“He’s another Jones boy,” Shaw said. “Not as good looking as me and much, much fatter.”
“Shaw!” Laken slapped his shoulder with a giggle.
“Not nearly as intelligent either,” Shaw said in a mock whisper behind his hand.
Laken rolled her eyes but she was grinning as she sat with a sigh. “God, that’s good to get off my feet.”
“You’re doing too much,” Shaw told her. “Duncan needs to rein you in.”
“Rein me in?” Laken scoffed. “There’s a reason you’re single, Shaw Jones.”
“And there’s a reason your husband has a naughty notebook,” Shaw countered.
Laken grew red. “Shaw! You can’t say that sort of thing in front of my new friend, Arabella.”
She blinked, aware that she hadn’t told this gorgeous woman her name.
“Oh sorry. Small town and Duncan is a deputy sheriff. I kind of guessed that’s who you were.” Laken grimaced. “Have I put you off being friends with me? I promise I’m not a gossip.”
“All lies,” Shaw mock-whispered again.
“You are so annoying!” Laken told him.
“Hey, be nice to me. Besides, we need to talk about Arabella and her game of hide and seek with Eli and Kellan.”
“I’m not playing hide and seek,” Arabella said.
Are you sure about that?
Arabella rubbed the back of her neck. “Shoot. I am, aren’t I? I hide because I don’t know what to say and I’m attracted to them both and I really am not looking for any sort of relationship.”
Let alone a complicated one with two men.
“But at the same time . . .”
“You want them to bend you over the closest piece of furniture and fuck you hard?” Shaw guessed.
“Shaw!” both Laken and Arabella said at the same time.
“What?” He gave them an innocent look.
“I’m sorry about him,” Laken said to her. “Shaw and I had planned on coming to visit you with a Welcome to Haven basket. Is there anything you need? Want?”
“Oh, that’s really kind. Thank you.” She hadn’t expected that. “I don’t. But if you wanted to stop by for cake and coffee, I’d love that.”
“Ooh, cake.” Laken clapped her hands. “Yummy, it’s a date. Shaw and I will be over on Saturday.”
“Awesome. Do you both work here?” she asked.
“I do not work here,” Shaw huffed. “I’m just here doing time.”
“Hey!” Laken complained. “Are you saying that being around me is doing time?”
Shaw stood with a smile and kissed the top of her head. “No. But a woman’s clothing store is not the sort of place I would normally choose to spend my time. Now, where is that box going?”
“Oh, everything needs to be steamed. Put it by the steamer, please. I’ll do it later. I don’t have the energy for steaming right now.”
“I can do it for you if you like,” Arabella offered as Shaw moved away. “I’m pretty good at steaming.”
