by Sharan Daire
The young man returned with a perfectly-poured cappuccino dusted with cocoa that would have done any big-city barista proud. "Thanks, Tim."
"Can I get you anything else?" Tim asked. "More bread? A cappuccino for the lady?"
What the hell. "Sure. I probably won't be able to sleep much tonight anyway."
Derek's smolder intensified, nearly lighting the tablecloth on fire. Crap. I didn't mean it that way...
Though I had to admit, it felt nice. Real nice. To think about this man desiring me. He was a handsome, well-to-do man, with an honorable job and this incredible lodge, who was showing interest in me. A homeless single-mom nobody. I wore threadbare jeans and an old hoodie. I couldn't remember the last time it'd been washed. I certainly hadn't showered today, or even yesterday, now that I thought about it. I'd been too stressed out trying to pack our essentials into the car, knowing that I'd never be returning to that apartment. Whatever we left behind was gone. Forever.
It'd been gut-wrenching and agonizing, sweating over which clothes to take for each kid, what household items could easily be replaced. I'd fought and scraped together a few measly possessions over the years, only to leave behind what didn't fit in my car. At least a kind neighbor had given me a few bucks for the ten-year-old television, which had helped me fill up the car on the way out of town.
To his credit, Derek didn't make any innuendoes or try to press a physical advantage. "Where are you from?"
I couldn't help but tense a little. His face remained relaxed but his eyes probed at my exterior shell, as if he was searching for a weakness he could take advantage of. No matter how nice he and his brother were, I had to remember that he was a cop, first and foremost. I wasn't on the run and hadn't done anything against the law, but that didn't mean I wanted him to know my business.
Or maybe that was a lie I told myself to make me feel better. Maybe... if he knew the truth about me...
He wouldn't be interested at all.
DEREK
I hadn't meant to send her hackles back up. Her shoulders tensed and her gaze flickered away a moment. I didn't have to track her movements to know she'd reflexively glanced at the nearest exit in case she needed to flee. Though how she thought she could scoop up her kids and race out of the lodge if I truly meant her any ill will...
Inwardly wincing, I tipped the small cup to my lips and drained the rich coffee in several long gulps. I'd seen plenty of domestics over the years to know how powerless any woman would feel in a vulnerable situation like this with a strange man. Let alone a man in law enforcement.
"Dallas," she answered, the word short and terse. Not volunteering any additional information. Cutting off any further communication along that path.
Which was fine. I could get to know her better by doing all the talking and watching how she reacted. I didn't need her words to know how blown away she was by the lodge. How much it affected her to see her kids eating and laughing. I could imagine all too easily how hard their lives had been.
"No wonder poor old Bessie conked out on you." I kept my tone light and easy. "She isn't used to such cold weather. I'm glad you were driving through town tonight rather than a few days ago when the snow came through."
She nodded but didn't say anything in reply. Tim brought her a cappuccino. She wrapped her fingers around the cup but didn't immediately drink any as I talked.
I told her stories about Kaleb and me as kids, deliberately trying to make her laugh, or at least smile. I told her about Pop and Mama, how hard they'd worked all their lives. We'd finally convinced her to move to Florida this year and avoid the cold, though I admitted we had missed her terribly over the holidays.
"You didn’t go to Florida to see her?" Shelby asked.
I shook my head. "Not this year, unfortunately. Just bad timing. We started a new business venture that's needed more time than we expected, and of course, we ran into a few hiccups. Then work has been pretty busy this winter with traffic accidents and some petty burglary. I tried to get Kaleb to go, but he refused to go without me."
My brother heard us talking about him and headed over to our table. "You know I can't fly alone. It drives me nuts when I don't have anyone to talk to."
She glanced over at her kids, who were having a picnic on the floor in front of the fireplace.
Kaleb noticed her straying attention too. "Don't worry. Wally will let me know if they get up to any mischief."
She huffed out a little laugh. "Is he like Nanny in Peter Pan?"
"Even better," I replied, drawing her attention back to us. "Wally started in the police dog program, but he was too friendly for my line of work."
Kaleb snorted and bumped her shoulder playfully. "Imagine that."
"I can be friendly," I growled in my meanest voice, though I kept a careful eye on her reaction.
Her lips quirked and her eyes twinkled with a glint of amusement. She was beginning to see right through me.
"Oh sure," Kaleb drawled. "All the criminals think so."
"Anyway," I said firmly. "Wally wasn't a good fit for a K-9 unit, but he made an excellent service dog for Pop. He's been pretty distraught for the past year once we lost him. He's excited to have someone to play with."
Tim quietly dropped off three bowls of vegetable beef soup and another basket of bread. Kaleb and I continued the easy conversation, keeping it light and teasing. Bit by bit, Shelby relaxed a little more. She downed the coffee and practically licked the soup bowl clean. We all did.
"Sally's a fucking goddess in the kitchen," Kaleb said as he pushed the empty bowl aside. "Wait until you have some of her dessert. I think it's chocolate cake tonight."
Tim removed the empty bowls and Sally brought in plates heaped with a thick steak, roasted garlic potatoes, and her famous morel mushroom gravy.
Shelby groaned. "I don't think I'll have room for dessert."
"There's always room for dessert, Mama," Allie declared as she climbed onto Shelby's lap.
"Agreed!" Sally said, smiling. "Though I’ll box up a piece of cake for later, just in case."
"I saw you eating your ice cream before your dinner," Shelby chided gently. "Are you going to help me eat some of this?"
Allie yawned. "No way. I already ate too much."
Eyes heavy, she nestled her head beneath her mother's chin. Shelby shifted her a bit, holding her with her left hand so she could pick up her fork. Without her request, Kaleb quickly sliced up her steak for her into neat little bites. She smiled at him. "Thanks."
And my heart damned near melted on the spot. I couldn't believe such a treasure had been brought to our door. Shelby was un-fucking-believably gorgeous, especially holding her daughter. Allie's cheeks were flushed, her eyes heavy, her tummy full. Maybe for the first time all day. All week. I didn't want to ask. But they were all thin and worn. Dark circles under Shelby's eyes told me she was damned near exhausted. She'd been running on fumes like that broke-down car for months. Even with the coffee perking her up, she wouldn't last much longer before she collapsed.
The staff quietly boxed up all leftover food for later. Knowing Sally, I didn't have to request that they put in some extras, like cake, maybe cookies for the kids. Kaleb had a to-go bag in each hand when we finally prepared to take Shelby and the kids to the cabin. She stood up slowly, shifting Allie's dead weight more up onto her shoulder.
"Can I take her for you?" I asked softly. "The cabin's only a five-minute walk or so, but it's dark and cold."
Shelby hesitated only a moment before nodding and letting me carefully pull the sleeping child into my arms. Such precious cargo. I saw the worry in Shelby's eyes. The hint of fear and protectiveness, but she trusted me enough to at least let me help a little. As we walked back through the lodge, I snagged a throw blanket from one of the couches and tucked it around the little girl. Kaleb did the same for Bubby, though he folded up so it didn't drag the ground.
The full moon illuminated the grounds nicely, though we'd also been careful to light the paths and lands
caping. I didn't stop to show her around the patio or grounds much. It was too chilly, and they were too tired. Maybe tomorrow night I could light the fire pit. The kids would have a blast making s'mores. Several paths led off from the large slate-tiled patio, but they were all well labeled. "We're going to Sugarfoot," I reminded her, nodding at the carved sign.
"You said you both lived here too?"
"Yep." Kaleb nodded his head to the right-hand path. "I'm in Bear Creek at the far end of the path. It's actually quicker for me to grab my car and drive around the outskirts of the property. We were there earlier when we dropped your car off at my shop."
"I'm on the opposite side," I added. "Though not as far out as Kaleb. My cabin is Holly Ridge, named after Mama. I'm actually smack dab in the middle of the property. Everett and Chris both live in the main lodge at the opposite end from the guest suites. I'll show you tomorrow."
She didn't answer, but I could feel the question humming between us. She wanted to know why I'd bother showing her where our friends lived. It was important. If she was going to stay.
God help me if she didn't. If she wasn't interested in the slightest...
I ground my teeth together in a silent snarl. She had to stay. I'd do whatever it took to keep her.
6
Shelby
The night air was crisp and cold enough that my teeth were chattering by the time we reached the cabin, despite the borrowed heavy coat around my shoulders. The sheriff marched right up the front steps and opened the door without pausing to unlock it. All the windows were brightly lit, and warm air billowed out as I followed him. In the dark and cold, I didn't pay much attention to the exterior, but it was made from giant logs like the main building, just smaller in scale.
Inside, it was warmly decorated with a gingham patchwork theme. The main building had been all leather and heavy wood furniture, but the cabin had a more feminine touch. Curtains hung at the windows and though the sofa was leather, it was a light gray and bore several colorful throw pillows. A thick patchwork quilt that looked handmade was artfully draped over the arm. Someone had actually lit the fireplace with one of those manmade square logs. It'd been burning a while, and the room was toasty warm.
Derek headed up the stairs, shifting Allie down to cradle her in his arms. "There's a loft up here," he whispered. "It's open so you'll be able to hear if they need anything."
I followed him with Bubby close beside me, though Kaleb went into the kitchenette to deposit the leftovers in the small fridge. The loft was definitely made for kids, or at least teenagers, with a large television and game system.
"Whoa," Bubby whispered, scanning the games. "I've always wanted to play these."
Large beanbags were scattered on the floor, and the couch had already been converted into a guest bed complete with pillows and blankets. Derek lay Allie down on the bed. He lingered, pulling the blanket up around her. "Does she need anything else? Is this okay?"
"It's perfect," I whispered, trying not to focus on the way his gigantic hand was so tender and gentle as he tucked the blanket up around her.
He straightened, turning to face me, and I automatically stiffened. My mind blanked. He'd kissed me earlier, and then made sure we'd been treated to a fantastic dinner and had a safe place to spend the night. Was this when he demanded payment...?
"I'll show myself out," he said softly. "If you need anything, just call the front desk. It's staffed all night."
He moved past me to the stairs and didn't linger or try to lure me downstairs. Stunned, and yeah, a little disappointed, I sat on the edge of the pulled-out couch.
"Bye, guys!" Kaleb called up softly. "Good night, Shelby. I'll let you know what I find out about your car tomorrow."
The door opened and shut. I listened for several long moments, waiting to hear one of them moving around. Maybe making himself at home in the bed downstairs. Or coming back in because he conveniently forgot something. But they never did.
"Mom," Bubby whispered. "Is it really okay for me to play these?"
"Sure. They said so. Do you know how to hook it up?"
He nodded, already flipping the television screen on and making himself at home on the floor. "Jonathan has one, but he doesn't have as many games."
I sat there for a few more minutes, watching him play, his young face lit up with excitement. A pang squeezed my heart. I hadn't been able to put such a big smile on his face in a very long time. It sucked that I worked such long hours just to survive, let alone provide any extras for my kids like a video game. It was all I could do to swing cheap pizza once a month. I'd done my best for them. Always had. Always would. But it would never be enough making minimum tips and diner wages.
I could try to get funding for some college courses. Maybe go to culinary school. Or learn how to cut hair.
I sighed heavily. Neither of those sounded all that great to me. I could barely manage my own hair, which was why I always wore it in a simple ponytail. And I hated to cook.
I stood up and moved closer to Bubby. "Will you be okay up here?"
He paused the game and looked up at me, his eyes shining with so much hope that I almost burst into tears. "Sure, Mom. This is great. I won't stay up too late, though. I don't want to miss fishing with the sheriff. I mean with Derek."
I closed my eyes a moment, fighting to contain my emotions. So many times, I'd seen that look of expectation in their eyes when their father said something casual in passing. Like, “maybe we'll go to the park tomorrow.” Or “maybe we'll get ice cream.” Then he never showed.
I was always left to pick up the pieces of their broken hearts.
I swallowed hard and made myself look into Bubby's eyes so he could see how serious I was. "He may not remember, honey. I don't want you to be too disappointed."
He shrugged a little and turned back to his game. "He's a sheriff. He's supposed to remember stuff, right?"
"Sure, honey, but he has a very important job. Because he's the sheriff, he might get called to work. Maybe there's a bad accident or something. He might really need to skip tomorrow. I just don't want you to be too disappointed."
"I know, Mom. But he's different. He's not like Dad."
I smoothed his hair and kissed the top of his head. "I hope you're right, Bubby. I really do."
You’d best not break my son’s heart, Sheriff. Or I’ll never be able to forgive you.
7
Shelby
I'd never been in such a luxurious place that tried so very hard not to be luxurious. With all the rustic wood and cozy quilts, on the surface, this cabin appeared to be a quaint little getaway in the woods.
But the bathroom.
By god. The bathroom was over the top crazy.
I'd never seen such a large tub in all my life. It easily was bigger than the entire bathroom in most places. Maybe even the size of a regular bedroom. Slate-tiled tiers surrounded the gigantic whirlpool basin. Glass jars of bath salts, bombs, and even dried flowers and herbs sat on a nearby shelf. Candles lined the upper tiers, thankfully not lit. That really would have creeped me out if someone had come in to light this ultra-romantic tub.
As much as I'd love to take a long soak, it just didn't feel right. That tub was big enough for half a dozen people to enjoy, not me. Alone. Wasting all that hot water. A shower would still be incredible, even if I had to put on my old clothes again.
I shouldn't have thought a shower would be settling, at least not in this place. Again, I'd seen entire bathrooms smaller than the walk-in shower with dual rain-shower heads. Other jets and sprays lined the wall with an electronic panel. I sighed, not sure I could even figure out how to use it. I shouldn't need a how-to manual to take a shower.
The toilet was just as complicated. Like seriously, why on earth did a toilet need an electronic panel? Evidently to heat the seat and provide a bidet if desired. I nearly fell off the seat and broke my own damned neck when hot air suddenly hit my ass. Evidently it dried your fanny too.
Crazy.
; What did a toilet like that cost? Probably as much as my car. Or the back rent I owed.
The shower panel was surprisingly easy to figure out. I didn't try to change the preset features since the water temperature already felt heavenly. I washed my hair twice with some silky coconut-scented shampoo and scrubbed with rose-scented soap. Wrapped in a thick, cushy robe and my hair rolled up in a fluffy white towel, I felt like a queen. If I closed my eyes, I could imagine my loyal pool boys helping me down into that giant tub. Steaming hot water thick with rose petals and lovely oils. While one washed my hair, and another cradled my foot in his big palm. Maybe even painting my toenails. I mean, it was a dream, right? I might as well go big.
The two fantasy pool boys looked disturbingly familiar. Maybe a third. Their handsome friend whom I'd met at the front desk. The lawyer. Yeah right.
I snorted softly and climbed into the blissfully soft bed. Closing my eyes, I drifted toward sleep while my mind lingered on the hot men in the tub.
I had a feeling that I was going to have some very interesting dreams tonight.
8
Shelby
"Mom."
I rubbed my eyes. "What's wrong, Bubby?"
"He's here."
I closed my eyes, trying to remember what had happened. Where we were. Who he was and why Bubby would be so damned excited. It was too fucking early for questions. Though I didn't know what time it was, exactly. It just felt early. Like still dark early. I turned my head and tried to look out the window, but it wasn't where I expected.
Because we weren't home in our apartment with the tiny, dingy window. We were...