CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Boxes and Packing Tape
Rio—
Shelby’s in the passenger seat of my crew cab, and Bella and Hurley are in the backseat. I’ve got the truck bed loaded with boxes, and Zig’s in her car with the other animals.
We’re almost to the hacienda, and Shelby’s given me the cold shoulder the entire trip. Right now, she’s leaned against the door with her arms crossed, looking pissed at the world… or maybe just me.
The few times I’ve tried to reach over and rest my hand on her leg, she’s batted it away.
I’m hoping that all changes in about thirty seconds as I turn in the long drive that leads up the hill. Clearing the rise, the place comes into view. There’s a big gated circle drive.
Eduardo left the gates open for us and told me the keys were in the planter next to the door.
Shelby shifts in her seat.
There’s a fountain in the roundabout, the home straight ahead and a three-car garage off to the left. The patio is flagstone, and there’s a nice covered terrace.
The building is golden adobe, with dark wood posts and a massive front door.
Braking in front, I look over at Shelby.
Her eyes are wide, and her mouth is open.
“You rented us this place?”
“Yes, ma’am. Let’s check out the inside. I’ll close the gates, and the dogs can run around.” After I take care of that, I retrieve the key, and we go through the door. The floors are a pretty Spanish tile. There’s an entry foyer that leads to a great room with a massive fireplace and round, wrought-iron chandelier.
The furniture is all massive, with colorful, overstuffed couches and chairs. Everything is in a southwestern style.
“Wow,” Bella says. “This place is so big.”
“Follow me.” I lead them through a large dining room with a table that’s long enough to seat a dozen people. Moving on, we find a big kitchen that looks out over a terrace. Opening the French doors, I usher them outside.
“The view is amazing,” Shelby says, making the first comment since we’ve arrived.
“Come on. Let’s find the bedrooms.” I take them down a wing, and the first room we come to Bella, runs inside and spins in a circle.
“Can this be my room, Mommy? Look at the window seat.”
“Absolutely,” I reply, then tug Shelby down the hall to the master at the end. Double doors lead into a room with vaulted ceilings. It has its own adobe fireplace and a massive bed with a gauze canopy. “There’s a bathroom through here.”
She follows me in, and we find a large free-standing tub, big enough for two. I waggle my brows at her, but she ignores me. Another set of French doors leads to the same courtyard.
“Closet should be through there.” I point at a door, and watch her expression when she finds the massive walk-in I remember from the photos Eduardo sent me. I’m pretty sure it seals the deal.
I hear the front door open, and Zig whistles. “Holy cow. Boss? Where are you at?”
“In here,” I holler back.
He finds the master, just as Shelby comes out of the closet and throws a vase at my head. I duck and it sails past, smashing against the wall.
She stomps her foot. “Goddamn you, Rio. Why did this place have to be so perfect?”
With that, she marches down the hall, and I look at Zig with my hands wide. “What the fuck?” I mutter.
“Oh, come on, boss. Don’t feel so bad. Everybody who meets you wants to kill you.”
When I go after Shelby, I find Bella spinning in circles in the living room, staring at the chandelier. “It’s like in Beauty and the Beast.”
“What is, honey?” I pause to ask.
She points upward. “That. It’s like the one in Beast’s castle.”
I nod. “Guess so. That’s pretty cool, huh?”
Zig lifts his chin, signaling that he’ll stay with her while I go out front and deal with Shelby.
“Hey, peanut,” he says. “Did anyone ever tell you the story about the troll who lived under the bridge?”
“You mean like Poppy?”
“Who is Poppy?” he asks.
“She’s the best troll of all,” Bella replies.
I grin and leave him to it. I find Shelby sitting on a bench, petting Hurley, and sit next to her. “You don’t like the place?”
“I do. That’s the problem.” She glares at me.
“Why is that a problem?”
“Because you’re making this so difficult. Bella’s already in love. How is she ever going to be satisfied with our old place if things don’t work out and we end up going back there?”
I take her hand, threading our fingers together. “First, she’ll be happy wherever you are. You are her home, not any place. Second, I know you have your fears and doubts, but I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you’re happy here.”
“It’s not been easy, Rio—going off on my own, making a home, supporting us both all alone. I’ve never had anyone to lean on. I’ve never been able to count on anyone else to carry the weight for me. It’s hard to trust in that.”
“I hear what you’re saying, Shelby. I can only imagine how hard it’s been for you, and you’ve done an amazing job. I’m not saying you haven’t. But you deserve more. I want to give you more. I want to be there for you, to lean on, to carry that weight for you, to take all the burden off your shoulders. You don’t have to do it alone anymore, babe. And there’s no shame in accepting the help.”
“This is big, Rio. Huge. I’m afraid just when I relax and let go, the rug is going to be yanked out from under me.”
“All I’m asking for is a chance, Shelby. Give me a shot. Give us a shot. Yeah?” I lift her hand and kiss it.
Hurley jumps up with his paws on my knees and stares into my face. I scratch his ear.
“Well, I guess I have to, now.” Shelby sighs. “You’ve won over Bella and the dogs.”
“Who’s a good dog?” I pull a beef jerky from my pocket, unwrap it, and give it to him.
“No fair. That’s cheating,” Shelby complains. “You totally bribed him. He smelled that on you.”
“All’s fair in love and war, sweetheart.” I grin, then stand and heft her in my arms, and her legs go around my hips. “Let’s go see how high you bounce on that big ass bed.”