Page 12 of Fake-Off with Fate (Love in Maple Falls #1)
JAMIE
Watching Ashlyn cross the street to her car, I once again realize how pretty she is.
It’s not just her looks though. She’s smart, and funny, and she enjoys her food.
I firmly believe you can’t trust a woman who doesn’t allow herself enough sustenance.
That alone should have tipped me off about Allegra.
She barely touched lettuce, and then only if it didn’t have any dressing on it. Yuck.
Once Ashlyn gets into her car, I bang a U-turn on Main Street and lead the way out of town toward the bear-infested property I’m renting. Normally, I’d be reluctant to let a woman know what a scaredy cat I am, but dude, these are bears.
Winding around the curves in the road, I’m captivated by the changing colors of the maple trees. While the pine trees stay green, there are enough others to promise a spectacular fall display.
I turn on my signal well in advance, so Ashlyn has warning. When I reach the mailbox at the end of the drive, I veer right and slowly make my way up the winding path. My eyes are trained in the direction of the woods, searching for unwelcome visitors.
As soon as I get to my parking spot, I turn off the ignition. I wait for Ashlyn to park next to me before opening my door. But somehow I still can’t seem to force myself out of my relative safety.
Meanwhile, Ashlyn gets out of her car and stands in the path. “Are you coming?” She sounds annoyed, like she’s waiting for an errant child.
I step out with an abundance of trepidation, all the while looking around for signs of trouble. Luckily, we appear to be alone. “If you just get me to the door, I’ll be fine,” I tell her. Ashlyn tries to hide her amusement, but she’s not successful. “I realize how unmanly I must appear,” I say.
“Just a little,” she responds. “But I get it. This is unfamiliar territory. Once you get used to it though, you’ll be fine.”
“If you say so.”
As soon as we reach the porch, I unlock the door. I’m about to say goodnight to her when I hear a loud rustling sound coming from the side of the house. That’s when I spot the papa bear. He’s standing on his hind legs again, and he’s definitely looking for trouble.
Without thought, I let out the most ridiculously shrill scream. The bear takes a step back which gives me the courage to move. I open the door and push Ashlyn inside. Then I slam it shut before turning to see if she’s okay. If her laughter is anything to go on, she’s just fine.
“That scream …” she starts hiccupping in what I can only assume is vast amusement at my expense.
“In my defense,” I tell her, “Dale told me to make a loud noise to scare bears away.”
Tears start to stream down her face. “It’s just … you know …” She doubles over like the sheer act of standing is too much for her.
Putting my hands on my hips, I declare, “I’m aware that didn’t sound very masculine.” She shakes her head from side to side, so I add, “I sounded like a little girl.”
She starts to answer but instead releases more laughter. She finally manages, “Not one little girl. More like … more like …” I wait patiently for the coming insult. “Twelve!”
I spread my arms wide to create the biggest space I can. “It was huge!”
“It probably wasn’t any taller than you are,” she says, her face still contorted by hilarity.
“It was a bear, Ashlyn,” I tell her. “If it was a mugger holding a gun, I would have karate chopped the weapon out of his hand before putting him in a choke hold. Then I would have tied him up with his own shoelaces and escorted him to the nearest police station.” Take that, doubter of my manhood.
She’s sniffling like she’s trying to hold back a fresh wave of tears, which is really starting to tick me off.
“Is that right?” she asks in a manner best described as mocking.
“I’m a six-foot three, two hundred pound, highly toned professional athlete,” I tell her. “So yes, that’s right.”
“Would you like me to show you how to deal with bears?” she asks.
“Not if you have to go outside, no.” As much as I’m ticked off at her, I don’t want to see her get torn to shreds.
“I’m not going to stay here,” she tells me, as though my plan all along was to lure her to my den.
“Well, not forever certainly, but at least until danger passes.”
Ashlyn reaches for the doorknob. On instinct, I hurry to stop her but end up placing my hand over hers. I immediately regret doing that. Her skin is so soft it’s like touching silk. “Please don’t go, yet. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“You don’t have to worry, Jamie,” she tells me. “I grew up here. I know what I’m doing.”
And then to my absolute horror, she walks out onto the deck. I should go with her, but I don’t. Instead, I keep the door open a crack, all the while hiding behind it and praying she doesn’t get hurt .
Ashlyn looks to the left where the bear is still standing.
She immediately turns away and tells me, “Do not make direct eye contact for an extended period. They will take that as a challenge.” Even though I’ve heard this from multiple sources, it’s a bit difficult not to want to discern a bear’s intentions in real time.
Walking down the stairs toward her car, Ashlyn calls out, “Always move away from the bear. They’re more afraid of you than you are of them.” She suddenly stops in her tracks and starts convulsing with laughter. Again.
“I know what you’re thinking,” I tell her. “You’re thinking that I’m definitely more afraid than he is.” She nods her head up and down to confirm my suspicions.
She finally starts moving again, and once she gets to her car, she turns back to me. “You see how easy that was?”
I point to my right. “There’s the baby. Do you still feel safe?”
“So long as I don’t go over to it,” she says, “I’m fine.” Then she teases, “But I really want to pick him up.”
“Ashlyn …”
“I’m not an idiot, Jamie. Just remember walk away from the bear, don’t run, don’t make eye contact …”
“And don’t pick up its cub.”
Touching the side of her nose, she says, “Ding, ding, ding, we’ve got a winner!”
With her cell phone in hand, she asks, “What’s your number? I’ll be in touch tomorrow after you’ve had a chance to talk to your coach.”
I give her my number before suggesting, “You might want to reach out to Troy Hart, too. He and his wife own the team.”
“I don’t really know them, but I suppose I can make a call.”
“You must have already left when he moved here.”
She smiles before telling me, “When I was a kid the arena was nowhere near the size it is now. Maple Falls is currently a thriving metropolis, compared to the town I grew up in.”
“I can’t even imagine such a thing. I mean seriously, this place is tiny,” I tell her as I screw up my courage and step out of the cabin. Glancing to my left, I notice the father bear is eating some leaves and seemingly minding his own business. Thank goodness.
“Says the big man from the big city,” she teases. “Give it a chance, Jamie.”
Standing a little bit taller, I tell her, “Oh, I’m giving it a chance I’m just having some culture shock is all.”
She appears to be contemplating something carefully before she says, “Why don’t you stop by Town Hall tomorrow after practice?
I’ll take you on a quick walking tour of Maple Falls and give you some background info.
” She’s quick to add, “This would not be a date. This is just the mayor’s daughter helping her father by performing her civic duty to make sure all the town’s citizens are happy. ”
Having spent a few hours already getting to know Ashlyn, I wouldn’t mind if it was a date.
She’s so different from the other women I’ve previously gone out with, that I start to wonder why I’ve never dated someone like her.
I guess the answer is that professional sports players tend to be surrounded by sycophants instead of self-assured women who know their own minds. At least that’s been my experience.
“That would be nice,” I tell her. “I’m sure I’ll be able to share Dale’s thoughts about the bachelor auction by then.”
She starts her car before waving out the window. “See you tomorrow.”
As soon as she pulls away, I turn around to walk back into my cabin.
That’s when I notice the father bear standing on his legs and staring at me.
Knowing that I’m inches away from safety gives me courage.
“I’m not interested in causing any trouble,” I tell him firmly.
“I’ll stay in my lane, if you stay in yours, okay? ”
I know Ashlyn said that bears don’t roar, but this guy apparently didn’t get the memo.
He releases a growl so menacing and loud that I sprint inside.
Talk about feeling emasculated. It’s no wonder Ashlyn assured me that getting together tomorrow wasn’t a date.
She’s got to think I’m the biggest coward of all time.