I didn't think that when I finally moved back to Colebrook, it would be under these conditions. A headache pounded in my temples as I drove through the minuscule town square, where the streets were lined with homey cafes and shops that hadn't been there the last time I visited.
Colebrook truly was the quintessential small town, and it made me feel suffocated. My phone rang through Bluetooth, and I accepted my sister, Kat's, call.
"What's up?" I said, unable to keep my annoyance out of my voice.
"Geez, Alana, can you try to sound just a little bit excited?"
I sighed. "I'm sorry. You know I'm grateful and everything. It's just a bit of a shock coming from the city to. . ." I gaped as a few wild turkeys merged into my lane better than most drivers in Boston.
I was a city girl through and through. When I finally left Colebrook for Boston, it all seemed so promising. I was going to be doing marketing and design at the sort of company people killed to work at: modern, young, exciting. It was the perfect fit. Until it wasn't.
Thinking about it now made a knot form in my throat. The lay-offs had been completely unexpected. One minute, I was feeling good about some new designs I'd just sent to the director, and the next, I was piling the contents of my desk into a cardboard box.
When my savings ran out, Kat had swooped in and rescued me. She'd offered me a job at the Colebrook Inn in all its rural glory. I was going to plan events, help run the front desk, and provide them with a revamped marketing campaign. It sounded like a great opportunity on paper, but as I pulled up to the inn for the first time, I realized how much different this job would be.
The inn itself was a massive cabin-style structure built of white wood and stone. A big log porch sprawled around the front of the huge building, and I had to admit, the size impressed me. I didn't think Colebrook would ever be home to a place that looked like something out of a Hallmark movie. Nestled at the top of a winding road, it overlooked a deep valley of rolling hills. The large lawn gave way to a wooded area.
"I just pulled up," I said to Kat on the phone. "Come outside and meet me."
As I sat there taking deep, steadying breaths, a tall man throwing bags of mulch into a flower bed on the side of the inn caught my eye. He wore black work pants and a white t-shirt molded to his body by sweat. It was hard not to stare at the way his shoulders moved and flexed.
A tap on my window made me gasp.
"Stop being a creep," Kat said, smiling as the breeze blew strands of her jet-black hair around. "And get out and hug me."
I stepped out of the car and wrapped my arms around her. It felt good and comforting to be near her, which was something I desperately needed.
"So who is that?" I muttered to her, walking to my trunk to grab my bags.
His name was Dane, and he was the inn's maintenance supervisor, who did everything from minor repairs to landscaping.
As we walked up to the front door of the inn, Kat called out to him. "Dane, this is my sister, Alana. She's going to join our team for a little while."
Dane waved in my direction, his wavy brown hair glinting in the light. "Welcome. I'll come give a proper introduction when I'm not covered in mulch."
Kat and I headed into the inn. She gave me a tour that was more overwhelming than I'd anticipated. I followed her like a lost puppy, taking in the big front desk, supply closets, and dining room where guests milled in and out.
"Does Colebrook really get a lot of visitors?" I asked, mostly to myself.
To me, this town had always been so sleepy.
"Thirty minutes to Big Bear ski resort, remember?" she said, indicating she'd heard me. "Also, keep in mind that not everyone hates the mountains and nature as much as you do."
Self-consciously, I brushed my dark hair behind my ears. "I don't hate—"
"It's fine." Kat rolled her eyes. "Come on. Let me show you where you'll be staying. For free, mind you. Because I'm the nicest big sister ever."
I had to admit, my room was incredible. It was a bit rustic for my taste, with its wood walls and beamed ceilings. But the bed was big with plush white blankets and pillows. The bathroom was a deep pine color with a luxurious bathtub and complimentary toiletries on the sink. I picked up a tiny bar of soap stamped with the etched words "COLEBROOK INN."
"Wow," I said, stepping back into the bedroom. "You manage a pretty good place here, Sis."
Kat looked pleased.
I walked to the window, and even I had to admit that the view was amazing. The openness rolled on for miles, lush green hills melding against the evergreens. Down on the lawn, I caught another glimpse of Dane, now holding a weed trimmer near the high grass at the tree line.
"I shouldn't even be telling you this, because I'm the General Manager, and it's not professional, but he's single." Kat nudged me with her elbow.
I stammered, trying to find something to say, but Kat just laughed.
"Get settled in. I'll see you tomorrow at eight, okay?"