Chapter Two
“There are two kinds of men in this world, Oscar.” Joel let out a low chuckle for the two of them to share as he scratched his mutt’s ears. “There are those who can open the door, and those who can’t. You know which camp we belong in.”
Oscar looked up at Joel with adoring brown eyes as Joel continued to scratch him in the perfect spot. The golden retriever-chow mix let out a little grunt and slid his front paws in front of him on the wooden floor until he hit the wood with a thud.
“You do know that, right, Oscar?”
Oscar’s chops pulled up in complete agreement, and Joel knew Oscar understood every word he’d said. They’d shared a bond for the last seven years that few would understand and even fewer would ever discover.
Joel didn’t need word getting out around town that he spent more time talking to Oscar than anyone else. He had a reputation to uphold and certainly didn’t want his brothers getting wind of his nonexistent social life.
But the point was that Oscar had an extraordinary vocabulary for a dog.
Joel got up from the couch in the family room and wandered over to the window in the study, which just happened to overlook The Blackberry Patch Bed and Breakfast. He suspected it took his tip to get the front door open, and that made him smile.
The moving truck hadn’t moved an inch since he’d left them earlier in the evening, and he figured they’d called it a night.
When he took Oscar for a walk an hour or so ago, he noticed that the little convertible wasn’t out front. They’d probably gone out to dinner. Not that it mattered one way or the other. He was never a man to step on the toes of another man, no matter how oddly matched the couple.
And this was one of the most bizarre matches he’d ever seen.
He’d only met Autumn briefly, but her spirit was captivating. Besides her beauty, there was something about her that was light and bright. She seemed excited about being in Silver Ridge.
Her companion? Not so much.
There wasn’t a single redeeming feature about him. His personality was about as lively as a box of rocks. He obviously didn’t have many life skills, and he threw off an overly possessive quality that rubbed Joel the wrong way.
Joel could tell she was uncomfortable, but again, it was none of his business.
The guy also seemed kind of wimpy, but he understood that not every male on the planet had to step up to the plate to run a home and several businesses like he and his brothers had to help his mom when they were younger.
Regardless, Joel would be the best neighbor he could be and not give Autumn another thought except in a normal, neighborly sort of way while grabbing his mail or walking Oscar. And the guy, he’d learn to live with. Joel realized he hadn’t even caught the man’s name.
Oscar let out a groan as he slowly lumbered into the study to track down his owner. The study had become a favorite place for the two. There was a small corner fireplace and a leather recliner near the window. Joel had a seldom-used desk across the room on the far wall and floor-to-ceiling shelves around the room filled with all the books he’d collected over the years. There really wasn’t a book he came across that he didn’t like or didn’t feel the need to keep. It was a good thing the home had lots of square footage.
“What do you say, Oscar? Should we go for another walk?” Joel glanced out the window and caught himself holding in a sigh.
There wasn’t a reason in the world to be eyeing the B&B.
Oscar sat by the recliner and propped his chin on the leather armrest. He had no intention of going anywhere.
“Fine.”
Joel grabbed the book he’d started before his shift this morning and sat in the recliner as Oscar resettled his chin. He’d been volunteering as a medic for so many years he’d lost count, but it was a good outlet so he didn’t get restless.
Being at the resort his family owned got tiresome, and when he was out helping people, it made him feel good. Instead of having to worry about entertaining VIP clients and maintaining occupancy rates, he could assist people in their time of need.
He glanced out the window again and rolled his eyes. This was ridiculous. Working at his family’s ski resort introduced him to lots of beautiful women. Seeing an attractive female wasn’t an anomaly in his life, so why was he all of a sudden so interested in a good-looking neighbor?
As he cracked open the book, he heard a car come down the road. He forced his eyes to stay on the page. Oscar stretched and stood up, wandering over to the window to stare, but Joel kept his focus on the blurred words while Oscar sat down and waited.
The car engine turned off, and seconds later, a car door shut. Joel waited for the sound of the second door to close, and when it didn’t, he caught himself looking out the window.
Autumn was walking around the car, making her way to the back of the moving van. She checked it to make sure it was locked, but Joel didn’t see any sign of the guy. He craned his neck slightly, refusing to leave the recliner, while he searched the sidewalk, still seeing no hint.
She was just as beautiful as he remembered. She’d swept her hair into a loose ponytail, and it looked like she’d changed from her jeans into a sundress, but she was too far away to see much else.
Not that he was looking.
Oscar’s tail slapped down on the wood floor, and Joel jumped in his chair, startled from being caught spying by his dog.
“Ready for that walk?” Joel asked, standing up.
Why did he always become enamored with the ones who were unavailable?
Oscar reluctantly walked over to the basket by the door and picked up his leash with his teeth, bringing it over to Joel.
Probably because he knew he’d never have to commit. It kept things simple.
A nervous excitement drilled through him, which told him he needed to head in the opposite direction once they got outside.
He clipped the leash onto Oscar’s collar, grabbed his jacket, and walked out the front door.
Spotting Autumn staring at the house, arms crossed and head tilted, he was drawn to wonder what she was imagining . . . or was she wondering what had she gotten herself into? He doubted the latter. Her exuberance earlier made it seem like she was fully ready to take on the challenges ahead with the B&B. And there would be plenty of challenges.
By his calculations, the interior was in as rough shape as the exterior, and that was only based on when he last saw the inside about a year ago. He could only imagine how much more that year of neglect had done to the bones of the house, not to mention all the work she’d have just to make the place look good once everything else was repaired. It certainly wouldn’t be the first Tucker residence that needed to be saved from demolition in this town.
Oscar pulled in the woman’s direction, and against his better judgment, he followed his dog’s lead and wound up only feet away from her.
She turned, briefly smiling at them both, but her gaze immediately fell to Oscar. He was always a charmer.
“Oh, my gosh. Who’s the cute boy? Are you the cute boy?” Autumn squatted in front of Oscar, scratching his ears and chin as his tongue hung out, eating up every second.
“I thought I was the cute boy.” Joel scratched his jaw and laughed. “But whatever.”
She looked up at Joel and winked, and he couldn’t help but wish the guy from earlier had suddenly taken a hike.
“You’re the most handsome man on the block,” she told Oscar as her attention fell back to him with more pats. “Yes, you are.”
“I already knew I didn’t have much of a shot, but this just sealed the deal.” Joel’s smile made Autumn feel completely at ease and her laughter filled the air.
She stood and patted Joel’s shoulder. “You’re a close second.”
“Don’t let your fiancé hear that.” He grinned and glanced toward the overgrown property, wondering when he’d reappear.
“Oh, he’s definitely not my fiancé.”
“Boyfriend then?”
Her gaze connected with Joel’s and a mischievous look threaded through her eyes. “It’s complicated.”
“Isn’t it always?” Joel chuckled.
“It does appear that way.” She nodded and smoothed her hands over the skirt of her dress. “Thanks for that tip earlier. We’d probably still be locked out if I hadn’t pushed my way to the door and followed your directions. When I got up there, I saw what you were talking about.” What bothered her more was why in the world Ronald couldn’t figure out how to open the door. Even without Joel’s help, she would have gotten them inside.
“No problem at all. That’s what neighbors are for.” He glanced at Oscar, who appeared to roll his eyes.
“Well, I hope I’m not much trouble as a neighbor.”
“I can’t imagine you ever could be.” Joel’s voice softened, which took him by surprise.
“So, no cowboy hat?” she asked, shifting from one foot to the other.
Joel was surprised she remembered he was wearing one earlier. He’d almost forgotten himself. It wasn’t his usual look, but he’d been out with hotel guests on a horseback ride. One of the summer perks of owning a resort.
“Nah. I save that for trail rides.”
She glanced at his cowboy boots before bringing her gaze back to his. “Well, it’s a good look.”
“Don’t see it much in California?”
“Not in LA, no.” She looked back at the house and shook her head. “How long has the place looked like this?”
“Several years. About ten years ago, little things started turning into big things, and then he just got too sick.”
She hugged herself and rocked back on her heels. “You knew him well?”
“I did. After your aunt died, he was never the same.”
He couldn’t place the source of embarrassment that flickered through her gaze. She cleared her throat. “Tomorrow’s going to be a long day. I should get going.”
“Is there anything I can help with?” Joel looked up at the old mansion, expecting to see the man peering from one of the dirty windows.
“I don’t think so. I’ve got a couple of guys coming out to unload tomorrow.”
Joel’s brows shot up. “You didn’t need to do that. I have brothers. We can come over and knock this out for you in a couple of hours. Tops. If your it’s complicated wouldn’t mind.”
She laughed and shook her head. “He’s leaving on a flight tomorrow morning.”
“He didn’t want to be around to help?” Joel looked extremely surprised.
Autumn’s forehead creased slightly and she nodded. “It was more me who didn’t want Ronald to be around.”
“Oh.” Joel bit his bottom lip. “It really is complicated.”
And now he could call the man Ronald. He supposed it was good to have a name with the face.
“Indeed.” She laughed and nodded, but a curious expression crossed her face. “He’s at the Thistleberry Inn and is heading back to California tomorrow.”
“I didn’t mean to pry.” But the truth was that he wanted to pry, and to find out the guy wasn’t even sleeping here made his curiosity soar. There was a part of him that wanted to know every little detail. “There’s probably a lot going on, and it’s none of my business.”
“There is so little to say about him or us that I’m not sure you could pry even if you tried.” Realizing what tumbled out, she reversed course. “I mean, he’s a nice guy, and I’m sure he’s very capable at many things, but I’m not sure he’s—” She stopped herself. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything bad about him. He drove all the way up here for no reason. I feel awful talking bad about him.”
“I doubt it was for no reason. Men are pretty easy to read, and he definitely had a motive to drive all this way.” Joel drew a breath and glanced at the mansion, holding in his sigh. She had a long way to go to get it up and running. “Anyway, I’m just a guy out walking his dog.” Joel laughed, holding up the dog leash. “Your secret is safe with Oscar and me. In fact, I’m not even sure what you were trying to say, so you’re even safer.”
She bent down to pet Oscar one last time but looked up at Joel through her thick lashes. “I promise you won’t have to become my therapist. I think I’m just exhausted from the long drive, and then I tend to ramble and life goes downhill. It’s a cycle.” Her small talk made his night a whole lot better, and he knew he’d happily play therapist for her. He was equally pleased to find out the man he’d barely met was already heading out of state.
“I’m just in that house right over there.” He pointed behind him, and Oscar stood up and shook his head, ears flapping. “If you need anything, day or night, let me know. I’m only a knock away.”
Joel cringed at how much he sounded like an Allstate commercial. He usually had moves and smooth one-liners.
A car came up behind them, and Joel spun around to see who was behind the wheel. The street was usually quiet at this time of night. Every once in a while, one of his brothers might stop by out of the blue, but generally, this street was pretty dull. He was surprised to see Charlie, one of only six cab drivers for the small resort town of Silver Ridge, pulling up to the curb in front of the convertible.
Joel’s eyes drilled to the back seat where Ronald sat, looking extremely irate. He swore he heard a disgruntled exhale from Autumn as she walked slowly toward the cab. Ronald was already jumping out of the small car and bounding in her direction as Oscar sat up and whined.
Ronald glanced at Joel and Oscar, his eyes narrowing at the taller one.
“So you’re already making your move, and I’m not even out of town, huh, buddy?” Ronald barely glanced at Autumn as he charged toward Joel.
“Just walking my dog, man.” Joel shook his head, but his lips curled in a smirk, which only infuriated Ronald even more.
A low hum from Oscar stopped Ronald in his tracks, and Joel knew he’d have to give him extra biscuits when they got home.
“I know what you’re up to. I saw it the moment you sauntered over here playing cowboy earlier this evening.” Ronald puffed out his chest, but it did little in comparison to Joel’s.
“The cowboy gotcha inside the house, though, so . . .” Joel’s brow curled and Autumn stifled a chuckle. “Might not have been too much of an act.”
“Listen here.” Ronald pointed his finger in Joel’s face, and he just shook his head instead of talking.
“Shoot. I’m listening.” Joel tipped his head and waited for Ronald to say something.
Anything.
He needed a good laugh.
After several seconds of silence, Ronald spun around, walked past Autumn, and marched up the stairs to the front door.
“He’s a real charmer,” Joel muttered under his breath before making a clicking noise for Oscar to follow him down the sidewalk. “If you need any help tomorrow, you know where to find me.”
Autumn gave a quick nod and followed after Ronald, which was the best thing for everyone involved, really. Complication was something that Joel never excelled at and did his very best to avoid at all costs.
Exactly. It wasn’t his place to get involved or make the guy look as incompetent as he was, and if Autumn liked him, then—
Piercing screams from behind echoed through the air, and everything Joel had figured out only seconds before came crashing down.
She needed help.