Tinsel (Lark Cove #4)(55)

“I was thinking the same thing yesterday.” He chuckled. “You glad to be home?”

“Yes and no. I feel off, like I need to make some changes.”

“Find your passion?”

“Something like that.” I smiled at how well he knew me.

“Will you call me when you find it?”

When I discovered my passion, the person I would undoubtedly talk to first was Dakota Magee. “Count on it.”





Four months later . . .



“Congratulations, bud.”

I clinked my beer bottle with my uncle’s. “Thanks.”

We were sitting on the back porch of his and Hazel’s lake cottage. The snow in the yard had finally melted away, revealing the soggy grass underneath. Across the yard, the water from the lake lapped the gravel shoreline.

“Five properties. Proud of you.”

I was proud of myself too. It had been a long-ass winter in Lark Cove. The property I’d had my eye on since before Christmas had been the hardest one I’d ever bought. The negotiations had taken forever and the seller had nearly backed out. Twice. But we’d finally landed on a price and closed.

Then two weeks later, I’d stumbled across a screaming deal in the classifieds. I’d drained my savings, sold everything I could from my basement and managed to make a down payment.

The titles to both places had become mine within ten days of one another. I’d signed papers on the second this morning.

I was in, committed one hundred percent, praying that my renters would all stay put for the next twelve months until I built back up my savings cushion.

It was always exciting diving into another house, let alone two. The stress was mounting, but these two purchases had been smart. They were each the worst house on a nice block. I’d be putting more sweat equity into my investments than ever before, but it would be worth it in the long run.

If the market kept going up like it had over the last couple of years, I’d be able to sell both and turn a nice profit.

And I’d have something to do this spring and summer. I was aching for a distraction.

The last four months had been long and tiresome. I was hoping by throwing myself into another property, I’d get back to normal.

Maybe I’d get through a day without Sofia constantly popping into my mind.

“So what’s next?” Xavier asked.

I blew out a long breath. “Paint. Lots of paint. See if I can get them both livable. Then I’m hoping to get a couple renters who won’t mind me making updates while they’re living there.”

“Good plan.”

“Xavier?” Hazel called from the kitchen.

My uncle turned his head over his shoulder, looking to the screen door that led inside from the porch. “Yeah, baby?”

“Would you start the grill?”

“On it.” He stood from his chair and went to the grill on the other side of the porch. It was still cool outside, but like a lot of folks around here, the second the weather stayed above freezing, Hazel and Xavier busted out the grill.

They’d invited me over for steaks to celebrate my new property.

This had become a sort of tradition for us. As nice as it would be to see them, what I really wanted was to talk to Sofia.

The overwhelming urge to call her after I’d walked out of the title company today had nearly knocked me over. But had I called her? No.

Over the last four months, I’d become a chicken shit.

I’d spent the thirty-minute drive from Kalispell to Lark Cove taking out my phone only to put it away. A move I’d perfected since she’d left.

Fear, something I hadn’t felt in a long time, had become a quiet companion.

Would she want to hear from me? I was terrified that I’d call her and she’d brush me off. Or worse, that she’d tell me she’d found someone new.

Christ. It wasn’t like we’d been together. We weren’t even really friends. But the hold that woman had on me after ten days was impossible to shake.

Hazel came outside with a plate of raw steaks. She handed them to Xavier, gave him her cheek for a kiss, then perched herself on the railing across from our chairs. Settled, she took out her pack of cigarettes and lit one up, blowing a stream of smoke toward the yard.

“You doing all right?” she asked.

I nodded. “Doing great.”

She studied my face, her eyes narrowing on my own. “You’ve been off.”

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “It’s just the winter. I’m ready for sunshine.”

Hazel frowned. “Don’t give me that bullshit. Your mood has nothing to do with the damn weather.”

“Doesn’t it?”

“Dakota. Spill.”

I chuckled, taking a sip of my beer. “You never beat around the bush, do you? Why are you asking if you already know?”

“It’s Sofia.”

There was no use denying it so I nodded. “She’s in my head.”

And in my heart.

No woman had ever crept in there, not even Petah.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

“Nothing to be done. We had fun. She’s back in the city. I’m here. I’ll always remember her though, you know? She’ll stick with me.”