Page 164 of The One With the Mountain Man

"My writing career was so far in my rearview mirror that it didn't occur to me to turn my passion for murder mysteries into a second chance author."

Marley held up the microphone to her lush lips. "Sometimes it takes an outsider to see what's right there. When you're doing the same thing over and over in the same place with the same people, things that used to stand out blur into the background. I came to Lost Creek for the same reason. I needed a fresh set of eyes. And in finding my own way I was able to help Sharon see something too."

Sharon leaned over to Marley. "Uh, we should use that in the next novel."

"You're the architect," Marley laughed back.

And that's how their little partnership worked. Sharon drew up the plans and Marley executed them. They both wrote but they played different roles in the creation and management of that writing.

Marley enjoyed the new genre and the variety it brought to her creative life. She still wrote fantasy novels and every once it a while she threw a curveball and spent a few weeks holed up in the writing cottage getting something completely different out of her system.

It was my job to make sure she didn't turn into a feral woodland animal.

"Hey man, everything good?" Travis bumped my fist with his own, then scanned the bookshop.

"Seems to be. I like it better when we keep things local." Travis always popped down from the office to make sure things were running smoothly.

Our ODX partnership was going strong. Red was completely behind the scenes and rarely came to the office for anything but social purposes. He still liked helping with the books, though. Said it was hard to completely let go.

But he'd be doing that in a few months whether he was ready or not. His wife had them booked on a three-month European tour and we were ready to buy out his remaining stake in the company.

"Everything is going to be fine," he assured me. Again. "I've got everything under control and Prince Eric is actually pretty useful."

I'd gotten surprisingly close to Marley's brother. He liked the outdoors and fell pretty hard for Lost Creek when he came up for the wedding. He'd made several trips to visit in the last couple of years. His medical background was useful to our little shop and he volunteered to spend his vacation here and help Travis while I accompanied Marley and Sharon on their month-long book tour. I might murder Maeve before it was over, but I wasn't going to miss this tour.

"Colin is available to step in if you need help."

"I know. We've discussed this."

Logan, Colin, Thomas, and Minna all volunteered to fill in while I was gone. Travis's youngest sister Lucy, too.

"I understand Red a lot more now." I used to think his inability to take a vacation or leave the office early was a sign he was secretly a control freak.

But no, when you put your heart and soul into something, it mattered. I felt guilty for doubling Travis's workload.

He squeezed my shoulder. "Here's the deal. We both have lives. You're taking your wife on a book tour. I'll hold down the fort while you do. And in two months when I takemywife on vacation, you'll do the same. Trust the process."

"We need to plan vacations in the winter when things are slower," I grumbled.

Travis started laughing. He pulled his lips between his teeth, his whole body convulsing to the point he held up a finger and walked out.

I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. Yep...somewhere along the way I transformed from the guy who never knew where he was sleeping next to the guy who couldn't stop planning. I loved ODX and wanted it to succeed. It was hard to keep an outdoor adventure company based in a small mountain town afloat.

But there had to be an in-between. I'd overcorrected. I needed to throttle back. We had a lot of synergy in Lost Creek, all the businesses working together to bring a steady stream of tourists to our town year-round for different reasons. And one of those reasons was Sharon and Marley's reader weekend getaways.

Their first one was this October, right when ODX slowed down. They purchased the old Baxter place, which was less than a hop, skip, or jump from town, and turned it into an inn. They had a handful of book nerd themed weekends planned over the winter where guests had the option of staying at the inn, in the apartment over the bookstore, or any of the available Lost Creek Cabin rentals. It was a way to bring tourists to town, and all our businesses, when we were typically at our slowest. ODX transitioned to soft hikes and horseback riding packages in the winter, and they were booking out at a brisk pace.

After their talk, Sharon and Marley signed books and had a reception for their guests that I knew she wouldn't eat a bite at. I had Annie put us together a to-go order and had it waiting in the truck when Marley was done.

"Ready to head home, wife?" I pinned her against the truck.

She looped her arms over my shoulders with a smile. "Only if you kiss me."

"I agree to your terms." Her kisses still lit me up and I had to be careful not to maul her in the parking lot. "Up and in." I swatted her beautiful ass before closing her door. "Tired?" I asked as I navigated us towards home.

"A little. I think a soak in the hot tub will cure me."

"I was thinking a bath." I loved the hot tub, but it was all rumbly. I wanted something quieter and more intimate as I scrubbed the day off Marley.

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