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I was about to say yes, but he interrupted. “And, before you give me ten thousand reasons why it’s not a good idea, I want to give you one reason why it is.”
The sledgehammers pounded a little harder. “Why is it a good idea Jack?” My voice was hoarse, and I wondered if he was going to say the same thing that I was feeling.
“Because it doesn’t make sense Henri.”
I looked up at him and scrunched up my forehead.
“I still want to do it. My brain tells me that you’re leaving, but my heart…” He placed my hand on his chest. “My heart tells me to do it anyway.” He held his hand on top of mine. “So, will you go on a date with me?”
“Yes.” I didn’t even have to think about it.
Jack cupped my face with both of his hands and his beard tickled my chin as he kissed me softly.
“It’s about to turn into grand central station in here. If you want to get some peace and quiet, you might want to head back to the cabin.”
“I actually finished the first draft last night.”As I was trying to keep my mind off you.I didn’t add.
Over Jack’s shoulder I saw a line of cars pulling into the driveway.
“What’s going on?” A steady stream of people was making their way to the farmhouse’s front door. Muriel returned to the kitchen and that’s when I noticed she had three coffee carafes set up on the counter – and baskets of muffins and pastries.
Jack poured me a cup of coffee. “Last night a family lost their home in a fire. The community is coming together to organize a fundraiser for them.”
“What?” I took a sip of the very strong coffee and glanced around to see if Muriel could add some whiskey. “Why?”
Jack’s lips formed a narrow line. “They didn’t have insurance. They’ve lost everything, and now the community is coming together to help them out.”
The concept seemed completely foreign to me. I hung in the background as the group of Rapidians planned a fundraiser for the family. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Business owners were donating their services, either to the family directly, or planning to auction them off to give the family money. Bob donated a used car to the family, the owner of the grocery store donated gift certificates, Charlie, the owner of the Beardog, was donating his space for the fundraiser, along with a raffle for free beer for a year. The list went on and on and on.
To say that I was moved was an understatement. This. This was the story that needed to be written.
“Excuse me, Jack,” I whispered, and rushed to the cabin. My phone was charged and I called my editor. “I need to stay here until the end of the weekend – at least. I’ve got a scoop on an amazing story.”
I think he could hear the excitement in my voice. “Alright, Henri. This better be good.”
“Oh, it will be. Trust me.”
When I hung up the phone, I knew that my boss would hate the story. But, for once, I needed to go with my gut. This was the story I wanted to tell. It also didn’t hurt that Jack Lumber had just asked me on a date. Maybe if I stayed in town a little longer, we could go on more than one…
SIXTEEN
JACK
Henri was spendingthe day working on her story, and I should’ve been sleeping, but I couldn’t. I don’t know whether it was the adrenaline from the fire, or the anticipation of our upcoming date, but I was amped.
The smell of smoke lingered in my hair and I took a second shower, thinking about all the things that I wanted to show Henri before she left town.
Freddie’s girlfriend Serena had moved from the city to Chance Rapids, and she seemed way more high maintenance than Henri. Henri’s café racer might have to be traded in for a dirt bike, or something capable of running on the gravel roads. Henri was tough, though, and if anyone could adapt to mountain living, it was her. When I imagined her dismounting a dirt bike and shaking her hair free from the helmet, my cock twitched.
Instead of continuing with the imagery of Henri dismounting motorcycles, I turned the water to cold and took care of my hard-on in the more painful way - with ice cold water. Shivering, I stepped out of the shower and toweled off my hair. Finally, the smoke smell was gone.
I stopped in at The Sugar Peaks Café and bought some sandwiches and mini eclairs, and then made a quick stop at Emma’s flower shop.
Emma was playing classical music and she was clipping the stems on some roses as I walked into her store. “Hi Jack.” She set down the secateurs and crossed her gloved hands on the counter in front of her.
“Hi Emma.” My eyes were drawn to the refrigerator full of flowers. “I need a bouquet, but I have no idea what to get.”
“Let me guess, these are for Henrietta.”
