Sometimes, Forever (Sometimes Moments #2) (4 page)

“I
f anything goes wrong and you aren’t able to fix the problem, my dad knows what to do. He can help,” his boss, Graham Scott, said.

Cooper nodded and picked up the clipboard from the desk. His new job as operations manager had come as an actual blessing. He wanted away from the South Eastern suburbs and away from the pressures of the ‘bubble.’ That was what suburbs living was like. At twenty-five, most of his friends were either engaged, married, or had kids. Cooper, he just wanted to go about his day and not have to worry about all that kind of stuff. He would much rather go where life took him. And that philosophy had brought him to Daylesford, country Victoria. It was a small tourist town by the lake. When he had stumbled on the ad online, something in him clicked. It felt right. A force within him told him this was where he needed to be.

The day after his Skype interview with Graham, Cooper was hired. Two weeks after Graham had given him the job of operations manager, Cooper put his house up for rent, packed his things, and drove three hours until he reached the lavender farm. While his boss, Graham, and his wife had their wedding at the Spencer-Reid, Cooper had been familiarising himself with the business. From the sprinkler system to the weekly deliveries and the finances, Scott Family Lavender was highly profitable. From what Cooper could tell, they were the best in the state. The manual work wasn’t so bad. A sprinkler had broken a couple of days ago and that had taken all of ten minutes to fix.

“Graham, I’ll be fine. I’m sure I can handle everything while you’re on your honeymoon. You said that the owner of the hotel could help me if I needed it. I’m sure I can handle this,” Cooper assured with a smile.

A knock on the door had both men turning to find Madilynne Scott standing there with a smile on her face. In her hand was a bundle of lavender with a card on it. She brushed her curled blonde hair out of her face and stepped inside the office. Madilynne was beautiful. It was the first thing Cooper had thought when he had met his boss’ wife. She was also sassy when she wanted to be. She played off Graham’s serious and composed personality well.

“Coop, do you mind dropping these off at the hotel later?” she asked as she handed him the flowers. “The delivery slip is already on the clipboard. Could you also make them your
last
delivery? I’d like to see Peyton before you deliver them. I’d also like them to be a surprise.”

He nodded. “’Course. I have a handful of deliveries, so I won’t be at the hotel until later this afternoon.”

“Don’t forget.
Peyton Spencer.
Do not give these to Jenny or anyone else. Just Peyton,” Mads instructed firmly.

“What are you playing at, Madilynne? You’re up to something,” her husband accused.

She batted her lashes. “Me? Up to something? Never. Come on. We have to say our goodbyes before we leave for our honeymoon. Coop, remember to give those to Peyton. Just Peyton.”

“Yes, Mads. They’re for Peyton Spencer. Got it,” he insisted.

“Why are you so pushy for him to see Peyton?”

Madilynne rolled her eyes. “Because they
haven’t
met. He has to meet Peyton.”

Cooper pressed his lips together and nodded once. “I haven’t met this Peyton.”

“You haven’t?” Graham appeared to be shocked at the revelation. “How have you not met Peyton?”

All Cooper knew was that Peyton was the owner of the hotel. That and she was best friends with Graham and Madilynne. The vibe he got from the newlyweds reminded him of his mother trying to play matchmaker. He let out a sigh. Cooper Hepburn had no desire to be matched. He had no desire to settle down and get married. He’d work on the farm for the length of the contract and head back to the suburbs, hoping his mother and sisters got over the fact that he was twenty-five and without a wife.

Getting out of the ute, Cooper gazed down at his boots and sighed. Chasing Mrs Peterson’s loose rabbit across her acre backyard was something he hadn’t prepared himself for. When he had delivered her order of three crates of lavender for her beauty products business, he didn’t expect to be chasing a very clever pet through mud and God knows what else. When the white rabbit—named White Rabbit—was caught, Mrs Peterson had sliced him a piece of carrot cake and had him sit and enjoy a cuppa. The moment of peace as he took in the sixty-something-year-old’s beautiful garden was angelic. A moment he wouldn’t forget.

He could get used to country living. He loved the peace Daylesford offered. The closeness and friendliness of the townsfolk were something he also loved. He still had yet to check out the pub in town, but with how busy he had been, he hadn’t even left the small cottage he now called home. The newly remodelled, small one-bedroom house close to the farm was all he could find within his price range on such short notice.

Scraping the mud on the concrete ground, he tried to remove as much dirt as possible. When he was able to get some of it off, he went to the tray bed of the ute and took out the bouquet of lavender Mads had insisted he deliver. Then he turned around and took in the hotel. It was beautiful. A dark, rich blue tiled roof with cream stone walls brightened the vibrant lavender that was planted. To his left, the lake glittered, making the scene in front of him one to be in awe over. He understood just how much the people he had met loved this hotel. He could definitely see why it was popular with the tourists and why Graham and Madilynne got married here. It was beautiful.

When he was done taking in the exterior, Cooper made his way up the path and to the wooden door. He glanced down at the bouquet and noticed something missing.

“Crap, the clipboard,” he mumbled and headed back to the ute. When he pulled the passenger door open, he grasped the clipboard and kicked the door shut behind him. He returned to the door, and after taking a deep breath, he entered the hotel. His focus was on the clipboard he had almost forgotten.

It took him six steps to make it to the front desk, and when he did, he said, “I’m looking for Peyton Spencer.” Once he’d finished saying her name, he lifted his chin to find a woman with the most beautiful blue eyes staring up at him. Her brown hair was a soft colour. Somewhere between blonde and brunette. She had a slim face with a cute nose. She was beautiful. Far more beautiful than Madilynne was. This woman was stunning. The most gorgeous woman he had ever seen stood before him.

His breathing seemed to stall as the air in his lungs thinned. Cooper’s heart pounded in his chest as he set the bouquet and clipboard on the desk. Nerves invaded and conquered, and the only way he knew how to keep them at bay was to scratch the short beard he’d let grow from his normally clean-shaven jaw.

“I’m Peyton Spencer,” she said.

This is Peyton.

How did it take me so long to meet you?

How?

Cooper mentally kicked himself. He couldn’t believe that he had missed her. Taking a small breath of air, he said, “I have a delivery for you. Just need a signature here,” as he picked up the clipboard and handed it to her.

Then, suddenly, she let out a sweet laugh.

And there it was.

Fate.

All the things he had run from, he had found in that one laugh.

It sounded full of nerves and realisation. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. Natural and carefree. A laugh that had his chest tightening.

This Peyton was something else.

And her laugh had him curious.

“Is something funny?” he asked as he raised his brow, trying to fight the humour in his voice.

Peyton shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. That was rude.” Then she grabbed a pen and signed the delivery slip. She reached for the envelope on the bouquet and read what was inside.

When she finished reading the message Madilynne had left, she had said, “Thank you,” as her blue eyes met his.

He noticed the blush on her cheeks at that moment. He had put that there. That or he liked to think that he had that kind of effect on her. It was wishful thinking, but who could blame him. She was far too beautiful for the likes of him. Cooper knew he stood no chance. Peyton was probably in a relationship, and he needed to stay professional. He was representing Graham Scott’s business, after all. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t know his name. He knew hers. It was only fair.

“Cooper Hepburn. I’m the new operations manager while Graham and Mads are on their honeymoon,” he said.

She nodded. “And I’m still Peyton Spencer. I’m the owner of the Spencer-Reid.”

Then she handed him the clipboard and their hands grazed. The smallest touch had his head spinning, and he couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face. He knew. That laugh, that smile, and that graze were all he needed to know.

She was the one.

Peyton Spencer was the concept he was running from, only to run right into her.

All the things he never desired, he now wanted. He saw it. A future with her. Irrational thoughts consumed his ability to fathom common sense.

It was her.

It
is
her.

“Well, maybe I’ll see you around town, hotel girl,” he said, hopeful that he would.

Peyton shook her head at his grin. “Maybe I’ll see you around …”

God, I hope so.

It was only a small town. With him staying in Daylesford for the next year, he knew the chances were extremely high. He wanted to know Peyton Spencer. Wanted to know why she had laughed and the reason behind that glimmer in her eyes. Wanted to know her life story and her day. It was completely crazy, yet it made sense.

Cooper nodded then turned and made his way to the entrance. When he had reached the door, he heard her say, “Lavender boy.”

Lavender boy?

He spun around, smiling at her teasing tone. “Lavender boy?”

Cooper noticed that she had swallowed hard as if she had thought of something that triggered a memory.

Peyton nodded. “Yes. Lavender boy,” she repeated.

“I’m glad I made this delivery today. It was nice meeting you, Peyton Spencer,” he confessed.

Her lips had slowly parted before she softly said, “You, too, Cooper Hepburn.”

He nodded with a smile, unable to understand just how much she affected him. He knew she was something special. Now, he understood why Madilynne had been so pushy for them to meet. Now, he was thankful for her insistence. When Cooper opened the door and exited the hotel, he walked down the path and then paused, turning to his right to stare out at the glimmering lake. It was beautiful and reminded him of her eyes. The thought had him digging his hands into his blue cargo pants and closing his eyes, listening to the new way his heart now beat.

Peyton Spencer was something else.

He knew it as soon as he heard her laugh.

He might not believe in love at first sight.

But he definitely believed in love at first laugh.

One of many laughs he hoped to fall madly in love with over and over again.

Actually, that’s probably a lie.