She gave a thumbs-up and climbed in. Within moments, the car was disappearing into the mass of student traffic.

That was that. She was moving to Harmony, and Caleb was going to try his hand at running the diner there.

I hated change.

Chapter 8

Fate

I was continuing into the night, unsure how my life was going to change without Caleb and Julia around as often, when I crashed into someone. I straightened and winced when I saw it was the older woman the blonde, Cassandra, had helped earlier. The box in her hands hit the ground, papers scattering around us. It was then I noticed she’d been crying. She wiped her eyes, apologizing for her haste.

“It’s my fault,” I told her, attempting to catch as many papers as I could despite the gusts of wind.

“Oh,” she replied, sobbing harder, “just let them go. Let the wind carry it all away, just like it did my darling.” She lowered herself carefully onto the steps outside the building, bracing herself on the railing. “I can’t run this place without him, and I know what those young suits want to do with it. I won’t let them shut this place down and turn it into some computer-box newspaper.”

I held back my grin at her lack of knowledge on the Web.

“You want to see the paper come to life again,” I said, sitting down beside her. I had nowhere else to be, and I hated to see a woman, of any age, in tears.

“I do, but it’s not going to happen. I need to accept it already. No one reads the blasted thing.” She grimaced, rubbing her wrinkled little hands together for warmth. “No one in this town cares if the paper even exists anymore.”

“I doubt that’s true. Maybe you need to focus on new topics, or bring in some younger blood?” I offered.

“Maybe.” She looked hopeless.

“Or maybe you just need someone with a passion for it.”

“Yes, exactly, but I don’t have time to keep looking. The vultures are circling, and I’ve no other options.”

I knew exactly the girl with that passion. She wasn’t ready yet, but after college she would be. And in the meantime, I could use her on staff to revive the paper. It was like any other business, I figured: all about hiring the right people for the job.

I wasn’t sure how it’d work, but I knew Lawrence could manage the home office and that Caleb was right about how Oliver would love the open space of the country. It was as though the blocks were lining up just for me to trip over and see that maybe this was the change I needed.

“Can we go inside to talk a moment?” I asked, standing and holding out my hand to help her up.

“I’m sorry, young man. I’m in a hurry tonight. I’ve lost my head, and now I’ve lost track of time.”

I held firm, my features sincere. “Please. I think I can help.”

She regarded me cautiously. I stood there under her scrutiny until, very hesitantly, she agreed, taking my hand as she stood. “I have pepper spray in my pocketbook.”

I chuckled. “Always best to play it safe.”

“Indeed. Well, come on then, let’s get out of the cold.” I followed her back inside the building she’d emerged from: The Harmony Tribune.

***

There’s something to be said for a strong-willed woman, and Louise—it took forever, but I finally got the elderly woman’s name—was as tough as they came. We talked for over an hour, discussing her dreams for the paper and the price she was asking for it. It wasn’t about money as much as a certain request: She wanted to stay on in any way possible. She’d grown up helping out there, and she wanted to end her days the same way.

I agreed easily and watched her face light up, her expression softening. Turned out that why no other so-called vultures were good enough was because they saw her as a liability, whereas I saw her as the charm.

We shook hands, agreeing I’d be back in a few weeks with contracts before I headed back out, ready to accept the massive and unpredictable waves I’d set in motion. It was irresponsible on multiple levels, but for the first time since I’d become a father, I dived in, confident Oliver and I would enjoy the swim.

I sent a quick text to Caleb.

I’m in.

I’d explain the rest later.

It only took a minute before the phone dinged with his reply.

Good, but ur missing out over here. No gag reflex. heaven.

There was always fun to be had with Caleb, and I was about to hit Reply and explain that I was on my way back when two women in their late twenties approached me. Both were tall brunettes, and one had an ass in the shape of a peach. My mouth watered. Caleb was on his own.

“Hello, ladies.” I smiled just enough.

“Hi,” the Peach replied. “We saw you walking out here all alone, and were just wondering if you needed a ride.”

“Depends—where do you want to take me?” I replied salaciously.

“You live around here?” she shot back.

I shook my head. “No. You?”

“Yeah, in a way. A town over. This is the closest place to come to find, um…” She searched for the right words.

“You have a thing for college boys,” I finished for her.

“What can I say? They have hard bodies and excellent stamina, and are always eager to please.”

My brows rose. I was impressed with her honesty. “Well, I’m not in school, but I can provide the rest.”

The women, both dressed in jackets and tight jeans, stepped closer to me on the sidewalk.

“Just to clarify, is this a fee-based invite?” I questioned, running my fingers up the Peach’s arm. I didn’t pay for sex.

She didn’t even wince at the insinuation. “We’re just two bored girls looking to get off.”

My grin broadened. “Then you’ve come to the right guy. Is there a hotel around this place?”

“Not one I’d visit, but we know a place that’s always open.” The Peach wrapped her arm around me and slid her hand into my back pocket, squeezing my ass. “We’re parked over here.”

I followed without complaint, unconcerned with where this so-called place was.

The drive wasn’t long, but it held nothing except trees to watch as we drove away from Main Street. I sat in the front seat with my hand between the Peach’s legs, cupping the mound hidden under the tight fabric there as her friend watched from the backseat. There were no houses or buildings to be seen from the windows until we were suddenly pulling into a driveway.

There was a gate she knew the code for, and we pulled in. The house had to have been the largest in Harmony. It was noticeably out of place compared to the rest, but situated so far out it was its own place. The only thing around it was the small house next door, meek and ordinary in comparison but appearing well cared for.

The For Sale sign we’d passed in front had my gears turning.

“Who lives here?” I asked, climbing the front steps.

“No one,” replied the Peach. “It’s been on the market for a while.” She opened the lockbox on the doorknob and removed the key, unlocking the front door effortlessly before flipping the light switch to illuminate the space’s beauty.

“You’re in real estate?” I asked, strolling in casually, more interested in a tour of the house than their luscious bodies.