Midlife Love Story

I flashed a satisfied smile. “That’s because you’re a very smart man, Mayor Chase. Hop in.” Chase got into the vehicle much easier than I ever could, and I would have been impressed if I weren’t so jealous. “Good job.”

“Thanks,” he smirked. “So where is this barn?”

I sighed, because this was the tricky part. “It’s not one hundred percent ready for prime time yet, but it can be done if Pippa chooses it.” I cringed at my own words, because it was the worst thing a planner could say to a potential client. Here’s this great venue but it may or may not be available when you need it.

“That doesn’t tell me where it is.”

I shook my head and wagged a finger at him. “Nothing gets past you, does it?”

“Very little,” he admitted. “You’re stalling.”

I let out a shallow sigh and turned to Chase at a stop sign. “The property belongs to a family that has lived in Carson Creek for many years, possibly even generations. It’s been, for all intents, vacant for a few years but it won’t be for long.”

“So you want my sister to get married in a dilapidated barn?”

“Of course not, but this barn is much larger, and I’ll come out here myself to clean in my free time. I’ll do it, if this is the best property for Pippa and Ryan’s wedding.” I glared at him and dared him to question me further.

“Seems excessive, but this is your job, not mine.”

“Remember that,” I told him and continued on to York Farm. Back in the day the place was filled with animals and children, and plenty of delicious food. These days, for the past decade or more really, it had basically been derelict. Abandoned and neglected. “We’re here.”

“York Farm?” Chase laughed. “This place hasn’t been up and running for years, and it’ll take a lot more than a weekend or two of elbow grease to get it in working order.”

I arched a brow and shifted my Escalade into park. “And you’re so sure because of your vast experience farming or decorating?”

“Carlotta, for all you know, half the beams in that barn are rotten and need to be replaced.” He shook his head and stared at me for a long moment before he hopped out and opened my door for me. “Be reasonable. Please.”

“I’m always reasonable, Chase. Just because you’re prone to panicking doesn’t mean that this can’t be done.”

He gasped. “Prone to panicking? According to whom?”

I accepted his hand and slid from the car, my chin held high. “According to me, that’s who.”

“You’re wrong,” he insisted. “I don’t panic. Almost never,” he amended.

“Good, then you won’t have a problem with me taking a tour of the barn for myself. Will you?” I folded my arms and dared him to add more oil to the current fire raging inside of me.

Chase held his hands up in a defensive gesture. “No problem for me. In fact, consider my lips sealed.”

“Excellent. Come on.” I forged ahead through the tall grass, not stopping until I spotted the reddish-brown barn in the middle of a field. It would look better with wild flowers growing all around, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. “Wow,” I sighed. The place was huge, at least double the size of the other barn.

I pulled out my phone to take photos, to capture everything I saw so that I could paint a picture for Pippa or my other clients. The barn boasted a thick layer of dust over everything, but despite that, I could see its potential.

“You’re kidding,” Chase said behind me, his voice thick with disbelief.

“Not kidding,” I shot back, too busy taking photos to turn and see the look of skepticism I was sure was on his face. I got closer to the back of the barn, taking in every detail imaginable for later. Instead of watching where I was going, I focused on the image on my phone screen and kept snapping until my heel got stuck on a loose board. “Dammit.” My arms flailed almost comically for several moments, a face plant was imminent.

Arms wrapped around me and startled me even worse than the potential fall and my arms flailed even more, sending me and the hard body that belonged to Chase tumbling to the ground. “Well that’s a fine thank you,” he said seconds after we hit the ground.

“Thanks,” I groaned. “Much appreciated.” Chase’s lips twitched in good humor, and I realized how close we were in that moment. I could feel the quick pace of his heart against my chest, his firm abs against my squishy center, and what was behind his zipper pressed right up against me. “Really.”

I tried to get up and fell twice more, landing on his hard muscles. His really hard body. “Carlotta…”

I growled in frustration. “Is it really necessary to be so hard? Everywhere?”

Chase laughed and his hands gripped my hips with a firm grasp to stop my movements.

I gasped and looked at him, which was a big mistake.