One More Time

"I loved this book... It is definitely one of the best second chance romances I've read.

"I felt every emotion that this author intended for you to feel while reading her book."

The light from the phone she held illuminated her face. A smile tugged at her lips. She turned away. A shame. He wanted to watch her grin spread.

"Good night, Kyle. Thanks for checking on me, but as you can see, I'm fine. No wild animal or drunk college kid has assaulted me."

On a grunt, she hefted the trunk and started walking away from where she'd left her car. Well, shuffled described her awkward steps better. He watched her struggle with her unusual baggage, puzzled by the older Ronnie. She'd gotten good at avoiding questions. It only stoked his curiosity.

He fell into step next to her.

She glanced at him. "Why are you still following me?"

"Figured you'd need me to carry that for you."

"I can manage."

He glanced from her fingers tightened around the handles to the strained muscles in her arms. "Looks heavy."

"I'm stronger than you think."

He matched her slow pace. "I can see that."

"Then why are you still here?"

"Well, the cabin is a good half mile up the mountain, and once you realize you can't spend the night there, you're going to have to carry that thing back down."

She stopped and carefully set the trunk onto the ground. "Why can't I stay there? I do own it."

"So you turned the power back on and had somebody clean it?"

She licked her lips. "I don't need lights, and a little dirt won't kill me. I'll survive a night. It'll be like camping, and I'll call a mechanic in the morning. So, you see, I'm fine. I don't need you."

He bit his cheek to stop his grin. "And I suppose you don't need water or to be able to flush the toilet either." He gave up and let his amusement show. "Need power to run the well pump, Ronnie."

She glanced from the trunk at her feet to the road in front of her. "I need to get up there."

"Tonight?"

She gave a small shake of her head. "I guess not."

"How about I get you somewhere that has running water, then bring you out here tomorrow?"

"Being my hero again?"