Page 2 of Fanboy in the Falls (Devon Falls #3)

I first met Colin Templegate, totally famous race car driver, when he and his best friend, totally famous movie star Tom Evers, visited Devon Falls last year.

It still blows my mind that two people as well known as they are have anything at all to do with Devon Falls.

But Tom is brothers with Dr. Sam Evers, one of the doctors in town, and Colin’s a friend of Sam’s.

His brother Christian used to be married to Sam before he passed away.

Tom, Colin, and I had maybe the most awkward moment of all time at the winery’s soft opening last year.

I’d like to forget that day ever happened, but I kind of can’t.

Because Tom and Colin both started visiting the winery a lot after that day, and now they’re investors in the business.

I frown as I stare at the Porsche. The car is sleek and perfect and shiny, and I always imagine that my ‘84 truck is trying to think of pick-up lines when Colin parks that beautiful piece of machinery next to it.

“Yup, he’s here,” says a voice next to me.

I look over to find Bethany, black hair cascading down her back and hands on the wheels of her chair, studying me with a crooked smile.

She cocks an eyebrow at me. “Think you’ll be able to get anything done today?

Or will you spend the whole day flustered, just waiting to lose speech the moment you see him? ”

“Excuse me! I do not lose speech whenever I see Colin Templegate.” Which is completely a lie, because I totally do.

One day he was standing next to the front desk when I turned around from sorting some room keys, and when I saw him standing there I made some kind of noise I don’t want to remember and then threw every single key across the floor.

Colin helped me pick them up, but I couldn’t manage to say a word the entire time.

He hardly said a word either, though. Colin’s not exactly a talker, at least around me.

Or maybe that’s just me projecting, since I can never quite manage to make myself forget that time last fall when I got drunk on a picnic blanket next to him at that soft open last year and blurted out to the entire world that I’m a virgin.

Like the world-famous Colin Templegate even cares whether I’m a virgin or not.

I mean, based on everything I know of his public persona, Colin’s straight.

But then again, most of the world thinks I’m straight, thanks to the unofficial vow of romantic and sexual chastity I’ve taken in the name of Lou.

I’m a twenty-one-year-old who’s never even been kissed.

And I’ll stay that way forever if it keeps my brother safe.

And to be fair, I guess I could be straight? That just seems kind of unlikely given that I’ve been attracted to all kinds of people since before I even really understood what attraction was. Not to mention the whole “can’t stop staring at videos of Colin Templegate and Tom Evers” issue.

Ugh, Tom Evers. If he’s here today too, I may have to go into hiding.

Because of course I couldn’t have a giant crush on just one completely unavailable famous person.

Nope, I have to have a crush on two of them.

“Is Colin here… uh, alone?” I manage to ask Bethany.

Part of me was thrilled when Colin bought an old farmhouse around the lake and started fixing it up.

A chance to drool over Colin’s sweet, rarely seen smiles, dark semi-curly hair, high cheekbones, and near-constant five-o-clock shadow?

Yes, please! Another part of me was horrified.

What if he ended up coming up for visits here all the time?

He’s still really close to Sam, after all.

What if Tom started staying in Devon Falls with Colin all the time, too, and they both started spending more time at the winery?

I was sure I’d never be able to make another bed in a normal amount of time again. I’d get fired for sure.

Bethany laughs out loud. “Repeat after me, Gabey.”

I try to glare at her, but I can’t hold it. I pretend to hate her nickname for me, but I secretly love it. Not too many people have ever given me a nickname. My mom had a few she liked to use, but she died when I was sixteen. Since then, it’s been just Bethany and…

Well, Tom and Colin.

“Tom Evers and Colin Templegate are normal people,” Bethany goes on. “I mean it, Gabey, you have to repeat this after me: They are part-owners of this business now, and I will not gush every time I see them.”

I completely lose the glare I’m still trying to keep hold of, and I end up laughing.

Bethany shakes her head and grins. “Don’t worry, babe.

You shouldn’t have to play it cool for too long.

Colin will probably only stay in Devon Falls until the leaf festival, when we celebrate the opening of our new event space.

After that, I’m sure he’ll go back to New York.

And Tom isn’t even with him this time.” She frowns.

“Actually, I think he’s already filming the second movie in that franchise of his. ”

“Yup. They’re mostly filming in California, but also in Ireland. Not that I’ve got it on Google alerts,” I add after Bethany laughs out loud.

“C’mon,” she tells me. “We’ve got a busy day today.

” She starts wheeling toward the front door of the inn, and I follow her.

“The green room and the blue room are clean and ready for check-in. Evelyn’s got people working in the barn, getting ready for the harvest, so she asked that we keep the guests away from that area during the day for safety reasons.

Oh, and she’s going to do some work later with painting the new event area at the back of the inn, so that will be closed off.

The rest of the property is still on-limits.

But she did mention that the ducks at the lake are particularly loud right now. Maybe it’s mating season or something?”

I make a mental note to look up mating seasons for ducks as I follow her. But before we can make it to the door, I find myself pulling my phone from my pocket. And then I’m hitting the unlock button.

I shouldn’t read the text again. There’s absolutely nothing I can do about it right at this moment, when I need to have my mind on my job. I need to stay focused on the inn right now, not this text message. But it’s like my fingers have a mind of their own as I click open the message again.

Dave

I’ll be back for the leaf festival. Don’t forget what I said, Gabe. I fucking meant it. Lou’s my kid, and I’m the one in charge of him.

My skin thrums as I read the words one more time, and I think back to the questions I asked myself while I was staring at the purple marshmallows swimming in milk this morning.

How much longer can I keep Lou safe around Dave? What would happen if I tell someone what’s been going on? Is it time for me and Lou to leave Devon Falls?

I glance over my shoulder at the Porsche. It sure must be nice to be a famous race car driver.

I bet nothing would panic Colin Templegate into thinking about kidnapping a minor and running away from a place he’s come to love. Not even a text from a man with the power to destroy his entire world.