“Do you have one that combines these two scents?” Bree asked the woman behind the counter.
“We do, but it’s a custom blend and not generally available.”
“Made for anyone in particular?”
“Oh, yes.” The woman chuckled. “A very nice young man at Sanctuary. He’s one of our biggest supporters. In fact, we now have a contract to provide all of the soaps for the facility. But this blend, this one is just for him.”
There was no question the woman was talking about Nick, beaming as if he were her son.
“Then, I guess I’ll just have to buy the bars individually and get creative.” Bree picked up several bars—some for herself, some for Toni, but she had no intention of sharing the evergreen and sandalwood. Those were for her and her alone.
Eventually, Martha reappeared and said she was ready to go.
Shortly after they arrived back at the B & B, Martha left to help with the Ladies Auxiliary booth at the Community Days celebration. Bree promised Martha she’d stop by later.
From waking up in Nick’s strong arms to hitting the mother lode of vintage candy, it had been an amazing day. She should have known it wouldn’t last.
Chapter Thirty
Cage
After Bree’s taillights disappeared from view, Cage turned on his heel and walked away from the main building. He wasn’t in the mood for interrogation or discussion. He’d begged off earlier because Bree was in the trailer, waiting for him, but with her gone, he could no longer use that as an excuse.
He’d come back and deal with the fallout later.
Should he have done what he had? Probably not. But he couldn’t regret it either. It had been so long since he’d enjoyed a woman’s company and never one to the level he had with Bree. It wasn’t just because of the passion they shared, but the whole span of their time together. Riding. Teasing. Talking. He’d even liked it when she was annoyed with him.
He found himself wishing they could have had more time, but perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. They’d ended on a good note, hadn’t they?
If she’d stayed longer, things might not have ended as well. The novelty of living in the woods, away from everyone and everything she enjoyed, would wear quickly. And if that didn’t push her away, learning about his family surely would. As much as he could hope that she’d be able to look past that and see that they had a lot in common, it was a big ask.
Still, as he made his way down the path they’d walked together only a short time ago, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if she could come to accept those things as he had. As Sam and Sandy and Kate had.
If she could accept him.
He shook those thoughts away. There was no use in wishing for things to be different than they were. He was committed to Sanctuary for the foreseeable future, and Bree had her own life to get back to.
But she’s not leaving until tomorrow night, whispered a voice in the back of his mind. There’s still time.
Time for what? Another dinner? Another night together?
Cage pulled his phone from his pocket and then hesitated. If she wanted to see him again, she’d let him know. He made sure the volume was all the way up then shoved it back into his pocket and kept going.
Chapter Thirty-One
Bree
The entire community park had been transformed. Along the walking path that wound in between tall oaks and stately pines, a string of ten-by-ten food booths had been erected. Each one offered local favorites—funnel cakes, potato pancakes, corn dogs, slabs of local dairy ice cream on freshly made waffles. A traveling carnival had been set up as well with rides and lights and music. Scores of senior citizens tapped their feet beneath picnic tables in the large, open-air bingo tent while listening to the band playing lively polka music nearby.
Humans weren’t the only attendees. At the far end—and thankfully, downwind—were guests of the furry and four-legged variety. Local farmers had cleaned up some of their ribbon-winning livestock and brought them along to show off, setting up a small petting zoo for little ones as well.
As Bree worked her way around the park, she snapped lots of pictures. Couples holding hands. Gap-toothed kids hugging fluffy lambs. A candid shot of a teenage girl smiling shyly at the boy trying to impress her by throwing baseballs at milk jugs. It was small-town Americana at its best. While she’d always considered herself more of a big-city type of girl, she could see the appeal.
Just as she now had a new appreciation for clear, moonlit nights in the mountains.
Even as she was working, jotting down notes and potential captions to go along with the photos, her mind kept going back to her time with Nick. Horseback riding. Cooking over an open fire. Watching Nick skinny-dip in a spring-fed lake and then watching the stars as he worked his magic.
Will there be more meteor showers tonight? she wondered.
While they had been impressive, they were nothing compared to the shooting stars behind her eyelids when she’d shattered into pieces.
The urge to drive back to Sanctuary and spend another night with Nick was strong. Or even better, to spend some time under the stars and then continue the evening in a comfortable bed with indoor plumbing only a few steps away. There was even a twenty-four-hour mini-mart in town, where she could pick up a box of condoms on the way.
It was tempting even if it wasn’t the best idea. She was in town on an assignment, not to sleep with one of the men she’d been charged with interviewing. Besides, who was to say that Nick would welcome her a second time? They’d had their fun and said their good-byes. She should just leave it at that.
Bree forced herself back to the tasks at hand. Soak up the local flavor, get
