“Sounds like another word for small.”
“Yes, it’s small,” Sophie admitted. “It comes with its challenges, but it’s a perfect place to start. I promised Denver I’d sleep on it before I made any decisions.” Sophie had forced steel into her veins since stepping out of Denver’s truck earlier that day. Her sisters had done so much for her this past year; she wouldn’t add another burden by letting them know how truly conflicted she was. Nor that her monthly check from Blake bounced, making the situation even more complicated.
“I think sleeping on it is smart,” Cadence agreed. “The last thing you want to do is end up stuck in a place you don’t love for an entire year.”
“What are the cons?” Tessa asked over her shoulder.
“The furnace is pretty old.” Though Sunset Ridge didn’t get as cold as some of the places in interior Alaska, it was plenty cold enough not to want to be without heat even for a few hours. “Bedrooms are cramped.” She shrugged, trying to come off as unaffected by the event. “Jolene said she’d keep looking for us.”
Cadence draped her arm over Sophie’s shoulder and pulled her in for a side hug. “If that house doesn’t work out, I’m sure something else will come up.”
“Me, too.”
“These flowers sure are beautiful,” Cadence added, her gaze transfixed on the arrangement. “Who do you think your secret admirer is?”
“I don’t have a secret admirer.” Sophie slipped out of her sister’s hold, debating whether to return to the kitchen counter to help Tessa with the next batch of cookies. It looked as though Tessa had it all under control. Perhaps someone had noticed her having a bad day and sent them to her out of kindness. “They’re not exactly roses.”
“Roses aren’t yourfavorite.”
Hard to argue that point. “I really doubt anyone is interested in a divorced single mom who cleans lodge rooms. Someone felt like being kind today, that’s all.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” said Tessa, swatting at Sophie’s hand when she tried to sneak a cookie dough ball for herself. She wasn’t as quick as Cadence, but she was more persistent. After four attempts, she succeeded and ran off to her room before the lecture could follow.
Door closed behind her, Sophie finally caught her breath. “Idon’thave a secret admirer.DoI?”
It wouldn’t matter if she did. The flowers were pretty, and kind, but they could never represent anything more. Sophie had decided well over a year ago not to date again until Caroline graduated high school. Maybe not ever again.
No man was worth risking her own heart, much less her daughter’s.
* * *
Denver
“Sherlock, these aren’t for you, buddy,” Denver said when he and the dog arrived at the lodge that evening. Though the first time he attempted this cheesy potato recipe was to appease Caroline, Sherlock seemed to be the biggest fan. “I saved you some at home. But you have to behave, or you won’t get any.”
Sherlock let out a loud groan to let Denver know exactly how he felt about being denied one of his greatest pleasures. The pitiful look that filled those big brown eyes would make someone think he hadn’t eaten in days. Maybe weeks.
Cradling the casserole in one arm, Denver opened the back door of his truck with the other. Though Sherlock tended to wander off if not leashed, as long as no rabbits were about, he was normally pretty good about heading straight to the kitchen door at the lodge. His best friend was inside, after all. Sherlock loved Caroline, and the girl always had a treat ready for him.
The moment the door opened, the bustle of conversation and clattering of dishes filled his ears. Ford’s younger sister Rilee was heading back to college tomorrow, and tonight they were throwing her a departure feast. As Sophie’s best friend, and the creator of the highly coveted cheesy potatoes, Denver was extended an invitation.
Sherlock and Ford’s German shepherd Riggs sniffed at each other, but Sherlock’s attention quickly redirected to Caroline. “Sit, Sherlock.” The dog plopped down with such stealth and force that the dishes on the table rattled. “Shake.”
Denver couldn’t wait to show Caroline Sherlock’s new trick, but he’d save that for tomorrow, when it would be just the three of them. Well, four with Sherlock. The dog did seem to consider himself a human.
As he waited for Caroline to give Sherlock his treat, Denver’s eyes were drawn to the kitchen counter beside the fridge. His brilliant pink bouquet glimmered in the sunlight, reflecting off the stainless steel behind it. Aunt Faith had really come through on her promise. No way Sophie saw those and thought the sender only meant them in a gesture of friendship or kindness.
“Are those cheesy potatoes?” Caroline skipped toward him, her chocolate eyes—same as her mother’s—wide with excitement.
“Maybe.”
Sherlock let out a bark, turning half the heads with its deep sound. Caroline giggled as the dog licked her right on the nose. “He says so.” Moments like these, Denver knew he picked the right dog. Afamilydog.
“Denver, bring those over here,” Tessa called, waving him into the chaos.
“Nice flowers,” he said to Sophie as they passed in the kitchen. Her cheeks instantly colored, matching the lilies. “Yours, I take it?”
“That’s what the card says.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze as she busied herself with collecting silverware from the buffet drawer. “Not sure who sent them.”
