Serena’s instructions said to look for a ski fence. She didn’t know what that was, but when she saw it, it made sense. It was literally old skis fastened together, and it made Josh and Megan’s house easy to find. Emma took a deep breath, stepped onto the porch, and knocked on the door. A pretty brunette wearing a sleeping baby in a sling opened the door. “You must be Emma,” she smiled, rubbing the back of the sleeping infant. “I’m Megan.”

  “Hi, Megan, nice to meet you.” Emma held out the bouquet. “I brought you this.”

  “Oh, that wasn’t necessary, but they’re so beautiful.” Megan took the bouquet. “You can leave your umbrella on the porch – come on in.”

  Emma wiped her rubber boots on the sisal doormat and stepped into the warmth of Megan and Josh’s home. A fire crackled in the hearth, and she was met with the mouth-watering smell of barbecued ribs and cornbread.

  “Emma’s here,” Megan announced over the music. The group who was huddled around the kitchen island all turned and she swore that every single one of them smiled at the same time as they said, “Hi, Emma.”

  A handsome man wearing a plaid shirt dried his hands on a tea towel and took the strawberry shortcake from her hands. “Nice to meet you, Emma. I’m Josh.”

  “Pleasure.” She held out her hand.

  Josh shuffled the cake in his arm so he could shake it.

  Emma looked to the group, hoping to find one familiar face. “Here, take my seat,” an impossibly tall man slid off his stool and pulled it out for Emma, extending his hand, he said, “I’m Logan. Nice to meet you.”

  Emma shook his hand. “Charlotte O’Hare’s Logan?”

  His eyes crinkled as he laughed. “I guess that’s how the introductions are going these days. Yes, I’m Mr. O’Hare. How do you know Charlotte?” Logan asked. “Wait, before you tell me, what are you drinking?”

  “Have you got a beer?” She didn’t want to be too demanding and slid onto the barstool.

  “We sure do.”

  He opened the fridge and she heard the clanging of glass as he rattled off names of beers. “Are you okay with something a little hoppy?” He looked up over the door.

  “Sure,” Emma smiled. She wondered if everyone in Chance Rapids was ridiculously good looking. So far, every single man she had met, looked like he had wandered off the pages of an outdoorsman magazine.

  Logan popped the cap off a large bottle and poured most of it into a glass. He handed her both the glass and the bottle. “Thank you.” Emma raised her glass and Logan raised his and they drank. He was right, the beer was hoppy, but there was another ingredient that finished it off smoothly. She picked up the bottle and examined the label. It was a cartoon of a snowman and the beer was called ‘A Snowball’s Chance.’ “Is that carrot I’m tasting?” she patted her tongue on the roof of her mouth trying to identify the flavor.

  “Maybe.” Logan raised his shoulder. “You’ll have to ask Charlie.”

  Charlie.

  Her heart leaped into her throat. Of course, he was going to be there. She heard voices from the back deck and wondered if the deeper one belonged to him. She smoothed out her hair, hoping that the humidity and the walk in the rain hadn’t ruined the beachy waves she’d carefully created with her flat iron. She knew that it was too soon to be excited about a man. She had enough on her plate; moving to a new town and starting a new business - the last thing she needed was to get her soul crushed by a man. Inviting a bartender into her life would be a terrible choice – probably the worst she’d made in years – other than getting engaged to Adam. She shivered with the thought of him. Looking around the room, she saw happy, loving couples. But the skeptic in her wondered what really went on between all of them. They couldn’t ALL be this happy with each other. She took a sip of her beer and tried to focus on what Josh, Logan, and Megan were talking about, but couldn’t stop her eyes from darting to the French doors, wondering if Charlie was standing out there, just a few feet from where she was sitting. Her heart thudded against her ribs and she realized she was holding her breath. The conversation came back into focus, and they were talking about the same article she had read. One about Chance Rapids being the next new ‘it’ destination for weddings.

  “Is that why you started your business here?” Megan asked. She subtly bobbed and rocked her baby as she crunched tortilla chips, laughing as she brushed the crumbs off her baby’s little cotton cap.

  “It is,” Emma smiled. “I have always loved flowers, and I needed a new start. The idea just kind of came to me one day and I went with it.” She shrugged, hearing how ridiculous it sounded when she said it out loud.

  “That’s amazing,” Megan continued to eat tortilla chips. “Sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet. Right, babe?” She leaned toward Josh and he turned and kissed her on the forehead.

  “Of course,” he smiled and agreed without hearing what the heck they were talking about. Out of her peripheral vision, the French door opened and as much she tried not to look, her eyes were drawn to the deck. Behind a heaping plate of ribs, was long dark hair and a big smile. She recognized the woman immediately, Charlotte, her realtor. Behind her, her breath caught in her throat, and then she felt ridiculous when Freddie followed behind with a plate of burgers.

  Knowing that Charlie wasn’t here at all, Emma could let her guard down. Her body had been as tense as a bow and now she melted into the warmth of her new friends and one too many ribs. She wiped her hands on a paper towel, “That was amazing,” she declared. “I haven’t had ribs in years. Thank you.”

  “Thank Josh. He’s the barbecue master.” Megan pointed at her husband and Josh did an elaborate bow.

  “You’re welcome,” he said and then opened the door to the patio. “It’s stopped raining, and you all should see the moon.”

  “Let’s move this party outside.” Freddie pointed to the door.

  “He just wants to have a bonfire.” Charlotte leaned in and whispered, “I swear, that guy is a pyro.”

  Emma laughed, “I like a good fire.” She picked up her third beer and followed the crew to the deck. Half the chairs had been protected from the downpour by an awning, and lights twinkled above them, reflecting in the drops on the balcony railing like tiny diamonds had been tossed over everything. Freddie was already down the steps and pouring gasoline onto a pile of branches in the fire pit. Emma moved to watch as the pile of brush whooshed into a blazing inferno. “Get the marshmallows!” Freddie yelled.

  Feeling a presence beside her, Emma paused before casting her glance towards the person. “You made it,” Serena smiled. “I’m so glad you’re here.” Serena pulled Emma in for a giant hug.

  After she extricated herself from Serena’s spider-like arms, she said, “Your boyfriend is about to burn the place down.”

  “Oh, that?” Serena waved her hand. “That’s a matchstick compared to the bonfires we have at our house. “So, how are things going? Freddie told me that he’s done until the drywallers are finished. You must be so excited.” Serena was talking a mile a minute.

  “I am excited, and a little nervous.”

  “Oh, don’t be nervous.” She tutted like an old lady. “That reminds me.” She took a sip of her white wine. “Charlotte,” she shouted above the music, which had become a little louder, and the voices, which had become a lot louder. There were a few more faces on the deck that Emma didn’t recognize, and more people seemed to be arriving, carrying their folding chairs, and congregating around Freddie’s blazing inferno. “Char!” Serena yelled a little louder and gestured wildly.

  Charlotte nodded and wove her way through the crowd. The three of them sat adjacent to each other on the bench seat of the picnic table. “What’s up?” Charlotte asked, her lips were stained purple from red wine. Unlike everyone else at the party who clutched either a beer bottle or a red plastic cup in their hands, both Serena and Charlotte drank from proper wine glasses.

  Serena draped her arm around her shoulder and Emma wondered how many glasses of Chardonnay she’d had. The current glass was very full and sloshing precariously with her wild gestures. “Tell Emma about the job.”

  “Oh,” Charlotte’s eyes widened. “How could I have forgotten? Jenni!” She turned to look at the crowd. “Where is she?”

  “I haven’t seen her yet tonight,” Serena said.

  Charlotte studied the faces that glowed orange beside the campfire and then turned back to Emma. “Jenni is the new wedding planner in town. As soon as your deal closed on the flower shop, I…” she drew air in between her teeth. “Shoot. I probably shouldn’t have been talking about you.”

  “You what?” Emma asked.

  “I told her about your shop and your services.”

  Emma smiled. “That’s amazing. Thank you so much.”

  “Phew.” Charlotte took a sip of her wine. “We all talk here, it takes some getting used to, and when newcomers move here, it can be a little unnerving that the whole town knows all about them before they buy their first coffee at the café.”

  Emma nodded. She made a mental note to be very careful who and what she talked about.

  Charlotte continued. “She has a big wedding coming up. A short notice kind of deal. I’ll put you in touch – do you have a card?” Charlotte held out her hand.

  “I’m waiting to get them from the printer,” Emma said. She wasn’t. She had ordered the floral cards but had forgotten all about business cards for herself. “You can just give her my number.”

  “Will do,” Charlotte said.

  “A wedding planner in Chance Rapids, can you believe it?” Serena laughed.

  They all jumped backward when a firework screamed and shot into the sky and bright orange and red streaks fell below the stars. “Welcome to Chance Rapids,” Charlotte smiled and squeezed Emma’s arm. Emma, whose heart was pumping a mile a minute from the sudden bang, took a sip of her beer, trying to calm her jangled nerves. Things were looking good, albeit fiery, in her new town. New friends, a potential huge job, a connection with a wedding planner. Could it get any better?

  “Do you want to go sit by the fire?” Serena asked.

  “Sure, why not?” Emma said and followed her new friend to the ring of logs and Adirondack chairs that sat around the tall fire. Her cheeks burned with its warmth, the heat feeling good after the dampness of the evening. The adrenaline from the explosion was slowly dissipating and she and Serena were talking about Serena’s hiking plans when she felt it. Her skin started to tingle, and then the crowd went quiet as she looked up and saw the man with a beard as he approached the fire, a case of beer on his shoulder.

  Charlie.

  * * *

  Charlie heard the laughter before he was even in the backyard at Josh’s house. With the majority of his regulars at the barbecue, he had been able to shut down the Last Chance Tavern early. Branches cracked in the dark ravine beside him and he trained his gaze into the forest - something big was headed straight for him. He squinted into the darkness and a shadowy figure emerged weighed down with a load of branches taller than its carrier. He couldn’t see the face but knew exactly who was behind the branches.

  “Freddie,” he shouted.

  Freddie peeked around his load and smiled. “Chuck – you made it!”

  “Did you leave any branches in the forest?” Charlie laughed and the two of them headed towards the music and chatter.

  “The fire was going out,” Freddie grunted as he squeezed through the back gate, the branches scratching on the wooden fence.

  “I could see it from Main Street.” Charlie pushed the gate open so Freddie and his branches could get through.

  “There are coolers in the shed,” Freddie said as he staggered with his heavy load to the fire. Charlie’s flannel shirt felt like overkill as the heat from the fire warmed his cheeks even though he was only at the shed. As he shoved the bottles of his lavender brew into the ice cubes, someone clapped him on the back. He turned and saw Josh.

  “You made it,” Josh smiled.

  “So did half the town,” Charlie said. “I wouldn’t miss one of your barbecues – are there any ribs left or did Freddie finish them off?”

  Josh laughed. “I think there are some left, but you might have to fight Charlotte for them. I think she’s already eaten her weight in ribs.”

  “How’s the baby?” Charlie popped the cap off his beer with a lighter.

  “Amazing – speaking of appetites, you’ll have to check out the ham hocks on that baby.” Josh took a sip of his beer. “Man, I’m rambling.”

  “That’s alright,” Charlie smiled. “You love being a dad.”

  “I do.” Josh shivered. “Let’s get you some grub.”

  Charlie followed Josh to the fire pit and unsnapped the button on his jacket as he approached. He glanced around the campfire, taking in the faces of his friends and neighbors. He did a double-take when he saw the blonde hair glowing in the amber light, then those eyes, even though they were icy blue, burned heat into his chest. He smiled before averting his eyes, and she did too. His eyes only darted away for a second and then they were drawn back to her. She was laughing and talking to Serena. There was something ethereal about her. Serena was a gorgeous woman, but Emma seemed to glow like something larger than life, and sparkled in technicolor, next to her.

  “Who’s the new girl?” Ethan flopped into one of the folding camp chairs next to Charlie, who had taken a seat on a log round.

  “Who?” Charlie played dumb. Ethan was young and cocky, the best snowboarder on the mountain – by far. He was also a typical young dude.

  Ethan flipped his blond hair out of his eyes with a whip of his head. “The one with Serena.”

  Charlie felt an unfamiliar tightness in his chest. Was he jealous? He had no claim to Emma. He glanced over at her and caught her looking at him again. She drew her hand through her hair and then looked away, her fingers twirling the ends of her long hair. “That’s Emma,” Charlie said. “The new florist.”

  “Florist. Like hardwood?”

  Charlie rolled his eyes and couldn’t help but chuckle. Ethan was smart like a dump truck. He was lucky he was good looking and extremely athletic. “Like a flowers florist, you idiot,” he laughed.

  “Ahhh, cool.”

  Charlie watched Ethan’s eyes track up and down Emma’s body and his grip involuntarily tightened around his beer bottle. He wanted to smack the punk up the back of his head, although he completely understood. Charlie had been young and dumb once too – and would have tried to get Emma into bed as fast as humanly possible. “I heard that she’s married, or engaged, or something.” Charlie peeled the label off his bottle and stuck it to the side of the log. He didn’t know why he lied; it just came out.

  “Meh,” Ethan shrugged and then leaned toward Charlie to whisper, “Hasn’t stopped me before.”

  “Behave. She’s not a tourist.” Because Chance Rapids had such a seasonal crowd, skiers in the winter, and hikers or campers in the summer, it was easy for guys like Ethan to spend their entire summer with a temporary new girl every week.

  “Good point,” Ethan said. Although Charlie wasn’t convinced. “I’m going to go talk to her anyway.” He sprang up from the chair and before Charlie could say another word, the young Brad Pitt, the Thelma and Louise version, had made his way through the crowd and had inserted himself in between Serena and Emma. Even through the crowd, he could hear their giggles. Both of them were looking up at him and laughing.

  Charlie pursed his lips and took a sip of his drink – stewing.

  “I heard you were looking for these,” a voice said from behind him and then a paper plate heaped with ribs appeared over his shoulder. Charlotte took a seat in the recently vacated chair.

  “Thanks.” Charlie took the plate from Charlotte. “I heard that I might have to fight you for them.”

  “Who said that?” Charlotte laughed. “Let me guess, Freddie?”

  “Actually, it was Josh.”

  “What a bum.” Charlotte shook her head and then plucked a rib from the plate. “These are addictive.” She smiled and took a bite. Charlie knew better than to say anything, but Charlotte’s cheeks looked fuller than the last time he saw her, and he wondered if there was a reason, a baby reason, that she was chowing down like it was her last meal. He sat with Charlotte and together they polished off the plate of ribs while he updated her on the Brewpub’s renovations.

  “Still don’t have a name?” she asked.

  “You know, I’m usually good at that kind of stuff, it just seems like such a big decision, so… permanent.”

  Charlotte smiled. “Like a commitment?”

  “I guess.” Charlie knew what Charlotte was getting at. He hadn’t had a steady relationship since he moved to Chance Rapids. Mind you, it was hard to find a girl who wanted to sleep in his van for those first few years. He glanced across the fire and breathed out his nose hard when he saw that Ethan had taken Serena’s place beside Emma. He shook his head. Emma wasn’t committed to Chance Rapids. As soon as things started to go sideways for her, once she realized that it was actually hard to live here, she’d move away. And, she didn’t strike him as the type who would be happy living the minimal life in his tiny home. He had resigned himself to growing old and turning into Chance Rapids’ George Clooney.

  Charlotte tossed a wet nap into his lap and proceeded to wipe her hands clean with her own. “She’s single you know.”

  How did women know these things?

  “Looks like she won’t be for long,” he smiled and gestured across the fire with his beer.

  Charlotte followed his gaze and then snorted. “Ethan? He’s a kid.”

  “They’re probably about the same age.”

  Charlotte squinted at the duo. “I guess you’re right, but she’s a million times more mature than he is.” She stood up, “And she keeps looking at you.” Charlotte elbowed him.

  “She’s cute, matchmaker Charlotte, but it’s not going to happen.”

  “Why not?”

  Charlie couldn’t believe that women talked about stuff like this so openly. He wished that one of the guys had plunked their ass down in the seat beside him so he could talk about beer, snowboarding, mountain biking, anything but the pretty new florist. “First of all, we’re going to be business neighbors.”