Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 78(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 52(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 78(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 52(@300wpm)
Zoe chuckled softly, stirring her coffee. “I’m sure I will.”
“Good. Now, I’m guessing you haven’t had breakfast yet?” Penny grinned. “I make a mean breakfast burrito. You hungry?”
Zoe thought for a moment, then smiled. “Yeah, that sounds great.”
As Penny prepared her food, Zoe glanced around at the diner, noticing that there were no strangers here—everyone seemed to know each other. And there, at the back corner booth, she saw him: Luke Harrison.
He was sitting with a group of men, laughing as one of them told a story. The sound of his laugh carried across the diner, and Zoe couldn’t help but smile at the way he looked so at ease, so effortlessly part of the town.
Luke noticed her staring and gave a small, amused smile before returning his attention to the group. Zoe quickly looked down at her coffee, feeling her face flush.
“You’ll get used to him too,” Penny said with a knowing grin, setting the breakfast burrito in front of Zoe. “Luke’s a good guy. Hard-working, always willing to lend a hand. You should stop by his shop sometime. He’s always tinkering with something.”
Zoe took a bite of the burrito, savoring the mix of eggs, cheese, and bacon. It was delicious, hearty, and exactly what she needed. “He seems nice.”
“Oh, he is. But he’s been through some things. Hard to get him to open up about it, but the man has got a good heart. If you’re thinking about sticking around, Willow Creek’s the place where people really take care of each other.”
Zoe paused mid-bite, the words sinking in. “I’m not sure I’m staying for long. Just here to figure some things out.”
Penny’s expression softened, her gaze understanding. “Take your time, honey. There’s no rush. The town isn’t going anywhere, and neither is Luke. You just have to decide what’s best for you.”
Zoe nodded slowly, unsure of what exactly she was looking for in this town. But Penny’s words settled somewhere deep inside her. She recognized that it wasn’t about having all the answers right away. Maybe it was about letting things unfold naturally.
As she finished her breakfast, Zoe’s phone buzzed in her bag. She resisted the urge to check it but couldn’t help feeling the burden of her obligations pulling at her. Tomorrow, she promised herself. Tomorrow, I’ll deal with all of that.
She paid Penny for her meal, giving the woman a generous tip. “Thank you. The food was amazing.”
Penny waved her off. “Anytime, hon. And don’t forget, you’re always welcome here.”
Zoe stepped back outside, the sun was higher in the sky now, casting long shadows over the streets of Willow Creek. She didn’t know what was ahead, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she could breathe.
She wandered back toward the mechanic’s shop, Harrison Auto Repair—and found herself standing in front of it once more. The frequent sense of hesitation tugged at her insides, but this time, she decided to be brave.
With a deep breath, Zoe stepped into the building.
Chapter 3: Stuck in Neutral
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the tree line and painted the sky in soft purples and golds, Zoe stood in the tiny kitchen of the cottage, staring at the ingredients she’d picked up at the local market: pasta, cheese, ground beef, tomatoes, fresh basil. Her idea of “dinner” back in Chicago was usually smooth or whatever she could microwave between meetings. But tonight, she felt oddly... motivated.
Cooking wasn’t her usual therapy, but something about the homeness of the kitchen and the naturalness of Luke’s smile earlier that day made her want to try.
Half an hour in, she had music playing softly from her Bluetooth speaker, the savory smell of tomato sauce filling the air, and the oven warming the cottage like a gentle hug. Her phone sat on the charger in the corner, lighting up with ignored notifications she refused to check. Not yet.
The timer dinged, and she pulled out the bubbling lasagna, proud of herself despite the slight crisp at the edges. She let it cool for a few minutes, then packed a generous portion into a container, wrapping it in foil.
Ten minutes later, she found herself walking back toward Harrison Auto Repair, container in hand, hoping she wasn’t about to make a complete fool of herself.
The shop was still open, though dimmer now, with only one overhead light on inside. Luke was seated on a stool near the workbench, tinkering with something small and metallic in his hands. When he looked up and saw her standing in the doorway, his expression shifted from surprise to amusement.
“You came back,” he said, setting down the tool.
“I said I would bring dinner.” She held up the container. “Lasagna, like requested. Well, a humble attempt.”
He took it with both hands, lifting the foil slightly to peek inside. “Smells like someone took this seriously.”