Page 64 of First Bride to Fall
Gone out for an errand.
Be back soon.
XO
Her heart fluttered at the X and the O.
And then it fluttered again.
Okay, this was good. This was fine.
She’d have time to shower now and get back into her hiking clothes.
She’d washed the running pants out in the sink with her undies yesterday, and they were hopefully dry. At least she’d look more presentable when Grant got back. Plus, she’d be ready to go. She frowned, sorry to be leaving this cozy little cabin.
With any luck, she’d be back here again.
She sighed contentedly.
Loads and loads of times with Grant.
…
Grant sauntered into Bearberry Brews, feeling pleased with himself. He’d used his chainsaw to clear the road in less than ten minutes, doing his first good deed of the day.
Now he was about to perform another.
This was going to be a huge surprise for Nell. She’d probably cover him in kisses with her thanks.
If he was lucky.
He glanced around the quaint space, seeing it was mostly empty. Not surprising at this hour on a Sunday. A blond woman with a ponytail worked at a table with her ear buds in, and a guy with a beard sat reading his tablet in a comfy armchair in the corner. The panorama through the window beside him showed a sandy slope dotted with wavering grasses and gulls soaring through a clear blue sky.
The front-facing windows looked out toward the street and, beyond that, the ocean. A stone stairway with an iron railing led down to the beach. He noticed that Mrs. Delaney had captured a dramatic shot of the steps looking upward toward the towering cliffs.
She really did have talent.
“Can I help you?”
Grant faced the counter and the dark-haired guy who’d asked. Lucas Reyes. “Ah, yeah. Hey, Lucas.”
“How’s it going, man?”
“Can’t complain.” Which was the understatement of the year. Grant was floating on air. “You?”
“Same.” Lucas gave him a pleasant smile, and Grant studied the treats in the pastry case, then reviewed the menu on the chalkboard.
“I’ll take one of those bear claws, please. And, a…hmm. Cranberry orange scone. Also a chocolate croissant,” he said, thinking that looked delicious and that he’d have that for himself, since Nell wasn’t big on chocolate.
“To go?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
The woman behind the register was distracted by her phone. She wore a stud in her nose.
There’s Misty.
As Lucas bagged his choices, he asked, “Anything else?”
