“And he knows his stuff?”

“Yeah. He gave me a detailed list of the repairs so I could factor it into my loan.” She reached under the mat, grabbed a key, and opened the front door.

“You might want to hang on to that key,” Libby said.

“The contractor wanted to come through again last night. I told him to let himself in.”

The sound of a barking dog had her turning to see Colton’s truck pull up behind Sierra’s car. Kelce and Sarge were in the front seat, a ball in Kelce’s mouth and their tails wagging. Out of the car, he paused at the open window to remind the dogs to stay before walking toward Libby.

As his long legs chewed up the distance quickly, she decided she liked his walk. It was not rushed but confident.

“Sierra, don’t tell me you bought this place?” he asked.

“Lock, stock, and barrel,” she said, grinning.

His head cocked slightly. “It’s going to cost a fortune to fix.”

Sierra grinned. “It sure will. And by the way, Libby is my new business partner.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely,” Libby said. “This town needs a decent sandwich shop.”

“And light meals, sandwiches, cookies, all the good stuff that makes life worth living,” Sierra added.

“Looking forward to it,” he said. “Who’s doing the work?”

“John Stapleton,” she said.

“He’s a good man,” Colton said.

“I know,” Sierra said.

“Libby,” Colton said, shifting to her. “I thought you might like to know that we’re sealing the greenhouse windows. It should be ready for planting in about a week.”

“That project is moving fast.”

“Elaine is on a mission.”

“I guess when her mind is made up, there’s no turning back.” Libby tasted the bitterness souring her words, so she quickly smiled, as if that would help. “Did she leave for DC?”

“She’s leaving after lunch today.”

Hearing that Elaine would soon be gone released enough tension. Distance gave her the chance to process and breathe. “Okay.”

“Stop by anytime to take more pictures,” he said.

“I will.”

He got back in his truck, where Kelce and Sarge were now asleep in the front seat. The three drove off.

Libby stared after them. “I hear his wife died. What happened?”

Sierra grinned. “Ah, curious?”

“Maybe.”

“She died two years ago. In fact, he and I ran into each other a couple of times at the grief group.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah.” She was silent for a moment, as if reliving a piece of the past. And then finally snapping back to the present, she said, “He knew staying in the navy and raising the boys wasn’t going to work. He left the military and moved home to take a job at Woodmont.”

“I met the boys. Nice kids.”

“They’re fun.”

“So was his late wife the love of his life?”

“Pretty much,” she said.

“How did she die?”

Sierra was briefly silent again. “Brain aneurysm. It was sudden. No one saw it coming. She never regained consciousness.”

“It’s the shit you don’t see coming that gets you.”

“Now you’re quoting me?” Sierra asked.

“You’re a wise woman.”

“Colton has kept to himself since he got back. It’s either the boys or work. This is the first time I’ve seen him look at a woman the way he just looked at you.”

“What?”

Sierra rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, you. ‘We’re sealing the windows,’” she said in a throaty voice. “Might as well get invited to his room to see his etchings.”

Libby wondered if the universe could have had any worse timing. “He was just being nice.”

“Yeah, to me. He was flirting with you!”

“He asked me to photograph the greenhouse project.”

Sierra’s wink was exaggerated and almost comical. “You keep telling yourself that.”

Libby’s hormones did act up when he was around, and honestly the idea that Colton had suffered a loss was oddly appealing to her. She had no use for a man who did not have a few of life’s battle scars.

Sierra laughed. “What’s the line from the movie? ‘Chicks dig scars’?”

“Pain heals.”

“And glory lasts forever.”

Libby laughed. And for just a moment, she allowed herself to savor the feelings of joy and optimism.

Sierra stepped inside the building and flipped on the light. “This was the last place on the planet I thought I’d end up.”

It was not where either of them had intended to be. In fact, given a choice five years ago, they would have both passed on this version of life. But here they were.

“I’m having a party late Sunday,” Sierra said. “Nothing fancy. Barbecue and beer. You’ll be back from the wedding then?”

“Yes. I should be back by early afternoon.”

“Good, you can come.”

“What’s the occasion?” Libby asked.

“New business venture. Blue skies. Friend of a friend is having a birthday. I don’t need much of an excuse for a party.”

Her first reaction was to retreat on the excuse of work. Instead, she said, “Okay. I’ll come.”

“Good.” She smiled. “And this thing with Elaine can be a good thing in the long run.”

“It hurts like hell now.”

“We both have a high tolerance for pain.”

“Lucky us.”

Sierra hugged Libby tightly. She did not believe in quick hugs or “drive-bys,” as she called them. When she gave a hug, she held the person close, as if she were infusing all her goodwill and well-wishes into the recipient. “I’m glad you’re back in Bluestone.”

“Technically, I’m still sleeping on the couch, so I’m not really back.”

“You’re back. You just don’t know it yet.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

COLTON

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

The Woodmont Estate

Colton had seen Libby on the property on Monday and had noticed the intensity in her expression as she had left the house. He had almost called out to her, but she had been moving fast and had looked like she wanted to get the hell out of there. Next, Lofton had left, and she had not looked any happier.

Lofton was smart as a whip, but she was spoiled, and Elaine indulged her daughter too much, which had always seemed out of character for her. He knew something had gone down between Lofton and Libby, and he would bet Lofton was the spark that started the fire. There were a lot of undercurrents, but his main priority was to steer clear and focus on work and especially the boys.

And still his thoughts kept returning to Libby and the morning she had been walking toward his cabin. The morning light had shone behind her, illuminating her in a way that had taken his breath away. Over coffee, he had seen the desire in her eyes and had known she wanted him. Given a little more privacy, they could have shared more than a cup of brew.