Shelter: A Heroes Of Big Sky Novel

by Kristen Proby

  “Uh, it’s nice to meet you, too.”

  “Go report back to Dad,” Seth says as his mom walks to the door. “And thanks for keeping Cap.”

  “Anytime. See you later.” Jillian waves, and then the door is closed, and Seth turns to me.

  “Did you really think that I’d be a big enough jerk to have another woman show up here while you’re using my shower?”

  “I mean, maybe she showed up unannounced. How was I supposed to know?”

  “Mom’s nosy. But, she brought the bread, and that’s all that matters.”

  “Do I smell lasagna?”

  “You do.” He closes in on me and leans in to smell me. “Your shampoo smells damn good.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Before we eat, let’s get something out of the way, okay?”

  “Sure.” I pucker up, but rather than kiss me, he keeps talking.

  “I’m telling you, here and now, that I’m not seeing anyone else, Remi. I don’t have any ties to anyone. And as long as we’re seeing each other, that’ll be the case. I’m not one to sleep around, and I’m way too busy to try to juggle women. Besides, only assholes do that crap.”

  “Agreed, on all counts.”

  He nods once and then leans in to press his lips to mine in a sweet kiss that’s way too short for my liking.

  The man can kiss. It’s as if someone pulled him aside in high school and gave him an in-depth tutorial or something.

  But then he pulls away and marches into the kitchen, where he uncovers a glass dish on the stove and pulls some bread out of the oven.

  “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “I am. Also, we have lemon meringue pie for dessert.”

  “I saw that. Little Deli is one of my favorites.”

  “Me, too. And I know I’m new to town, but I love it. Speaking of Little Deli, I’m working there now. I start next week.”

  His head whips up, and he stares at me in surprise. “You got a job?”

  “Yeah.” I tell him how it happened and then shrug. “I really like it there. And I like Annie, so I thought…what the hell?”

  “Annie’s great,” Seth agrees. “Her mom started the deli about forty years ago. When Mrs. Blakely decided to retire, Annie took over.”

  “It’s not a ton of hours, so I’ll still have plenty of time for exploring. I don’t know, I hadn’t really thought about staying long term, but I like the idea of winter in Montana.”

  “I like the idea of you being here in the winter,” Seth agrees with a grin.

  “Yeah?”

  “Oh, yeah. But what about the holidays? Will you go spend those with your family?”

  “No.” I take the offered plate, and we walk to the small kitchen table. Cap sits nearby, watching us closely in case we drop a morsel of food. “No, I don’t go see anyone for the holidays.”

  “And you probably don’t want to talk about it.”

  I grin and take a bite of garlic bread. “I’d rather not.”

  Chapter 5

  ~Seth~

  She looks so sweet sitting all curled up at the end of my couch, satisfied after her shower and devouring two helpings of lasagna, half a loaf of bread, and a piece of pie.

  I love a woman who isn’t afraid to eat, and watching Remi’s lips as she chews is my new favorite pastime. When that dimple winks at me, it’s a hell of a bonus.

  “Oh, God, I shouldn’t have had that last piece of bread,” she moans and leans her head against the back of the sofa. “But damn, it was good.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  And I enjoyed watching her enjoy it.

  “So, you said two women raised you,” she says and leans her cheek on her hand, watching me with sleepy eyes. “I assume Jillian is one of them.”

  “Of course.” I grin at her. “And Aunt Cara lives here on the property with Uncle Josh. Two different houses, but less than a mile apart. I bounced back and forth between the two all the time as a kid. If I didn’t want what one was having for dinner, I ran down to the other house. I’m sure it drove them both crazy, but it was a nice perk. Actually, my grandparents have always been close by, as well, so my grandma played a big part in my growing up also.”

  “That’s awesome,” she says with a sigh. “That you have so much family. And that you’re so close to them. So, this is an old-timey homestead, then?”

  I nod in agreement. “Absolutely. I’m the fifth generation of Kings to live here, and I plan to stay on the ranch until I die.”

  “And then your kids will, too?”

  I shrug. “Nah, I’m not planning on having kids. But I have two brothers and a sister, and a couple of cousins, so the tradition will live on, I’m sure. We’re a big, noisy family. The twins—my brother Miles and sister Sarah—are in high school. Troy’s the youngest. He’s in eighth grade and has more passion for this ranch than the rest of us put together. He’ll help run it one day, I’m sure.”

  “That’s quite an age gap between you and your siblings.”

  I nod. “What about you? Any brothers or sisters?”

  “A few half-siblings,” she says. “I have a really weird family dynamic.”

  “We all do.”

  She snorts. “Right. You have the all-American family out here on the perfect ranch in Montana.”

  I watch her for a moment and decide just to come clean. It’s not like my childhood is a secret. I just hate talking about it.

  “Jillian isn’t my biological mother,” I begin. “My dad married his high school sweetheart because she got pregnant—with me. He went into the military to support us. And while he was deployed, she fucked around on him. She was a shitty-ass mother, and one blessed day, she brought me here and dumped me off because she couldn’t be bothered anymore.”

  Remi’s mouth drops open, but I keep talking.

  “I was a pissed-off kid. I’d seen shit I shouldn’t have seen. And I had a chip on my shoulder. But we worked it out. I learned that my family loved me and wouldn’t send me away. And Dad married Jillian. They had babies. They’re my family. But believe me when I say that we’re not perfect. We have moments that make me shake my head and question my paternity.”

  Remi’s eyes bulge, and I laugh.

  “Not really. I look just like him. What I’m saying is, no one is perfect.”

  “I guess I have a similar background,” she says slowly. “My parents divorced when I was about eight. My biological father pretty much left without looking back. Mom remarried. Dale’s not a bad guy, as in he’s never been mean to me. But once they started having kids of their own, it was pretty clear that I was the odd kid out. I’m not close to them, and they pretty much just do their own thing. Sometimes, they invite me to things as an afterthought. Last year, Mom called me on Christmas Eve to ask if I wanted to come for dinner.”

  “Yikes.” I hate that for her. No one should live through life without family.

  “Yeah, well, it’s not even hurtful anymore. I just don’t feel bonded to them in any way. I don’t wish them harm. They’re just…strangers.”

  “So, you’ll stay here through the holidays and make new traditions for yourself.”

  “Yeah.” She smiles, her eyes still sleepy. “I like it that way, to be honest. It’s easier, that’s for sure.”

  She yawns, and I move over next to her.

  “You can sleep in the guest room tonight if you want.”

  “I have the van.”

  “And I’m sure it’s fine, but you’re here, and you’re tired, and I have an extra bed that’s just sitting back there, not being used. You’re welcome to it.”

  She sighs. “Okay. The thought of driving back to town and hooking up at the campground isn’t appealing. I’ll take the guest room.”

  I grin and lean over to brush my lips over hers. I’m gentle at first and then sink into her. She shifts so I can settle against her. As my mouth explores hers, she runs those sweet fingers through my hair.

  Rather than deepen the kiss and strip her
out of her clothes, I pull her to me and offer her a hug.

  “I’ll help you get settled.”

  “Thanks. I’ll run out and grab a few things from the van.”

  She stands, shoves her feet into her shoes, and hurries outside.

  I walk back to the guest room and make sure everything is in order.

  When I hear the front door open, I walk out to greet Remi and smile when I see her carrying her pillow and a few odds and ends in her arms.

  “The sheets are clean,” I assure her as she follows me down the hall. “I had a college buddy stay a few weeks ago and washed everything after he left, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

  “I’m so tired, I could sleep in the bathtub.”

  “Do you sleep in bathtubs often?”

  “I did once, in college.” She tosses the pillow onto the bed, sets her things on a chair, and turns to me. “It wasn’t a nice big copper one, though. Can I be honest?”

  “Always.”

  “I thought for sure you’d try to get in my pants, especially after last night up at the chalet.”

  I reach out and brush my thumb over the apple of her cheek. “You’re staying through the winter, Remi. I don’t have to rush it or hurry. I like the idea of taking my time, getting to know you. Unless you’re so hot for me, you can’t stand it and need me to scratch an itch for you.”

  She smirks, then looks me up and down in a way that makes me want to lick her all over. “You wish.”

  “Oh, so you’re not as attracted to me as I am to you?”

  “I didn’t say that.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “I can hold out. Probably longer than you can.”

  I bite my lip and watch her, enthralled by her. “You think so?”

  “Sure.”

  “Wanna put a wager on that?”

  She narrows those gorgeous eyes at me. “What kind of wager?”

  “If you beg first—”

  “I never beg.”

  “—you have to take me out for ice cream.”

  She lifts an eyebrow. “That’s it? That’s all you want? Ice cream?”

  I nod slowly.

  “Fine. And if you beg?”

  “What do you want?”

  She swallows, glances down, then looks up as if she’s really thinking it over. “You have to hike up to the glacier with me.”

  I blink at her. “Remi, it’s closed for the season. As you found out, hiking up there isn’t safe.”

  “In the spring,” she clarifies. “When it’s safe. I want to see that damn glacier, Seth.”

  Win or lose, I’ll go with her. Without hesitation.

  But she doesn’t have to know that.

  I nod grimly. “Okay. Yeah, okay, I can do that.”

  She holds out her hand for mine. “Deal.”

  I wrap my fingers around hers and shake, then pull her knuckles up to my lips. “Deal.”

  “Now you have to leave this room,” she says primly and pulls her hand out of mine. “I don’t know why I’m so damn tired, but I feel like I could sleep for a week.”

  “We had quite the adventure,” I reply, already regretting the stupid bet. What was I thinking? I want nothing more than to climb into that bed with her. “It was a long hike, a shitty night’s sleep in the chalet, you ran into a grizzly, and then we hiked down.”

  “And I got a job today.”

  “You’ve been busy.” I smile at her. “Get some rest, Remi. If you need anything, let me know. Make yourself at home.”

  I close the door behind me, then walk out to the kitchen to clean up from dinner. She offered to do it after we ate, but I saw how heavy her eyes were, how worn out she was, and I insisted that she sit with me on the couch instead.

  I don’t mind the clean-up. I’ve done more than my share of dishes over the years, and it’s the perfect time to unwind, think about the day, and go over what’s on tap for tomorrow.

  It doesn’t take long to load the dishwasher, handwash a few things, and wipe down the counter. I leave a light on over the stove in case Remi wakes up and wants something from the kitchen.

  To be honest, I’m exhausted myself. I was scared out of my mind yesterday before finding Remi on that trail. My heart was in my throat as I rushed up the mountainside, worried that the storm had already killed her or that she’d gotten lost. So, now that the adventure is over and the adrenaline is gone, I’m ready to crash, too.

  I don’t have to go up to work tomorrow. Instead, I promised my dad and Uncle Josh that I’d help out in the barn, maybe ride the fence and make some repairs before winter sets in.

  But they know that Remi’s here, so I don’t have to be at the barn at the butt crack of dawn. They’ll razz me, but they would anyway, no matter what. It’s just what we do.

  But before I have fun on the ranch, I’ll have some fun with Remi in the morning.

  I’ve never been able to sleep late. It stems from years and years of living on the ranch, waking up early to feed animals and get chores done before school. If the sun is up before me, I’m either sick or stuck with a gorgeous woman in a national park.

  The latter has only ever happened once.

  This morning, I decided to make my mom’s baked oatmeal and some bacon for breakfast.

  “Something smells good.”

  I pause at the rough sound of Remi’s sleepy voice and then turn to find her standing behind me, her dark hair disheveled, and her violet eyes heavy-lidded with sleep.

  “I made breakfast,” I reply, rather than boost her up onto my kitchen island and have her for breakfast.

  Her stomach growls, making us both grin.

  “After dinner last night, I would have sworn I’d never be hungry again,” she says and peeks around my shoulder. “But my stomach just proved me wrong. What are we having?”

  “Baked oatmeal and bacon. I don’t have any fresh fruit to go with it.”

  “Are there raisins in the oatmeal?”

  “Yes.”

  “There. Fruit.” She grins. “Do I have to do sexual favors to get a mug of coffee?”

  I laugh and turn away, fetching her a mug. “No, coffee’s free around here.”

  “How long have you been up?” She pours a little milk into her coffee, gives it a stir, then leans against the counter and sips. She’s just in that oversized T-shirt from last night. No pants. I can’t take my eyes off her slim, muscular legs. “Hi, my eyes are up here.”

  I laugh again and shake my head. “Sorry. I have a sexy woman in my kitchen with the best legs I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to concentrate.”

  “Hard enough to beg?”

  My eyes find hers. They’re full of humor, but there’s lust there, too.

  I lean into her and kiss her forehead. Breathe her in. “It hasn’t even been twelve hours, sweetheart. I think I can hold out a while longer.”

  She snorts, but there’s disappointment in her eyes, and that doesn’t hurt my feelings in the least.

  “I’ve been up since about five,” I inform her, answering her question.

  “Good God, that’s early.”

  “That’s ranch life,” I reply and scoop up her breakfast, then pass it to her.

  “Do you have to work today?”

  “Not up at the park. I have the next five days off. Now that we’re out of the heart of the season, I only work three days a week. But I’ll be putting in more time at the ranch now. There are some things I need to do today. What about you? What’s on tap for your day?”

  She takes a bite of her bacon then licks her lips.

  Damn it. She’s killing me. If she keeps that up, I’ll be begging by the end of the day.

  “I’m going to get settled back in my spot with the van. I really like it there. I can leave the van parked and ride my bike where I need to go. Super convenient. And then I’ll check out some local trails. Don’t worry, nothing crazy. Oh, and I have to go see Annie about some paperwork.”

  I lean on the counter and eat my breakfast. Part of me wants to te
ll her to stay here rather than in the van. The other part of me is like, whoa.

  “Thanks for all of the food and stuff,” she says as she rinses her bowl in the sink. “I had a good time.”

  “Me, too.”

  Before she can walk away, I catch her wrist in my grasp and pull her against me so I can take her lips with mine in a long, lingering kiss.

  “I want to see you later.”

  “I’ll be around.” She grins, then pulls away and starts off toward the guest room. “I’ll be out of your hair in twenty.”

  “You’re not in my hair,” I call back. I want to hurry after her. So, instead, I load the dishwasher and pull my boots on.

  I grab a jacket and stop by the closed guest room door.

  “I’m headed out, Remi. Just lock up behind yourself.”

  “Will do,” she calls back.

  I can almost picture her in there, the naked body I’ve already seen exposed as she changes clothes. I roughly tug on the jacket and stomp away.

  I live far enough from the barn now that I drive my truck over. Used to be I’d walk from either Dad’s or Josh’s house, but I chose a piece of property with a little more privacy. I could still walk, but it would take too much time.

  When I head into the barn, I see Dad and Josh, along with our long-time ranch hand, Louie, gathered around one of the stalls.

  “She’s a looker,” Louie says, chewing on a toothpick.

  “New foal?” I ask, and three pairs of eyes turn to me.

  “A little filly,” Josh confirms. “Born about an hour ago.”

  “You’d have seen it if you weren’t entertaining a guest at your place,” Dad adds.

  Yep, they’re going to razz me.

  “Jillian says she’s pretty,” Josh adds.

  “You’re a bunch of gossiping women,” I reply and shake my head. “The woman was trapped in a storm. I made her dinner.”

  “Spent the night,” Louie puts in mildly.

  “Whose side are you on?”

  The old man just laughs at me. Louie’s one of my favorite people in the world. He was working here when I came to the ranch when I was eleven, and he seemed to be old then. I have no idea how old he really is, but I’ve decided he’s living forever.