Love on the Outskirts of Town Read online

  “I bought you another Christmas present, and then I chickened out of giving it to you,” he said. “Because we’re grown-ups, and rings have particular meaning, and I don’t want to rush you at all.”

  Her heart stopped at the word ring.

  “Tasha,” he murmured, kissing her again. “Shh, it’s okay.”

  “I don’t know…” She did, of course. Deep down.

  “One thing at a time,” he said softly. “Consider this a promise that one day, when you’re ready, I’ll get down on one knee.”

  She twisted her head to the left and looked at his hand. At the world’s thinnest twist of hearts and glittery stones. “Matt, what did you do?”

  “It’s a promise ring. Honest to God, that’s what it’s called. I don’t know what it says about me that Facebook ads seem to think I’m a lovestruck sixteen-year-old kid, but just before the holidays I saw this pop up and I thought, I want to give that to Natasha. And then I told myself that was insane. But I ordered it anyway, and it’s been in my bag ever since.”

  She blinked again, trying to take it in. Two hearts…no, three hearts. Two hearts in the form of an infinity symbol, and another one, the glittery one, wrapping through them.

  Her and Emily, forever. Matt embracing them both.

  It was a pretty big promise.

  She burst into tears.

  “I shouldn’t have done this at two in the morning. Or this soon. Or in general. Okay, let’s walk this back—”

  She grabbed him and pulled him down on top of her, silencing him with a kiss.

  He wasn’t allowed to take it back.

  The next day, Matt made breakfast for his girls. Then he started a group chat with his brothers.

  Matt: Who’s around today? I need help moving some furniture.

  Jake: I can help. Are you finally getting rid of your ugly couch?

  Matt: You’re fired.

  Jake: No, seriously. What are we moving?

  Dean: I’m free.

  Matt: Good. I’ll need some trucks, too.

  Sean: I can drive.

  Matt: Awesome. We can probably fit it all in the two loads.

  Dean: It all? What are we moving? And to where?

  Matt: Everything. To Natasha’s house.

  It took another ten seconds for his phone to start ringing. Well at least they called him instead of each other.

  He ignored Jake’s call and answered Sean’s instead. “Hey.”

  “You’re moving in with her? I still haven’t met this woman.”

  “We’ll fix that soon. Like, today. You can meet her when you bring my stuff to her house.”

  From across the room, Natasha’s head jerked up and she gave him a wide-eyed, what are you doing look.

  He winked at her and she blushed.

  Sean laughed in his ear. “Okay, fine. What time are we meeting at your place?”

  “I don’t know. We could have sorted that out via text but you all decided to call me instead.” There was a beep in his ear. He glanced at the screen. “Dean’s turn now, gotta go. I’ll text a time in a few minutes.”

  He ended that call and answered the next. “Hey to you as well.”

  “I’m not going to say you’re moving too quickly—”

  “Good, because I’m really not.”

  “Isn’t this a little out of left field?”

  “Only because I didn’t think she liked me this much. I took an opportunity, man. I love her, and she’ll have me here, so…boom. Done.”

  “All right. Liana wants to know what kind of wine she likes.”

  “Red. Or a good bottle of whiskey if you have it.”

  When he hung up the phone, Tasha had her hands over her face. “Oh my God,” she groaned. “Are we going to have a spontaneous housewarming party this afternoon? You’re telling people to bring me booze?”

  “They asked. And of course we aren’t doing a housewarming party today. You have work tonight. We’ll have the party tomorrow afternoon.”

  She groaned again and then lifted her head. Her eyes were soft. “I guess this is happening.”

  “I apologize in advance for my family.”

  “They love you.”

  “And I love you. It’s going to be just fine.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that, mister.” She cupped his face. “Hey, if you’re bringing your bed over, maybe bring your couch too.”

  “You don’t like my couch.”

  “I like it just fine for in here. For us. The red velvet one can go in the apartment for all the transient hipsters who want to give me their pennies.”

  “Clever girl.”

  He left shortly thereafter to head back to Pine Harbour. His brothers met him at his apartment building, where he backed in next to Sean.

  “I only have about an hour,” Jake said. “I had to leave Cal with Dad, and you can imagine how that’s going to go when we hit nap time.”

  “Then let’s get to work,” Dean said, slinging an armful of bungee cords and tarps into the back of Sean’s truck.

  It took them forty-five minutes to get his couch into Sean’s truck and fit a couple of bookcases around it. Then they dismantled his bed and loaded that into his own vehicle.

  “Do we need to fit the dresser in there?” Dean asked skeptically, looking at the overflowing bed.

  “Nah. Strangers don’t need to move in to Natasha’s apartments, they just need a bedside table, and I’ll come back and grab that tomorrow. Or…” He dug out his spare key and handed it to his oldest brother. “You and Liana could pick it up before you come over mid-afternoon.”

  “What’s happening tomorrow afternoon?”

  Matt looked at all of his brothers. “It’s time for you guys to meet the woman I love.”

  Dean held out his hand and they clapped their palms together before he was yanked in for a hug. Then Sean mauled him, a rough embrace that Matt felt right to his soft feelings place inside.

  And as those two headed for their cars, it was Jake’s turn.

  “About tomorrow…”

  He waved his hand as his brother trailed off. “Nah. Come. Please. We’re all good. Natasha told me that you came into the lumber store.”

  Jake laughed. “Dude, I wasn’t going to say I wouldn’t come. I was going to ask if I should bring any power tools.”

  Matt nodded as he screwed up his face. Shit, he fucked that up out of the gate. “Right, that’s better.”

  Bumping his shoulder, Jake kept chuckling. “But good to know that’s where your mind went a little bit.”

  “I just overthought things for a moment. Tasha’s a little overwhelmed with the suddenness of all of…” He gestured toward the full trucks. “This. Not us, but the influx of Foster stuff and Foster brothers and Foster…noise.”

  “Well, I have to go get my kid, so that’s one less bit of noise today. And tomorrow, I’m serious. If there’s anything I can do to help with the renovations, just let me know.”

  Matt hadn’t talked about the work Natasha was doing in anything but the broadest, vaguest of terms. He didn’t waver from that now. “I’ll ask her about it. Thanks.”

  Matt texted before they left Pine Harbour in a convoy of furniture-laden vehicles. Natasha would have been stress cleaning her house if there was anything in it.

  There wasn’t, so she took Emily on a quick beer run instead. Matt’s brothers were coming over, or at least the two she hadn’t met yet.

  “Maybe we should get snacks, too, baby, what do you think?”

  “Can we get cookies?”

  Maybe they’d had too many treats lately. “For tomorrow. We’re going to have a little party with Matt’s family.”

  “What kind of party?”

  Natasha swallowed hard and glanced at the ring on her right hand. “A welcome to our little family kind of party. Matt’s brothers are all kind of like uncles to you. And there will be a little boy there, too.”

  “A baby?”

  “A toddler. Smaller than you, though.”


  “Babies are cute.”

  She smiled to herself. “Yep.”

  The beer store was on the other side of town, a mini standalone store. She pulled up right next to the door and left the engine running to keep Emily warm. She loved living in a small town for a lot of reasons, and that was high up on the list. Inside, she paid for a two-four at the cash while keeping an eye on her car.

  She loved small town life, but she could thank her time with David in the city for her wariness.

  Speaking of him… Once she was back in the car, beer safely stowed in the trunk, she pulled out her phone, because she hadn’t heard from him since he cancelled that weekend’s visit.

  Natasha: Hope that work emergency got sorted out. Can we confirm your next weekend with Emily?

  To his credit, he responded right away. Less to his credit, it had a sarcastic bite, but she’d started that.

  David: Your genuine concern is appreciated. At work today, in fact. But I’ve blocked two weekends from now off in my calendar and will take her no matter what.

  It took three attempts to get a be-the-bigger-person response just right.

  Natasha: Thank you. Please keep me posted.

  Then she put her phone away and went to the grocery store to get cookies. For today and tomorrow, because these were stressful times.

  When they got back to the house, Matt’s truck was in the drive, and another pickup was parked on the street.

  She pulled in behind Matt and unbuckled Emily. “Shall we go see what’s going on?”

  Emily looked at the front door nervously.

  “It’s okay,” Natasha whispered, as much to herself as her daughter.

  The door swung open, and there was Matt. Big and smiling and far too handsome for his own good.

  Natasha took a deep breath and grabbed the beer.

  Emily had run up to the porch, but lingered there, shooting glances backward. Matt didn’t urge her inside, even though it was cold out. He crouched down at her level and waited for Tasha with her.

  “I thought I should get some beer,” Natasha said when she joined them. “And then we hit the grocery store to stock up on stuff, too.”

  Matt stood up and looked her straight in the eye. “That was really thoughtful.” Not you didn’t need to do that, because she did. And he got that. “Come on. We’ve already moved the red couch to the apartments, making room for the bachelor pad explosion.”

  That made her laugh. “Excellent.”

  Inside, she found two Foster brothers, immediately recognizable as relatives of Matt and Jake. “Hi,” she said to both of them.

  Matt took the case of beer from her and gestured. “Natasha, these are my brothers. Dean…”

  She shook his hand.

  “And Sean.” The younger one stepped forward, his cane moving fluidly with his body.

  “Nice to meet you both.”

  Matt stowed the beer in the kitchen while she was saying that. “And this is Natasha,” he said as he returned quickly. “Who stole my heart over a cupcake.”

  She laughed and beamed up at him. “I think that was actually Emily.”

  “Yeah, a little bit.” He scooped up her daughter. “Hey, should we bring in the new couch?”

  “Okay,” Em whispered, burying her face in Matt’s neck.

  “How about we get out of your way and put that beer in the fridge?” Natasha offered, taking Emily from him.

  And that was that. The guys went back to work, bringing in Matt’s couch first, which really was excellent and better for family lounging than the red velvet one. Then they took his bed around the back and into the more finished of the two units.

  When they were done, they gathered in the kitchen. Sean waved off the offer of a beer, but Dean took one and so did Matt.

  There was no grand inquisition. Neither of them even looked at her funny. They were kind and entertaining and good with Emily.

  “That’s a pretty nice space you’ve got back there,” Sean said. “And Matt says you aren’t looking for long-term tenants?”

  She nodded. “The business model for short-term holiday rental is pretty attractive. More risk, but better reward if you work it hard enough. I never wanted to be a landlord, either.”

  Dean nodded. “Being a landlord is stressful.”

  “Yeah. And honestly, I didn’t even think about that seriously. My background is in hospitality and tourism.”

  The conversation slid from there to cooking and the dinner they needed to make before she headed to work that night. Matt’s brothers left quickly after that, promising to be back the next day with their wives for a longer visit.

  Once they were alone, she went around back and looked at Matt’s bedroom furniture set up in the apartment. She’d ordered new bedding, crisp white hotel linens, and she squinted, seeing the room finished.

  It was perfect.

  Now she just needed to get the bathroom done and all those little touches wrapped up, and she could start renting it out.

  Back on her side of the house, she found Matt and Emily curled up on his old couch with a storybook. She leaned against the kitchen doorframe and watched them, her loves.

  Once Emily was done and went to play with her toys, Matt got up and gestured at the wall. “You know… When we finish the apartments, and the big idea wall is done, we can bring in my TV.”

  “The big-ass bachelor-sized television?”

  “No?”

  She grinned at him and twirled in a circle. “Who says the planning stops with the apartments?”

  “You’ll want another project,” he said softly. “Of course you will.”

  “I’ve got big dreams.” Boy, that felt good to say. “Long-term dreams.”

  “I’m in. I can’t wait to get started on the next Escape Inn.”

  She laughed, feeling giddy. “Oh God.”

  “That’s what you mean, right?”

  “You knew that when you ordered me the guest register. Escape Inn Wiarton. Nice pun, by the way.”

  “Where’s the next one after that? Escape Inn Port Elgin, Escape Inn…”

  She knew exactly where she’d look next. “Pine Harbour.”

  Matt pulled her in close, and she knew that was the right answer. And maybe the next house would have room for a big idea wall and a TV.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Natasha’s phone rang at ten o’clock that night, while she was mid-pour on a tray of pints for a celebrating women’s curling team.

  In the past, she’d always turned the ringer off while working, but this was only Matt’s second night alone with Emily. So as soon as she was finished with the tray of drinks, she grabbed the phone, ready to call him back.

  But it wasn’t Matt. It was David.

  She didn’t bother to leave behind the bar, she just hit the call button. He picked up on the first ring.

  “Sorry about the late hour,” he said.

  “It’s fine. What’s up?”

  “I can come up tomorrow and take Emily for a day or two. I can use vacation time to make up the lost weekend. I shouldn’t have cancelled.”

  Natasha leaned against the bar, truly stunned. “What?”

  He sighed. “Especially after you reamed me out for overstepping. I just got lost in this project, but we wrapped it up today and I want to make it up to Emily. And…to you.”

  She wouldn’t give him a cookie for essentially doing what he’d said he’d do in the first place, but there was something in his voice that softened her heart a little. “We’re having Matt’s family over for an informal get together in the afternoon tomorrow. Could you work around that?”

  “Sure. I can take Monday off. Pick her up at three tomorrow, bring her back the same time the next day?”

  “That works.” She paused. “She starts pre-school on Tuesday. Do you think you could take her backpack shopping? We were going to do that on Monday.”

  “I can do that.”

  When she hung up the phone, she stood there looking at
the dark screen for quite a while, until Malcolm came out to tell her the kitchen was closing up. She went up on her tiptoes, raised her voice, and announced it was last call for food.

  Her boss, and her friend, was looking at her with curiosity when she rocked back on her heels.

  “What?”

  “You’ve changed.”

  “Stress will do that to you.”

  “Stress doesn’t usually make you…content.”

  She laughed. “Is that what I look like? Content?”

  “Don’t knock it. It’s a good look.”

  She took a deep breath. “Yeah. I guess it is. And I suppose I am. I’m going to miss it here, though.”

  “We’ll have you back any time. Kick the new bartender to wait service.”

  She pushed at his shoulder and he held out his arms. Leaning in, she gave him a tight hug. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”

  “You’ve been one of the most reliable employees I’ve ever had. The thanks are all mine. Now get out of here.” He pulled an envelope from his back pocket. “Your final pay, in cash. Vacation pay and a small bonus are in there too, because you’re going to do great things and I want you to remember me fondly when you do.”

  She took the thick bundle, trying not to get choked up. “That’s not necessary.”

  “Yeah, well…” He shrugged. “I think it is. So there.”

  So there.

  “Now get out of here. Go home to your baby and get an extra hour of sleep tonight.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m going to hit on the curling team. If we’re lucky, we’ll close the place down together.”

  She held up her hands. “Fair enough. Best of luck.”

  When she got home, Matt was passed out in her bed. She crawled in next to him and he slung his arm over her, mumbling something about trolls.

  The next morning sped by in a blur of Natasha trying to make her house look absolutely perfect in a casual, it’s-always-been-like-this kind of way.

  Which was ridiculous because two of Matt’s three brothers had already been there the day before, but she didn’t even try to talk herself out of the ridiculousness. Some things just needed to be given a white flag of surrender, and neurotically wanting to impress her boyfriend’s family was one of those things.