Page 7 of Under One Roof

With my hand on Andi’s back, I usher her out of the shop, where she pauses outside the door, turning her face up to mine. “I guess I’m staying in West Chester for a little while, but I don’t know of a place to stay.”

“I do.”

Chapter3

Andi

As we pull up to The Nest Bed-and-Breakfast, I take in the charming exterior. A big Victorian, painted a soft yellow with white trim. A wide wraparound porch spans the front, complete with rocking chairs and potted plants. It’s like something out of a postcard.

Captain Stone, aka grumpy Captain America, parks his truck and gestures toward the house. “It’s not usually full this time of year, and it’s within walking distance of downtown. Should suit your needs while you’re here.”

Between the coming mechanic’s bill and this unexpected stay, I’ll be emptying all my savings and hitting the limits on my credit cards, but I don’t have time to worry about it because he’s opening my door, offering me his hand to help me down. Standing next to him, I can’t help but notice he’s more than a foot taller than me and feels twice as wide with biceps the size of my head. He handles my duffel that I have packed to bursting like it’s no heavier than a feather. I have a few boxes and one large suitcase still in the back of my Jeep, but my essentials are in my bag, including clean underwear, makeup, and my vibrator.

Which just so happens to power on from Captain handling it.

We both hear the buzzing at the same time, and my eyes must bug out of my head as I try to tackle the big guy, reaching for my duffel. He sets it on the ground before shoving his hands into his pockets and turning away from me, granting me some sense of modesty, I guess. But he’s already seen me at my lowest; why not bury myself under another six feet.

I nearly tear the bag open in my haste to shut it off, but because I can always go lower, I have to pull the bright-pink thing out of my bag to find the power button. With flaming cheeks and embarrassment coating my skin, I shut it off then shove it far down the duffel, hoping to dive right in after it.

Behind me, Captain clears his throat, and I wipe a clammy hand over my face. “I… That was, uh…”

He doesn’t utter a word, only carefully zips the bag back up and carries it like a grenade waiting to go off. Then he nods for me to follow him, and I dutifully fall in line, silently cursing the author of my life.

He leads me up the creaky wooden steps to the front door of the B&B. Inside, the foyer is warm and welcoming. White wainscoting lines the lower half of the walls, contrasting with the dark damask wallpaper above. A chandelier hangs from the high ceiling, bathing the space in a soft glow. To the left, a sitting area with carved wooden chairs and velvet chaise longue, straight off the cover of a romance novel, creates a welcoming atmosphere in front of the fireplace.

Before I can explore any further, a tall white woman with a long bob and most excellent balayage greets us, but not in a way I’m expecting.

“What are you doing here?”

I open my mouth to answer. What? I don’t know, too taken aback by her tone, but Captain steps in.

“We need a room.” He points to me. “Sheneeds a room.”

“And you brought her here?” The woman flicks her gaze between the two of us, and my good Southern manners keep my lips zipped, but if she works here, she’s got terrible customer service.

“Her car broke down, and she needs a place to stay.”

“Just for a night or two,” I add, and the woman’s eyes land on me again. They’re familiar. The shape of them reminds me of my rescuer’s, along with her mouth. Maybe that’s because she’s frowning. Like he does.

“Family discount,” he says, and the woman cants her head back, as if ready to argue, but a silent communication passes between them, and she relents after a few seconds.

At my evident confusion, he tells me, “This is Taryn. My sister.”

“Oh.” I smile. “Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Andi.”

She motions for me to follow her to the check-in desk. “I thought it’s our brother who takes in the strays.”

I freeze, unsure what she means. “Huh?”

“Knock it off,” Captain grumbles from behind me, and I realize her words were meant for her sibling when she smirks at him. And my shoulders curl in.

Stray. I’m the stray.

She’s making fun of me.

And after the day I’ve had, I don’t have the energy for a Bless Your Heart comeback. Instead, I reach for my duffel bag from Captain Stone’s shoulder and turn to leave.

He catches me around the waist. “Ignore her,” he whispers in my ear. “She’s just pissed I’m showing up unannounced. My sister doesn’t handle surprises well.”

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