Page 12 of Take Me Slowly, Part 1 (Aurora Hollow duet #1)

LEAH

Walking a little easier than I had a couple of days before, I made the camping store top of my list to visit. The temperature dropped, leaving a bite to the air. The trees had already started to turn, red and gold brilliant between the evergreens.

The breeze on my face, I crossed the road that split off from Main Street and headed down to Lake Aurora. The waterskiing capital of the area in summer, according to Whitney.

I slipped through the doorway into In Tents, a bell above it tinkling to announce my presence.

"Mornin'," an older man called out from behind the display of camp ovens. "Let me know if I can help with anything."

"Thank you," I called back.

I wandered around the store, admittedly not knowing what half of it was for.

Apart from a friend's birthday party as a kid, I'd never been camping.

Since that was in the backyard of their home, could I even count that?

I decided I could. After all, it involved toasting marshmallows and sleeping on an uncomfortable air mattress in a tent.

I'd ignore the fact we were right beside the poolhouse with access to a shower and toilet.

In the back corner, I found the section with foldout camp chairs and stools. The double foldout chair with the awning and drink holder was cute, but I didn't need two of them. The stools were small and compact, but I might have trouble getting in and out of them, especially on a bad day.

Chair it was then. But what colour? Black, grey, blue or purple? I only took a moment to settle on purple. I liked a little colour in my life, where possible. Besides, I wore so much black, the contrast would be nice.

I lifted it out of the stand and grabbed the handle.

I was about to head to the till when I spotted a matching thermal cup.

Who could resist having coffee in a cup that went with my chair?

Sometimes it really is the small things in life that make a difference.

Also the mug had a picture of the northern lights on the side, dancing in brilliant colour.

I hoped to see them for myself in a couple of months, when they lit up the night sky.

I know, it was very touristy of me, but I couldn't resist.

I snagged up the mug too and carried them both over to the register.

"New in town?" The same man who greeted me, stepped behind the counter to ring up my purchases.

"That's right," I said, half waiting for him to make some comment about city girls.

"Welcome then." He smiled warmly. "If you ever need anything, don't be shy to ask. Name's Henry Crane." He stuck out his hand.

"You're Riley's father," I said. I could see the resemblance now. Same blue eyes and dark hair. Henry seemed friendlier than Riley and a lot less inclined to suggest I'd look better on my knees. Given the wedding ring on his left hand, that was just as well.

"Guilty." He chuckled. "I hope that young hellion isn't giving you too much trouble.

Sometimes I think he has too much time on his hands.

" He was clearly fond of his son, while at the same time not blind to the fact he was a handful.

No doubt the grey hairs around his temple were because of Riley.

Although, the same could be said about the laugh lines around his eyes and mouth.

What could I say? He wasn't wrong. The girls had said as much as well. The guys were restless at this time of year.

"Nothing I can't handle," I said, hoping my smile looked sincere.

"I'm sure, I'm sure." Henry nodded. "You seem like the sort of girl to have her head on straight. Maybe you could teach him a thing or two."

I didn't doubt that either. Vice versa, more likely.

Whether or not we wanted to learn from each other was another thing.

He told me I'd want him, and Connor said the same thing, but fucking and having an actual relationship were two different things.

Seeing a different side of Connor made me curious what else there was to him.

If he was a nice guy under the asshole exterior, maybe Riley was too.

Did I want to find out? Saying I had nothing to lose was easy, but the truth was, there was always something to lose. If they were playing with me, it could be my dignity. If they weren't…

That was a thought for later.

Henry found a box for my cup and placed it inside, before putting that and the chair into a large, canvas bag before I could say anything.

"I don't mind carrying them," I said. After all, the chair came in a bag with its own handle.

"It'll make it easier." He handed the bag over the counter. "But when you're done with the bag, if you want to bring it back, that'd be appreciated. Around here, we reuse and recycle everything we can. Getting things up the mountain takes time and is expensive." He grimaced.

"I'm sure it is." Shipping was horrendous at the best of times, much less to somewhere as remote as this.

Thinking back, I only remembered seeing a couple of delivery trucks in town since I arrived.

Aurora Hollow wasn't on any major highway or route across the country.

I only stumbled on the place after taking the turnoff on a whim.

Tourists came here deliberately because it was so quiet and isolated.

I grabbed the bag's handle and lowered it to my side, careful not to let it hit my leg. Both were still tender after my flare-up.

"I'll drop the bag back later, thank you."

"Any time. Don't forget to stock up on gloves, scarves and hats for winter. You're gonna need them in a few weeks." He gave me a smile and a nod before heading back to rearranging stock on the shelves.

He was right about stocking up on warmer clothes. I'd have to do that another time, what I brought with me wasn't going to be enough.

Careful not to knock anything over, I stepped out of the camping store, back into the morning sunshine.

The moment I did, I sensed something was off. Whatever it was, it put me on edge, on guard. At the same time, I knew it wasn't dangerous. Not exactly. Not like it might have been in the city. I was safe here, but something made my skin tingle.

I stopped and let my gaze wander up the street and back down.

Walking past the café, walking stick firmly in hand, was the man from the market. What was his name? Gavin Clarke. The man whose daughter died. He was heading away from me, his steps slow and faltering, like he wasn't sure which way to head.

In the corner of my eye, I caught more movement. Tearing my gaze from Gavin, I saw the guy from the other night at the Frosty Brew, the one Connor and Riley said should leave. Dash. His dark eyes were on Gavin, watching him, his mouth pressed in a flat, tight line.

He would have been right at home in the shadows in the middle of the night.

His black jeans were fitted like they were painted on.

His black T-shirt was moulded around his broad chest and huge biceps.

His boots, although scuffed, were also black.

His hair was only a shade lighter than his clothes. Same with the stubble on his chin.

He must have realised I was staring, because he turned his face and his lip curled.

"What do you want, city girl?"

You to tell me to get on my knees.

Okay, where did that thought come from? Sure, he was hot as hell, but he was wound tighter than a coiled spring, ready to explode and take out half the block.

I shrugged. "Just enjoying the sunshine. Anything wrong with that?"

He mimicked my shrug. "It's a free country, so they say."

"You don't believe it is?" We weren't talking about the country and we both knew it. We were talking about the other guys and their insistence that he leave town. As if he had no right to step foot in Aurora Hollow.

As far as I knew, neither of them, nor their parents, owned the town. Why then, were they so adamant he didn't belong here?

"I wouldn't know." His gaze dropped to my chest, ghosted down to my feet and then back up again. His tongue slid across his lips like he knew exactly what to do with it. "Some people seem to get away with more shit than others."

"You mean Connor and Riley," I stated. "They?—"

"I don't want to talk about those fuckheads," he snapped. "Why are you talking to me? Shouldn't you be getting a pedicure or something?" He sneered like I was some precious princess who shouldn't be out on the street by herself. Like maybe I'd break if I stepped on a crack in the sidewalk.

"I've never had a pedicure in my life," I said evenly. My mother would have suggested that kind of self-care was an expensive indulgence. I made a note to book one. To rebel against her, not him.

"First time for everything," he said.

"Are you offering, Dash?" I asked, not caring if I was poking a hornets’ nest. I was going to give as good as I got.

His face reddened. "Don't fucking call me that," he snarled. "My name is Josiah. Josiah Lachance."

His anger was enough to make me take half a step back. If he was a coiled spring before, now he was a grenade, ready to blow a hole in the sidewalk.

"Sorry, Connor and Riley called you?—"

"I know what they fucking call me," he said.

"Because they both have their heads up their asses so high they can't see the sunrise.

" He sucked in a harsh breath through his mouth and forced it back out again.

His expression wasn't pure fury. There was anger, and a lot of it, but something else too.

Hurt. Whatever happened between the three of them was still a raw, open wound.

"Why do they call you that?" I asked softly. Whitney wouldn't tell me and I was in too much pain to think to ask Connor. Would Josiah tell me the truth?

I knew the look of someone who needed another person to talk to.

I saw it in the mirror often enough. The need to confide deepest, darkest secrets to a friend who wouldn't judge.

Friends like that were few and far between in my experience, but what was the harm in reaching out to him?

I've been told plenty of times I'm a good listener.

"Josiah." Henry stepped out of the camping store before Josiah could say a word. He wasn't aggressive like his son, but he clearly wasn't happy to see the younger man outside his business.

"I was just moving along." Josiah gave me a long look, his expression unreadable, before turning on his booted heel and stalking away.

"You'd be better off staying away from him, girl," Henry said softly. "Josiah Lachance is trouble." He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "That is to say, trouble finds him."

I knew the feeling. Trouble seemed to be a fan of mine as well. I didn't get the impression Josiah was trouble on purpose. He seemed troubled instead. Outcast from the community that prided itself on being so close-knit. That made me more curious about him, not less.

"I should get going so I can get this bag back to you," I said.

"Just think about what I said," Henry said before disappearing back into his store.

That was an easy promise to make. I wasn't sure I’d think about much else.