Jamie: Seriously? She gave you her number? Does this mean you actually SPOKE to a woman?

Simon: Shut up. She gave it to ME so I could give it to YOU.

Jamie: Sweet. Thanks for passing it along.

Simon: You should have talked to her after the game. It was poor sportsmanship to stalk off like that.

Jamie: Whatever. I had somewhere to be.

Dave: You know he won’t lick his wounds in public, Simon. He’s too proud for that.

Cooper: Did you see that helicopter move she did at the end? She was RIGHT in front of you, Jamie, and then she was gone. Impressive.

Simon: Will you call her?

Cooper: If you won’t, I will.

Jamie: Lay off. I’ll call her.

Dave: Seriously? You never call anybody.

Jamie: You saw her, right? Seems like she might be worth it.

Chapter 2

Jamie was on my brain when I left for work Monday morning. He shouldn’t have been. First day of work. Brand-new job. Brand-new city. I had plenty to think about without him muddling things up. I waved to Granny Grace, who was on her front porch watering her flowers as I left.

“First day?” she called.

I turned back. “Yep. Wish me luck!”

“You don’t need luck, Lane. You’ll knock ’em dead just by walking into the room.” She smiled over her flowerpot. “Come tell me all about it when you get home.”

“Will do. See you later!” I climbed into my Honda and started the short drive to Winding Way. Had I been willing to crawl through Granny Grace’s back hedge, I could have crossed right onto inn property, cut through the back field, and made it to work in less than ten minutes. It felt silly to drive such a short distance, but 400-degree heat and the lack of sidewalks did that to me. Heels and all that grass? No.

I wore my favorite navy pencil skirt with a tiny kick pleat at the back and a green silk blouse that looked awesome against my dark skin. I’d had a great run that morning and a great breakfast. I felt good. Confident. Like it was going to be a good day.

All thoughts of Jamie or any kind of good day vanished when I pulled into the gravel parking lot behind Winding Way Inn. Something immediately felt off. When I’d interviewed for the job, the parking lot had been nearly full—employees of the onsite restaurant bustling in and out of the back kitchen doors, signs of life and activity everywhere. Sure, it was only 9:00 a.m., but the parking lot was empty—completely empty. I climbed out of my car and walked around the side of the building to the office entrance I’d been instructed to use. The door was locked.