Home is Where the Heart Is: Three Creeks, Montana Clean Romance

By Merri Maywether

Their love story begins with a New Year's Kiss.

 

Liz remembers the day Dirk Mullins appeared on her doorstep. Her family's life has never been the same.

 

Now Liz and Dirk have grown into responsible adults. Dirk moved away for a job on the oil field. 

 

Liz is a single mother of a ten-year-old boy. Between her son's athletic schedule and working two jobs, she doesn't have much time for a social life. Then Dirk moved back to Three Creeks. His congenial personality and tenacious temperament make it hard to resist doing whatever it is he suggests. Even if he is five years younger than her.

 

Dirk has his eyes set on one thing. The muse to his shenanigans—the woman he's had a crush on since jr. high—Liz Harper. He knows she needs a responsible man in her life and he's spent years trying to be it. He has every box on his list of what Liz needs checked. For good measure,  he formed an alliance with Liz's brother and her son. 

 

Getting her to buy into his greatest idea ever should be a piece of cake. Then again, even the best-laid plans have their hidden pitfalls.

 

Home Is Where The Heart Is will deliver a sweet touch when Liz and Dirk learn the true meaning of family.

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Merri Maywether
• Release date: Oct 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393993407

Merri Maywether

Twenty years ago, Merri Maywether went on a date with a very sweet man from Montana. Three weeks later they were engaged and they have lived happily ever after. This is Merri taking over the biography section...When I write my romance novels, the characters are the people that I see on a day to day basis. Up here in what I like to call the far, far north, people work hard, live fiercely, and love knowing that they have a community of people behind them. We support each other through the hardships and celebrate the victories. The best part...similar to the characters in my stories, at the end of a long day or a rough week we have stories to share for the years to come.

Book preview

1

HOME FOR THE NEW YEAR

One day Dirk Mullins was there. The next, it was as if he had never lived in Three Creeks. There weren’t any goodbyes or announcements of exciting opportunities. Dirk just stopped showing up. His crooked smile wasn’t at any of the barbecues. A weird silence replaced his witty banter. Liz didn’t know if it was out of kindness or familiarity. Still, Dirk always made it a point to take a couple of minutes to amuse her at the litany of holiday activities.

So, Liz wasn’t exactly staring when she saw Dirk at her brother’s New Year’s Eve Party. She was making sure her eyes hadn’t deceived her.

As sure as the sun rose on a day in the middle of June, Dirk was there in her brother’s living room. He was also dressed nicer than she remembered. His clean jeans and a shirt with a collar said he’d grown up since the last time she’d seen him. Dirk’s glassy green eyes sparkled with awareness, and he tilted his chin toward Liz to say hello. Then he went back to talking to the group of guys in front of him.

Sugar Daddy, that’s what Liz used to call him back then. Dirk called her Old Lady. It was a joke between them that started a little over a year ago.

Every Monday, when Liz helped restock the shelves at her brother’s store, Dirk stopped by and bought a box of Captain Crunch cereal.

One time, Liz remarked, With a body like yours, I’d assume you were a bacon and eggs guy. She was merely speaking the truth. The man was built like a brick house.

He came back at her with, Are you offering?

Liz finished adding the boxes of Rice Krispies to the shelf before replying, I’m too old for you.

His eyes sparkling with amusement, seemed brighter under the coating of dust on his cheeks. How old are you?

I’m thirty-three. Liz injected a little extra pride in her voice. Around the time her son Cameron turned three, Liz discovered she was the lucky beneficiary of her great grandmother’s prematurely graying hair. People who didn’t know her had mistaken her to be Cameron’s grandmother. Liz surmised, it also had to be the reason why guys didn’t want to date her. Who wants to be seen with someone looking that much older than them?

Dirk was an exception to the rule about men’s judgmental dispositions. He had stolen cookies from her plate at lunch when they were kids and had been by her side, offering a consoling shoulder when her parents died. In this instance, Liz’s odd appearance would merely have been fuel for his mild-mannered, but often annoying, wisecracks.

Dirk scoffed. Okay, Old Lady. He waved the box of cereal at her.

Old Lady! Who are you calling Old Lady? Indignation poked Liz on the shoulder, as if to say, I told you so. Two can play at that game. Liz used the material she had and went with it. She pointed at his box of cereal, You’re one to talk, Sugar Daddy.

They giggled hard at her failing to slap back. But it stuck. Every Monday, Dirk greeted Liz in the cereal aisle, How are you doing, Old Lady?

She’d sass her reply, Just fine, Sugar Daddy.

The first time Liz missed seeing Dirk, she assumed it was because she was in the back helping her sister-in-law, Maggie, with a cold-cut platter. The large stainless-steel refrigerator obscured her view of what was happening in the shelving area.

To be honest, Liz didn’t think much of Dirk’s absence until the third week passed, and she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him. Finally, she mentioned it to her brother, Tom. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Dirk.

It’ll be even longer. Tom, who was balancing a stack of coffee bags in his arms, rushed to make it to the shelf. He moved to Easton, Montana.

It shouldn’t have bothered Liz that Dirk left without saying goodbye, but it did. Which is why she told herself it was better if she maintained some distance between herself and Dirk Mullins. He was only visiting, and obviously, he didn’t care enough about her to say goodbye. Why would it matter if she said hello?

Besides, she had more pressing matters to contend with. Her sister-in-law, Maggie, had divided the kitchen island to accommodate the adults and the children. One half of the counter held a waffle bar complete with syrup, fruit toppings, whipped cream, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. The other had bagels, bread, and cold cuts for the adults.

The waffle bar, Maggie set up for the kids, offered a variety of combinations for a gastronomical catastrophe. Liz’s son, Cameron, was all too eager to take on the challenge. Chocolate chips and peanut butter on your waffle? Liz’s stomach churned at his odd request. Still, she sprinkled the chocolate chips on his waffle because it was what Cameron wanted, and it was New Year’s Eve.

Don’t forget the whipped cream, Cameron dipped his finger in the peanut butter and licked it off. Liz pulled it away before his second swipe connected with the waffle. Focused on what was ahead of her, Liz was oblivious of the man standing behind her. The waffles flipped, with the peanut butter side facing up, smack dab into the center of Dirk’s chest.

They stuck in place side by side, looking like a square variation of a bikini. Liz’s mouth dropped open in horror.

Dirk’s lips quirked into a mischievous grin. Is this a call for a food fight!

Oh, I am so sorry. Liz’s ears buzzed from the chatter of mortification. She peeled the waffle off Dirk’s shirt, grabbed the closest napkin, and tried to wipe off the residual peanut butter. The gesture proved ineffective at cleaning the mess. Instead, the brownish-yellow, pasty mess smeared, magnifying the fiasco.

Dirk caught Liz’s wrist and held it in place. I’ve had worse spilled on my shirt.

The combination of the sincerity in Dirk’s voice, his tender touch, and intense gaze, sent charges of energy through Liz. She always wondered what happened to a computer when she shut it down and restarted. In that brief second, Liz knew. Her heart beat faster, and her palms sweated.

A minute ago, everything was fine. Thanks to Dirk’s touch, the air had thinned. Liz’s breath hitched at the abrupt change. She knew, beyond a doubt, her heart reprogrammed itself to attach to a man that was too young for her. Dirk was the same age as her younger brother, Tom. The subtle curve at the corner of Dirk’s lips spoke louder than anything he could have spoken. He knew.

Cameron’s giggle brought Liz back to her senses. She blinked to adjust from the haze of attraction to the reality of single motherhood. Liz ran her hands through her son’s wavy hair and kissed him on the forehead. This is your fault. If you ate waffles like a normal person, none of this would have happened.

If I can contribute to the conversation, Dirk spoke over Liz’s shoulder. I’d like to say–Bananas. Waffles with peanut butter, bananas, chocolate chips, and syrup. Then your mom can’t get mad because you have a fruit and vegetable in there.

Liz’s eyes scrunched in disgust and confusion. Where’s the vegetable?

With a straight face, Dirk replied. I was saying it more like the name of the food group. You know meat, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Please do not corrupt my son. Liz rubbed her forehead. That’s all she needed was Dirk Mullins teaching Cameron how to cute his way out of trouble. Cameron was already effective at using his sweet temperament to soften her resolve. With Dirk’s help, she’d have no control over their household. Next, he’ll try to substitute oranges for carrots at dinner.

Hey, that is a good idea, Cameron piped in. He flashed a smile, and his hazel eyes brightened. It was the smile Liz found hard to resist. The smile Cameron used to charm her when he wanted to avoid her gentle correction. It was Liz’s Achilles heel, and oddly enough, Cameron only used it for minor infractions.

Liz half groaned. You’re too cute, and you know it.

Dirk inched in front of Liz and grabbed two plates. He handed one to Cameron and set a waffle on it. This time, let’s put the toppings on the plate, and you can add them when we get to the table.

Are you going to eat with your shirt like that? Cameron pointed at the smudge of peanut butter on Dirk’s chest.

Nah, situations like this are why I wear two. Dirk rested his plate on the counter and unbuttoned his flannel shirt. He pulled his arms out of the sleeves, revealing the black fitted t-shirt beneath. We can put this in the washing machine, and it’ll be as good as new in less than an hour.

Cameron’s voice was full of awe at Dirk’s wisdom. That’s why Mom makes me wear two shirts? The sense of wonder tugged at Liz. She appreciated her brother’s help with her son. Yet, she worried that it wasn’t enough.

Dirk nodded. Hmm, mm. Stick with me, kid. I’ll tell you all the secrets that moms don’t want you to know.

Mired in a mixture of emotions, Liz watched Dirk head toward the table with her son. Dirk carried the plate of toppings. Cameron, who was roughly half Dirk’s height, mimicked Dirk’s posture while toting his plate with two waffles. It was like they had known each other for all their lives. She was in awe of Dirk’s enchantment of her son. The bewilderment of when it happened added to the effect.

He is great with kids. Tom’s wife, Maggie, came up alongside Liz.

If Liz didn’t know any better, she would have sworn the scene had been staged. The addition of her niece and nephew at the table with Dirk and Cameron pinched her heart. They looked like a family with a dad who helped them survive Mom’s strict rules. It pointed an accusing finger at Liz. There in front of her was the one thing her son wanted, and Liz couldn’t provide it. Male companionship.

Dirk is a kid. Liz half expected Dirk to create a castle by combining the pieces of waffles.

Again, he defied her expectations and modeled on one waffle how to load it. He then watched Cameron repeat the action on the second waffle.

Satisfied that everything was okay with her son, Liz wandered to the other side of the kitchen to make herself a plate of cold cuts and veggies.

He’s not that much younger than you. Maggie nodded her smile of approval at Dirk, who winked back.

He was in kindergarten when I was a fifth-grader, Liz corrected. Let’s not forget; his nickname for me is Old Lady.

He’s joking. Maggie handed Liz a glass of wine, and the two women meandered to the game room in the basement. Again, the space had been divided to make it fun for all involved. They set up half of the room for the kids to watch movies and play video games. On the opposite wall, two card tables held a variety of games. The kids were upstairs with Dirk, so it was relatively quiet. Tom and the men had taken over the television and were watching a basketball game.

Dirk may have been joking, but his nickname for Liz stuck to her heart. She hadn’t been on a date since Cameron’s father, David, died. It had stung, but over time Liz just got used to it. Besides, she had a son without a father who needed her. It wasn’t like she had that much time to invest in a relationship, anyway.

Maggie took a detour from her route to the table and circled around the back of the couch. She kissed her husband, Tom, on the top of his head.

Josh, who was sitting closest to Tom, casually mentioned, Where’s Dirk?

Tom kept his eyes trained on the television that took up most of the wall space. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was out helping an old lady cross the street. That guy is always doing something nice for someone.

Josh, Tom, and Dirk were always together. Tom was the friend with common sense, Josh was the one who liked sports but always ended up helping the coach manage the team, and Dirk was the star football player. They always watched out for each other in school. The relationship progressed seamlessly into their adulthood.

Did you hear that he pulled old man Benson’s pickup out of the ditch? Did it with his bare hands. No equipment. Josh spoke in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. The way I heard it, Dirk got in front of the jalopy and pushed.

Maggie piped into the conversation, And to think he’s all alone on New Year’s Eve.

Liz didn’t know why, but the more people tried to point her toward Dirk, the deeper her heels dug into Tom and Maggie’s slate gray carpet. She wasn’t right about everything, but of this, she was sure. Dirk Mullins was off-limits.

The loud chatter of Dirk, accompanied by kids, trailed into the room. Cameron was on his back. Tom’s children, Vivian and Edward, had wrapped themselves around Dirk’s legs. With every step, they squealed, He’s going to dump us in the lava.

Dirk isn’t alone. Liz frowned to convey her disapproval of the blatant setup. The Pied Piper of Three Creeks has his underage army to keep him company.

Too much. Maggie grimaced.

Just a bit. Liz held up her hand with her finger and thumb showing a small gap.

Dirk pretended to tumble over the arm of the couch, and the kids giggled. Tom hustled to avoid the avalanche but didn’t get away in time. Cameron slid off Dirk’s back and grabbed his uncle by the waist. He bellowed, Save me from the lava.

Calling Dirk the Pied Piper of Three Creeks was an understatement. She thought back to all the games he invented when they were growing up. One time he mixed Marco Polo and hide and seek.

Their small band of friends played in the forested area behind the park. The point of the game was one person hid. When the others called out, the person in hiding made an animal sound. Dirk chirped like a wild bird. Tom, Liz, Josh, and several other friends separated and scoured to find him.

Out in the open, different noises interfered with Liz’s perception. Liz heard Dirk’s rhythmic trill and stepped slowly in the general direction of the sound. But then the snapping of a twig or the movement of a small animal distracted Liz. Then she forgot where she was headed. When the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows on the ground, Liz headed for home to ask her mother for help. Liz’s throat was tight from the stress of losing her brother.

Indignation took the place of Liz’s worry when she found Tom, Josh, and Dirk in a pile in front of the television. They munched away at bowls of popcorn.

Liz’s mother entered the room. She paused in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen. She greeted Liz with a smile and the familiar motion of wiping her hands on her apron. I was going to call your father to go find you.

Me? Liz pointed at the boys in front of the television. They didn’t even bother to glance away from the screen. I was looking for them.

Liz’s mother tipped her head in