Kira tipped back her last drop of coffee and placed her mug in the sink. She had a fun day planned of book and dress shopping in the quaint little town. Apparently she needed something for this New Year’s Eve party, where she would know absolutely nobody except Pax. Which was fine, she didn’t shy away from meeting new people. She just didn’t want anyone to get the wrong impression of the relationship she and Pax had.
She had no idea what to wear, and he’d been absolutely no help because he told her she looked good in everything and he planned on ripping it off of her as soon as they returned from the party.
So, she was clearly on her own. All she knew was the party was a small gathering of friends at a resort ranch in Willowvale Springs. She did look up the resort online just to get a feel for the atmosphere and the place was absolutely gorgeous. Rustic yet contemporary. Whoever the designer had been had done an amazing job and had an extraordinary eye for detail. Kira actually couldn’t wait to see the place in person.
She unplugged her cell from where it lay charging on the kitchen counter and started to turn toward the door. The tree in the corner caught her eye and, sad as that thing looked, she still smiled. More needles had fallen to the floor, her garland now sagged, and her topper leaned nearly on its side. She wouldn’t change one single thing about it. That tree brought her and Pax together; they’d shared some laughs over it and she couldn’t help but feel the poor thing paralleled the rose in Beauty and the Beast. When that last needle fell, would her time be up here?
Her smile fell as her heart clenched. She didn’t want to think about her end date. She was too busy enjoying the now, so she turned toward the door and grabbed her purse from the hook. She had some shopping to do if she wanted to impress Pax and his host of friends in a couple of days.
Honestly, she didn’t even care about impressing the strangers. She wanted to wow Pax. She wanted his mouth to drop open, his eyes to widen, and his breath to catch in his throat. She wanted to dazzle him and make him want her the entire night they were out. She fully intended to grab that perfect outfit that would induce emotional foreplay and drive him out of his mind.
With an extra giddiness in her step, she headed out of her cabin, locking the door behind her. As she made her way down the shoveled path to her car, she noticed two large black trucks over at the main stables and paused. Had more workers come back? Was there a problem with the horses?
Concern filled her, but this wasn’t her property or her place to butt her nose in where she wasn’t needed. Maybe Pax would talk to her later if there was a problem.
Kira slid behind the wheel of her car and immediately turned on her heated seat. She hated this ghastly cold weather when she first arrived, but now she was growing more and more used to it. The beauty of the snowcapped mountains and the winding country roads, the tall evergreens around the property, and the livestock all made this place feel so cozy and inviting. The log cabins mimicked the main house, just on a smaller scale. Everything about this ranch had the solid foundation for a prosperous business, and with Pax’s drive and determination, she had no doubt he’d get everything up and running soon.
The drive into town was just as picturesque as being on the ranch itself. Not a cloud in the bright blue sky and the mountains seemed to just follow her. The actual town itself had that small, relaxing vibe, and she could easily see why people flocked to Willowvale Springs. There wasn’t a building on the main streets that wasn’t occupied with some type of business from boutiques to bookstores, cafés to convenience. She could easily blow a good chunk of her savings here, but she was all for supporting small businesses.
She found a spot to park just in front of the bookstore and killed the engine. Pulling the collar of her coat up around her neck, she grabbed her bag and stepped out onto the snowy street. She hustled across the salt-covered sidewalk and into the store, thankful for the blast of warmth as she entered.
“Good morning.”
Kira glanced up to the worker up on a sliding ladder pulling a book from one of the built-in shelves along the wall. The middle-aged woman with cropped silver hair smiled back down.
“Anything I can help you find?” she offered.
Kira shook her head. “I have no expectations, but plan to leave with no less than five books.”
With a soft laugh, the lady climbed down the ladder and cradled a hardback book against her chest. “Well, I can certainly help you with that as soon as I fill this order. Do you have a favorite author or genre?”
Kira’s eyes scanned the adorable shop. The cozy reading circle directly in the middle with a plush rug and cozy worn leather sofas was so inviting. She could easily lose herself in here for hours, and she just might.
“I love anything set in a small town,” Kira stated. “Romance, mystery, fiction.”
“Oh, then you have to check out one of our local authors. Give me one minute and I’ll pull some for you. I’m Celeste, by the way.”
“Kira.”
The lady froze as a wide grin slowly emerged. “Kira. Well, it’s lovely to meet you. I have orders to start a tab for you.”
“A tab? What is this, a bar?” Kira laughed. “And who gave these orders? As if I don’t already know.”
“Mr. Hart was quite adamant for you to choose anything you wanted. That man is a keeper, that’s for sure. Any man who will give you an endless budget on books is one you’ll want to rush to the aisle with.”
Kira nearly laughed again at the thought of rushing to the aisle with Pax. She wasn’t looking for marriage—her mother had that area good and covered multiple times over. But she also wasn’t turning down the gift of books. She’d let him buy one or two, she wouldn’t want to wound his pride or bruise his ego, but she also didn’t plan on letting him pay for things like they were dating or a real couple. They were just...
At this point, she didn’t know. They were more than a fling, and she couldn’t even lie to herself anymore because part of her was falling for him. The good thing was she’d be leaving in about ten more days. Surely she wouldn’t fall completely in love before that. She just needed to pace her emotions and make sure she remained fully in control until she could get home. Then she’d shift her focus onto the new chapter with her home and live with the most amazing memories she’d ever made.
“Okay,” Celeste stated as she came back with a few books in hand. “Check these out and see what you think. This is the local lady I was telling you about. She actually does signings here a few times a year and all of these copies are also signed.”
Signed copies? Kira had never had an author sign a book before. Of course she’d have to get them all. She took the stack and settled into the reading area. She read the back covers and before she knew it, she had started in on the first chapter of one that especially caught her attention. An hour later, she found herself with an even bigger stack at the checkout, and Celeste ended up giving Kira a large canvas tote with the bookstore logo printed on the front.
“I hope you’ll be able to make it to the signing in February,” Celeste told her as she handed over the tote bag. “She has a new release, so we’re really playing up Valentine’s Day.”
A portion of Kira’s heart clenched at the idea of life in this little town just moving on without her. But of course it would. She was simply passing through and had a life to get back to. Granted, a life in upheaval with her belongings in storage and no home at the moment, which was all the more reason she needed to get back and regroup.
“I’m afraid I’m leaving next week,” Kira replied with a smile. “But I’ll be back. Hopefully in the summer. This is my first trip to Willowvale Springs, but I’m keeping it on my regular travel rotation.”
“Well, I have a site and do shipping, so check me out when you need more books,” Celeste told her.
“I definitely will.”
Kira headed out of the bookstore and put her heavy tote in her car before moving on down the row of shops to the cutest boutique. This was one she hadn’t popped into the other day and the adorable sparkly outfits with paired accessories in the window seemed fitting for a New Year’s Eve party. That holiday just seemed to call for extra bling.
The door chimed as she stepped in and the scent of something festive and cinnamon hit her, reminding her of her favorite holiday and the coziness of her cabin. Whatever that candle was, she’d love to have one to take back to Portland so she could light it and reminisce.
The soft instrumental music sounded through the store. A modern mix, but classical tone was just what Kira loved to listen to while working.
“Good morning.”
The cheerful woman putting up a new wall display welcomed Kira into the shop, and Kira returned the smile. The lady might be in her midforties, with her hair in an adorable bun, a sparkly headband, and a fitted black dress with sleeves, and booties. Chic and classy, yet modern and elegant. Yes, this is the person who could guide Kira in the right direction for her party wear.
“Morning,” Kira replied.
“What can I help you find?”
Kira sighed as she tried to glance around at all the displays at once, but she realized this might be more overwhelming than she first thought. She truly had no idea what to prepare for.
“I need a party outfit, but I have no idea if the party is casual or dressy, and I only know one person attending the party.” Kira scrunched her nose and shrugged. “I’m clearly going to need your help.”
The woman pursed her lips while she scanned the store. Kira waited, hoping something sparked the woman’s inspiration.
“How about you show me some pieces you like and we worry about matching your style instead?” she suggested. “Then you’ll feel confident, like it’s the absolute best outfit you could ever wear.”
Kira nodded. “I like you already,” she laughed.
“Well, thank you.” The lady gave a mock bow. “I’m Stella. Would you like a mimosa while we look?”
“That would be wonderful.”
Just as Stella turned toward the back, where Kira noticed the mimosa and pastry station, the front door chimed once again and laughter and chatter filtered in from the street. Kira glanced over her shoulder to discover three ladies piling in. Clearly they were on a girls’ day out. How fun to have girlfriends to spend the entire day with. She hadn’t spent a whole day with her bestie in so long. Kira made a mental note to do just that when she returned to Portland.
“Hey, ladies.” Stella returned and handed Kira her mimosa. “You guys are just in time. We need to help Kira find the perfect party outfit.”
Kira took the mimosa and smiled at the trio of ladies. They were each uniquely gorgeous and stylish and obviously frequent shoppers here or friends with Stella.
“We’re here for party outfits, too,” one of them stated. “This will be fun.”
“This is Kira,” Stella told the new crew.
Kira moved toward the ladies. “Hi. Sorry to interrupt your girls’ day, but I’m new in town and going to a party where I have no clue how to dress or the people in attendance. I was just invited by a guy I know.”
A guy I know?
How ridiculous did she sound right now? But boyfriend or bedmate didn’t quite fit the bill, either, so...
“Do you know where the party is?” another one of the ladies asked.
“I think some ranch resort.” Kira took a sip of her mimosa. “I looked it up online and it’s gorgeous, but I don’t know how everyone else will be dressed.”
The three women exchanged a glance, then immediately moved toward Kira.
“I believe you’re coming to my house,” one of them said with a gleam in her eye. “I’m Allie Price. My fiancé Vaughn and I are hosting. And these are my friends, Darcy and Dray. Their fiancés will also be there. It’s a small gathering, but it will be fun. I’m so glad Pax is bringing a date.”
Kira’s mind started spinning. She tried to log the names of the ladies. Allie had the most flawless dark skin and the widest smile that instantly put Kira at ease. The lady named Darcy had that small-town, girl next door vibe going with tortoiseshell glasses and her hair in a high ponytail. And Dray had such striking dark eyes and perfectly applied makeup, Kira wondered if she’d give her some tips.
“Are you sure you don’t mind helping?” Kira asked. “I’m sure you guys didn’t set out today to take on a charity case.”
“Oh, please.” Darcy waved a hand in the air, dismissing Kira’s comment. “We’re all having mimosas and picking out the best outfits, shoes, and accessories to drive our men wild.”
Our men. Perhaps Kira should set the record straight, but the women immediately seemed to start talking and scattering toward racks while Stella served up more mimosas. In record time, Kira had a variety of outfits, shoes included, in a dressing room behind a thick, white drape.
“Are we ready?” Darcy asked. “We should all model together.”
“Agree,” Dray nodded. “Let’s go. We’re all going to look amazing.”
“And you’re so damn cute, you’re going to look adorable in everything,” Allie stated, pointing to Kira.
Kira smiled. “Well, thanks, but I’ve been a bit envious and self-conscious with three gorgeous women here.”
“Stop that now,” Dray scolded as she finished off her mimosa. “We’re all beautiful, strong women. Now get your ass in there and try on that sparkly fitted dress first. I just know that’s the one for you.”
Kira found herself getting swept up in the excitement and instant connection with these women. She’d never felt so welcomed or loved as she did since coming to Willowvale Springs. Each stranger she’d encountered in the town had treated her like family. The shop owners, the ladies helping her with clothes, literally every single person had made Kira feel like she belonged...like she was part of something bigger than she’d ever imagined.
And then there was Pax. He’d told her he wasn’t looking for anything when she’d dropped into his life. Well, she hadn’t been looking, either, but now she wasn’t so sure she could look anywhere else. She didn’t want to get hurt, nobody set out for heartache, but at the same time, she had to believe she’d met him at this point in her life for a reason.
Was he worth taking a risk on? Could she stay a bit longer and see where things went? Would Pax even want that, or was he looking ahead to the date she left? Maybe he had a life to get back to and work to focus on. Maybe she’d just been a necessary distraction, but she truly didn’t believe he felt that way.
“Is everyone dressed?” Allie called from one of the fitting rooms.
Kira tugged the short sequin dress and wondered how she’d let these women talk her into this. If she didn’t have a proper coat, her nether regions would have icicles hanging.
“I’m not so sure about this dress,” Kira stated, easing her curtain aside and stepping out to the area with a wall of mirrors.
Allie popped out first, wearing a silver sequin halter pantsuit with sexy strappy heels. Dray eased her curtain aside and showed off a red crop shirt with gold pants and Darcy stepped out wearing a body-hugging floor-length white gown that accentuated every curve.
“Well damn,” Dray laughed. “We look good.”
“I think I need to put the four of you in my front window and remove the mannequins.” Stella clasped her hands together as her eyes roamed over each woman. Kira continued to tug at the hem of her dress.
“Would you stop that,” Allie scolded as she came to stand behind Kira. Their reflections caught in the mirror. “You look amazing and Pax is going to text Vaughn and give some lame excuse as to why you all are late to the party. He’s not letting you out of the house in that dress.”
Kira’s body tingled at the thought of Pax removing this dress and doing every single thing she wanted to her body. She’d wanted something to wow him, but damn it was cold out.
“I’ll freeze,” Kira murmured.
“It’s a short walk from the drive to the house,” Allie promised. “A little cold won’t kill you. If I had your body, I’d be wearing that dress and those stilettos, too.”
Kira dropped her gaze to the strappy silver heels and her pink toes. She’d want to change that up to red or something. If she was going to go all out with a dress like this, she had to step up her polish, hair, and makeup.
“I’m not used to dressing like this,” she admitted. “Are you guys sure?”
A resounding, echoing yes from all the ladies had Kira pulling in a deep breath. She did another glance at herself in the mirror and found all eyes on her.
“If you all say so. But, someone is going to have to do my hair and makeup. I have no clue what I’m doing there.”
“Why would you need to know?” Darcy asked. “You’re naturally perfect.”
That’s it. Kira wasn’t leaving. She’d found her people, her group, her cheer section. Women supporting women, not threatened by others’ beauty or success, really made Kira feel more confident than ever. Maybe she should make a point to keep in touch with these women when she got back home. Even a life coach needed a boost every now and then.
“Okay, let’s try on our other things,” Darcy stated as she moved toward her dressing room. “And then I want to get the dish on what’s going on with you and Pax. He’s so private. I love that he’s bringing a woman with him.”
“And one so fun,” Dray chimed in as she closed her curtain behind her. “Kira, we’re headed to lunch after this. You have to join.”
Kira took a seat on the plush velvet bench in her dressing room and slid out of her shoes. “I’d love to.”
Maybe she’d have to really consider sticking around a bit longer after all.