Chapter 13
Today called for The Cranberries to keep me company in the shelter’s food prep room. As I line up the row of dog bowls, each labeled by name, their atmospheric sound wraps around me. One of the perks of this job is I can usually keep a steady soundtrack to my day playing.
On the wall behind the counter, there’s a correlating menu, citing special diets and quantities for each animal in the shelter. I glance at the first one, having them nearly memorized, and turn for the kibble.
I’m so entranced by my music and the task at hand, I don’t hear Ellie enter behind me around the third bowl. It’s not until she reaches up to tap my shoulder, causing me to jump and fling the food I was scooping into the air, that I realize she’s here.
“Sorry, Luce,” she offers sheepishly. “I called your name a few times first.”
“I believe that. Don’t worry about it.” I laugh, holding Baxter’s bowl at the counter edge and brushing the loose food into it. “What’s up?”
“There’s someone here to see you.”
“To see me?” I echo in surprise. “Who would be here to see me?” Claire, maybe. But Ellie would have said that.
Instead, she’s smirking at me like I’ve just won a prize. Twirling the end of her blonde braid, she says, “I’m not sure. He didn’t say his name. But, Lucy, he is so cute.”
At only nineteen years old, Ellie is like the little sister I never had. And she’s watching me with such expectation, I know she’s hoping that I’ll throw her a piece of gossip.
“That doesn’t really help me figure out who it is.” And even if my statement is true, my mind has formed a clear picture of who it hopes is waiting for me in the lobby. A certain dark haired, sometimes glasses wearing, dog person from the city.
I know that I shouldn’t want it to be him. But it seems too late for such logic. Butterflies have already taken flight within me as I abandon my peaceful morning routine and step out into the hall.
If it is Jake, I’ve luckily traded in my paint splattered overalls for my favorite brown plaid trousers and denim jacket today—a much more put together appearance.
It’s not him though, I mentally scold myself, rounding the corner to the lobby. Why would it be?
My heart doesn’t have time to answer my brain. Because as I step into the lobby, I come face to face with brown hair tamed under a familiar corduroy baseball hat, and a spark in beautifully dark eyes.
“Jake?” My mouth falls open.
It is him.
“Funny seeing you here.”
“Something like serendipity?” I deadpan.
“Something like that.”
I slip my hands into the pockets of my jacket, suddenly all too aware of how they’re hanging uselessly at my sides, and lean a hip against the reception desk.
Behind him, I see my mom poke her head out of the office and wiggle her eyebrows in my direction.
I cannot believe he walked right into the middle of this wolf den.
“What brings you by?” I ask, trying to shove aside my silly hope that he is here for me.
“You,” he answers plainly.
My heart leaps into my throat. “You’re here looking for me?”
That crooked smile that makes my stomach swoop catches the corner of his mouth. “I could come up with an excuse about wanting to see Bear again if you’d like.”
Trying, and failing, to hide my responding smile, I shake my head. “Why are you looking for me?”
He leans closer, his eyes lifting to where I’m assuming Ellie is still lingering behind me. “I was hoping we could talk, maybe without such an audience?”
“If you’re willing to be put to work, I’ve got time to talk.”
“I’m willing.”
I turn back toward where I just came from, crooking my finger for him to follow. “This way then.”
To his credit, he doesn’t even ask where I’m leading him. I could be planning on giving him the most grotesque task and he’s seemingly on board. Just like that.
I hate the fact that it makes my heart soften.
“In here. It’s breakfast time for the dogs,” I explain, pushing the door open for the food prep room. “We can talk and serve.”
He settles in beside me at the counter, his arm brushing against mine every so often as we get to work. This isn’t the biggest room, leading to such proximity. I don’t know if I’ve ever truly noticed that before now, maybe I should have thought about this before inviting him back.
“What did you want to talk about?” I ask, pushing aside Oakley’s completed bowl and reaching for the next.
The clang of kibble he is pouring against stainless steel echoes around us. Then he sets the measuring cup down and says, “I was wondering if you would be willing to help me better acclimate to the town. Help me see what makes Ellicottville, well… Ellicottville.”
I set down the bowl in my hand and cross my arms. “You want me to help you run my friends and neighbors out of business?”
“I don’t… no. I just want to understand why you all don’t want us here. Maybe I can help find a solution that works for everyone.”
We turn to face one another, and I narrow my eyes at him as I say, “That’s very idealistic of you.”
“I am the vice president of community relations,” he responds seriously, save for the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
“Does this really matter to you? You already bought the property, after all. You won.”
I turn to finish the last bowl, then take a step closer to him so I can pull the serving cart forward.
He reaches around me to set his hand atop it, and tucked against his chest like this, I catch that cozy scent of his.
With nowhere to move to, I allow myself a second to enjoy the indulgence of being wrapped in it once more.
For the last time, I promise myself.
Bracketing his hands on the counter and cart on either side of me, he tips his chin down and waits for me to meet his gaze. “It matters to me; I want you to know that. But in full transparency, we don’t actually own anything yet.”
My eyes widen. “You don’t?”
He leans back, giving me space once more, and shakes his head. “We have our bid in, consider it like a pending contract. Both sides have to meet the contingencies—it’s just on a different scale with a sale done by the village trustees instead of a private owner.”
I drop another few bowls onto the cart, considering this. “So, if you get to know the town and realize this isn’t the place for what you’re trying to do…”
“Then maybe we don’t put a hotel here.”
“Does anyone but Garrison know who you are?”
“The other trustees do, no one outside of the village officials though.”
Then maybe I could spend some time out in public with him. Carefully. I know how fast word spreads in this town.
“And you,” he adds.
I was prepared to say no and remain firmly on my town’s side of this battle. But if there’s a chance that I can change his mind, wouldn’t it benefit everyone for me to agree to this request?
He must see the realization passing across my expression, because his mouth curls into a hopeful smile. “What do you say, Lucy?”
I steady myself with a deep breath. “I say that you’ve successfully found a reason for us to spend time together—completely on purpose.”