Chapter 2

Diana Snow took a long, deep breath. What a way to start her new life in a new town.

Why wouldn’t this man leave her alone? Her pity party was supposed to be a table for one.

She didn’t need a stranger seeing her like this—because this wasn’t her. She was the kind of woman who organized everything, made to-do lists, and had every lesson plan in a color-coded binder. She even kept an Excel spreadsheet of her wardrobe to help coordinate outfits for work. But no matter how carefully she planned, dreams never seemed to come true. Not once. So maybe being rational wasn’t worth it anymore.

Her fingers traced over the beadwork on the dress in her hands. The dress. A perfect white silk creation with a bodice encrusted with seed pearls and tiny satin bows. It had taken thirteen shopping trips to find it.

And she hadn’t even cried when her fiancé, Scott, told her he wasn’t in love with her and canceled the wedding.

With a fucking letter.

He hadn’t even had the decency to face her. The coward. In the letter, he’d calmly explained that he’d met his soul mate... two weeks before the wedding. Obviously, he’d been cheating on her.

She felt like an idiot.

Not one tear had fallen during the long drive from Denver to Middletown. But for some reason, as she unpacked her suitcase in her new room, her body had started to ache. It wasn’t quite heartburn—it was worse. No matter how tightly she hugged a pillow to her chest, the pain in the pit of her stomach stayed.

Leaving Denver had been her only option. All her friends were really Scott’s friends, and she didn’t want to bump into him and his “true love” at barbecues or social gatherings.

Diana shook her head, trying to clear the mental fog.

Had she really just thrown herself into a stranger’s arms? Her cheeks burned. “What must he think of me?” Not exactly a stellar first impression.

Even with his relaxed posture, Diana knew Steve would move fast if she tried anything reckless with the dress again. Not that she planned to.

The man took a slow step toward her. “How can I help you?”

She looked up and locked eyes with him for the first time. They were warm—hazel, she thought—with just enough kindness to rattle her already-raw emotions.

Diana swallowed hard and shrugged. “I’m okay.”

He raised a brow. “Are you sure? You could talk to me if that would help. I’ll listen.”

His voice was calm and steady, like a life preserver in rough water.

“I’m sorry. This isn’t how I usually am. You caught me at a bad time.”

She clutched the dress to her stomach. Maybe she’d sell it at a consignment shop in town. Get a little money out of it. Something to help her save for a place of her own. Though the sooner she had a place, the more likely the loneliness would creep in.

Diana set the dress on top of the washing machine. No need to bring it back to her room. Up there, it would only be a painful reminder.

“I’m Steve,” he said. “I’m a friend of Percy and Laura, the owners. I’m helping with some repairs while her husband’s working out of town. Do you want me to go get her?”

Diana shook her head.

“Is there something I can do for you?”

“Just go. Please.” Her voice cracked despite her effort to hold it together. “I’m sure you have better things to do.”

“Right now, making sure you’re safe is the most important thing on my list.”

She bit her lip. She couldn’t exactly make him leave—not if he was friends with the owners.

Diana turned her back to him. A shiver ran down her spine. Why are basements always so cold?

Steve cleared his throat. “You’re pretty quiet—for a girl.”

“For a girl, huh?” Diana turned around, fighting back the first real smile of the day.

A soft grin tugged at his lips. “I have a sister. Grace. She talks a mile a minute.”

Diana let out a small laugh.

“I’m sorry we had to meet like this,” she said, already moving toward the stairs. “I’ll just go to my room.”

She grabbed the railing and paused at the first step. Steve opened his mouth, as if he had something to say—but didn’t.

Without another glance, Diana climbed the stairs and tried to forget the image of the kind-eyed man standing alone in the basement.