“The basement.” The resolve in her voice wavered. The basement wasn’t exactly a cheerful place, even less so bathed in dim light.
“I don’t think we lostallpower.”
“Right.” Cadence followed closely behind Ford to the basement door, Riggs on their tail, undoubtedly convinced this was an adventure. One that might include treats. That dog was a sucker for treats. He’d do about anything if properly bribed.
But when Ford flipped the light switch at the top of the stairs, nothing happened. “Could be a burned-out bulb. I haven’t had a reason to go down there in a while.” He pointed the flashlight beam down the stairs before taking his first step. “Riggs, you stay.”
The dog grumbled his opinion about being left out, but he obeyed and lay down at the top of the stairs.
“Hold on to the railing,” Ford told Cadence. “These stairs are tricky.” Soft, dim light filtered in through small windows, but it wasn’t much help. When they reached the floor, the shadows appeared darker still. “Grab my arm,” he said.
“There’re no critters down here, right?”
Ford let out a low laugh. “No. Patty wouldn’t dream of allowing that.” He caught the slip the moment it was out, but he didn’t correct himself. In many ways, the lodge still embodied her touch everywhere. Though Patty had passed, she was still very much in every detail.
“Good.” Cadence’s grip on his arm tightened the farther they moved into the shadows. “Who was the genius who put the breaker box in thebackof the basement?”
Ford couldn’t answer because he was too distracted by her touch. His arm heated with tingles he couldn’t explain. After Danielle passed away more than five years ago, he had accepted that his happiness—great as it was—was over. He had grieved his late wife and accepted she was gone, but he wasn’t interested in finding love again. Some people were lucky enough to find that twice, but Ford didn’t consider himself lucky at all. Everyone he loved left him sooner or later. Even Rilee would be headed off to college on the opposite side of the country in less than two months.
“Can you see anything?” He felt the brush of her chin against his shoulder and imagined her on tiptoes hoping to get in a peek.
It wasn’t great news, but it wasn’t the worst either. “Couple breakers are burned out.”
“Burned out?”
“The lodge has on an older style breaker box, and sometimes they burn out.”
“So you’re out of water, and I’m out of power.”
“You have most of your electricity. Just none in the kitchen—”
“—and none in the basement.”
“Right.” Ford closed the box and turned, careful not to break contact with her. Their eyes had adjusted to the dimness of the basement, and they could probably both make their way safely to the stairs without a flashlight. But it was nice to feel like the protector again. Surely savoring a single moment wouldn’t cause harm.
“Do I need to call an electrician?”
“Nah.” Ford led them back upstairs, where Riggs waited for their return. He hopped to his feet when they reached the top step. “I can switch them out tomorrow. I’ll grab them from the hardware store in the morning.”
“Hey, is there a library in town? I need to answer work emails.”
“Actually,” Ford said, “your Wi-Fi should be good to go. Just need to log in to it. Patty’s login information is probably in her office. Written on the inside of a cupboard or something.”
“Wow, you really are a man full of surprises.” Cadence gave him a bright, appreciative smile. It illuminated her entire face and filled him with something like sunshine. Ford didn’t understand how this woman he just met could have any effect on him at all.
He and Riggs followed her down the long hall to the office. In the doorway, she hugged the door jamb and flashed him a flirtatious smile. “Tell me, Ford. What other secrets are you hiding from me?”
Chapter Seven
Cadence
“Are you sure they’ll be open this early?” Cadence asked with a yawn from the passenger seat of Ford’s truck. Though the sky was completely illuminated, the clock read only ten after six. She’d been awake anyway, still adjusting to the three-hour time difference. But who in a small town opened their doors that early?
“My buddy’s dad owns the hardware store. Harold won’t mind. He’s always there two hours before it opens, drinking his coffee and combing every inch of the newspaper.”
Cadence struggled to keep her gaze from his profile. He looked so . . . Alaskan. The way he sat casually in his massive truck, one hand hanging on the wheel, the other elbow leaned out the window. Or maybe it was the beard she hoped he wouldn’t trim. “Must be a small-town thing, huh?”
“Yeah. Things are a little more casual around here.”
