Page 13 of Wrong Idea

I had a million and one things to do before heading to the ski resort early.

Orders to put together, laundry to separate and get ready for me to heft over to the laundromat the next morning, and new pages to design. But I knew without a doubt, right or wrong, I wasn’t going to get anything done because I was going on a walk with the only man who had ever called my attention.

“Okay. Let’s go for a walk.” I smiled, and his broad shoulders relaxed like he had been holding his breath waiting for my answer.

His free hand moved to the small of my back as we walked out of the coffee shop and stepped onto Main Street. We started to walk, but I noticed he moved so he would be closer to the street.Is he doing the sidewalk rule?I wondered to myself. I’d only heard about it and seen reels about it on my social media posts. I’d thought it was a fake thing. But maybe it wasn’t.

“Would you like some?” I asked, offering him some of my chocolate croissant.

“Sure.” He nodded, and I smiled. I liked that he went for it. After I pulled him off a piece, we both bit into the flakey treat almost at the same time. I couldn’t help the moan that escaped my lips.

“These are good,” he grunted.

“If you think these are good, just wait until my friend opens her bakery!”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah! Oli is a fantastic baker, has the best croissants. Though, I think I like her almond ones more than her chocolate ones.”

“Oli, huh?”

“Yeah, I work with her, umm, back at the resort.”

“You work there?” he asked, and I nodded while looking ahead because I got nervous looking at him. How was someone so good looking? All tall, dark, and handsome with muscles I wanted to grab on to. Older and what felt wiser. I felt like a nobody next to him.

It was midweek and still early enough Main Street wasn’t busy. Just a few people out and about here and there.

“Yeah. I’ve worked there since I was sixteen.”

“Wow, and you’re how old now?”

“Twenty-four, almost twenty-five in a couple of months, actually.”

“Nice. I’m, umm…” His arm rose, and he ran his fingers through his thick dark hair. “Forty-two.”

“Oh yeah? Have you always been a masseuse or?—“

“No, that, umm, that’s new.” He cleared his throat.

“So, you’re new to town?” I asked, and he nodded.

“Yeah. My brothers talked me into coming here, and I don’t know… there was something about Moonlit Pines that kinda grew on me.”

“I get it. I sometimes think if I hadn’t been born and raised here and would have found it, I would have stayed, too.”

“Born and raised, huh? Never moved away? Not for college or…”

“I didn’t go, actually.” I inwardly cringed at myself. “I, umm…” His hand touched the small of my back and he led us towards a bench off to the side of the old hardware store. “Thanks,” I whispered.

We sat down next to one another. The bench wasn’t huge, and he was a big guy, so our thighs pressed together. I kinda liked it.

“College isn’t for everyone.” He shrugged, glancing at me from over his shoulder.

“I wanted to go,” I shared. “But my mom died when I was sixteen. Just a little bit after I started at the resort, actually. That, umm, kinda limited my choices.”

“Your dad didn’t want you to go far?”

“Oh no! Umm…” Now I was the on blushing. “He was never really in the picture after I was born. My sister is two years older, and she was long gone. I kinda just got stuck here. But not in a bad way.”

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