Page 9 of Double Booked

“Why don’t you give it a few days and see how it goes?”

“Like a test period?”

“Exactly. You should probably come up with a list of house rules.”

That idea gave her pause. “Like no leaving dirty dishes in the sink, no wet towels on the bathroom floor, that type of thing.”

“No playing loud music after a certain time, no strolling around naked,” Hope added.

“Nobody’s getting naked,” Eden asserted. She glanced down at her robe and slippers. “It’s bad enough that he saw me in my pajamas.”

“Already?”

“This morning I came out for coffee. I have a robe on, but still.”

Hope chuckled. “This ought to be a riot.”

Eden shook her head. “There’s nothing funny about being forced to live with a stranger, Hope.”

“At least it’s only temporary. I guarantee you’ll look back on this someday and laugh.”

She’d thought the same thing, but she didn’t admit it. “We’ll see,” she muttered.

“I have to get back to work,” Hope said. “I just stepped away from my desk to call and make sure you were okay.” Her sister was a legal assistant at a busy law office in Detroit.

“Thanks for calling. I’ll keep you posted.”

“You better, and don’t forget to send pictures of your hot roommate.”

“I never said he was hot,” Eden argued. But it was too late as her sister had already hung up. Frowning, she tucked her phone into the pocket of her robe.

Hope hadn’t solved her problem, but Eden liked her idea about making a list of rules. She was a wordsmith, after all. As an editor, she mostly read other people’s words, but she’d toyed with the idea of writing a book someday. Doesn’t everyone? Until now, she’d been too busy with her job and boyfriend—ex boyfriend—to pursue it. Still, she enjoyed writing in any form, including making lists.

Having already set up a workstation at the desk in her bedroom, she sat down and logged into her laptop. She opened Word, thought for a few minutes, and then began to type. Soon, she’d written a list of rules she thought was reasonable. Later, when Cole returned, she’d discuss it with him. They could revise it, if necessary, though she’d covered almost everything, including Hope’s suggestion of not strolling around naked.

Feeling liked she’d accomplished something, she shut down the laptop. Her next order of business was to get dressed and go to the grocery store. Other than coffee and bottled water, there was nothing to eat in the cabin.

According to her rule, she and Cole could go grocery shopping separately and pay for their own food, or go together, and split the bill. Since he wasn’t here, she’d go alone this time, which was fine with her. She hadn’t intended on shopping for two, anyway.

She took out her phone, opened her notes app, and made a grocery list. It felt oddly liberating to do so without taking anyone else into account, namely her ex-boyfriend. For the past year, they’d practically lived together at his apartment, though she’d kept her own place too. Somehow, she’d assumed responsibility for grocery shopping and making most of the meals. Patrick was a stickler about avoiding certain foods, and she smiled as she added strawberry Pop-Tarts to the list. Take that!

She wondered if Cole would say anything when he saw them in the pantry. Who cares, she thought defiantly. I don’t have to answer to him or anyone. It was one of the main reasons she’d been looking forward to this semi-vacation. After their breakup, she’d been desperate to get away, physically and mentally. Admittedly, that was also why she’d had such a negative reaction to sharing the cabin.

Her breakup had left such a bad aftertaste that she wanted nothing to do with men for the foreseeable future, except her dad. She was determined to rely solely on herself, making her own decisions without judgment. She intended to fly solo for a long time, or at least until she felt emotionally strong and healthy again.

When or if she got involved with someone, she vowed not to lose herself in the process. That had been her biggest mistake with Patrick. She’d given so much of herself to their relationship and ended up with nothing but heartache in return.

She’d learned a valuable lesson, and she’d never make that mistake again.

Four

Cole entered the cabin carrying two bags of groceries. The scene that greeted him looked idyllic. A beautiful woman was curled up on a chair in front of the stone fireplace. A cozy blanket was draped over her lap and she held a book in her hands. However, when she looked at him, her face fell, reminding him this wasn’t idyllic at all.

“Hey,” he said, setting the bags on the kitchen counter.

“You bought groceries.”

“Yep.”