Chapter 1: Clementine
Iβve never walked into a bar and been immediately invited to a wedding before. But thatβs exactly what happens when I find my way intoΒ Valentineβs Bar and GrillΒ on the outskirts of Whisper Valley. I came here looking for my childhood best friend, Fanny Longbottom akaΒ Serenity, and within five minutes of arriving, Iβm watching two strangers marry to the delight of all gathered. It feels like a blessing.Β
βBet your cards didnβt tell youΒ thisΒ would happen the moment you got into town,β Serenity says, beaming beside me as the happy couple are pronounced husband and wife.Β
βI beg to differ. They told me Iβd find love, actually,β I say, fighting my grin at the way her brow arches when I share what my most recent Tarot reading revealed.Β
βLove, you say?βΒ
With a laugh, I nod to where her brother-in-law Ajax and his bride are enjoying their first kiss as a married couple. βYes. And Iβm thinking I found exactly that.β
She angles herself toward me and takes my hands in hers. βOh, but what if this isnβt what the cards were suggesting? What if itβs a special love just for you?βΒ
Grinning at her, I shake my head. βYou and I both know that Iβm just a witness in this world. My destiny is to be the fun, free-spirited,Β singleΒ aunt who travels the countryside and never stays in one place long enough for people to realize Iβm unexciting.β
βUnexciting?β She scoffs and shakes her head. βThat isnβt a word I would ever choose to describe you, Clem.βΒ
βPrecisely my point. I donβt set down roots for good reason.βΒ
Pressing her lips into a smile, she releases a deep breath. βMaybe Whisper Valley is the answer your wandering soul has been looking for.βΒ
βWandering is the answer, my sweet friend. But I do have to admit that I love the vibe here. These mountains have a certain kind of energy about them. I felt it as soon as I arrived here.β
Her eyes widen. βI have to introduce you to Jade. Sheβs got a theory about that.β
βYou fillinβ our guestβs head with soulwink ideas the moment she gets here?β her husband, a burly man named Nelson says from her other side.Β
βSoulwink?β I ask, leaning forward so I can meet his green eyes. βThat sounds like something thatβs right up my alley.β
βRight?β Serenity says with a girlish giggle. βIt will blow your mind, Clem.β
βMaybe give her a chance to settle in first?β Nelson suggests lowering his voice to add, βJust let it run its course.βΒ
I sit back and frown slightly, but I donβt question him because Iβm quite sure that last part wasn't for my ears. Still, Iβd like to know exactly what he means by that. What kind of nature needs to run its course? And what on earth is a soulwink? Once I find out who this Jade woman is, Iβm going to have to find some answers.Β
Applause erupts from the tiny gathering as music starts playing from the sound system and the happy couple join hands and walk down the makeshift aisle. Within moments, the chairs are spirited away, and weβre all moving toward the bar where a dark-haired man is handing out bottles of beer and pre-prepared cocktails.Β
βOh, no. Not for me, thanks. I donβt drink,β I say when Iβm offered a drink by a jovial bearded giant.Β
βDo you eat?β he asks with a slightly narrowed eye as he pours me a glass of lemonade instead. βWeβre gonna have a problem if you say you donβt eat.β
Tossing my head back, I laugh. βI definitely eat. A woman doesnβt get curves like these without enjoying a good meal on the regular.β
With a smile, he hands me the ice-cold glass. βYouβll fit in just great then, sugar. Nameβs Kellen, by the way. My wife is the stunning blonde over there fawning over her new soul sister. Youβll find theyβre all the nicest, most welcominβ ladies youβve ever met.β
βSoul sister, huh?β I turn to where he indicates and find almost every woman in the room is gathered around her with a cocktail glass held aloft in cheers. Itβs then I realize that every single one of them is also plus-sized. Interesting.Β
Taking another quick scan of the room, I note that every single man is huge but in a muscular way. And if that isnβt enough to get my mystic senses tingling with interest, they also all have the most wonderful forest-green eyes. Uncanny.Β
βExactly what is a soulwink?β I ask, turning back to Kellen but finding him no longer there. Heβs moved along the bar and is now talkingβwell, debating somethingβwith the man in the kitchen with short, cropped hair. He also has the green eyes, so Iβm guessing theyβre brothers or something.Β
βHow is everyone related here?β I ask the only other person near to me, a man with messy light brown hair and tattoos all over his exposed forearms whoβs nursing a half-drunk bottle of beer from his stool at the bar.Β
He looks at me in alarm. βMe?βΒ
I canβt help but laugh. βIs there someone else next to you?β
Glancing to the other side of him he bounces a shoulder. βGuess not.β
βAre you brothers?β I move a little closer to him and he gets off his stool, seeming edgy like heβd rather be anywhere than here right now.Β
βBrothers, cousins. We all grew up together here.β
βThat must be nice. I donβt have any family, so itβs always wonderful for me to see such a big one getting along.β
He gives me a twitch of a smile and starts rolling the sleeves of his dress shirt back down and securing them at his wrists. βI should, uh, go. Iβm sure there are photos Iβm supposed to be in or something.β
βOh, OK. Well, it was nice to meet you, erβ¦β
βRafe,β he says, walking backward.Β
I smile. βRafe. Iβmββ
βSugar. Yeah, I heard,β he says, spinning on his heel and walking away from me as fast as he can.Β
When I turn back to the bar, I lift my top slightly to make sure I donβt stink. I seem to be doing a great job chasing everyone away so far.Β
βThere you are,β Serenity says, placing her hands on my shoulders as she comes up behind me. I turn to face her. βSorry to abandon you. Just doing the whole congratulatory thing. You want me to introduce you around?βΒ
βAhhh, you know what?β I press my glass into her hand and take a step back. βI might actually head off. This is a family thing and Iβm kind of the odd one out here. Would you please tell the bride and groom that I wish them well, and you and I can catch up some time soon, yeah?β
She quickly places the glass on the bar and catches me by the wrist. βWait. Where are you staying?β
βI figured Iβd just head to the camping grounds and set up there.β
βDonβt do that. Weβve got a spare cabin on the mountain right now. Ainsley, the bride, was renting it. But sheβs moved in with Ajax now so itβs sitting vacant. Why donβt you head up there and Iβll bring you the keys as soon as I get a chance to get away?β
βI couldnβt ask you to leave a family gathering for that, Serenity. I can just stay in my van for the night and you can bring the keys tomorrow.β
βAre you sure? I mean, wouldnβt you be more comfortable in the cabin?β
βI love my van, Ren. To me, itβs home, so thereβs no place more comfortable. Iβll be completely fine.β
βOK then. Well, Iβll see you in the morning. First thing.βΒ
βSounds perfect.β I draw her into a hug. βAnd thank you. I appreciate you so much.βΒ
βYou too. Drive safe, OK?β she says after giving me the address Iβm heading to.Β
βIs there any other way?βΒ
Rolling her eyes because of her knowledge of my reckless youth, she laughs as I blow her a kiss and head out the back door beside the kitchen, smiling as the sounds of laughter and joy fall away behind me. Then I stop and take a deep inhale of the fresh, cool mountain air. And if I didnβt know any better, Iβd swear I heard it whisperβ¦Β Homeβ¦
Chapter 2: Rafe
βItβs not a soulwink. Iβm just hard up and sheβs fucking gorgeous,β I mutter to myself as I pace back and forth in the parking lot, scrubbing a hand through my hair.Β This is insane.Β
Iβm a grown-ass man, and Iβm pacing out the front of my cousinsβ bar because Iβm letting my family get in my head over this βsoulwinkβ thing Kellenβs wife came up with. Jade has barely been in town for a year, but the moment she stepped into it and she and Kellen fell head over heels for each other, sheβs been convinced thereβs magic in the air. The way she tells it, the moment a Valentine man locks eyes with the woman heβs meant to spend his life with, their souls recognize each other and give a little βwinkβ in acknowledgement. And since all of my cousins and brothers have dropped like flies the moment a pretty girl wandered into town from that moment on, theyβve all gotten on board with her ramblings.Β
As the lone, unattached Valentine male left standing, Iβve stood by and witnessed them all go rushing headfirst into marriage, buoyed by the idea that fairytale magic and soulmates really do exist. I think theyβre crazy.Β
If thereβs one thing I know for sure in this world, itβs that magic is just a trick performed on stage in front of an audience. The real thing doesnβt exist. And I stand firm in my belief that in about two yearsβ time, the Valentine family is going to be plagued by a bunch of grumpy old divorcees lamenting the decisions they made today. Statistically, over fifty percent of marriages fail, and while I canβt find any hard data on the subject, Iβm pretty sure that rushed marriages fail a heck of a lot more often. If weβre lucky, one or two Valentine marriages might manage to thrive, but Iβm betting that once this honeymoon period is over, and the excitement of sex on tap gives way to real-world problems and responsibility, my relatives and their wives are all going to be singing a very different tune. Maybe theyβll rename it to a soulstinkΒ instead?
βCouldnβt find anyone taking photos?β a voice asks to my right.Β
I turn to find Sugarβweird nameβemerging from the back of the bar where the kitchen access is. My heart starts rapid thumping all over again.Β Fuck, sheβs pretty.Β She has long, caramel and honey colored hair all the way down to her waist. Her long fingers are adorned with silver rings and gemstones that pair perfectly with the corded rainbow charm around her neck. When she moves, her floor-length skirt swishes from side to side, making it look like sheβs floating. And the simple white tank sets off the bronze glow of her skin and hugs her ample curves. She looks like summer and dessert all wrapped up in a curvy package.Β
Looking at her seems to knock the words right out of me. Itβs been a long time since Iβve wanted a woman in my bed this much, so to save myself from saying something completely inappropriate, I choose silence instead.Β
βCat got your tongue?β She tilts her head slightly, and all I want to do is run my fingertips along the exposed skin of her neck.Β
Smiling, I step back and shake my head. βNot one for small talk, I suppose.βΒ
βOh?β Her brow shoots up and her smile brightens. βYou sound like my kind of person, Rafe Valentine. Iβm not a fan of small talk either. Iβd much rather sit for a long time looking up at the night sky and discussing the origins of the universe. No one needs to talk about the weather.β
βEspecially since weβre all experiencing it at the same time.βΒ
βIndeed.β With her smile fixed in place, she looks at me for a long moment then sucks in a deep breath and nods toward the parking lot. βIβm actually heading out. Maybe Iβll see you around while Iβm in town?βΒ
βYou staying long?βΒ
She walks backward a little and bounces a shoulder. βWho knows?βΒ
βWhat does that mean?β I frown and find myself walking forward as she walks back.Β
βIt means Iβll stay until I donβt want to anymore.βΒ
Glancing over her shoulder before looking back to me, I follow her gaze and notice for the first time a classic VW campervan parked at the edge of the lot. βI have no idea how I missedΒ that,β I say, stopping and looking over the white and teal van. βYou live in there?βΒ
βSure do. Iβm not a big fan of spending too much time in one place, so a life on wheels suits me just fine.βΒ
βItβsβ¦ pretty.βΒ
She arches a brow. βYou say that like you expected any vehicle I drive to be ugly.βΒ Fuck.Β βBut Iβm choosing to take it as a compliment instead, soβ¦thanks?βΒ
βNo. Shit. I swear I didnβt mean it like that. Of course anything you drive would be pretty. Beautiful, even. I wasβ¦I was just trying to say itβs a cool-lookinβ campervan. Iβve never seen one restored this well.β When I finish rapid firing my explanation at her, I take a deep breath and glance her way, noticing the way her mouth is kicking up at the corners. βYouβre messinβ with me, arenβt you?βΒ
βA little.β She chuckles before glancing back toward the bar. βI should go. And you should probably get back inside. Iβm sure your family is wondering where you went by now.βΒ
I open my mouth to argue that Iβm probably the last person on their minds right now, but then Kellen steps out to prove me wrong, hollering my name and something about a toast they needed me for.Β
βSβpose youβre right,β I say, lifting a hand to signal to Kellen that Iβll be there soon. βSure you donβt want to come back in and have some food? Iβm sure thereβs plenty.β
When I turn back to her, Iβm met with empty space, my answering sound the revving of her van when the engine ignites. I step back in surprise, smiling when she gives me a wave and the camper seems to amble off, kicking up a cloud of dust and leaving me standing in it.Β
βThings are goinβ well with the new girl then?β Kellen teases, a shit-eating grin on his face as I walk back toward the bar.Β
βDonβt start,β I say, earning myself a chuckle from my cousin, who Iβm sure is going to tell everyone a pretty girl just made me eat her dust.
