Page 3 of Better Together

Colorful orange and yellow fall flowers in large pots and window boxes lined Main Street, and all the businesses had some sort of autumn motif displayed in their windows. She stopped to read a flyer on the city bulletin board. Santa Days at Deer Creek Lodge. How could that be only a little over a month away? Alexis waved to several people across the street and said a quick hello to the Sampson brothers, who were out for a ride in their luxury golf cart. They had the nicest cart she’d ever seen: electric purple with a black racing stripe, leather bucket seats, and LED console lights.

Owen Jacobs’s black truck pulled up to the curb, and she waited for Maggie and Owen to exit. Owen had married her best friend on Labor Day. Alexis sighed at the thought of having someone who loved her as much as Owen loved Maggie. The two of them worked together as a team on the Lucky Lure Resort, which Maggie had inherited from her grandfather.

Alexis longed for someone to share her love of construction, particularly renovation. And if she was honest with herself, share her bed. Renovating homes and businesses could be dirty and frustrating work, but the sense of accomplishment at bringing old buildings back to life was well worth it.

“Hey, Alexis.” Owen stepped onto the sidewalk and wrapped her in a hug.

Maggie hugged her next, even though they’d seen each other an hour before. “I thought we might catch you getting ice cream.”

“Ha! You know me well. All you had to do was mention my favorite flavor. I was on my way over there now. Are you headed there too?”

“Maybe later. We’re having dinner at Mario’s. You should join us.”

Alexis’s phone rang. She fished it out of her back pocket, held it up, and said, “You guys go ahead. I have to take this. But thanks for asking.”

“Text me after your next date!” Maggie called.

Alexis chuckled and answered her phone. “Hi, Brad.”

Brad Scott, her foreman for several years, sounded agitated.

“Slow down . . . of course. Keep me posted.” Alexis slipped her phone into her pocket. Brad’s wife, pregnant with their first child, was in labor. Alexis knew he had planned to take a couple weeks off when the baby was born, but she had hoped they’d be further along on the church remodel.

She approached the window of The Hut. “I’ll take a double scoop of Pumpkin Pie in a waffle cone.” She’d planned to order a single, but she was an emotional eater. Although happy for Brad, his phone call meant she’d be working more hours, hence the double scoop.

“Coming right up.”

* * *

No longer hungry after her large dessert, and socially exhausted from the day, Alexis headed for her bedroom to change into her bikini. When she’d remodeled her fifties bungalow, intending to flip it, she’d eliminated the smallest of the three bedrooms to create a large master suite. The day she planned on listing her house, Zeke had bought the house next door. Needless to say, she didn’t list. Instead, she added a hot tub and patio, deciding to use her home as a showcase for potential clients.

She grabbed her fluffy white bathrobe and headed outside. She slipped into the warm water of her hot tub, turned the massaging jets on high, closed her eyes, and tried not to think about the longer workdays to come.

CHAPTER TWO

Los Angeles

Ezekiel “Zeke” Reynolds wondered why he’d agreed to leave his sister’s wedding reception to babysit, or rather protect, America’s sweetheart, who took unnecessary risks. He couldn’t keep Mandy Blake holed up in her house any longer. She had an awards ceremony to attend, and a stalker wasn’t going to make her miss it even though his threats had escalated in the last couple of weeks since Zeke arrived. Good thing his brother paid well. He had a bad feeling today, and he didn’t like it when his spidey senses were on high alert.

Scorching sun and high winds made him wish for fall in Minnesota. As he escorted Miss Blake into an upscale boutique to buy a dress, he scanned the area for any threats. Catching a glimpse in the reflective glass of the boutique’s window, he only had a split second before everything went to hell.

Bullets whizzed past his head.

He screamed to the pedestrians on the crowded street, “Get down!”

Zeke tackled America’s sweetheart to the concrete sidewalk, landing on top of her. Blood oozed from the searing pain in his arm. “Damn it, not again,” he grumbled.

He heard screams and more gunshots. And then the words “Zeke. We got him” came through his com.

“About damn time. Call an ambulance.”

* * *

Zeke was used to being away for weeks or months on end, but now all he wanted to do was return home. After getting shot, the only person who flashed through his mind was Alexis Welby. They’d been spending a lot of time together lately, maybe that was why. Who was he kidding? Friend or not, he was attracted to Alexis. What guy wouldn’t be, with her sexy-as-hell toned body, her short blond hair, and her kissable lips. But it wasn’t just her physical features; she was kind to everyone and always went out of her way to help others.

They’d been friends for a long time, and he didn’t want to mess that up. Besides, Maggie would kick his ass if he did. What the heck was he going to do?

The sting from the antiseptic made him wince, bringing him out of his reverie. The ER doctor cleaned his left bicep then gently wrapped his gunshot wound. “I heard you’re quite the hero,” she said.