Bryce gave the dog a cursory glance—one that matched his eye roll when Walt had talked about volunteering at the rescue.
Whether he liked animals or not was unimportant. He was here. Sure, his father had told him to come, but Bryce had construction knowledge. Maybe he knew the status of the building.
“How bad is the damage inside?” She asked the question that had been weighing on her mind and her heart.
Bryce didn’t say anything.
“That bad?” she asked.
He rubbed his chin. “A major pipe broke and affected both floors. We don’t know the extent of the water damage yet, but if this hadn’t been discovered until the morning, it would have been much worse.”
“A volunteer had stopped by to give animals their medications and clean.” Dakota glanced at the building. “Seems like a lot of activity inside.”
He nodded. “The water and electricity have been shut off, and plumbers have been draining the pipes while furniture and other things are being moved out of the affected rooms. The insurance agent stopped by, too.”
“One of the blessings of living in a small town.”
“The rescue’s director, Lori, said mold can affect an animal’s health so a professional water restoration company has been called in. They’ll work through the night. We’ll have a better idea of the damage tomorrow.”
“Will the animals be able to return then?”
“No.”
The one word brought Dakota’s worst fears to life. A tennis-ball-sized lump of panic lodged in her throat. She swallowed. That didn’t help. “They’ll be able to return, right?”
“I hope so.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, as if that could protect her, the animals, and the building. “You don’t sound hopeful.”
“It’s hard to say what will happen. The inside is a real mess.” His words increased her worry. “Tomorrow, we meet with the claims adjustor.”
“We?”
“Since my father can’t be here, I’ve offered to help in his place. Lori asked me to attend the meeting and walk-thru. Though she seems capable enough to handle things herself.”
“Lori is. I call her a pet-saving superhero.” The director spoke what was on her mind, but she would do anything to help any animal, whether they were part of her group or not. “The rescue is her life, but she knows to ask for help when she needs it.”
“Happy to do whatever I can.”
Was he? Dakota wanted to believe him, but trusting was hard for her. Especially someone she had just met.
Maverick whimpered, and she stuck her fingers through the grate again. He quieted.
People with headlamps walked into the shelter.
That made her wonder…hope… “If the electricity’s off, maybe the inside isn’t as bad as it appears tonight. Things could look better in the daylight.”
“That’s one way to look at the situation.” His tone suggested he thought it was the wrong way.
She raised her chin. “What can I say? I’m an optimist.”
“I consider myself a realist because I know better than to get my hopes up.”
“You’re nothing like your father.”
Bryce didn’t appear offended. “My father used to be like me, but since moving to Marietta, he’s different. He’s more like you now. That must be why the two of you get along.”
“That’s one reason.” Walt accepted her as she was, acknowledged her successes even if they weren’t changing the world, and he didn’t compare her simpler life to that of her higher-achieving siblings. She loved her parents, but her mom wanted Dakota to shoot for loftier goals and her dad thought she should move to a bigger city in spite of owning a house free and clear, having an inheritance that meant she only had to work part time, if that, and loving the town of Marietta. “You’re fortunate to have him as a father.”
“I am.” Bryce straightened. “So what’s your interest in my father?”
The accusation in his tone made her wince. He sounded like he had at Walt’s house earlier. “Excuse me?”
“The two of you seem close in spite of your age difference.”
The innuendo in his words made her cringe. “If you’re trying to make a joke, it’s not funny.”
“I’m not.”
Her muscles tensed. “I’m not looking for a sugar daddy if that’s what you’re implying. Your father and I are close. We’re friends. Good ones. He’s my go-to guy for advice, too. Nothing more.”
Doubt filled Bryce’s gaze.
Unbelievable. But she wasn’t going to waste her time trying to convince him. She had done nothing wrong.
A white van pulled into the parking lot. Janie O’Brien, head of the Bozeman Animal Sanctuary, had arrived.
Thank goodness. Not only did Janie have impeccable timing, so Dakota could get rid of Bryce, but more animals would be on their way soon.
“Another rescue just arrived.” Aunt Alice had worked with Janie’s rescue group six years ago when Dakota moved to Marietta. That had been her first taste of animal rescue, and she’d been hooked. Her life had never been the same since. “I need to get the animals loaded.”
“I’ll help.”
Her instinct was to say no. The guy was a jerk. But practicality won out over emotion. The more help she had, the faster she could get the animals into the van and on their way.
“You’re not needed inside?” she asked.
“No. We’re waiting for the restoration company to arrive. I have time to lift a few crates.”
And deliver pizza.
She glanced at the clipboard on Maverick’s crate and counted the names. “How about nine?”
Bryce flexed his arms like a weightlifter. “Nine is easy. Now if it were ninety, I might need a little help.”
His playfulness was unexpected. That didn’t make her like him any better. Still, she had to say something. “Only a little?”
“If I admit I’d need a lot of help, they might take away my man card.” He sounded serious until he smiled.
His charming grin warmed her insides better than a cup of Sage’s hot chocolate. Tingles erupted. Nerve endings twitched in anticipation.
Uh-oh. A jerk should not make her feel this way.
Bryce Grayson was trouble. He needed to have the words ‘danger—stay away’ tattooed on his face.
Twice, he’d said rude things, yet her body betrayed logic and reacted in spite of her shutting that part off over a year ago.
How had the switch moved back to the on position?
Yes, she’d missed those feelings, but she’d been in self-preservation and survival mode. Chocolate and animals had been enough to fill what was missing, but maybe she was ready for…more.
Not with Bryce.
He’d accused her of hurting Walt and wanting his money.
That was rude and unacceptable.
Being a nice piece of eye candy couldn’t make up for his awful personality. Dakota didn’t know the man well, but she had no doubt Bryce Grayson was the definition of Mr. Wrong. He might be Walt’s son, but she did not need someone like him in her life.
Chapter Four
The next morning after the meeting at the rescue, Bryce walked along Main Street. In Seattle, the sidewalks would be filled at this time. He wasn’t surprised few were out here. He stretched his right arm across his chest. His shoulder and back muscles ached. Not sharp pains, but a haven’t-been-used-except-in-the-gym soreness that felt good.
These days, he focused on design work, and although he visited work sites, he did so only to follow a project. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been involved in demolition and had forgotten how satisfying physical labor could be.
But after a restless night of tossing and turning, tiredness dogged Bryce. A visit to the coffee shop for a caffeine fix might help.
Pushing a double stroller with twin toddlers, a woman talked on her cell phone. A brown delivery truck parked at the curb, and a man carried cardboard boxes out the side door. A
florist placed orange, red, and yellow flowers into a white bucket outside her shop’s front door.
Peaceful and quiet.
The same adjectives his dad had used yesterday.
No sirens blared, no horns honked, no angry drivers cursed out the car window.
But Bryce still didn’t get the appeal of small-town life.
His phone rang. He checked the screen to see his dad’s name and number.
Concern rocketed through Bryce. He placed the phone to his ear. “You okay, Dad?”
“Not really. Gladys beat me in cribbage. She wants to play Texas Hold’em after she heats up a coffee cake. She’s in the kitchen now. She must be planning to cheat and will use food to distract me.”
Gladys was one of the many ladies in Marietta who brought over food and kept his dad company as needed. She also volunteered at the hospital. Not your typical card shark. “She could just be a better player than you.”
“Or she’s a whiz at hiding cards. How’d the meeting go?”
“Not bad.” That had been a relief, but getting the repairs done quickly could be an issue. Bryce rubbed the back of his neck. “Lori has a job you can do from your recliner.”
The director wanted the water damage repaired in days, not weeks. That would depend on the availability of materials and workers. His father’s crew was committed to two projects, but his dad would know who could get the job done right and fast.
“I’ll tell you more when I get home.” Bryce stopped in front of the coffee shop. “I’m going to grab a coffee first. Want something?”
“Not coffee. Swing by the chocolate shop and buy two small boxes of chocolates. One for Gladys and one for Willa. I want to thank them for sitting with me last night and today,” his father explained. “Dakota will know what they like.”
Bryce’s stomach clenched. She’d been on his mind. Part of the reason he hadn’t slept well. He kept seeing the flash of hurt in her eyes. Hurt he’d caused yesterday at his father’s house and also in the parking lot without any proof to justify his questions.
“Bryce?” his dad asked.
“I’m here. I, uh, can do that.” Not that Bryce wanted to go to the chocolate shop because he felt bad enough. Seeing her would make him feel worse. “Need anything else?”
“Just my legs to heal.” His father hung up.
Gladys must have brought out the coffee cake.
Bryce went inside the café and ordered a coffee to go. His father’s words echoed in his head.
She’s the definition of caring and nice.
Dakota appeared to put others—animals and humans—ahead of herself. Last night, she’d worn her hair tucked inside a wool beanie and the lopsided knitted scarf wrapped around her neck. She’d also been covered with dog hair, cat fur, and water.
She’d looked silly, if he was being honest, but she hadn’t cared. Nothing had mattered to her except doing her job. One she threw herself into.
Yet, he’d accused her of going after his dad, an older gentleman, like a gold digger.
Way to go, Grayson.
He’d acted like a class-A jerk.
Steel I-beams seemed to press down on his shoulders. He shouldn’t have said what he did, but he’d allowed his frustration and anger over his father’s broken legs and his wanting to remain in Marietta to build. Bryce had taken out his emotions on Dakota.
Twice.
“Bryce,” the barista called.
He grabbed his cup and sipped. Black and strong. The way he liked it. No fancy additions or flavors needed.
He would head over to the chocolate shop to buy what his father needed, and, if Dakota was there, offer her an apology.
The question was—would she accept it?
*
Inside the chocolate shop, Dakota surveyed the work she and Portia had done arranging the new products. The ghosts and pumpkins sat in the sales basket. The pilgrim hat and turkey molded chocolates had taken over the choice display spots on the counter, in the window, and between artfully arranged copper boxes on shelves.
Satisfaction flowed through her. She and Portia had done well, and Sage would be happy when she peeked out from the back. “Only a day late, but November has arrived at Copper Mountain Chocolates.”
“Looks great,” Portia agreed. “Though Aunt Sage said we’ll be preparing for Christmas before Thanksgiving arrives.”
Dakota kept forgetting Portia had only joined the staff last month. The young woman caught on quick. “Sage will start making holiday products next week. The molded Christmas trees go on sale first.”
“You don’t wait until Black Friday?”
“No. The shop will be completely decked out for the holidays the day after Thanksgiving, but we also want to cater to tourists who won’t be here in December, so a few Christmas products will be for sale this month.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
“You’re going to have to prepare yourself for what’s coming.” Dakota wanted to warn the newbie. “Preparing for the holiday rush is only one part of what we’ll be doing. We also need to come up with an event to hold before the end of the month so start brainstorming.”
“I can’t wait to plan another event. I know Rosie has cut back on her hours to work on her writing, but we can pull something off.”
Dakota hoped so. “And don’t forget, we open an hour earlier from Black Friday through the twenty-fourth of December. The shop is crazy busy. Much worse than yesterday.”
“Busy is good.” Portia stared out the window with a wistful gaze. “Keeps me from having too much time to think.”
“The time goes by faster.” Dakota straightened the chocolate cornucopia display to better meet Sage’s exacting standards. She stepped back to double-check. “That’s better.”
Portia leaned against the counter, wrapping her hands around her stomach.
Dakota noticed her coworker’s complexion looked a bit greenish. “Do you feel okay?”
“I…I skipped breakfast. I’ll eat something on my break and be fine.”
“It’s slow. Take your break now.”
“Once we’re finished.” Portia straightened. “I like seeing what little touches you, Rosie, and Sage add to the displays.”
“You’ve been doing them without even noticing. You’ve caught on so fast. And the things you’re doing with social media for the shop are awesome.”
“Thanks.”
Portia had dropped out of college last month—just weeks into her senior year. She’d rented a room from their other coworker until Rosie got engaged to a sexy cowboy named Brant. Once he and his younger sister moved into Rosie’s house, Portia went to live with her Aunt Callen at the Circle C Ranch until she found a place of her own. Now Portia lived in an apartment over the garage at the Bramble House Bed and Breakfast.
“Are you settled in your new place yet?” Dakota asked.
“Getting there. It’s so different from being in college.” A wistful look crossed Portia’s face. “Though I can’t beat working here.”
“Best. Job. Ever.” Next to working with animals, of course. Dakota would be meeting Lori after work, and she was crossing her fingers to hear good news from the rescue’s director. “Chocolate makes everything better.”
“It’s keeping me going.”
Uh-oh. That didn’t sound good.
Dakota touched Portia’s shoulder. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Portia raised her chin a notch. “I’m fine.”
Not fine given her hunched shoulders. Portia hadn’t spoken much about leaving college, having to move a couple of times since arriving in Marietta, or the boy she’d been dating. Maybe something else had happened. Or maybe all the changes had caught up to her.
Whatever the reason, Dakota wanted to help.
“Glad to hear you’re fine.” She used her matter-of-fact voice. The same tone York used whenever he interfered big-brother style in her life. “I thought you might be having boyfriend trouble or something.”
“
No.” The word rushed from Portia’s mouth faster than salted caramels disappeared during September’s rodeo weekend. “I…Austin and I…we’ve been off and on. Right now, we’re off. Over really.”
Breakups hurt. Self-confidence took a beating. At least, Dakota’s had. She empathized with the animals who thought they’d found a forever home and family to love them only to be surrendered to the rescue. She wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Friends, along with chocolate and her foster animals, had eased the heartache. Time, too.
The least she could do was put a smile back on Portia’s face. Dakota had to try. “If that’s the case, you qualify to join the Chocolate Is Better Than Men Club, aka CIBTMC.”
Portia’s nose crinkled. “Huh?”
“The club started out as a joke, but it’s become a semi-regular thing with meetings at Grey’s Saloon.”
“Male bashing sessions?”
“No, but we may raise our glasses in hopes karma visits our ex-boyfriends. The club is for those of us who are tired of dating Mr. Wrongs.”
“So you’re just waiting for Mr. Right to come along?”
Unfortunately, there seemed to be more Mr. Wrongs than Mr. Rights. She wasn’t ready to have her heart trampled on again.
“I’m taking a break from men right now,” Dakota admitted. “I’m so busy right now. Maybe after the holidays.”
“I can understand that.” A thoughtful expression crossed Portia’s face. “How many members are in the club?”
“Two at the moment. Me and Kelly Hamilton.”
Portia tilted her head. “The vet tech who comes in here for hot chocolate?”
“That’s her.” Kelly was a great friend who always knew the right thing to stay to Dakota. “Feel free to join us on Thursday at Grey’s.”
“Thanks. This week doesn’t work for me, but maybe next time.”
With a smile back on her face, Portia straightened a display of boxes shaped like a pyramid.
Mission accomplished. That pleased Dakota.
She noticed the sample tray was low. Not surprising since everyone loved Sage’s single-origin bar.
Dakota broke another chocolate bar into pieces to give to customers.
The bell on the door jingled.
Perfect timing.
A Thankful Heart (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 2) Page 5