Sunlight filtered in through the tall trees, the faint scene of the bay floating in through the back window, making Cadence smile. She recalled so many rainy, overcast days in the past that it was nice to have a pleasant one in so short a stay. “How are you sure it’s the same moose?”
“Ed’s a bit . . . unique. Hang around long enough, you’ll know.”
She doubted three days would do it, but that was all she had before reality would beckon her back to Kansas. “I’m Cadence, by the way. Cadence Whitmore.”
“Ford Harris.” At a stop sign, he removed his hand from the steering wheel and extended it.
Despite feeling silly for shaking hands inside the cab of a truck, she accepted. The graze of his warm skin jumbled whatever words she’d planned next. Tingles danced up her arm. She stared at her fingers in awe, the reaction a surprise.
Riggs let out a bark from the back seat, and Ford withdrew his hand. Their eyes followed the dog’s pointed interest across the street to a young boy walking a cocker spaniel. “You staying in town long?”
“Just a couple days.” Though she’d asked to take off the whole week, Janine had a fit that she had to leave the state at all. They were incredibly busy this time of year, but her boss couldn’t argue the circumstances. Cadence had left out the single detail that showing up in person for the reading of the will wasn’t necessary, otherwise both of her sisters would be here, too. An insatiable pull had drawn her back for one last visit.
Ford slowed the truck as they approached the downtown strip of Sunset Ridge. Her heart felt heavy as they neared Mr. Jenkins’ office, and Cadence realized she was despondent at leaving him so soon after meeting him. It didn’t make any sense. Perhaps she was still jet-lagged from being on a plane for eight-plus hours yesterday.
Without warning, Riggs appeared between the two bucket seats and gave her ear a solid lick. Cadence giggled as she wiped at the wetness.
“Riggs, get back,” Ford commanded. “Sorry about that—”
“It’s all right.” She reached a careful hand behind the seat, allowing the shepherd to sniff her before giving him a good rub behind the ears. “I’ve never had a dog, but always wanted one.” With her current work schedule, adopting a dog would be irresponsible. Cadence was gone more than she was home. Being the personal assistant of the top-selling real estate agent in the firm came with high demands, impossible expectations, and very little free time.
“He’s a character.” Ford rubbed the dog’s head at a stop sign. Jenkins Law Office sat across from them at the intersection. “Couldn’t imagine life without him.”
Cadence gave her best smile, but reality seeped back in, reminding her why she was in Sunset Ridge. Tears threatened at the corners of her eyes, but she fought them. Breaking down in front of a stranger would be awkward, especially one who was her neighbor for the next three days.
“Thank you again.”
“No problem. I was headed into town anyway.”
Cadence paused before getting out, looking over her shoulder and back at Ford. “You don’t think Ed will actuallydamagemy car, do you?” She wasn’t sure her insurance coverage included curious, destructive moose.
“Nah. He’s a little eccentric for a moose, but he’s not normally reckless.”
Gripping the upper handle, Cadence slid her way out of the truck. If she were a few inches taller than her five-foot-four, her feet might not have dangled so long before she found her footing and was able to safely let go of her handhold.
“Do you need a ride back later?” Ford asked.
Cadence shook her head. Though she appreciated the gesture, she wasn’t one to take advantage of someone’s kindness. The walk back would do her good. “No, I think I’ll grab some lunch in town. I’ll find my way back.”
Riggs stood at attention on the edge of the center console and let out a couple of whines, focusing solely on his new friend who was now abandoning him. “Get back there, Riggs. You know the rules.”
A moment of awkwardness passed between them, and Cadence wasn’t really sure what to say. But she knew it was time to close the door. “See you later?’ The words fell out in a question, which only made her feel embarrassed.
“Looking forward to it, neighbor.”
A buzzing in her pocket alerted her to the return of cell signal. It was either her boss demanding something of her for a client, or one of her sisters wondering why she was running late for the video conference.
Tessa: Where are you?!?!
Cadence entered the law office without responding to her punctuation-happy older sister. Instead, she shoved the phone back in her pocket, also ignoring the dozen work-related emails that had flooded in since last night.
“Ah, you must be Ms. Cadence Whitmore.” An elderly man, tall and thin as a pencil, smiled in greeting as the door closed behind her. He offered to take her coat, placing it on a hook near the front door. “I’m so sorry to hear about your great-aunt’s passing.”
“Thank you. Sorry I’m late. A moose . . .” She let the sentence trail off into silence, hoping Mr. Jenkins understood without making her explain the embarrassing ordeal.
“Ah, Ed.” He ushered her from the reception space into his office with a haste that didn’t allow her to ask questions. A flat TV monitor sat on the table, its screen display split into two. Tessa’s movie-star ready face appeared on the left, and her younger sister Sophie held her chatty four-year-old daughter on the right.
“Cadence where you havebeen?” Tessa snapped the second Cadence fell into a chair. She glanced around the room for the camera pointed on her but didn’t see where it might be and instead focused on her sisters on the screen. Even prepared for work, Tessa still looked like a million bucks with her styled hair perfectly tucked back, not a strand out of place. It made Cadence fiddle with her hair, feeling self-conscious of the dark roots growing out of her blonde coloring.
