He walked around her, the flashlight moving again, and climbed from the dock to the large wooden boat there. A moment later, he climbed out again without the equipment.
“Is it safe there? That looks expensive. Haven Point is mostly safe from crime, but sometimes during the tourism season, we get some vandals and petty thieves.”
“First of all, nobody but another fisheries biologist would want it. Second, there’s a locker on board with a padlock. I stowed it in there.”
“So it should be safe from any wandering salmon researcher looking to cause trouble.”
“For now, anyway. I hope to get an early start in the morning and that’s one less thing I’ll have to haul aboard then.”
She supposed it was the same concept as her sometimes loading her sewing projects into the car before she went to bed when she knew someone might be coming into the boutique for a fitting the next day.
“Well, good night. Sorry to bother you,” he said in that same stiff tone, then surprised her by reaching down to pet Betsey, who immediately turned her face into his hand with adoration. Her dog liked him, which was enough to make Samantha question her own antagonism.
This was her chance, she reminded herself. What better opportunity would she find to talk to him about the children helping with the puppies? “I’m actually glad of the chance to speak with you.”
In the moonlight, she could see one eyebrow raise. Why did the man have to be so blasted good-looking?
“Oh? Have you reconsidered giving permission for me to anchor the boat here?”
“No. Actually, it’s about your children.”
He frowned. “Have Amelia and Thomas been bothering you? I’m sorry. I’ve told them to stay on our rental property.”
“No. They helped me today actually. You see, Betsey here has three puppies.”
“I saw them out on the grass over here earlier in some sort of pen.”
“I thought it was a nice idea to let them enjoy the outdoors on summer afternoons but they have become little escape artists and apparently they wandered into your garden. Thomas and Amelia were kind enough to bring them home for me.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes. I’m very grateful to them. The puppies might be rascals but they’re adorable rascals. I would have hated for them to go astray. That would make both me and Betsey sad, not to mention the new owners they’ll be going to in a few weeks.”
“I’m glad Thomas and Amelia could help.”
“You should know, the children were wonderful with them. They knew how to hold them correctly and seemed to enjoy playing with them.”
“I’m glad to hear it. We don’t have a dog but my parents have four. The children have had some experience with them over the years and have been trying to persuade me for some time now that we should get a dog.”
She wanted to tell him to go for it. Children need something to love them unconditionally.
Not that she knew that from experience or anything.
“I could tell they were comfortable around animals. Seeing them today actually gave me an idea.”
“What sort of idea?” he asked, his voice wary.
At his tone, she almost lost her nerve, especially when he narrowed his gaze and studied her intently in the moonlight.
“I’ve been trying to find someone who might be available to check in on them during the day while I work, but so far it’s been a challenge.”
He gave her a look of confusion. “Forgive me, but I thought you were a seamstress. Aren’t you making my sister’s wedding gown?”
He made it sound like she was some kind of Victorian dressmaker far beneath his notice, toiling away in some sweatshop.
She tried not to bristle. “I sew wedding dresses at home on my own time. But during the day I run a small clothing boutique in downtown Haven Point. Fremont Fashions.”
“Do you?”
He wasn’t being supercilious on purpose, she suspected; it was only that British accent that made his words sound clipped and questioning and left her feeling defensive.
“It’s small but thriving. Our business has increased substantially in the past few years.” She didn’t add that was because she had taken over the responsibility of ordering inventory. Now that the boutique actually offered clothing at reasonable prices that people weren’t ashamed to be caught dead in, business had improved tremendously.
“We serve the clothing needs of women who want something a little more unique than they can find at the box stores in Shelter Springs,” she went on. “I try to think about my clientele and order in clothing items that will be a good fit for a variety of lifestyles and budgets. Stylish and well-fitted, while still rugged enough for our varied climate.”
She was rambling, she thought, and promptly clamped her teeth together.
“Sorry. That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
“My job keeps me very busy when I’m there. I’ve tried to take the puppies and Betsey to the shop with me so I can keep an eye on them. That worked for a few weeks but they’ve grown too big and too active for that now. I’ve taken to leaving them here and checking on them throughout the day when I can but even that isn’t the best solution.”
“Where would my children fit into this picture, Ms. Fremont?”
“Please call me Sam or Samantha. Everyone around here does. When you say Ms. Fremont in that stiff upper crust accent, you sound like something from a Jane Austen novel.”
He gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “I am no Mr. Darcy, I can assure you.”
“No kidding,” she muttered under her breath. Unfortunately, she didn’t say it far enough under her breath and unfortunately he heard her. He stiffened and she wanted to kick herself. This was not the way to go about asking a favor of the man.
“Anyway,” she said quickly, “I was, er, wondering if you would allow the children to help me out with the puppies while you’re here for the next few weeks.”
“Help
