Green Mountain Collection 1 by Marie Force (11)

Cameron tried to remain calm, but between the ice and the guardrail and that incendiary kiss, she was anything but calm.

After what seemed like an interminable slide, they landed with a hard smack against the guardrail.

Cameron had never been so grateful for a piece of metal in her life. She took a quick look out her window and just as quickly looked away when her stomach turned at the view of the sheer drop inches to her right.

“At least you’ll never forget our first kiss,” Will said cheerfully, as if it was no big deal to have nearly slid off the road.

“I think it’s safe to say I would’ve remembered it without the near-death experience thrown in.”

“Yeah?” he asked, full of masculine pride.

“Stop gloating and get us out of here.”

“Take it easy, sweetheart. You’re nowhere near death.”

There was that endearment again, setting off a tsunami inside her when it came from him. “Your view is clearly not the same as mine.”

“Stay calm. I’ve got this.” He reached for her hand, but she pushed him back.

“Two hands on the wheel this time. How did we even end up down here?”

“You distracted me, and my foot slipped off the brake.”

“I distracted you?”

“That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”

The truck lurched forward, and Cameron grabbed hold of the door and the seat, as if that would do any good if the guardrail gave way. “How long can the guardrail hold the weight of this big truck?”

“We’ll be long gone before the guardrail gets tired.”

While his assurances were somewhat comforting, she wanted out of there immediately. She startled when a hulking figure appeared at the driver’s side window.

Will opened it. “What, Colton?” he asked in a testy tone.

Colton’s lazy grin unfolded slowly across his face. “Got yourself into a bit of a pickle, bro?”

“Nope.”

“Yes!” Cameron said. “We’re definitely in a pickle.”

Will scowled at the apparent affront to his manhood. “I told you I’ve got this.”

“And yet we’re still clinging to the road by a thread!”

“I heard the crunch of metal up at the house and figured I ought to investigate.”

“You can go back up,” Will said. “We’re fine.”

“Would you mind terribly if I got out until we’re actually fine?” Cameron asked, making Colton snicker.

“And here I thought you were starting to care about me,” Will said. “You’d really leave me all alone to face the elements?”

What was she supposed to say to that? He looked absolutely crushed. “I … um …”

“How about I give you a push and get you out of here?” Colton said.

“Yes,” Cameron said at the same second Will said, “No.”

They engaged in a glaring standoff.

“That’s fine.” Colton crossed his arms over his broad chest. “I’ve got all day to stand here and freeze my agates off while you two fight it out.”

“Fine,” Will said, breaking the stare-off. “Give us a push, but for the record, I could’ve gotten us out of here without your help.”

“Whatever you say, pal,” Colton muttered as he walked away.

When his brother was positioned behind the truck, Will shifted into drive and turned the wheel hard to the left.

Cameron continued to cling to anything that seemed solid as the truck began to inch forward in small increments. It was all she could do not to shriek from the sheer terror that beat through her as she imagined all sorts of unhappy outcomes from this situation.

“Take it easy,” Will said softy. “We’re almost there.”

Just as the words left his lips, the truck lunged forward and back onto the road. Will glanced in the mirror and gave his brother the finger.

Cameron expelled the deep breath she’d been holding as relief coursed through her.

“See?” he said, reaching for her hand again. “It’s fine.”

She realized her hands were trembling as she wrapped them around his much warmer one.

“Sorry to scare you.”

“It’s okay.”

“Do you think we could maybe pick up where we left off later?”

“Maybe,” she said, forcing herself to relax and breathe normally as they moved slowly down the icy hill.

“I’ll be looking forward to later all day.”

His comment put her back on the edge, teetering precariously. Every minute she spent with him sent her deeper into the ravine where all the reasons why her growing feelings for him were a bad idea waited like jagged rocks poking up from the ground.

The fact that they had nothing at all in common was a sign of impending trouble she needed to pay attention to. What good would it do her to get all caught up in him while she was working on the project only to have to go back to her real life when it was done? She rubbed at her lips, which continued to tingle from The Kiss, as it was now known.

She ought to take a big step back from what was happening between them. Over the next few months, she’d more than have her hands full with the website. That was enough of a challenge without adding romantic stress to the mix. Yes, she would take a step back out of self-preservation. That was the best course of action.

So what if everything about him appealed to her? Finding him appealing didn’t mean she had to act on it, did it? Of course not. She could maintain her professional demeanor and keep their relationship confined to business. And then when it was time to wrap up the job and go home, she would leave with no emotional baggage to drag home with her.

“I can hear you thinking over there.” When he turned his hand so it was palm-to-palm with hers, she realized she was still clutching his hand.

She withdrew her hand.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as he turned the truck onto the main road to head back toward town.

“Nothing.”

“I’m really sorry about what happened back there. I can’t believe my foot slipped off the brake. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s okay.”

“You don’t sound okay.”

“How do I sound?”

“Sad.”

“I … I’m not sad.”

He surprised her when he pulled the truck to the side of the road, shifted into park and turned to her. “What is it?”

She shook her head.

“Did I screw up by kissing you?”

“What? No. It was … It was fine.”

He grimaced “Fine. Yikes. Not exactly a glowing review.”

“It was a really good kiss, Will. Really, really good.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“This isn’t the best idea.”

“What isn’t?”

“You. Me. Us.”

“That kiss felt like a pretty good idea,” he said with a charming, cajoling smile that had the same effect on her as his smiles always did. “Tell me what you’re thinking. I’d really like to know.”

“I like you. I wasn’t expecting to like you.”

“We have that in common.”

“You didn’t know I was coming.”

“My father had pitched you and your company to us. I’ve heard stories all my life about his friend Patrick Murphy, the classmate from Yale who’d gone on to be a self-made billionaire. Now his daughter was interested in coming up to build a website for our local-yokel country store. I had a few ideas in my mind about what Patrick Murphy’s daughter might be like.”

“I’m sure I confirmed all your preconceived notions with my auspicious arrival in town.”

“Something like that. But then I got to know you a little bit, and I quickly discovered I was totally wrong about what Patrick Murphy’s daughter might be like. She’s much, much more than I expected her to be.”

“I’m not sure how I should take that.”

“I mean it as a compliment. Yesterday morning, when we were in the store, that’s when I realized you were nothing like what I expected. You were genuinely interested in the place.”

“I am genuinely interested. In the store. And …”

“And?”

She forced herself to look at him. “And you. I’m interested in you, but it doesn’t seem like a good idea to ‘indulge’ in this when I’m only here for a short time.” Looking down now at her entwined fingers, she forced herself to tell him the rest. “I have this awful habit of going off the deep end over guys, and when it ends …”

“What happens when it ends?”

“I discover I haven’t seen the deep end yet.”

“Cam—”

“This has disaster written all over it. All I can see is the end, and the view is ugly.”

“What if it doesn’t end?”

Cameron laughed even though she knew his question was sincere. “It always ends, Will. You have a life here that you love. I have a life I love in New York. It’s a recipe for disaster.”

“Or,” he said, taking off his seat belt and leaning across the center console, “it could be a recipe for something that actually works out—for both of us.”

She shook her head, but his fingers on her chin stopped the movement.

“For the first time since Lisa left me, I want to take a chance again.”

“I can’t,” she whispered, acutely aware of his touch on her face. “I can’t.”

“Nothing is impossible.”

“This is. You’re not about to move to the city. I’m not about to move here. So what’s the point?”

“The point is I want to take a chance. That’s very big news in my world.”

“I’m happy for you. You definitely deserve to be happy.”

“Cameron,” he said, laughing softly, “I want to take a chance because I met you. Not because I suddenly woke up the other day and decided it was time to get on with my life. It’s because of you.”

“I’ll fall for you,” she said warily. “It’s what I do.”

“I’d be honored if you fell for me.”

“And what happens when I have to leave?”

“Couldn’t we cross that covered bridge when we get to it?”

“No. No, we can’t. Let me tell you how that goes.” She turned her face away from his fingers and spun around in the seat to face him. “Say I spend every spare minute of the next few weeks getting to know you. Say this whole thing goes way beyond kissing in your truck.”

“I’d be all for that.”

“Stop and listen.”

“I’m listening,” he said, but his lips curved into a smile that earned him a scowl from her.

“My business, my friends, my life is in New York. Nolan will fix my car, and I’ll cry all the way home because I have to leave you here. I’ll cry for days after I get back. I won’t be able to eat or sleep or work because I’ll be too busy crying and missing you and feeling like I’m going to die because it’s over. I’ll cry until my friends stage an intervention and force me back into my life, but I’ll still cry when they aren’t around. I’ll cry myself to sleep for months. I won’t take any joy out of anything. I’ll lose weight because I don’t feel like eating. And then … one day … it’ll occur to me that it’s really over, and the crying will start up all over again.”

His thumb brushed a tear that she didn’t even know was there from her cheek. “How many times has that happened?”

“Three times too many. So do you see why I just can’t do this? Do you see why—”

He kissed her again, ignoring her mewl of protest, probably because it quickly morphed into a moan of encouragement. “If you fall in love with me, Cameron Murphy, I’ll never let you go.”

Crying in earnest now, she shook her head. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“I’m thirty-three years old. I’ve spent ten years mourning the one woman I loved who didn’t deserve my love. You crashed into my life two days ago, and it’s like those ten years never happened. Please don’t make me spend the next ten years wishing you’d given me a chance.”

“You’re not being fair.”

“If you fall in love with me, I’ll never let you go.”

“Stop saying that. You can’t possibly mean—”

Damn him and those incredible lips! He tipped his head to change the angle as his tongue teased and cajoled until she had no choice but to participate. “Yes, I do,” he whispered. “Kiss me back.”

She fisted his hair and felt her resistance drain like sand through an hourglass as he kissed her from every possible angle within the tight confines of the cab.

Minutes or maybe hours passed before he pulled back and stared at her, looking as stunned as she felt.

“You’ve only known me for two days,” she reminded him.

“And yet I want to take a chance again.” He watched her expectantly. “I want to take a chance with you. I want to find out what this is and where it could take us.”

Did he have any idea how badly she wanted to know, too? “I’m not going to fall for you.”

“Okay.”

Something about the way he said that set her nerves on edge. “I’m not.”

“Okay.”

Flashing a smug version of his sexy smile, he settled into the driver’s seat, refastened his seat belt and pulled onto the road, humming a jaunty tune as he drove.

How could he be jaunty after the conversation they’d just had? How could he be jaunty when her every nerve ending felt like it was on fire?

By the time they drove into town he was whistling, and she was fuming. He was in a grand old mood after a couple of kisses while she was in full-blown panic mode. She’d promised Lucy she wouldn’t do exactly what she was doing. Kissing him had been a huge mistake. A mistake of such epic proportions the word had not yet been invented to describe a mistake that big.

But it wasn’t as if he’d asked her first or anything. One minute they’d been sledding down the icy hill, the next he was kissing her face off. She wasn’t the one who’d changed the dynamic of their relationship or whatever this was.

“I can hear you thinking again,” he said. “Any second there’s going to be smoke coming out of your ears.”

“That ought to look great with the bruises.”

“Don’t think so hard. It’s not all that complicated.”

“Right,” she said with a disdainful snort. “It’s not complicated at all. Nothing about this has the potential to be complicated or messy or anything but sunshine and daffodils and rainbows.”

She hated that he laughed when she was serious, but more she hated how sexy the laughter was on him. Hell, she might as well admit that a mullet would be sexy on him.

After a few twists and turns, he brought the truck to a stop outside a stately Victorian home that was painted in shades of blue and gray. “What a beautiful house,” Cameron said, relieved to have something to focus on besides him and what might—or might not—be happening between them.

“Isn’t it? Hannah keeps it in tip-top shape.”

“She lives here alone?”

“She does now,” he said with a sigh. “Her husband, Caleb, was killed in Iraq almost seven years ago. His grandmother left the house to him, and he left it to her.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that he died.”

“It was a tough time for all of us.” Cameron had never seen him look so sad. “He was my very good friend—and Hunter’s. He was like an extra Abbott brother, especially after he and Hannah got married.”

“Is she … Is she doing okay?”

“To be honest, I don’t know. On the surface, she seems to be getting by, but underneath it all … No one really knows.”

“Do you want to talk to her without me? I’d be fine waiting here.”

“No, I want you to meet her. Come on.”

He joined her on the sidewalk and placed a proprietary hand on her lower back.

Cameron wanted to tell him not to do that, but she couldn’t think of a way to say it without sounding rude. And then she slipped on a patch of ice on the sidewalk, and his strong arms around her prevented a nasty fall.

“Thanks,” she said.

“My pleasure.”

Even though he couldn’t see her face, she rolled her eyes. He was not going to make it easy to remember that she didn’t want to fall for him.

At the front door, she stepped aside to let him take the lead.

He let the brass knocker fall once and walked right in. “Where are you?” he called.

“Back here.”

Cameron followed his lead and stepped out of her boots inside the door.

They found his sister in the sunny kitchen, enjoying a cup of coffee and the morning paper.

“This is a nice surprise,” she said, raising her cheek for her brother’s kiss.

“I wanted you to meet Cameron Murphy. She’s here from New York to build the website for the store. Cameron, my sister Hannah Guthrie.”

Hannah stood to shake hands with Cameron. With her dark hair and eyes, Cameron could see her obvious resemblance to Hunter. “Nice to meet the girl who tried to take out Fred.” This was said in a teasing tone and accompanied by a warm, friendly smile.

Cameron liked her instantly. “I believe it was quite the other way around.”

“Your word against his,” Hannah quipped. “Coffee?”

“I wouldn’t say no to that,” Will said. “Cam?”

“Sure, that sounds good.”

“Not working today?” Hannah asked her brother as she fired up the Keurig.

“I’ve been up to check on Colton, and he gave Cameron the five-cent tour. After this, we’re heading back to the office.”

“How is our brother the recluse?”

“Happily reclusive as always. You know how he loves this time of year.”

“He lives for sugaring season,” Hannah said for Cameron’s benefit.

“It’s so funny how that’s such a big part of your lives up here.” Cameron accepted a steaming mug from Hannah, who placed a creamer and sugar bowl on the table with spoons. “Until I did some preliminary research for the website, I’d never given a thought to where maple syrup comes from.”

“She’d only had grocery-store crap until today,” Will said.

Hannah wrinkled her nose and joined them at the table. “That stuff is gross.”

“That’s what I always thought, too,” Cameron said, stirring cream into the rich-smelling coffee.

“So now you’re a convert?”

“Yes, she is,” Will said proudly as he sent that warm, sexy, irresistible smile her way. She really wished he’d stop doing that.

Hannah’s eyes darted back and forth between Will and Cameron, zeroing in on her brother with a brow raised in inquiry.

“So Cameron is going to be here awhile working on the site,” Will said, “and I wondered if you might have an extra bedroom she could borrow while she’s in town.”

Cameron gasped and sputtered. “Will! That’s ridiculous! I’d never want to impose on Hannah that way. He didn’t tell me he was going to ask you that.”

“I don’t mind,” Hannah said with a gracious smile. “I’ve got nine bedrooms sitting empty upstairs. You’re welcome to any one of them.”

“No.” Cameron shook her head. “I wouldn’t feel right.”

“Why not?” Will asked. “She said she doesn’t mind.”

“What else could she say with me sitting right in front of her? You put her on the spot.” To Hannah, she added, “I’m sorry about that.”

“I grew up with seven brothers, Cameron. Do you honestly think there’s anything they could do that would surprise or upset me anymore? I’d be delighted to have a roommate for a little while. It gets awfully quiet rattling around this old place by myself. We probably won’t even see each other that often. And, if I minded, I would’ve said so. Honestly.”

“See?” Will said with a satisfied smirk. “I told you she didn’t mind.”

Cameron held back the retort that hovered on the tip of her tongue. She’d deal with him when they were alone. “I’d want to pay rent or something.”

“Don’t be silly,” Hannah said with the wave of her hand. “The rooms are furnished but unused, and I own the house outright. I don’t need your money, but I’d be happy to have your company.”

“You’re sure?” Cameron asked, still feeling uncertain despite Hannah’s graciousness.

“Positive.”

“Okay, then. Thank you so much.”

“It’s all settled,” Will said, pleased with himself. “I’ll help you move from the inn today and drive you to work until Nolan gets your car fixed.” To Hannah, he said, “Speaking of Nolan, I saw him yesterday. He asked for you.”

“That’s nice.”

“You’re really not going to cut him a break?”

“Stop it. I already got an earful from Hunter about that. Having my brothers plead his case isn’t helping his case.”

“The poor guy,” Will said with a silly pout. “He’s crazy about Hannah, but she won’t give him the time of day.”

“Shut up, Will. That’s not true. I’d happily give him the time of day if he asked, but that’s not what he’s asking for. Now, knock it off.”

“Sorry,” Will said, but he didn’t look one bit sorry to Cameron.

“Sure, you are.” Hannah got up and opened a drawer, rustling around before she produced a key that she gave to Cameron. “For the front door. Please make yourself completely at home.”

“That’s very kind of you. Thanks again.”

Will stood and stretched. “We’d better get to the office. Thanks for the coffee, Han.”

He bent to kiss his sister, and she pulled his hair hard enough to draw a wince. “Mind your own business, you hear me?”

“What fun is that?”

“Nice to meet you, Cameron. I guess I’ll be seeing you soon.”

“Nice to meet you, too, and thanks again for your hospitality.”

“We’ll be back with her stuff later today,” Will told his sister as she showed them out.

“See you then.”

The instant the door clicked shut behind them, Cameron pounced on him. “I can’t believe you did that! Why didn’t you tell me you were going to ask her if I could stay there?”

“Because you would’ve told me not to.”

“You’re damned right I would have! That was so rude! What choice did she have but to say yes with me sitting right there?”

Despite her best efforts to shake him loose, he kept a firm hold on her arm on the sidewalk and let go only to open the passenger door for her. Fuming, she brushed by him and got into the truck.

“I knew she wouldn’t say no,” he said, closing the door before she could reply.

In the short time it took for him to walk around the front of the truck and get into the driver’s side, her fury tripled. “Why would you do that? It was so embarrassing!”

With his hands on the wheel, he stared out the windshield. “We all worry about her incessantly. She tells us she’s fine, she says exactly what we need to hear, but no one believes her.” He finally turned to look at her, and the sadness she saw in his gorgeous eyes tugged at her emotions and defused her anger. “She’s stuck, Cam. She can’t get over what happened to Caleb, and she refuses to consider going out with someone else, even Nolan, who’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.”

“He was really nice to me about the car,” she conceded, touched by Will’s assessment of his sister’s life since she lost her husband. “I’m not going to spy on her for you, if that’s what you think.”

“I’d never ask you to do that, but it occurred to me that having you around might be good for her.”

At that, Cameron’s fury completely fizzled. He was a concerned brother looking out for his grieving sister, and she did need a place to stay that wasn’t three hundred dollars a night.

“She’s sick of listening to us,” Will continued. “I thought a potential new friend might be good for her.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that before we went in there?”

“Because you would’ve said no, and I didn’t want you to say no.”

“You’re making me crazy. Do you know that?”

He turned the key to start the truck. “Is that crazy in a good way or a bad way?”

“I refuse to dignify that with a response.”

“Ahh, so crazy in a good way.”

“I never said that!”

“You didn’t have to.”

The hours in the office rushed by in a series of conversations, mini-meetings, plans and preliminary site mapping. At various points during the day, Ella, Charlotte and Wade all made a point of telling Cameron they were looking forward to working with her on the website.

She didn’t mention their change of heart or ask if they were being sincere. Rather, she appreciated the show of unity, which would ultimately make her job a lot easier. She’d yet to see Hunter, but she’d heard he was still meeting with auditors.

Lincoln was positively ebullient over the site project moving forward. He insisted on treating her to lunch to celebrate, and over tacos, he regaled her with stories and interesting facts about the store that had her reaching for her notebook out of fear that she might forget them later.

When she shared some thoughts about how they might feature his Beatles memorabilia collection on the website, she made a friend for life. During the time she spent with him, she tried to think of him as a client, and not as Will’s dad. As a client, she chatted with him the way she would any other client. The second she allowed herself to think of him as Will’s dad, her thoughts became muddled.

They emerged from the Mexican cantina after an hour of delightful conversation to find Fred strolling down the middle of the street like he owned the place. Drivers waited patiently for him to pass before continuing on their way.

“Does he do that often?” Cameron asked, astounded by the sight of the huge animal smack in the middle of the street.

“Couple times a week,” Lincoln said. “He likes to keep an eye on things.”

“And no one is ever afraid of him going all ‘moose’ on them?”

“Nah, he’s a pussycat.”

Cameron eyed the massive animal and didn’t see anything resembling a pussycat. Then he let out a large “moooo” and she startled.

Lincoln rested a hand on her shoulder. “He’s totally harmless.”

“Try telling my poor car that.” She could tell he was fighting back a smile. “It’s fine. You’re allowed to laugh. It’s kind of funny.”

“It’s not funny that you got hurt.”

“The rest of it is.”

He let out a low chuckle and offered her his arm for the walk back to the office. “It’s a bit amusing. I’ll give you that.”

Charmed by him, she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. “Old Fred has given me a reputation I’ll never live down around here.”

“There’s a T-shirt in the store that says ‘What Happens in Vermont Stays in Vermont.’ Underneath that it says ‘Nothing Ever Happens in Vermont.’”

“That is so not true!”

“I had a feeling you’d say that, but your secrets are safe with us.”

“That’s good to know.”

“I’m glad you’re here, Cam. Is it okay if I call you that?”

“Absolutely. That’s what my friends at home call me.”

“I’m glad you’re here, and I’m delighted the kids came around on the website. I think they’ll love it when it’s done.”

She didn’t point out that most of the “kids” hadn’t, in fact, come around on the website. “I hope so.”

“I didn’t choose you for the job only because you’re my friend’s daughter.”

“You didn’t?”

“Nope. I did my research, and I could see the effort you put into all your projects. You get to the heart and soul of the organization, and that’s what I want for our site. I want people to know what we’re doing here. I want them to know old-fashioned values still have a place in today’s world. I want them to know a family can work together successfully.”

“Your family is very special. I’ve already seen that.”

“I’m proud of what Molly and I have accomplished with our kids. They continue to surprise us every day. Take today, for example. We found out our baby is going to give us our first grandchild. Imagine that!”

“I heard that news. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. Not sure how I feel about being a grandfather at my young age, though.”

“Fortunately, you have some time to get used to the idea.”

“That’s true.”

“I really liked Max. He may be young, but it seems like his head is screwed on straight.”

“He’s a good boy, despite being spoiled rotten his whole life as the baby of the family. He’s a charmer, that one.”

“He’s not the only one.” The words were out of her mouth before Cameron could remember she was talking to Will’s father.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been spending some time with Will, who, in my humble and unbiased opinion, is also a very good boy.”

Cameron laughed. It was easy to see where his sons had come by their charm. “Humble and unbiased, huh?”

“All the way.” He whistled for Ringo and George the second they entered the office mudroom. The scurry of dog paws on the wood floor upstairs preceded them down the stairs. “Hey, guys. Anything happen while we were out?”

Cameron was treated to the same enthusiastic greeting. “Thanks for lunch, Lincoln.”

“A pleasure, my dear. I’m at your service during your stay with us. Anything I can do, just let me know.”

“I will, thanks.”

She was back in Will’s office checking her email and wondering where he’d gotten off to when Hunter came in with an envelope that he handed to Cameron. Unlike his brothers, who wore flannel and denim to work, Hunter had on a blue-and-white-striped dress shirt with charcoal dress pants and wingtips. He looked every bit the corporate CFO. “Down payment on the website.”

“Oh. Thank you.” She tried to be casual about the way she accepted the slip of paper that would save her company from ruin.

Hands in pockets, he studied her with intent dark eyes that made her want to squirm.

“Is there something else?” she asked.

“I want you to know I’m not at all in favor of this project.”

“Okay.”

“And I question whether it’s being done for the right reasons.”

“What would be the wrong reasons?”

“That’s between my brother and me.”

Cameron waited, wondering if he would elaborate.

After a long, pregnant pause, he said, “My feelings about it have nothing to do with you. I thought maybe I should say that at the outset, so you don’t think I’m a total jerk.”

“I appreciate knowing that. I promise to do a very good job and to leave you with a product you can be proud of.”

“I suppose there’s nothing more we could ask. I’ll let you get to it.”

When he left the room, Cameron sagged into the chair. Whereas Will was mostly light and easygoing, Hunter was darker and broodier, intense. She sensed he’d make for a formidable adversary and was relieved that he wouldn’t be her adversary while she was here. It was good of him to spell out that his objections weren’t about her.

She got up to speak to the receptionist, Mary. “I need a FedEx box. Is there one nearby?” The check was too big for mobile deposit, which probably wouldn’t work anyway with the crappy connection.

“The closest one is in St. Johnsbury.”

“Do they pick up here?”

“Only with twenty-four hours’ notice.”

That was inconceivable in the city. “What about the post office?”

Mary checked her watch. “The overnight mail has to be posted by noon, so you missed that.”

“I guess I’ll have to get to St. Johnsbury then.” Lucy would need to deposit the check tomorrow to give it time to clear before the payroll was called in on Wednesday of next week.

“Here’s an envelope and weigh bill.”

“Thanks.”

“I absolutely loved that dress you had on yesterday,” Mary said in a confiding tone. “Where’d you get it?”

“At a big sale at Neiman’s.”

“Where’s that?”

“Neiman Marcus in New York City.”

“Oh. I’ve never been there,” Mary said wistfully. She was about fifty with short-cropped brown hair and brown eyes.

“You should come down sometime. I’d be happy to show you around.”

“You would? Really?”

“Sure, anytime.”

“That’s really nice of you.” The ringing phone took her back to work with a regretful grimace for Cameron.

Back in Will’s office, she went to the window to look across the street at Nolan’s Garage where her car was still up on the lift. She hated that she’d have to ask Will to take her to St. Johnsbury, but what choice did she have? The check needed to be in New York tomorrow.

Will’s heavy footsteps announced his return, triggering the tingle of awareness along her backbone that she was beginning to get used to whenever he was around.

She turned to him and stopped short at the look of raw yearning she saw on his face before he blinked and it was gone.