Page 3 of All Inn Thyme
I’m a housekeeper at an inn, a single mom just trying to survive. He’s way out of my league, anyway.
But to say my life is complicated is an understatement, and I have no time for getting involved with a man, no matter how hot. So, I’ll just admire from afar and keep it moving.
“We haven’t formally met,” I say softly, coming back to the present, still stroking Nova’s silky velvet head as she leans into my thigh.My gaze is still on the dog. I’m trying not to look at him because I’m afraid I’ll spontaneously combust or forget my own name if I do.
“I’m Ty. And you’re Mellie, right?” He squats down to pet Nova, who’s now lying on her back, her feet in the air, accepting all the scratches and belly rubs with glee.
She reminds me of Sassy, who also loved belly rubs. Pain stabs me for a second, and I try to shake it off just like I do every time I remember something from before. Something that we had to leave behind. Most of it I can live without, but some things I do miss. Like my dog. I’d give anything to go back and get her. To some people they may say, it’s just a dog, but to me, that dog is my family.
“Yes, and this is my son, Kase.” I wave.Ugh, why am I waving?Keep it together, Mellie.Keep it together.I smooth my hoodie and stand. He’s so handsome, it literally hurts my eyes to look at him, so I go back to petting the dog.
“It’s nice to officially meet you both,” he says with a tiny hint of a southern drawl that you might miss if you weren’t listening for it. I actively try to hide my own drawl, so I’m aware of it when I hear it. Surrounded by all the New England accents, it’s not hard to stand out if I’m not careful.
He speaks softly and slowly, almost as if he’s trying to hold it back.Interesting.I suppose it takes one to know one. I wonder if he can detect the accent that I’m trying hard to hide. Honestly, I have tried so hard to blend in and suppress it, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of it.
What areyouhiding, I wonder to myself as I sneak a glance to look him over.
Ty showed up in Freedom Valley around the same time that I did, and I don’t know much about him. Come to think of it, I don’t think anyone does. He reminds me a little bit of myself, like he’s also sort of a chameleon.
I hate that I’m like this now. That I have to try and get reads on everyone to figure out if they’re a potential threat or not. It’s probably something I’ll be doing for the rest of my life.
“Nice to finally meet you, as well,” I say as I try not to stare, but he’s making it hard. He continues to pet his dog, running his big hands over her head and ears.
And if all of this isn’t bad enough, he also smells so good. Like pine, laundry soap, and something else I can’t figure out. Maybe leather and motor oil. I catch myself staring at him, getting lost in his eyes, and quickly blink and look away. When I finally turn back, he’s smiling, and he does not look away.Nope.He’s smiling at me like he likes what he sees, and I’m starting to lose my senses.Again.
“You work here?” he asks, and something tells me he probably knows this already. Maybe he’s just being friendly and I’m reading more into it.
I clear my throat. “I’m the inn housekeeper. What about you?”
He runs his hand over his beard and says, “I work nights over at Larkin as a mechanic, and I sometimes help Sam Sr. in his auto shop here in town.”
“I remember you dropping Beth’s car off a while back.” I gaze at his trimmed beard and catch myself wanting to reach out and touch it. I wonder how old he is. He looks young with no grey in his beard or hair, and he has light wrinkles on the sides of his eyes when he smiles, so I’d guess early thirties.Hot. Older man hot.
Stop it.Ugh, I need to get out more. I’ve turned into the lonely lady creep here at the inn.
“Dinner!” Evan calls from the kitchen, interrupting us.
Thankful, I stand and say, “Well, it’s nice to meet you both,” as I give Nova one final scratch on her ears.
“You, as well. I hope to get to know you more.” His gaze is warm on mine. The way he looks at me makes me nervous, but in a good way. Like he’s interested in me, and that feels… strangely warm and fuzzy. If Evan invited him here, he must like him. Evan is former military, so nothing gets by him, which makes him outstanding at reading people and knowing who is good and who is not.
My stomach dips nervously and it’s not because I’m afraid, which is my usual go-to. It’s because I think we just had a moment right now. He had to have felt it too with the way he was looking at me.
“Let’s go, buddy,” I say softly to Kase, taking his little hand in mine.
“Nova, stay,” Ty says as Nova’s little nub of a tail wags so fast her whole body sways back and forth before she lies down and puts her head on her paws, keenly watching us.
“Wow. She’ll just stay there, just like that?” I’m impressed at how calm and well-behaved she is.
“Yep. She won’t go anywhere once I put her in place.” He casually stands and tucks his hands into his front pockets, his blue eyes still focused on me. He’s commanding, he’s sexy, and he’s making this room feel like a furnace all of a sudden. Jee-zuz.
Kase lets go of my hand and races to meet his friend Caleb in the dining room doorway, leaving me to walk down the hall next to Ty. I try to sneak another peek, noticing again how tall he is as he confidently walks in stride beside me. Not to mention that he seems at home here at the inn. I wonder why he’s here for dinner, but knowing Evan, he probably ran into him in town and invited him, unofficial town mayor that he is.
As I step into the dining room, Allie hands me a plate and motions for me to get in line for the buffet. “Hey, girl! Can Kase sleep over with us tonight?” she asks. “Caleb got a new game he’s dying to play with him. Some Pokémon thing. Then tomorrow, Logan wanted to take them both out to play Pokémon Go.”
“Sure. Sounds fun. That’ll give me some time to get some more garden work in.”
I’m supposed to have help getting my greenhouse put together, but the crew hasn’t showed up—for three weeks in a row. They’re probably not even coming. I just need to figure it out myself.
