Page 61 of Clumsy in Love

“Something’s different with you,” Tracy said. “Did country living turn you soft? Or is it that you’ve found a girl you really like?”

“Soft? I chased off bears. And yes, that’s plural. As in, more than one bear.”

“I would’ve run for my life,” Steph said.

“Stephanie,” Cole said, pausing dramatically. “You never run from a bear.” That reminded him of Holly’s sassy attitude, and he smiled.

“Why not?”

“They’ll catch and eat you.” Cole made claws with his fingers and mimicked running after her. “I also started a fire with my bare hands, hiked all over hell and back. Oh, and we saved two kids from drowning in a lake.”

“You and Holly?” Tracy asked. Cole nodded.

“You were only gone a week,” Steph said. “Geez.”

“Tell me about it. I also fed a donkey, drove a twenty-year-old pickup, and danced at a hoedown.” He didn’t mention the fireworks against a quiet black sky, the best apple pie he’d ever tasted, or the kissing. Definitely wasn’t going there.

“Sounds like you were pretty far out of your element,” his mom said.

“You have no idea.”

“Sounds like you and this woman make a good team,” his dad said.

“Yeah it does,” Steph said, waggling her eyebrows.

“This. This is why I hate coming out here,” Cole said. “The third degree. I feel like I’m in the box at work getting interrogated.”

“Oh, honey.” His mother grabbed his hand. “You don’t mean that.”

“Sorry, Mom,” Cole said, instantly contrite. “You know I don’t. I couldn’t stay away from your brownies even if I wanted to.” To prove his point, he shoved one into his mouth. The gesture brought Holly to mind. Again.Whatwas happening to him?

Cole stayed until late and promised not to be a stranger before hugging his family goodbye. They knew he still had two weeks off, so there would be no excuses for a while.

He was still short on sleep and anticipated crashing hard. What he got instead were thoughts of Holly running through his mind and keeping him up half the night. He blamed his sisters. He didn’t have feelings for Holly. He didn’t have a “look” when he talked about her. They were full of crap. Except for one little thing.

He’d spent a week glued to her hip. And had gotten so used to her being by his side, he found himself constantly turning to say something to her. And feeling a strange pang when she wasn’t there. Like maybe he wanted her to be there.

He shook it off and tried to count sheep. But the sheep morphed into Holly—laughing with her friends, chasing off giant wild animals, running without hesitation to save a drowning boy, dancing amongst the patio lights in the town square. And of course, the kiss of a lifetime in the cabin.

Thank goodness his sisters hadn’t draggedthatnugget out of him. He’d have never heard the end of things. Perhaps the last few days had changed him. A little. But that wasn’t necessarily because of Holly. It could just be that he’d needed a vacation.Either way, it was back to city life. He’d already arranged to ride with the detectives again later that week. Things would return to normal then.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Holly had grown accustomed to Cole in the passenger seat. Riding all by herself at work seemed boring now. And lonely.

It was weird how much could change in only a few days. Right now, she was supposed to be married and in the throes of newlywed bliss. Instead, she was coming home alone, thinking of a man she’d just met and lamenting that she might never see him again. Thankfully, Alex called and derailed her train of thought.

“Yo,” Alex said. “You want me to go with you tomorrow?”

“Nah,” Holly said. “I got it. Thanks for the offer though.”

“All right. Call if you change your mind. You can tell us about it at dinner.”

“See you then.”

On her way home from work, Holly ran into the supermarket for a couple of deli sandwiches and a dog treat. Lady met her in the driveway, tail wagging in welcome.

Holly slept fitfully and woke the following morning with an uneasy feeling. She’d taken the day off to do something she’d put off too long already—visit her dad in prison.

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