Shelter (Heroes of Big Sky 2)

“I am,” she says with a relieved smile. “I have to tell you, after having four kids, my bladder isn’t what it used to be. You saved my life.”

“I only ever see you when I come in here,” I reply. “No other employees?”

“My teenagers help me out in the summer, but now that they’re back at school, I’m shorthanded in the afternoons.” She narrows her eyes at me. “You wouldn’t happen to want a job, would you?”

I laugh and shake my head, but then I pause. “Well, I really do like it in here.”

“I guess so. You’ve been in almost every day for a week.” Annie grins. “It’s pretty simple, really. You’d just greet customers and fill orders from the case, and I’d handle making the sandwiches and soups and stuff. I’d only need you from eleven to three when we close. Wednesday through Friday.”

“So just three days, four hours a day. That’s not bad at all.” I lean on the counter and smile at Annie. “You know what? I’ll give it a go.”

“Well, you just made my day,” Annie says with a bright smile. “Why don’t you come in tomorrow, and we’ll fill out some paperwork and chat. Then you can start on Wednesday.”

“That sounds great to me.”

“Okay. Now, what brought you in to begin with?”

“I came in for dessert for later. I’m having dinner with a friend. I was thinking about that lemon meringue pie.”

“Two slices, or the whole thing?”

“Oh, I think a whole pie is in order.”

Annie laughs and gets to work boxing it up. “I think we’re going to be friends, Remi.”

“I think so, too.”

Once I turn off the highway, the road out to the Lazy K Ranch – as the sign said – is a little twisty, but not nearly as bumpy as I expected. I pass two other houses before I hang a right and find Seth’s little house. It sits in some trees, with smoke coming out of a chimney, and his truck is parked in front of the two-car garage. I like his paint choice of simple white with black trim, and I immediately fall in love with the deep porch that spans the entire front of the house.

A girl could sit out there with coffee or a glass of wine and just listen to the nature around her all damn day. And probably into the night.

I park next to his truck, gather the bag I packed full of a change of clothes and my toiletries—along with the pink box full of pie—and climb the steps onto the gorgeous porch.

Before I can ring the bell, Seth opens the door, and a big black Labrador sits at his side, vibrating with excitement.

“Good boy,” Seth says to the dog. “He’s still a puppy and learning his manners.”

Seth takes the box and lets me inside, and I immediately set my bag down and look up at Seth. “Can I pet him?”

“Go ahead.”

I grin and kneel beside the big, happy dog. “Oh, you’re a good boy, aren’t you? So handsome and sweet. Yes, you are.”

He licks my face and wiggles his whole body in happiness.

“What’s his name?”

“Captain. Cap for short. He’s only about a year old.”

“Oh, you’re just a baby. Yes, you are.” I indulge in a few more puppy kisses and then stand, taking a deep breath. “It smells so good in here.”

Seth smiles. “Shower or food first?”

“Shower. Definitely shower.”

“Bathroom’s this way.” He leads me down the hallway to the master bedroom. “I have a guest bathroom, but this shower is better,” he explains. “And if you only get an awesome shower every few weeks, you should take advantage.”

His bedroom is a good size, with masculine linens and a big dog bed in the corner. The furniture is made of light wood, and the accents are in dark metal. It’s quintessential farmhouse style, and I love it.

But the master bathroom is stunning.

“You have a soaking tub. A copper soaking tub.”

The beautiful bathtub gleams invitingly in the light, and it makes me long for a lazy soak.

He nods. “Yeah, well. If you fall off a horse, sitting in a salt bath for a while helps with the aches and pains. You’re welcome to use that, too, if you want.”

“The shower is fine.” But, man, I’ll be dreaming of that deep, copper tub.

“Help yourself to anything you might need. I’ll be in the kitchen making a salad.”

He turns to walk away, but I stop him. “Seth.”

He turns back with a raised brow. “Yeah?”

“I was going to kiss you first, you know, before the dog. But I need a shower. Then you’ll get all of my attention.”

His mouth quirks up in a sexy smile, and he nods. “Fair enough. Take your time.”

I take him at his word and move at a glacial pace. I’ve been traveling in the van for long enough that a real shower feels indulgent. It’s a total treat. And while I don’t mind the van at all, there are moments, like today, when I need the real deal.