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Chapters (85)
  1. BOOKS BY LOUISE BAY
  2. ONE
  3. Rosey
  4. TWO
  5. Byron
  6. THREE
  7. Rosey
  8. FOUR
  9. Byron
  10. FIVE
  11. Rosey
  12. SIX
  13. Byron
  14. SEVEN
  15. Rosey
  16. EIGHT
  17. Rosey
  18. NINE
  19. Byron
  20. TEN
  21. Rosey
  22. ELEVEN
  23. Byron
  24. TWELVE
  25. Rosey
  26. THIRTEEN
  27. Byron
  28. FOURTEEN
  29. Rosey
  30. FIFTEEN
  31. Rosey
  32. SIXTEEN
  33. Byron
  34. SEVENTEEN
  35. Rosey
  36. EIGHTEEN
  37. Byron
  38. NINETEEN
  39. Rosey
  40. TWENTY
  41. Rosey
  42. TWENTY-ONE
  43. Byron
  44. TWENTY-TWO
  45. Byron
  46. TWENTY-THREE
  47. Rosey
  48. TWENTY-FOUR
  49. Rosey
  50. TWENTY-FIVE
  51. Byron
  52. TWENTY-SIX
  53. Rosey
  54. TWENTY-SEVEN
  55. Byron
  56. TWENTY-EIGHT
  57. Rosey
  58. TWENTY-NINE
  59. Byron
  60. THIRTY
  61. Rosey
  62. THIRTY-ONE
  63. Rosey
  64. THIRTY-TWO
  65. Byron
  66. THIRTY-THREE
  67. Rosey
  68. THIRTY-FOUR
  69. Rosey
  70. THIRTY-FIVE
  71. Byron
  72. THIRTY-SIX
  73. Rosey
  74. THIRTY-SEVEN
  75. Byron
  76. THIRTY-EIGHT
  77. Byron
  78. EPILOGUE
  79. A month later – New York City
  80. 14 months later - Star Falls
  81. MR. MAYFAIR
  82. Beck
  83. Beck
  84. Stella
  85. BOOKS BY LOUISE BAY

And I’m not sure I want to go back.

If I’m honest, I haven’t liked my life in Oregon for a long time. I don’t like the person I was there, either. I want to be someone else, with different circumstances and a different future. I just need to figure out whether that future can start in Star Falls, or whether I’m just as far as ever from a life I actually want.

FOUR

Byron

Rosey needs a place to stay and I’m probably the only person in town who can provide it. That’s my fault, since I’ve rented out every available place in Star Falls. Giving her the cabin next to mine for a couple of nights is the least I can do. The only thing that makes letting Rosey stay palatable is that she’s not from around here. If I take a shower at four in the morning, the patrons of Grizzly’s won’t be talking about it the next day because she doesn’t know anyone.

By all accounts, Rosey’s only going to be here for a couple of days. The wedding dress is a clue she’s not looking to stay. She’s looking for escape.

I know the feeling.

I put some cash on the bar to cover both our drinks.

Rosey stands in my jacket, which completely drowns her, and tries to get the attention of the bartender. She offers me a smile. “I only have my phone to pay, so I just need to⁠—”

“I’ve got it covered,” I say, nodding to the cash I’ve laid out on the bar.

Her eyes go wide. “No, you can’t. I mean⁠—”

“Come on.” I head out. I don’t want to argue about paying for a shot of tequila. “Consider it a welcome to Star Falls.”

I hold the door open for her. She pauses before dipping under my arm. As she passes me, her arm grazes my chest, and at this brief touch, we both jump apart like we’re two magnets with our poles pointing toward each other.

“Sorry,” I mutter. I don’t want her to think I’m flirting. I’m not. The last thing I want is a one-night stand in a town that probably has my inside leg measurement in a central repository somewhere. As well as being gossips, the residents of Star Falls have long memories. A single indiscretion will last a lifetime.

I lead her toward my truck. She seems thoughtful, or maybe disappointed.

I open the passenger door and she climbs in. “Star Falls…” she says. “The name seems a little… ominous. Don’t you think?”

“Ominous? Because…?” I always thought Star Falls was a pretty name. Almost too pretty, given how ugly life got here for me.

“I’m just being silly. I’ve had a bad day and I’m not in the most positive mindset.”