Chapter 9
Spike watched Reese from across the room. She seemed…happy. Which, to be honest, was somewhat of a surprise to him. She had a lot on her plate right now. A lot to be worried and stressed out about. But she was remarkably unflappable.
Their second day in New Mexico, Woody had arranged to have her SUV, along with his vehicle, sent from Kansas City to The Refuge.
They’d arrived two days later, and she was thrilled to be able to drive herself around again…
not that she went many places. She’d gone shopping with Alaska and Henley and had gotten a new cell phone.
A couple days later, she returned to town and picked up groceries to replenish his fridge and pantry, much to his annoyance, because he wasn’t a fan of her spending her own money on food that they were both eating.
Especially when she was currently without a job.
He’d come in from helping Tonka expand the corral one evening to find that she’d talked with her boss, and because she wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be gone, he’d had to regrettably let her go.
Reese hadn’t seemed upset. Had merely shrugged and told him that she’d expected as much, since she couldn’t expect her boss to just hold her job without any idea when she’d return.
She assured him that she had money saved up and she’d be fine without a job for a while, and she was looking forward to relaxing.
Although, he hadn’t really seen her relaxing much in the last week. She’d been up at the lodge every day helping Robert and Luna in the kitchen…not cooking, but shuttling food out to the guests and making sure everyone had whatever they needed.
She’d also helped Carly, Jess, and Ryan with the laundry when she ran out of other things to do. Spike wanted to protest, tell her that she wasn’t here to work, but since she seemed happy to stay busy, he didn’t want to upset her unnecessarily.
She spent time with Isabella as well, getting to know her. It was obvious her and Woody’s relationship was moving along quickly, and Reese admitted to Spike one night that she was loving the thought of having a sister-in-law.
Jasna’s school year had started shortly before his trip to Kansas City, so Reese had taken to spending part of her afternoons down at the barn with the animals, helping Tonka until Jasna arrived.
All-in-all, she’d jumped in with both feet to get to know everyone, and she had no problem pitching in to help wherever she could.
There were a few days when Spike hadn’t even seen her until dinnertime, when she reappeared at his cabin. She spoke a million miles an hour as they ate, telling him all about her days and what she’d seen and done.
She was bubbly and friendly, and the more time Spike spent around her, the more he knew he’d never want her to leave.
This morning, after he’d made her a coffee that wasn’t really a coffee, and while they were eating breakfast, he brought up something he’d been thinking about for the last two days.
“I thought, if you didn’t already have a hundred things planned for the day, that I’d take you to see one of my favorite places at The Refuge.”
Reese looked up at him with twinkling eyes. “Yes!”
He grinned. “You don’t want to know where it is or how we’re getting there?”
“Nope. If it’s your favorite place, I know it’s going to be magnificent.”
“And if I said it involved rock climbing gear, would you still be as excited?” he joked.
“Yup. Although I’ve never done anything like that, so you’d have to teach me how to do it. Wait—am I too heavy for the equipment or anything?”
She didn’t look stressed out when she asked, merely curious, but Spike still didn’t like hearing it. “First, I’ll teach you whatever you want to learn. Second, you aren’t too heavy for anything.” He was scowling by the time he finished speaking.
Reese reached over and put her hand on his arm to soothe him.
“I wasn’t being self-deprecating. Not really.
There are a lot of things I can’t do because of my size.
Or things that wouldn’t be smart. And being strapped up and hanging by a rope or pulley system or whatever’s used in rock climbing sounds as if it might have weight limits.
I was just making sure, because there’s nothing worse than getting excited about doing something, only to find out I can’t. ”
“There’s nothing wrong with your size,” Spike growled. “And do you really think I’d suggest something if I thought you wouldn’t be able to do it? No way in hell.” He answered his own question without giving her time to comment.
“You really don’t care that I’m big…do you?” she asked with a tilt of her head.
“You aren’t big,” he countered. “You’re perfect.
And no. You’re literally one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
Since you’ve been here, you’ve volunteered to help just about everyone.
I think if there was a vote, I’d be kicked out and you’d be chosen to take my spot as co-owner of this place with the other guys.
I’ve even seen you trying to talk to Angelo with that translation app on your phone.
He hasn’t exactly been Mr. Congeniality since he’s gotten here, but that doesn’t seem to faze you at all.
You just keep on smiling and doing whatever you can to make him feel more comfortable and welcome. ”
“He’s in a foreign country, doesn’t speak the language, and he’s a teenager,” Reese said, as if that explained Angelo’s standoffishness.
“And from what you said, he had a hell of a decision to make…either sell drugs to keep his sister safe, or refuse and possibly get her killed. It was a crappy situation to be in, and I feel bad for him. Besides, it looks like Woody and Isabella are falling hard and fast, and if they get married, he’ll be related to me, basically.
I want him to know I care and I’m here if he needs anything. ”
There. That. Her soft heart was something Spike both admired and worried about because it could get her hurt in the future.
“He’s not exactly a kid,” he felt obligated to mention.
“He’s old enough to put on his big-boy pants and put in a little bit of effort.
I’m not saying I think he should be digging holes for the new fence by the barn, but there are various opportunities here for him if he tried just a little bit.
New Mexico has a large Spanish-speaking population, he could easily find a job in Los Alamos if he wanted to. ”
“It’s only been a week,” Reese said gently. “He was ripped away from everything he knew, without any of his possessions. We need to cut him some slack.”
Spike was in awe of Reese once more. She was generous to a fault.
Kind. Understanding. But where Angelo was concerned…
he wasn’t sure it was warranted. Yes, it had only been a week since they’d arrived from Colombia, but Isabella was flourishing.
Loving every minute of her time here at The Refuge.
Her brother, not so much. He didn’t think it was solely because Isabella spoke English, and her brother didn’t.
Though he admitted that was obviously to Isabella’s benefit.
“We have no idea what people are going through when we see them,” Reese said with a small shrug.
“They might look put together and fine on the outside, but behind closed doors, they could be falling apart. Their home life might be a mess, and they’re just putting on a happy face in public.
It’s not a chore for me to treat people with kindness.
Besides, it makes me feel good to help others and work hard. ”
“And that’s why I’m so drawn to you,” Spike admitted.
She smiled shyly at him.
He wanted to push their plates away, stand her up, push her back onto the table and have his wicked way with her right then and there.
But he also didn’t want to freak her out.
He had no problem giving up his bed. Imagining her there, on his sheets, under his blankets, using his pillow…
it ignited something primal in him. When she’d told him she felt bad for taking his room while he used the spare, Spike refused to even think about switching. He wanted her right where she was.
Thinking about her in his shower, using his towels to dry her naked body, walking around his room, using his things, kept him in a constant state of arousal. He’d never act on it unless he was sure she felt the same way, but he liked knowing she was in his space.
He had a feeling she liked it too. She hadn’t said anything, but she was still using his body wash, though she’d had opportunities to pick up her own.
She smelled like him, which he liked a hell of a lot.
Even sitting next to her right this moment, with her smelling like him, Spike felt proud.
It was ridiculous really, but he hoped that it was maybe a sign that she would be open to entering into a more-than-friendship relationship sooner than later.
“So…what are we doing today?” she asked after tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
“What do I need to wear? Will it take all day? I told Jasna I’d be here when she got home from school so I could hear all about her day.
Seventh grade isn’t the easiest, you know.
At least her friend, Sharyn, the girl she met from the camps they attended last summer, is in her classes. ”
Spike grinned. He wasn’t surprised she wanted to greet Jasna when she got home from school.
She’d bonded with the girl and had listened to her go on and on about the animals she’d spent all summer with, without showing any hint of impatience.
“Hiking pants, T-shirt, boots,” he told her.
“The place is about three miles from here, but it’s not a hard hike. ”
Reese rolled her eyes. “So says the man who’s in shape and looks like he could walk the Appalachian Trail without stopping.”
Spike smiled, but quickly got serious. “I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t think you could do it, Reese. Trust me.”
She met his gaze head on. “I do.”