this guy towered over me. He looked older up close, maybe in his thirties but his sunkissed skin made him look distinguished.

I sighed, “Fine. I need a store that sells cleaning products, towels, bedding and preferably can help me hire a decorator.”

“Wow,” he threw his head back and laughed.“Grayson,” he thrust his meaty hand out for a shake, “Grayson Tyrer, my family own the garage a town over in Clyde Creek. We live in Celebration.” He nodded and awaited my greeting. I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth cutely and took his outstretched hand finally. Yeah I knew how to look cute.

“Lacey Davenport,” I told him and he nodded his head.

“So, Lacey,” he let go of my hand and openly checked me out with another sly grin. “Can I escort you to the general store? Then we can pick out cleaning products and you can see the limited supply of towels whilst you tell me what brings you to town.”

I laughed, “point me to the store, and you don’t get my life story with a handshake and a cheeky grin.” I told him, holding back a smile by biting my lip.

“I see,” he nodded and rubbed the back of his neck, “well how about I take you to the store and you can give me the full story over a coffee?” He nodded to the coffee shop over the street and I glanced at it too.

“I need to get back to get cleaned up,” I told him. It was true and although he was hot as hell and the closest person to normal I had met in the couple of hours I had been there, I needed to rein in the flirting. I could easily go for coffee with this guy and be in the back of his truck by sundown but in a small town reputation was everything. The city was different, you never saw the guys that you used for pleasure again. I had a feeling that Celebration Falls wasn't as anonymous an existence. So he’d have to work harder for it.

“One coffee?” he pushed, his deep voice rumbling over me and causing my stomach to flip with excitement.

“Fine,” I nodded, “if we get everything I need from the store, one coffee, or else I’ll need directions to the nearest superstore.” I told him.

“An hour East,” he shrugged. “I’d wait until tomorrow.”

The day was drawing in. I’d been travelling since the early hours and I needed a shower like I needed my next breath. The next day was Saturday and maybe the store would have enough to tide me over until I could order more suitable stuff online. “Sure,” I relented. “Show me to the store, Grayson.” I grinned, and he nodded with a smirk.

“Let’s go.” He put his arm out for me to link and I pushed it away with a giggle. This guy had me behaving like a goddamn teenager.

 

I left the general store with the business card of a local decorator, some towels, cleaning products, but no bed sheets. I did however manage to purchase a sleeping bag. My new friend Grayson propped up the counter talking to Mrs. Newcastle who enquired why I was in town and what it was I needed the supplies for, of course it was to help her source the best products not that everyone in this town was nosy. I had no time for nosy busybodies who wanted to know my business, also I wanted to keep my hot new friend in suspense.

I grew up in a town where everyone knew my business and would call my mom, Janet, if I so much as farted loudly in public. My parents still lived in Richmore, Wisconsin, where everyone nodded hello in the street and you knew most people your age because at some point you were at high school together. My brother Ethan hadn’t gone to college and so never left. 

These people weren’t to know that I hated small town gossip and nosy old goats, so I just smiled and purchased my items.

“So, the coffee?” Grayson asked as we walked back to our parking spaces. People passed us in the street and said hello to Grayson, who answered politely.

“No, I better get back,” I smiled apologetically. “I mean you surely have something to do or why else were you in town?” I pushed the key fob to open my rental and threw the two bags in the back; Grayson then followed with the sleeping bag he carried.  

“I came in for coffee,” he leaned a little way into me and a smile that probably charmed ninety–nine percent of women around him, the remaining one percent being gay or blind, flashed across his face. “I’m guessing you need to eat because if you don’t have sheets, towels or cleaning products then food is probably out too.”

Damn, he was right, I needed to eat, and I hadn’t even bought supplies at nosy old Mrs. Newcastle’s store. “You got me,” I grinned. “Any recommendations?”

“Sure,” he stepped back, and I shut the car door. “Let’s hit the diner. Friday night is pizza special night.”

“Does this body look like it’s allowed carbs?” I said, with my hand firmly planted on my hips.

He darted his tongue out over his pink bottom lip, “Don’t worry girl, they got plenty of meat on the menu.”

I shook my head and laughed, “Come on then, cowboy, let’s go.”

“After a week in this town, you’ll realize I ain’t no cowboy,” he said as we looked both ways to cross the street, slicing between non-existent traffic.

“I thought all you mountain men had horses and wore Stetsons?” I teased.

“You need to watch less Westerns,” he said as we walked to the diner across the street that was simply called Glenn’s.

“Oh, I get my information from Google not the movies,” I smirked.

“Ah,” he nodded as he held the door open for me, “you should try movies, they are very informative, I mean who you gonna call?”

“Excuse me?” I wrinkled my forehead in confusion, and I tried my best never to do that as premature wrinkles were not in my future.

“Ghostbusters?” he laughed and sighed at my lack of knowledge of old ass films.

Just then we were greeted by a young, slender girl with braids and a tired look on her face. “Hey, Grayson,” she said less than enthusiastically. “Any preference on table?” Her voice was monotone, and her black t-shirt read Killing It in white writing.

“A booth thanks, Ella.” She nodded, grabbed two menus and led us to a window seat.

“Pizza special,” she said, not bothering to utter any more detail.

“Ella?” I heard someone shout from the kitchen and she walked off slowly with a sigh.

“The owner’s daughter,” Grayson said by way of explanation, “I think she’s praying for college to come already.”

I nodded with a smile and opened my menu. Just then the door dinged again, and I looked up to see the cold eyes from earlier in the day.  I hadn’t noticed before how soulful they were; green, yet light in color and very penetrating when pointed at you. Alex Miller did not acknowledge me. I opened my mouth to say hello but thought better of it.

“Hi, Alex,” the surly girl stated but with cheer in her voice that was lacking a second ago, breaking Alex’s glare at me as he concentrated on her, “hey, Logan,” she nodded to a small boy who stood to Alex’s mid-chest, “you want a candy?” She passed the bowl of candy that was sitting on the nearby counter down for Logan to help himself.

“Hey Ella, we dialed an order in.” He said quickly, not looking back over at where I sat.

“Sure thing, I’ll go check it, won’t be a sec.” She disappeared off into the kitchen, the diner was half full and so the light chatter around the large area meant I couldn’t hear what Alex and the little guy were discussing but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. I had no idea what it was about Alex that made me stare, his expression was impassive and although his eyes darted to me from time to time, he had turned so he mostly couldn’t see me. I wondered what the hell made him so hostile and why he was ignoring me after only seeing me an hour or so earlier and knowing I was his landlord. He was rude and clearly retarded in some way. Either that or manners were not passed down through the generations in these parts.

“You okay?” Grayson asked, looking around to see who I saw. “You know Alex Miller?” he asked, turning back to me.

“No,” I shook my head and looked back to the menu.

“Now there’s a cowboy,” he sighed. “Grade A loser and all-round farmhand.” He pursed his lips, “if you don’t want to stink of horse and hay then I’d stay well away.”

“Right,” I nodded and then stole one last glance upwards to see Ella hand a few pizza boxes to Alex who took them and said his goodbyes.

“Who you need to show you around is a real man!” Grayson grinned.

“Is that right?” I sat back in my chair and smiled, watching this guy try his best to charm me. “Well when you see one can you give him my number?” I added wryly.