Page 99 of Hideaway Heart

Xander gave him the camera. “Now get the fuck out of here.”

Hoop seemed eager to obey that command and scurried off toward the driveway without argument.

“Bet you anything he’s driving a beige Honda rental,” Xander muttered, watching Hoop disappear into the trees.

“How do you know?”

“Just a hunch.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I said, tugging his arm. “Come here. We were celebrating, remember?”

“That’s right.” He wrapped me in his arms. “You okay?”

“I’m great.” I held him tightly, my ear pressed to his chest. I closed my eyes as a breeze cooled my skin. “I’m happy.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long to find that guy.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “Hoop’s annoying, but he’s harmless. I’m frankly shocked he had the wherewithal to find this place and get himself here, let alone hide out in the woods. He must really be desperate.”

“If he’s so broke, how’d he pay for this trip?”

“Who knows?” I loosened my grip and tilted my head back. “Listen, I’m just glad I only had one photographer to contend with up here. Usually it’s a herd of them. And even though he trespassed, it could have been a lot worse. He could have taken pictures through the windows.”

“I wonder why he didn’t,” Xander said. “Wouldn’t he have gotten a lot more money for those?”

“Let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth.” I took his hand again and started walking back toward the cabin. “I should start packing up, get the cabin in order. I have to be back in Nashville tomorrow.”

“What time do you want to leave?”

“About seven a.m. Is that okay?”

He nodded. “I’ll make it work.”

We reached the porch, and Xander pulled the door open for me. “I’ll help you get this place cleaned up, and then we’ll need to go to my house so I can grab a few extra things.”

“Of course,” I said. “Maybe we can have dinner in town. What was that place you wanted to take me before I left?”

“Mo’s Diner. You definitely can’t leave Cherry Tree Harbor without having a burger and milkshake at Mo’s.”

I clapped my hands. “Then let’s do that.”

“I’ll clean out the fridge. Do you have instructions for trash?”

“Yes. One second.” I headed over to the kitchen counter, where I’d left my phone, and pulled up my email. Scrolling through my inbox, I found the message Jess had forwarded with all the check-in and check-out instructions. “Here. Everything is listed in this email.”

He glanced at it and nodded. “Okay. I’ll take care of it. Did you change your password yet?”

“No, but I will do it tonight. I promise.” I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before hurrying into the bedroom, where I experienced a catch in my chest as I began to repack my clothes in my suitcase. This trip definitely hadn’t been what I’d envisioned for myself—solitude, silence, reflection—but I was leaving with a renewed sense of myself and my self-worth, and I supposed that had been the goal all along.

Funny how Xander had made all the difference after I’d tried so hard to get rid of him. Now I was so grateful he’d come into my life.

Guess I’d have to rewrite our song.

* * *

Austin, Veronica, and the kids met us at Mo’s Diner for dinner. It was the quintessential fifties-style hot spot, complete with black and white checkerboard floor, an old-fashioned counter lined with red vinyl and silver chrome stools, signed movie star headshots on the wall, and a juke box in the corner.

Ari was our server, and she recommended the Bollywood Burger, sweet potato fries, and a vanilla milkshake. Sitting in the roomy booth between Xander and Adelaide, across from Austin, Veronica, and Owen, I felt so light and happy, it was like gravity didn’t exist.