It sounded far better than going to a motel for however long all that would take. Here I’d have access to the oven, a clean and likely extremely comfortable bed, andthem.
“I’d love that, thank you,” I found myself saying before I’d even really come to a decision internally or could let my pride get in the way. But even as I said it, the words felt right.
This wasn’t the plan. I never intended to put down any roots here in Holiday Hollow. I’d had plans to use my degree in a different way, spend my time in the city and check in on the orchard when I could.
I guess no one said I couldn’t make friends along the way, and if they came with benefits, smelled delicious and–
“Eat,” Boone reminded me. I wouldn’t call him out on the fact he looked relieved at my decision to stay.
“Where’s Hunter?” I asked to change the subject.
“He left early to fish,” Jack answered. “Hopefully you're not against eating some fried fish. That might be a deal breaker on you staying here, pumpkin.”
“Ah yes, the fish fry,” I said, glancing at Boone. “This doesn’t count as our date just because I’ll be around tonight.”
For once Boone laughed. The sound was deep and rumbling and he got a cute little crinkle around his eyes. I wasn’t even ashamed that I was openly staring at him. Even Jack looked on in shocked amusement.
“I’m the alpha, aren’t I supposed to do the asking?” he finally asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Nah, times have changed, and I’m not the wait on an alpha type,” I grinned as I popped another bite in my mouth and chewed. “Jack, this is amazing.”
“Thank you,” he said. A slight pink tinted his cheeks and he tried and failed to hide his proud smile.
When I finished I helped Jack wash the dishes before searching for my shoes. Despite their protests I had to see the damage for myself.
Jack drove me home again and they both followed me inside. My chest tightened as I saw water pooling out into the living room. The hole in the roof was mainly contained to the bedroom and bathroom, but that also meant all of my clothes were soaked. At least I’d saved my laptop last night.
They didn’t press me for words as I packed up everything I could salvage. They carried out each box or basket I’d packed up and loaded it into the truck. Thankfully the boxes of pictures that belonged to my grandparents were in the next room that still had part of the roof. I doubted the part of the attic that remained fared well.
A knock on the door had Jack hurrying out. The sound of several voices had me standing up and walking out to join them. I didn’t recognize most of them, but several men and a few women had toolboxes in hand and work boots on.
“What is everyone doing here?” I asked. There was a tremble in my voice because I knew their answer before they even said it.
“We heard about the damage.” It was Riley who spoke. He walked through the crowd and pulled me in for a hug.
“When someone in town needs help, we help them,” an older gentleman answered.
“I’ve got some towels and Vicky is bringing in some dehumidifiers to get some of this moisture out,” a lady called out, bustling by me with a quick smile and an armful of thick towels.
“But,” I breathed out in shock.
“It’s useless to protest. They’d do it anyway,” Boone grunted. “Come on, let’s go get those supplies. We can order what I don’t have that way it’s not a long wait.”
“Okay,” I said as I blinked around. “Thank you.”
Everyone nodded or waved in acknowledgment, almost seeming like my thanks was more surprising than their act of kindness. Maybe there was something to this small town life after all. Sure it would still take weeks to get the cabin where it needed to be, but them showing up for me like this meant everything.
Chapter12
Boone
The tight feeling in my chest hadn’t eased since I’d gotten to the farm last night.
When Jack had called and told me what happened it had taken me no time at all to grab my keys and head over. The whole way I was imaging those doe eyes of Autumn’s lifeless, without the spark of the fire and personality that brimmed from her.
Crashing into the house, and finding them in the guest room upstairs, seeing her asleep between them, with the reassurance of the rise and fall of her chest was the only thing that made me feel like I could finally take a breath.
I ended up in my room next door, sleeping fitfully on pins and needles all night, listening out for her in between the nightmares that plagued what little sleep I did get. It had been a long while since it had been this bad, but when I’d heard Jack’s voice on the phone, the fear and pain that infused every word, it had brought me back to the phone call I’d received when I was sixteen and found out about my parent’s accident.