Shelter Me

by Allyson Charles

  “Think like a man, you mean?” Sarah raised an eyebrow.

  “Why not? Options are limited up here.”

  That they were, but a one-night stand wasn’t her style. And neither was James. It was time to stop thinking about him. “Can you stop by my office tomorrow to give me your opinions on my space?”

  “I have some time tomorrow afternoon.” Cassie licked an envelope closed and tossed it on the growing pile. “Are you sure you want to do this cat thing?” She darted a glance at Huck, who stared at them from his perch on the counter. “You’re already teetering on the edge of crazy cat lady.”

  Sarah frisbeed an envelope at her friend who batted it aside. “Yes, I’m sure. And three cats don’t make me a crazy cat lady. You need at least twenty to be called that, and to be found dead with them eating your carcass.”

  Cassie placed Pumpkin back on the floor. “They really wouldn’t eat you, would they?”

  Sarah shrugged. “The only thing that’s stopping them is their size.” Which was kind of why she liked them so much. Cats didn’t take crap from anyone, lived on their own terms, and were never afraid of going adventuring on their own. Sarah was a bit jealous, truth be told. She could use a little more of that fierceness in her own life.

  But she had her own business and was starting a nonprofit. She’d made the first move contacting her bio dad, over her brother’s strenuous objections, she might add. Maybe she was more in control than she’d thought.

  Thunderous knocks rattled the front door. Her stomach slid to the floor, and she kicked herself for her optimism. It was undeserved. Feet dragging, she trudged across her living room and swung open the door to six-foot something of irritation and concern. She should know by now to never tempt fate by being satisfied with life. Fate always had a way of making you regret it.

  Her dad stepped inside her house. “Baby girl, we need to talk.”

  Chapter Six

  The next day, Sarah still regretted opening her door. But knowing her dad, he would have found a window to crawl through. Or just busted the front door down. When he was determined, he didn’t let anything get in his way. And through hell or high water, he was going to talk with the daughter who’d been avoiding him.

  Cocking a hip on Joe’s desk, Sarah waited for her little brother. The Shelter Bay police department didn’t normally bustle with activity. The town was too small to have much crime. But the silence unnerved her. Only one uniformed officer sat in the station floor, the other four desks in the room empty.

  She crossed her legs and bobbed her right foot. She knew Joe was doing her a favor, but she didn’t have all day to wait for him. She pulled out her phone to text him again. The door to the back office opened, and the rest of the station poured out. The rest of the station entailed the captain, a woman in uniform, Joe, and two administrative staff.

  Joe gave her the universal male head bob before clapping his captain on the shoulder and heading her way. The two female admins tracked him with their eyes, and Sarah shook her head. She was used to the adoration the twins got from the female population, but it didn’t stop her from teasing them about it. Conner ate it up, but she could still get Joe to blush, embarrassed over the attention. With dark hair and blue eyes, it was no wonder half of Shelter Bay was in love with them. As a fireman and avid outdoorsman, Conner’s six-foot-three frame had bulked out. Joe was still all lean muscle.

  “Sorry about that.” Unlocking his bottom desk drawer, he pulled out his weapon and holster, attaching them to the belt in his blue jeans. “It’s the captain’s birthday and we were having a little party in the back room.”

  “It’s fine.” She glanced around and saw some of the other cops holding paper plates with slices of chocolate cake on them as they milled around, still chatting. “If you want to get a piece of cake, I can wait.”

  He hooked an arm around her neck and dragged her into his side, her head squashed between his ribs and biceps. “You mean I can get you a piece of cake.”

  “Humiliation does go down easier with a chocolate chaser.” Pulling her head free, she tucked the hair that had pulled loose from her braid behind her ears. A smudge of her pink lip gloss remained on his pressed white shirt, but he deserved that. “Where are we meeting this guy?”

  “Vera’s.” Draping an arm around her shoulders, he led her from the station. “I thought I’d buy you a sandwich after you sell the boat. Did you bring all the paperwork?”

  She patted her tote bag. “Yep. Dad made sure to give me all the forms he’d downloaded from the DMV. Didn’t want me to make any mistakes getting rid of the boat.” Her father had never signed the registration paperwork, so the boat was still technically her property. Her dad had given her an envelope with all the documentation last night and instructed her to call Joe.

  And then he’d given her a lecture on saving for her future. With her mortgage and comfortable, but not highly profitable practice, she wasn’t in a place yet financially where she could afford to spend so lavishly, he’d said.

  She rubbed at the ache behind her breastbone. Even if she was making millions, her dad still wouldn’t want her buying him big gifts. He would always see her as a little girl with scraped knees and pigtails.

  They turned on to the busy sidewalk, everyone in Shelter Bay out in the small downtown getting lunch, it seemed. The wide main street sat on a bluff, and was a patchwork of restaurants, office space, and shops. The storefronts had a lot of turnover, the coast side town struggling to find its place between its logging and fishing roots and its new turn toward art galleries and artisan coffee houses. A transition made especially difficult as most tourists drove past the Lost Coast without even knowing it existed.

  But no matter how the economy fared, everyone liked to eat, and this small town had managed to land some tasty nosh. Vera’s was a deli the locals loved, not least for the fact that a sandwich from their deli was big enough to serve as lunch, dinner, and lunch again the next day. It also had a dessert counter that could help you forget almost any problem.

  Joe squeezed her shoulder. “Dad didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said quietly. “He just didn’t want you spending so much money on him. In his mind, parents buy their kids the big gifts. They don’t get them.”

  “I know.” But it still hurt. “So, who’s this guy willing to buy the boat off me?”

  “Just an old friend from school.” A group of teenage boys, joking around and shoving each other, headed toward them on the sidewalk. Joe guided her to his other side, putting himself between the group and Sarah.

  She smiled. She didn’t even think he consciously thought about his actions. He’d always been the caretaker of the Martineau kids. The problem solver. No one was surprised when he had decided to become a cop.

  “He lives up in Fort Bragg and likes to fish.” Pushing the door to the deli open, Joe scanned the room before herding her to an open tabletop. “His last boat went belly up a couple of months ago, so the timing is perfect.”

  Hanging her bag over the back of the chair, she dug out the paperwork. Well, at least her stupidity had a happy ending for someone. “Thanks for setting this up, Joe. I really appreciate it.”

  “Glad to help.” His concerned gaze leveled on her. “Is there anything else you want my help with?”

  “Uh….”

  He slowly arched a dark brow.

  She swore under her breath. “Which one told you? Ellie or Brad?”

  “Brad. After Conner and I kicked his ass on the basketball court, we sat on him until he told us why he’d been PMSing lately. No offense.” He tapped his knee against her leg. “We figured it had something to do with you.”

  “Great. So everyone knows about my biological dad now except for my real dad.” The air squeezed out of her, and she grabbed Joe’s forearm. “Dad doesn’t know, does he?”

  Wincing, he peeled her fingers off of him. “No. And don’t you think he should have been the first to know? Well, after Brad? He’s going
to be upset you didn’t come to him.”

  “And exactly how would that conversation go?” She couldn’t keep the bitterness from her voice. Everyone thought she’d messed up. She knew she’d messed up. But telling their dad she’d contacted her bio dad and wanted a relationship with him wasn’t an easy thing. It was starting to tick her off how everyone acted like it was. Any way she looked at the situation, her dad was going to be hurt.

  “How about—” Joe broke off when a man approached them. He stood and the two men shook hands. “Hi, Jorge. Good to see you.”

  Sarah stood and shook the man’s hand, too, before they all settled around the table. Jorge had to get back to work in Fort Bragg, so they didn’t waste time. In five minutes, all the paperwork was signed, the check was in Sarah’s tote, and, after one last back slap from Joe, Jorge was out the door.

  If only the rest of her life ran as smoothly. “Thanks again, Joe. Will you be at dinner Sunday night?”

  “Probably.” Sunday nights at the family house were a tradition. It was an open-door policy for dinner, everyone came if they were able, and more often than not, it was a full house. Their dad grilled, and the kids brought side dishes and desserts. When the weather was nice, they’d eat on the deck. When it was football season, they ate in the living room and watched the Sunday night game. It was a tradition Sarah cherished, and never missed.

  He pointed to the line at the counter. “Don’t you want a sandwich?”

  “I have to get back to work.” She glanced longingly at the dessert counter. But she was eating out tonight. And even though she hated to admit it to herself, she wanted to look good for James tonight. Chocolate cake bloat was something you saved for a second date. “I’m making a house call on Mr. Morris’s horse.”

  Sarah stretched up onto her toes and waited for him to close the distance so she could kiss his cheek. Joe surprised her by grabbing her in a bear hug. “If you need anything, call me.”

  Nodding, she blinked back tears. Little brothers could be annoying as all get-out, but they were always there when you needed them.

  With a smile and a wave, she escaped from the deli and Joe’s concerned gaze. She hurried to her car at the police station. She hadn’t lied about the house call. The distraught horse’s owner had called two hours ago. This house call would push back all her other appointments, but she would have to make it work.

  She was going out to dinner tonight, and even though she was ninety-nine percent sure this wasn’t a date, and didn’t want it to be a date, well, that other one percent didn’t want to be late.

  Chapter Seven

  James tipped his head to the side as Sarah rushed into her clinic, half of her hair escaping her braid and mud splattering her jeans and cotton T-shirt. Her face was red, her eyes were blazing, and she looked like she might be having a worse day than he was.

  He felt a tug at his lips, a smile he resisted. She looked too miserable to laugh at, but it was close. “Problems?” he asked mildly, rising from the waiting room chair. “Another canine assault?”

  “What are you doing here?” She glanced at her wristwatch. “I texted you saying something came up and I would have to work late tonight. Besides, it’s only six and we weren’t supposed to meet until seven.” She planted her fists on her hips. “When we were still meeting.”

  He tucked his hands into his pant pockets. “You’ve gotta eat. If you don’t have time to go out, I can bring something in.” He’d already paid his dad’s nurse for overtime duty tonight. He didn’t want to waste it.

  “If you need a date, I’m free.” Melanie placed her elbows on the high desk and leaned forward. She gave him a smile full of mischief and promise.

  His gaze was drawn back to Sarah.

  Sarah swiveled her head, and her irritation, on her employee. “He doesn’t need a date.” She blew out a breath. “I mean, maybe he does. I don’t know. But we were supposed to talk business tonight.”

  “Business?” Melanie examined first Sarah, then James, and her eyebrow arched. “Sure thing, sweetie. If that’s what you like to call it.” Sarah opened her mouth, but Melanie kept talking. “Speaking of business, how was Anna’s hoof. Just an abscess like you hoped?”

  “Anna just had the abscess. It was her sister, Elsa.” Using the back of her arm, Sarah pushed a hank of hair off her cheek. “That turkey, Curt, didn’t even realize she was sick. The poor thing had colic, and there he was worrying about Anna’s pedicure. Men.” She glared at James.

  “Turkey?” Did people still say that?

  Melanie sighed. “She watched a lot of Magnum PI reruns growing up. Tom Selleck was the only man she ever loved besides her dad.”

  Sarah turned her scowl on her assistant. “Do not mock my Magnum-love. In the mood I’m in, that’s liable to put you out of a job.”

  Melanie just chuckled.

  James checked his watch. “It was a good show, but can we move this along?”

  Sarah planted her hands on her hips. “Do you want to go on my list, too?”

  He held up a hand. “Hey, I got a text only twenty minutes ago saying my dinner plans were canceled. If anything, I should be the one who’s mad.”

  “I was treating a colicky horse!”

  He shrugged. “Don’t babies get that? Just give it some medicine. There’s still time for us to grab dinner.”

  “Just give her some medicine?” Sarah took a step forward, her eyes narrowing.

  Melanie shrugged into a fringed coat. “This seems like a good time for me to skedaddle. Tomorrow will be busy, so I’ll get here early. See you later, James. Good luck.” With a wink and a waggle of her fingers, she was gone, leaving James alone with a very pissed-off Sarah.

  “Do you know what I had to do to diagnose Elsa’s colic due to impaction?” She advanced another step, the smell of hay and leather and something he didn’t want to identify assaulting his senses. “I had to reach my arm up her rear and perform a rectum palpation. Like most creatures, having someone stick a hand up her tookus wasn’t something Elsa was particularly fond of.”

  James thought of a joke for that, but it died a quick death under the angry sparks her eyes shot out.

  She took another step, and he wondered if all those dark smears were the mud he’d originally thought them to be. “The blockage was far up, and I have short arms. I was shoulder deep in a cranky horse, trying to save its life and not get kicked while doing it, so excuse me that I didn’t whip out my phone and call you earlier!”

  His lips twitched. He couldn’t help it. She was too damn cute when she was riled up. “You’re forgiven. Do you want to go out back and I’ll hose you down?”

  Her mouth opened and closed, like a little guppy. Her bottom lip was full, sexy, giving him some ideas about as filthy as her clothes. But dirty thoughts could only go so far when someone reeked as badly as she did.

  He started mouth-breathing. “Seriously, do you want to go clean up a bit? I can wait, or go get us some take-out?”

  She flapped her arms. “I can’t have dinner now!”

  “Why not?”

  “My last appointment took hours longer than expected. I’m behind in my work.”

  James looked around the empty lobby. “As there are no animals waiting for their chance to slobber, piss, or defecate on you, I’ll assume Melanie rearranged your schedule.”

  Her lips pinched tight. “I have paperwork.”

  “And you also have a nonprofit you want to set up.” James held out his hands, palms up. “I’m here to help.”

  “As you delight in pointing out, I’m filthy.” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Actually, I usually point out that you smell, but both conditions can be remedied by a shower.” His stomach grumbled, reminding him lunch had been a long time ago. “Tell you what, why don’t you go home and clean up, and I’ll meet you there with takeout. An efficient solution where we both get what we want.” He loved those, and they so rarely happened in lif
e.

  Pulling out the bottom hem of her shirt, Sarah examined the dark streaks smeared across the belly. “Well…”

  “Great.” He rubbed his hands together and backed away. “Text me your address. And don’t worry about keeping me waiting.” He opened the door and took a deep drag of clean, fresh air. “Take as long as you need in that shower.”

  ****

  Clicking off her hairdryer, Sarah cocked her head and waited. There it was again. Her doorbell. Rats. Her hair was still damp and she’d hoped to get a modicum of tidying done before James arrived with dinner, but that wasn’t going to happen.

  She looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and sighed. At least the smell was gone. Her skin was pink from multiple scrubbings and her hair wasn’t winning any awards, but she was clean. James was going to have to take her as-is.

  She padded barefoot down the hall, shooed Pumpkin into her bedroom, and opened the front door to see the yummy package on her doorstep. James still wore the white button-down shirt he’d showed up at her office in. It was tucked into dark jeans that molded around strong thighs and cupped all sorts of fun things in just the right way. The shirt was open two buttons to expose his tanned throat.

  Cass was right. James Marshall was eye-candy. A shiver ran down her spine. From the ocean breeze. This was purely business, after all. But looking never hurt anyone.

  Holding up a plastic bag with Chinese lettering on the side, James stepped through the doorway. “I hope you like Mongolian beef. It’s the only decent thing Silverpond serves.”

  And… his hotness diminished exponentially whenever he opened his mouth. A man didn’t just insult her favorite restaurant and stay on her nice list. Silverpond was good, regardless that it was in a town with a population just shy of ten thousand. And to prove to him just how good her local restaurants were, she was going to eat every bite of food he brought for her, even if she was close to over-dosing on Chinese by this point.