this beech tree.
“Sure.” He rubbed the back of his neck, uncertain how to broach the subject. “Um, I don’t think you’re ready for my class.”
The light in her eyes snuffed out.
“But,” he continued, “I want to help. Why don’t we keep meeting on Sunday afternoons? We can work through the rest of those therapy steps.”
* * *
“What?” Jade scrunched her nose. Seagulls noisily landed a few yards away.
“Well, you’re new here, and I don’t want to worry about you passing out at a picnic.” His smile teased, but she couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Why would he offer that? Either he felt sorry for her or it was his way of letting her know he was interested. She’d rather have him feel sorry for her. Less complicated that way.
“What would you get out of it?” she asked. “I’m not your responsibility.”
“I don’t need to get anything out of it.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’ll be fine. I can work through those steps on my own. You’ve already done so much.”
His frown and the way he crossed his arms over his chest assured her she’d offended him, although she wasn’t sure how.
“I’ve barely done a thing.”
“Yes, you have. I’ve been in Evergreen Park twice in two days, which is twice more than I expected in such a short amount of time. And you found this.” She flourished her hand to the tree.
“Are you really going to work through the steps on your own?” He narrowed his eyes.
“I can’t ask you to give up all your free time.”
“A few hours a week?” He scoffed. “It wouldn’t be much. What’s the real issue?”
She couldn’t take him up on the offer, although it appealed to her. Her own personal outdoor expert—and a gorgeous one at that—patiently helping her get used to the woods? Who wouldn’t want it? But she’d owe him, and owing meant strings, strings she was unwilling to tie if it meant he’d cut them later.
“I don’t know. I have a lot on my plate with opening the store and everything.”
Bryan seemed to see right through her. “If I told you something, would you keep it confidential?”
She nodded, hoping it wasn’t going to make her life more difficult.
“I applied for a position in Ontario. It’s a corporate retreat, and I’d be one of their outdoor instructors. But to get an interview, I need to prove I’m experienced. The human resources director wants to see logs of my classes. Hours taught, number of students. That sort of thing.”
He was moving? Jade tried to pay attention as the information raced through her brain. She should be thrilled, but disappointment overrode her previous thoughts. His offer wasn’t out of pity or attraction. “So you basically need to write down our hours and what we do?”
“Yeah. Their hiring process starts in June. It would give us five to seven weeks. I think we could make a lot of headway in getting over your fear.”
All her reasons for declining fled. All but one. He might be moving, but the attraction she felt was very real. Could she keep it under control for a month or two?
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, wanting to say yes, knowing she should say no.
“It would help me out.”
That sealed it. In twenty-four hours, Bryan had done nothing but help her and make her feel at home. The least she could do was return the favor. “I’ll pay you.”
“You’re not paying me.”
“Why not?” She could justify the whole thing more if she paid him.
“That’s not why I asked, and frankly, I don’t need the money.”
Of course he didn’t. She wanted to think about it, to talk herself out of it, but she took a deep breath. Bryan could help her with her phobia. He had an uncanny knack for distracting her when she felt overwhelmed. She’d just have to protect her heart.
“I’ll find a way to pay you back.”
“If something comes up, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Who was with you at the park today? Sally mentioned driving by and seeing you with a girl.”
Bryan stacked two empty pizza boxes on the kitchen counter and waved for Dad to join him in the living room. He hadn’t considered the rumor mill when he’d offered to help Jade. In small towns like this, gossip spread as quickly as dandelion seeds on a windy day.
“You? With a girl?” Sam snorted and tapped his fingertips together. “It’s about time.”
“How did you meet her?” Dad asked.
“Does Aunt Sally ever stay home?” Hoping they would drop the subject, Bryan sprawled out on the couch. The Detroit Tigers were playing tonight, and the lingering scent of Italian spices filled the air. “Shouldn’t she be watching one of those Real Housewives shows she complains about?”
“I thought she gave up on them.” Dad rocked back in the recliner, propping his feet up on the footrest. “Didn’t she switch to some show with a single guy?”
“The Bachelor?” Sam asked.
“Yeah, that’s the one.” Dad nodded. “Bryan, you going to tell us or not?”
He clearly wasn’t getting out of it. “Jade is the student I mentioned. She can’t make the Saturday morning classes, so I’m tutoring her on Sundays instead. That’s it.” If he hadn’t given Jade his word, he’d march over to her apartment and come up with an excuse to get out of spending Sundays with her. But he’d offered, and he kept his commitments. Well, all but one. The most important one. His marriage.
The doorbell rang. No one ever rang doorbells in Lake Endwell.
Dad reached the door first, and a huge beast of a dog plunged inside. A pink leash trailed the giant.
What in the world?
Lucy Bloomhall, a data-entry clerk at one of Bryan’s dealerships, followed the dog into the living room. Lucy carried a large tote bag. Her blond hair was windblown, and her face had a dazed appearance.
“Here you go, Mr. Sheffield.” She smiled at Bryan, and her gaze lingered on Sam. She blushed. “Thanks again for taking her. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d turned me down. My parents wanted to help, you know, but Mom’s allergic, plus they’re traveling to Montana in a few weeks. I couldn’t find anyone to watch Teeny for me.”
He scratched his chin, vaguely remembering telling Lucy her dog would be fine while she spent part of her final college semester studying in Spain. Something to do with art. Or architecture. He couldn’t remember, except it started with an A. She’d been frantic when she flew into his office last week, and he’d been poring over the profit and loss statements.
“Her bowls are in there, and she loves the Kong toy. You won’t have any trouble with her. Oh, I have more food in my car. I’ll bring it in.” Lucy swiveled and practically sprinted across the porch.
The dog had jumped onto the couch. Slobber dripped from her mouth to the leather cushions.
“What. Is. This?” Sam stood in the middle of the room, gesturing at the dog, at Bryan and back at the dog.
“Looks like a Saint Bernard. She’s a beauty.” Dad bent to scratch behind her ears. She licked his face. The pooch had white and brown markings with black fur around