“Oh, okay. Sure.” Rey ducked his head.
I left them to it. I had enough on my plate without wondering whether Rey was going to crush on Cook like he had Sebastian.
* * * *
Both Lake and River absolutely adored Cook. What can I say, my friend was lovable. Rey, on the other hand, seemed equally fascinated and apprehensive about him.
“Sierra’s gonna flip,” I told Lake later that night when we cuddled in bed.
“Why?”
“Well, she’s been his accountabili-buddy—”
Lake lifted his head and looked down at me where my head rested on his stomach. “His what?”
“Accountability buddy,” I explained. “He has a wandering problem. Well, he has a PTSD problem which makes him get lost on the way back to us sometimes.” It wasn’t something I could explain or had any right to. “So they began to have this ongoing thing where every time he leaves he tells her, and then every time he’s about to leave wherever he’s working to come back, he tells her again so she can keep contact with him through his travels back.”
Lake made a softhuhsound. “Will she be upset?”
“Nah, she loves him like a brother, and she worries.” I sighed. “Something is different about him though. I can’t figure out what yet.”
“He works here as a chef?”
“Sort of. He does odd jobs and cooks. He’s on the payroll whenever he stays here for more than a few nights. It’s one of Ruth’s rules.”
“Speaking of which,” Lake said, his tone difficult to read.
I moved to put my head on the pillow next to his and peered at him expectantly.
“I know things are settled for the time being, money-wise, with the rescue,” he started.
“Right.”
He closed his eyes, frowning ever so slightly, as he thought something through.
“I talked to Hudson and we were thinking, well,Iwas thinking, that maybe you and Sierra both would like to buy into the business?”
My throat clicked as I struggled to understand. “What?”
“Sure, once I sign whatever paperwork I need to in order to take over this place in what, a bit over a week or something like that, it also settles the fact that you will have a job and this cabin for as long as you want it, right?” I made a sound of agreement, so he continued, “You have savings, I know Sierra has some, too. Why wouldn’t I want you two as business partners? With whatever kind of percentage you want, as long as I keep the majority of the business. The price isn’t important, it’s an investment for me to have you on board like that.”
“I…” I didn’t know what to say. Or to think.
“There’s no rush. If you ever want it, let me know, baby.” He moved so he could put his head on my chest and cuddled close. “I just think it’s fair.”
“A-and you think it won’t go against the terms of Ruth’s will?”
“No, Hudson checked. He says in the spirit of her wishes, I should always keep most of it and maybe only sell to you and Sierra, but that once I’ve taken over I could do whatever with the remaining forty-nine percent.”
I nodded. “Makes sense.” I relaxed a little, as if knowing what Ruth would want, even if it was Hudson’s speculation, had somehow made a difference. “I’ll think about it.” And I would, but not tonight.
“So, Rey has a new crush,” Lake said in an amused tone.
“Oh yes.” We chuckled. “So, how’s River doing?”
“He’s not good, but he’ll get there.”
“Is Ben coming back?”
