Page 5 of Stuck with the Hero Next Door

I waved him off, crossing the street with aimless purpose. The diner lights glowed behind her reflection as she passed. She didn't notice me, not really. Not yet. But I saw her. She took in the town. It was obvious she didn't want to like it here, especially since she had been stranded here by her truck, but the small smile she wore told me everything I needed to know. Our little town did precisely what it was supposed to. It was drawing her in. Couldn't blame her. Everwood is a charming place, even if you didn't intend on ending up here.

Still, there was something in her walk. Resigned but upright. Like a woman who hadn't given up—just paused to catch her breath.

I followed at a distance, telling myself it was just a coincidence. Just checking in with Janet. Being neighborly and all.

Yeah. Right.

In this case, coincidence wore lipstick and came blowing into town attached to a broken-down pickup. I followed her slowly down Main Street, trying to look nonchalant, until she climbed the front steps of my sister Janet's Everwood Inn.

Passing the furniture store, Mac stopped me for a spell. He had just come back from fishing and held a to-go coffee in his hand as he bragged about his near-miss. Mac had a habit of exaggerating his fishing stories. A two-minute story could last for half an hour or better. A few minutes later, the little redhead made her way over to the diner. I glanced up, and her eyes met mine. I forgot all about Mac’s story and his attempt at fishing. My attention was on her until Mac bumped my shoulder as he joked about the whopper that never was. When I looked back at the diner, she was gone.

“Well, I better be off. Ann’ll be waiting for me.” Mac ribbed me and got into his truck and drove away while I looked at the Inn, hoping the little redhead was in there.

Janet's inn looked exactly like it always did—warm, cinnamon-scented, and aggressively charming. I think our ancestors designed the town that way to lure in the unwary. The porch light cast a soft glow across the steps, and I swore even the rocking chair seemed smug about its curb appeal.

Inside, Janet stood at the front desk, fluffing a basket of complimentary muffins like she was trying to get them photo-ready for a magazine spread. She looked up, raised one eyebrow, and leaned on the counter like she'd been expecting me since breakfast.

"Levi," she said sweetly, "what a shock."

"I was in the neighborhood."

"You live in the neighborhood."

"Still counts."

She rolled her eyes and handed me a mug of coffee she'd magically poured from thin air. It was piping hot and somehow perfect, which was unnerving.

"You saw her?" she asked, folding her arms like a detective with one solid lead.

"I saw her."

"And?"

I took a slow sip. "Jordan thinks she's fate."

Janet snorted. "Jordan thinks every pretty woman with car trouble is fate. Remember that taxidermist from Idaho?"

"I try not to."

"Well," she said, dropping her voice as she glanced toward the staircase, "this one's different. Quiet. Stubborn. Looks like she'd rather chew glass than ask for help."

My brow lifted. "That's your glowing endorsement?"

"That's my 'don't screw it up, she's interesting' warning. Name's Cassie Grant. Be nice, but not too nice. Don't want to scare her off."

Before I could respond, the stairs creaked overhead. Janet straightened. I leaned against the desk and pretended I didn't care. We both knew better.

Cassie stepped into view, not entirely sure what to do. She paused halfway down the staircase, her hand resting on the banister.

She caught sight of me, then Janet, then me again.

Janet moved first, giving her a soft, casual smile, which she usually gave tourists. "You're just in time. I was about to send my brother Levi here off to dinner, but then I remembered how awkward he is without adult supervision."

Cassie blinked. Once. Then her lips twitched, barely. A maybe-smile.

"No pressure," I said, shaking my head at Janet's not-so-subtle attempt at casual. "If you're up for it, there's a steakhouse a couple of blocks down. Decent food, and cornbread that'll make you rethink your life. Besides, figured you might want something besides vending machine granola bars and coffee."

She looked at me, then at Janet, and finally down at her clothes. "I'm not exactly dressed for...anything."