Before You Said It

The air smelled of sea salt and pine, crisp and cool. Thick marine fog softened the yellow glow of the streetlights, casting the world in an almost ethereal haze. Everything here felt different from our California town, even though it wasn’t that far away. The mist clung to my skin, and I debated braiding my hair during the drive, worried it would frizz. Humidity had already coaxed waves into my light brown strands, which curled just past my ribs. I loved the length—most of the time. 

The quiet of the drive was calming, a rare thing when Avery Brooks was in the car. Her honey-blonde waves framed a face brimming with energy, her sparkling blue eyes bright and full of life despite the moody fog and towering pines surrounding us. This was Harbor Pines, the small town nestled along the Pacific Northwest coast where Avery had been born.

We stopped in front of the cutest bookstore I’d ever seen. A large chocolate-brown sign with cream letters read Nutmeg’s Book Loft. Warm light spilled from the windows, illuminating neat stacks of books displayed on the sills. Tiger lilies bloomed in ivory pots on either side of caramel-colored French doors.

“First impressions matter,” Avery declared, her eyes glinting with excitement. “And this is the perfect introduction to Harbor Pines. Nutmeg’s has Mia written all over it. Honestly, I’m scared to find out what happens if you go another day without a book.” She shot me a wink.

“It’s like a fairy-tale cottage,” I whispered, awe filling my voice.

Avery grinned as she pulled the door open, the little bell above it chiming softly. “I never came here except for English class books,” she admitted, dragging me inside. “But I have to say—no nasty paper smell in here! I hate that smell.”

Inside, the hardwood floor creaked beneath our feet. A college-aged girl with ivory skin sat behind the counter, typing on her laptop. She glanced up and offered a small smile before returning to her screen. Soft jazz floated through the air, wrapping around us like a warm hug.

Avery’s voice broke my reverie. “Look! Summer reads.” She held up The Covenant of Water with a triumphant grin, her hair bouncing as she turned.

Tables lined the front of the store, each draped in neutral-toned cloths. Stacks of The Summer I Turned Pretty and People We Meet on Vacation sat on an ivory table, topped with handwritten signs that read Summer Bestsellers.

Avery grabbed a book off the table, flipping through the pages with a grin before tugging my sleeve. “Come on, let’s find something you’ll obsess over for weeks.” She steered us toward a towering bookshelf near the window. Her sandals tapped softly against the creaking floorboards.

My hand brushed the hand-painted Romance sign, its deep cherry-red lettering a perfect match for my nail polish. I let my fingers glide over the spines—a parade of stories waiting to be chosen—until they stopped on The Light We Lost. The title tugged at something inside me, like a spark or a half-formed memory.

“Mia.”

Avery’s whisper pulled me back. I turned to find her crouched by a low shelf, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips and a book in her hands she clearly had no intention of buying. “Over here.”

“What are you doing?” I hissed, crouching beside her, my eyes darting toward the counter. “We look crazy.”

“Just peek,” she squealed, biting her lip to stifle a laugh, her shoulders shaking.

I rolled my eyes but leaned over, peeking past the edge of the shelf. A guy stood by the Local Favorites display, flipping through a hardcover with casual ease. He was tall, his brown hair tousled like he’d just run his hand through it—or like the wind had tried and failed to tame it.

Before I could duck back, his gaze lifted.

Our eyes locked. Deep green, like sun-dappled lakes, calm on the surface but hiding something deeper.

Electricity crackled through my veins, rooting me in place.

A slow, knowing smile curved his mouth, two faint lines crinkling at the corners. My heart stuttered, caught somewhere between panic and curiosity.

He tilted his head, as if he were in on a joke I hadn’t told yet.

I crouched back down beside Avery, my hair falling into my face as I wrapped my arms around my knees. “He saw me,” I whispered, my cheeks burning.

“Isn’t he hot?” Avery’s smirk was pure mischief. “Totally your type, Mia. Let’s talk to him!”

“What’s the worst that could happen?” she pleaded, her eyes wide as she wrapped her fingers firmly around mine. “We’re only here for the summer. Come on! It’s not like we’ll ever see him again.”

Before I could protest, a deep, gravelly voice sounded above us.

“You two finding everything okay?”

My heart thudded as his green eyes locked back on mine.

“Now we are,” Avery said with a teasing lilt, her honey-blonde waves swaying as she turned toward him. “This is my beautiful best friend, Mia. She’s here for the summer and needs something to obsess over while we’re in town.”

I felt her gaze flick back to me.

“I’m Avery,” she continued, extending her hand with a confident grin. “Born and raised right here in Harbor Pines. I live in California now, but I always come back for the summers—just in case you were curious.”

His eyes lingered on mine a beat longer before shifting to Avery’s outstretched hand. He took it, pulling her gracefully to her feet.

“Mia,” he said, my name rich and smooth in his voice—like he already knew it.

Then his hand extended toward me, and my breath caught. My fingers trembled as I slipped my hand into his. His grip was warm, firm.

“Yeah, so… do you work here?” Avery tilted her head, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Because that outfit does not scream ‘bookstore employee.’”

He chuckled, low and rich. His dark green hoodie and black athletic shorts gave him the look of someone ready for a run—not a literary recommendation.

“Maybe I’m off the clock,” he said, a grin deepening those irresistible lines at the corners of his mouth. “But I’d still be happy to help your beautiful best friend find her perfect summer read.” His gaze flicked back to me. “How’s your trip so far?”

My mouth opened, but no words came.

“We only just got here,” Avery answered for me, stepping closer so our shoulders brushed. “First stop after unpacking. I’m helping Mia make a good first impression.” She smirked. “By the way, you haven’t told us your name.”

“Sorry about that.” His chuckle rippled through the air, soft and knowing. “I’m Ridge.”

Ridge.

My breath hitched. The name felt like it belonged to the air around us—sharp, clean, and full of gravity.

“I love it,” I whispered before I could stop myself. My cheeks flared as I cleared my throat. “Harbor Pines, I mean. So far, it’s been… great.”

His smile stretched, slow and sure. “Good to hear.” He gestured toward the shelves. “Let’s make it better. How about I help you find something perfect for a quiet night by the sea?”

“Unless you’ve already got a favorite?” His gaze dropped to the book in my hand.

I held up The Light We Lost, its spine cool against my fingers.

He reached, curling his hand lightly over the top of the book. “A story about love, fate, and loss?” His voice turned warm, teasing. “Bold choice. Should I be worried?”

Before I could respond, he pulled a white bookmark from his pocket, his hand moving quickly to a small table.

“Store policy,” he murmured, slipping the bookmark between my pages. “No customer leaves without one.”

I stared, the weight of the gesture settling deep.

Avery’s hand shot out, plopping my book onto the counter.

“Avery!”

“Absolutely not.” She pressed her palm over the cover, triumphant. “This is a gift. No arguments.”

The clerk arched an amused brow.

“She’s right,” Ridge said, voice laced with a smile.

Before I could protest, he leaned in just enough for his warmth to brush my skin.

Avery grinned. “Mia will treasure this forever. Trust me.”

“Well, Ridge,” she added, tugging me toward the door, “thanks for everything.”

My heart fluttered.

He smirked, those crinkles deepening.

My cheeks burned as the bell chimed.

The outside air was sharp, biting.

“What was that?” Avery’s hand slid down to my wrist as the bell chimed softly above the door behind us.

“No clue,” I mumbled, still wide-eyed as Avery steered us toward her car.

“The bookmark!” she practically squealed, bouncing on her toes. “Mia, check the bookmark!”

Before I could react, she yanked it free from the pages. Her eyes scanned it, and a delighted gasp broke the night.

“His number! Mia, he gave you his number!”

She spun around, gripping my arm. Her excitement was a living, breathing thing.

My heart plummeted straight into my stomach, a tidal wave of disbelief crashing down on me. No one had ever done anything like that before. Warmth surged up my neck, setting my cheeks on fire. My hand tightened around her wrist without thinking.

“You have to call him.” Her eyes were wide, dancing with genuine thrill. “He’s so cute, Mia.” A grin stretched wide across her face as she leaned against the car, playful light sparking behind her gaze. “See? Told you we’d find you something to obsess over in there.”

I stood frozen by the car door, the book heavy in my hand, my breath catching as the last few minutes looped through my mind.

The knowing smile. The crinkles at the corners of his mouth. The slow, magnetic pull of his gaze.

Avery thrust the bookmark toward me, her arm stretched like a triumphant banner.

I pulled it free, my fingers trembling. His handwriting sloped across the paper in bold, confident ink.

I opened the car door, sliding in as a shiver—part wonder, part panic—rippled across my skin. His number stared back at me, each digit etched with daring and possibility.

My thumb hovered over the ink, tracing it lightly as if that small act might make it more real.

“Oh my God,” Avery whispered. “I knew it! You have to call him.”

My heart thudded hard against my ribs as I stared down at the numbers. No guy had ever slipped me his number before—especially not one who looked like that.

“You’re getting way ahead of yourself.” I twisted the bookmark between my fingers, folding it nervously. “He probably does this all the time.”

“You don’t believe that.” She shot me a knowing grin. “He didn’t even work there,” she said, giggling. “It was obvious. He was just trying to find a reason to talk to us—to you.” Her eyes sparkled with delight. “Good thing I was there. You barely said anything!”

“Really?” My voice was soft, barely a whisper.

Now, sitting in the car, it did seem glaringly obvious.

“I saw the way he looked at you.” She turned the key in the ignition, and the car hummed to life. “He liked you. I’m an expert at these things.”

My fingers tapped nervously against the cover of my book as I stared out the window. Towering pine trees blurred past, their dark green shadows swaying under the streetlights.

The restless flutter in my chest wouldn’t ease.

Could he—Ridge—really be interested in me?