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She stored her credit card in the freezer wrapped in several layers of paper. Each piece had a handwritten reminder on why the card was in the freezer. It was for emergencies only, not for fun, food, or clothes. When she stopped using her credit card and switched to cash only, her savings account benefited. Each dollar saved brought her one step closer to buying Brewster’s.
Maggie dumped food into George’s dish, locked the door behind her, and tossed her keys into her bag. She race-walked down the hall—the businesses below complained when she ran—tore down the steps and was scraping her hair into a ponytail when she bumped into Penny as she came out of the public restroom.
“You’re late,” Penny said.
“So are you. Are they here?” Maggie asked as she finished securing her ponytail. She’d rather have left it down, but with today’s wind, she didn’t want to fight it.
“They weren’t a few minutes ago, but Cal’s as punctual as you usually are, so I’m sure they’re here. Why are you late?”
“Vivi was late, causing me to be late.”
“Causing us to be late. Let’s go.” Penny linked her arm through Maggie’s. Maggie didn’t point out that Penny was already late when she’d shown up. “I have a great feeling about this,” Penny said as they rounded the corner and saw the three tall men at the end of the hall.
Chapter 2
“Wow,” Maggie whispered to Penny. “Do you think their fronts are as good as their backs?”
“I hope so, but I wouldn’t mind talking to their backs.”
“I think we should slow down and appreciate this moment. Be in the here and now,” Maggie suggested, buying time, and poking at Penny’s dusty New Year’s goal to be more present. Maggie was nervous and scattered. Not the best frame of mind to make a good first impression.
The men stood in front of Penny’s latest display featuring books that had inspired summer movie box office hits and some of the most binge-worthy series from the last few years. It was eye catching and effective. Lots of people had stopped and browsed and then bought a book. Brewster’s was across from Get Lost Bookstore, owned by her Aunt Elspeth where Penny worked and one day planned to own. It was a convoluted scheme where Penny earned a percentage of ownership for each year she worked and got additional ownership based on the store’s profitability. Maggie had suggested something similar to Brewster, but he’d said no before she’d finished her pitch.
At the other end of the main building, next to Get Lost, was Woodstock Gifts and Papercrafting. All three businesses were the original tenants of Marketplace Main. They each owned their space and shared the common area maintenance fees. The second floor of the building had professional offices and the third floor was apartments. The upper floors rented the space from Buchanan Properties, her parents’ business that her mom ran. There were two other identical buildings, Marketplace East and Marketplace West. The three buildings formed a U-shape around the public parking lot in front of Tumble Falls.
“The movie’s always better,” one man said, putting the book on top of the others.
Penny’s eyes flew open. “Did you hear what he said?” she hissed. “And he didn’t even put it back where it belonged.” Her eyes shot daggers at the Neanderthal’s back. Maggie didn’t know which was worse, his comment or his carelessness. Books were everything to Penny, and she spent a lot of time and care with her displays. Maggie prayed the other roommate wouldn’t be a dud, too.
“Finally,” Cal said as they approached. Both men turned and Maggie’s stomach dropped. No, no, no, her brain cried as her heart raced. She’d heard he was playing for the Tetons. All the news outlets had covered the story about the local boy’s return home. They treated him like a returning war hero instead of the annoying pest he was.
“Penny and Maggie, this is Bash Vetter and you probably already know Lucas Rodriguez, although maybe only Maggie does?”
“Maggie, great to see you again.” Lucas leaned in as if to hug her, but she stuck her hand out, blocking him. He looked at her hand and smirked before shaking it and then shaking Penny’s. Maggie flexed her fingers, ridding them of his touch. He had a good solid handshake and her hand had almost felt delicate as he’d held it longer than necessary.
“Do you still want to walk up to Bigger Falls, or was practice too tiring?” Penny asked, moving toward the exit. Maggie sensed Penny was as eager to get this over with as she was. She’d bail if she could, but she didn’t want to embarrass Cal.
“We’re not the ones wearing a dress,” Cal said, sounding irritated.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m covered,” Maggie said, lifting the edge of her tank dress so Cal could see her shorts underneath.
“I know there are three waterfalls nearby. What’s the difference?” Bash asked.
“Bigger Falls is a little longer and to get the best view you need to leave the paved trail, which is why most people wear appropriate shoes,” Cal said, pointing at Maggie’s sandals.
“I’ll be fine,” she said as they approached Cal’s fully loaded, fresh-off-the-line black pickup truck. He’d bought the beast after signing his contract with the Tetons. He’d relegated his old, smaller truck, which was a hand-me-down from their dad to their ranch. Maggie thought Cal was lazy dumping it off on their grandparents, but Nanna had said the smaller truck would be a lot easier for her to load her supplies into.
“Maggie and I will meet you at the trailhead,” Penny said. Maggie could have kissed her sister for the reprieve.
“We can all fit in mine,” Cal said, opening a back door and resting his foot on the running board. He looked so proud of his steel baby, but Maggie wasn’t going to be trapped with Lucas Rodriguez for the next twenty minutes.
“Last one there buys desserts,” Maggie said over her shoulder as she sprinted toward Penny’s car. She heard the beep-beep as Penny unlocked the doors. Maggie yelped as the hot, black leather hit her thighs and upper back. Penny tossed her bag into the back seat and carefully slid behind the wheel. The car had barely come to life before Penny slowly backed out of her parking spot.
Maggie looked over her shoulder and noticed the men scrambling into the truck. “Do you want to tell me what that was about?” Penny asked as she pulled into traffic.
“Why aren’t you breathing hard?”
“Because running away from men isn’t the only running I do,” Penny said smugly. Maggie regretted her question. Penny was always pestering her to join her on her morning runs. If mornings didn’t start so early, she would. Maybe.
