Page 12 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
“No, look how happy Coby is. That dog isn’t going anywhere.” My son was now jabbering to his new pet. I tore my eyes away from Coby and looked up at my brother. “You really like this girl, huh?”
He nodded, his eyes softening with adoration. “A lot.”
Alana was one lucky woman to have caught my brother’s eye. He’d treat her like royalty if she let him.
“Did you at least get your date?”
His smile lit up his entire face. “Saturday night. I’m going to take her to The Black Bull.”
“Ooooh. Fancy. Well, I can’t compete with their steaks, we’re just having kid food tonight, but you’re welcome to stay for dinner.”
“Are you making chicken nuggets?” he asked hopefully.
“And macaroni and cheese.”
“From the blue box?”
“Duh.”
“I’m in.” He threw an arm around my shoulders and pulled me in for a hug. “You’re sure you’re not mad about Pickle?”
“Not really. He’s adorable and we’ll make it work. But don’t tell Dad, okay? I’m going to pretend I’m still mad at you both and guilt him into doing puppy training.”
“Good idea. Remember how fast he trained Aunt Regina’s dog?”
“Yeah, like a month.” Dad had a magic touch with dogs, and if I could convince him to train Pickle, it would save me a world of hassle. “Come on. Let’s go inside. Can you carry in the crate?”
“Sure.” He let me go and looped the plastic bags on his arm, then bent to pick up the crate.
“Mommy, can Pickle sleep in my room?” Coby asked as he took my hand.
“No, sorry, buddy. We’re going to find Pickle his own special spot.” Our loft was so small his room barely had enough space for his bed and dresser. With the money I was making from Hunter’s reservation, I was going to build a bunk bed in Coby’s room to give him more space to play in.
We followed Michael from behind the SUV, toward the lobby. I was so focused on swinging Coby’s hand back and forth, thinking about where I was going to keep Pickle’s crate, I didn’t notice the man standing at the vending machines until I was just five feet away.
Hunter turned at the exact moment I looked up, and our eyes locked. My feet stuttered to a stop and my breath hitched, but by some miracle I managed an airy, “Hi.”
“Hey.” His eyes swept down until they landed on my arm. The arm attached to my son.
“Mommy! Why’d you stop?”
Because of a hot guy. “Sorry, bud.”
I looked back up to Hunter as my feet moved again. But he wasn’t looking at me. His eyes had dropped to Coby.
Hunter’s face had changed as he assessed my son, but before I could make sense of his expression, he spun around on his brown Frye boots and walked back toward his room.
Shit. Was Hunter freaked because I had a kid? Or was he rushing away because of the impression I’d made earlier in the lobby? An anxious knot formed in my stomach and I took a long breath, willing it to disappear.
It didn’t.
Because even though he was a stranger and just another guest in my motel, I wanted Hunter Faraday to be as interested in me as I was in him.
“Knock, knock! We’re here!” I called as I walked into the farmhouse.
“Kitchen!” Gigi called back.
I let go of Coby’s hand and closed the door behind us. “Okay, buddy. Take your shoes off and then you can go play.”
