book title

Birds chirp, and the sun peeks through the pine trees as I grab my toolbox from my pickup truck. Even though it’s still dawn, I’m already up and ready to tackle the day ahead. It’s one of the things I love about mountain towns. The breathtaking views and crisp air alone make you feel like you can take on the world early in the morning. It’s a whole different feeling than waking up in the desert, tired and scared, hoping you and your buddies live to see another day.

I whistle a tune while sorting through the tools I need to fix the gutter next door. My best friend Falcon owns the house with the broken gutter and rents it out to tourists. When he told me the place needed fixing, I offered to help him. It’s not like I have anything better to do, and it’s right next to my great-aunt’s former house, who just moved in with her boyfriend. They’re both seventy-five years old and stinking cute together. Anyway, she offered me her place until I got back on my feet, and I gladly accepted. I’ve been lost since I was honorably discharged from the Army, and moving back to Bearclaw Ridge is exactly what I need.

I haul my ladder to the front porch of the rental next door and climb up. Despite the chilly early morning breeze, warmth floods through me as I recall the countless hours I spent in this neighborhood as a child. Falcon and his three brothers—Skyler, Titan, and Blaze—lived two doors down. The Kingsley brothers and I explored every patch of forest and street here in Bearclaw Ridge.

From my vantage point on the ladder, I catch sight of Mrs. Jenkins, the elderly lady who lives across the street. She’s busy watering her vibrant flower garden with meticulous care. I don’t know how she does it, but she doesn’t have a single weed on her property.

I scrutinize the gutter. It doesn’t look as bad as Falcon described it, but there’s no denying the thing has seen better days. The gutter is filled with grime and leaves. Looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in ages. I grab a bucket from my truck and climb the ladder, scooping handfuls of gunk out of the gutter.

Soon, I’m lost in thought, focused on the gutter repairs, until a sudden thud jerks me back to reality. The ladder wobbles, and I almost lose my footing.

I glance down to see a gorgeous woman standing at the foot of the ladder, brandishing a frying pan like a cartoon warrior. She’s still in her pajamas and gives me an evil glare.

“Hey, what the hell? You could’ve killed—” I begin, but before I can finish my sentence, she cuts me off with a sharp glare.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demands, her hand on her hip.

I frown, irritation flooding through me. Is this her thank you for getting her gutter fixed?

“I’m fixing your damn gutter,” I say between gritted teeth.

She scoffs. “Sure. This has scam written all over it. After you’re done, you’ll demand wads of cash from me, right? Get off my property right now, or I’ll call the cops.”

I roll my eyes at her. “There’s no need for that. I have every right to be here. Falcon asked me to fix the gutter of his rental, so that’s what I’m doing. If you have a problem with that, take it up with him.”

The girl’s expression softens slightly, but she still looks at me with a suspicious frown. “Falcon? But he doesn’t even own this house.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“You think I don’t know who owns my house? The rental Falcon owns is over there,” she says, pointing to the house left of hers.

Shit. I mistook this innocent girl’s house for the one Falcon owns. How could I have been so stupid? I know my left from right, so I don’t know how I got them mixed up.

“I-I’m sorry,” I stammer, gathering my tools. “I didn’t realize… I messed up.”

The girl’s annoyance disappears as she listens to my shabby apology. She lowers the frying pan and smiles.

“Well, you sure know how to make an entrance,” she remarks dryly. “Next time, double-check the address before you start climbing ladders and fixing gutters.”

I nod sheepishly, feeling like a certified idiot. “You’re right. Lesson learned.”

“Look, I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions about you being a creep or a fraud. Or both. Anyway, I do appreciate you cleaning my gutter.”

I look at the bucket, then back to her. “Do you want me to continue?”

She shrugs. “Why not? You’re up there now, so you may as well finish the job. Consider it your way of making it up to me.”

I can’t help but laugh at her sly remark, impressed by her quick wit and ability to turn an awkward situation to her advantage. “Fine. I’ll clean your gutter before moving on to Falcon’s rental.”

“Thanks. I’m keeping an eye on you, though. I don’t know if I trust you yet.”

I get back to work while she stands on her front porch, watching me with a hawk’s eye. I steal glances at her while scraping away the accumulated gunk and leaves. She doesn’t look familiar, but that doesn’t mean she’s new in town. She looks younger than I am, so it’s possible I never noticed her before I left Bearclaw Ridge to join the Army at eighteen.

Still, she’s got me interested in knowing her better. Maybe it’s the way she looks at me with that mischievous glint in her eyes, the mix of confidence and feistiness with which she carries herself, or her luscious curves and red hair. If I’m honest, it’s the combination of all those factors that attract me to her.

Half an hour later, I wipe away the last leaves and screw the final nails into place. That gutter isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The girl disappeared inside for a while and returned fully dressed, cradling a steaming cup of coffee. She’s still looking up at me, but this time, it’s from a comfortable-looking lounge chair on the front porch.

I wipe my hands clean on the rag hanging from my tool belt. “There you go. All done.”

“Awesome. Thanks. You know, my lawn could use some mowing too,” she says with a wink.

I laugh as I climb back down the ladder. “Don’t push it, neighbor.”

Who am I kidding? If she wants me to mow her lawn, I will. I have a feeling I’ll have a hard time saying no to her if she ever asks for my help again.

“Yeah, I live next door to you. The house used to be my aunt’s.”

“Oh, I see.” She extends her hand and smiles. “I’m Casey.”

“Can I offer you a cup of coffee, Austin?”

I tilt my head and narrow my eyes. “As long as it’s not poisoned.”

Casey laughs with genuine amusement. “No promises there, neighbor. I mean, I won’t put anything toxic in it, but I can’t promise it’s as good as the coffee they sell over at The Espresso Bean.”

“I’ll take my chances. I drank some horrible coffee when I was in the Army. I’m sure you brew a better pot than my lieutenant back in Iraq.”