by Maisey Yates
“If you had always known that, Kate, you might have let me in on it,” Liss said, smiling ruefully.
“I think I did tell you that,” Connor said through clenched teeth. “Repeatedly.”
Liss tightened her lips into a bud, and Connor could tell she was holding back a deadly reply. He didn’t really care. She’d been warned. She didn’t listen. And while he didn’t hold it against her, he had pretty much told her so the minute she’d shacked up with that idiot who was, well, an idiot.
Of course, Connor’d had to acknowledge, just to himself, that he might’ve been being unfair, because no man seemed good enough for Liss. Kind of like how no man would ever seem good enough for Kate.
But in the end, his instincts had been right on. Marshall had been a loser. Marshall had run off with Liss’s money and the truck they had just bought. And now this.
“That’s beside the point,” Connor continued. “How long do you have to move out?”
“Legally, I have thirty days. But it’s a private sale, and everything is moving really quickly. I figure I’m going to be out on my rear one way or the other. I mean, if it’s that or going to live with my mother, then I will stay until the very last second, but...”
“You should stay here,” Kate said.
Liss’s eyes widened, and he felt his own mouth fall open. “Here? As in...here here?”
“Well, Sadie has the B and B.”
Sadie winced. “I’m booked solid through Christmas. People coming to visit family, combined with the off-season discount, created a deluge of reservations.”
“Your bed-and-breakfast is your livelihood, Sadie,” Liss said. “I’m not going to take advantage of that. No one would expect me to do accounting for free.”
“I wouldn’t do accounting for money,” Jack said.
“You probably couldn’t do accounting for money, either,” Liss returned.
“I’m wounded, Liss,” Jack said. “However, speaking of all that, maybe somebody has a room and could use your services?”
Connor thought about all the paperwork he had left to do for the insurance. No, it wasn’t accounting, but he had accounting to do. Though Liss already did it for him. And he even paid her. It was one of the few administrative things that still got done on time and well, because he paid for the service, rather than pretending he would do it himself one day. And Liss had brought him groceries this morning. In exchange for nothing but a bowl of cereal. He used her services already, many of them, and gave back very little in return these days.
“You can stay with me, Liss,” he said, before he had time to fully process the implications of what he was offering.
“Really?” She looked shocked, and that made him feel even worse. Because why should she be shocked that her best friend was offering basic hospitality to her in her time of need? She shouldn’t be.
He was clearly an asshole.
“Yes, really. This house is huge. And I’m here all by myself. I’ve got three completely empty bedrooms, plus office space I never use.” Jessie had used the office to manage ranch staff, but he never had. It felt weird offering her space up. But she was gone, and Liss was here. Liss needed him, and he was going to help. “Anyway, it would just be until you can figure out a way to get a place of your own. Until you can find somebody who’s willing to go outside the box for you. Or until your credit improves, or whatever. And you can save up for your deposit and first and last month’s rent and all that.”
“Connor, I can’t stay here for free.”
“No, you’ll be staying here in exchange for groceries.” She already bought them for him, anyway. “Plus, I might need a little bit of help with my organization.”
Jack snorted. “You think?”
“We don’t all have obsessive-compulsive tendencies like Eli,” Connor said drily.
Eli, of course, chose that exact moment to walk back in, looking as if he was willing and able to lay down a little law and order. Sure, Eli was younger, but the two of them had banded together at a very young age to take care of the ranch and raise Kate. He’d had to start seeing Eli in a new light very quickly. There were only two years between them, anyway, but Connor had begun viewing him as an equal from the moment Eli had taken on household responsibilities.
And now that Connor lived alone in the big house, barely able to clean up after himself, he really appreciated all that Eli had done to make their lives better when they’d been kids.
Since then, Eli had gone from protecting the family to protecting the entire town. And while Connor didn’t go around gushing about it, he couldn’t be prouder. Even when Eli looked at him like he was a lost cause. Much like he was doing now.
“What did I miss?” Eli asked.
“Connor is defending his lack of housekeeping skills,” Jack said.
Sadie crossed the room to Eli and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply as though they hadn’t just greeted each other a few moments ago. “Hey, Sheriff,” she said.
“Not yet,” he said. “Don’t jinx it.”
“I’m not a jinx! I’m the human incarnation of a lucky rabbit’s foot!”
“Are you?” he asked, cocking his head to the side, the whole interaction way too cute for his formerly stoic sibling.
They separated slowly, Eli’s hand sliding over her hip before resting there. Connor’s stomach twisted.
“Connor isn’t just defending his housekeeping,” Sadie said. “He’s offering Liss a place to stay until she can find a new rental.”
“What happened with your old rental?” Eli said, frowning deeply.
Liss sighed. “I should have known that once the Garrett family got involved this whole thing would get epic. Long story abridged, my credit sucks because of Marshall, and my landlord is selling.”
Eli’s breath hissed through his teeth. “That’s a bad combination.”
“But it’s going to be fine,” Connor said, his tone insistent. “Because she can stay with me until she figures something out. I have plenty of room here. Anyway, she’s here every night as it is. And she already brings me groceries.”
“You’re a little too attached to the grocery thing,” Liss said.
He shrugged. “Hey, it’s your rent. A small price to pay for a bedroom at Chez Garrett.”
* * *
LISS FIDGETED, LOOKING AROUND the room at all the expectant gazes. The Garretts were her surrogate family, so it was no surprise they had all rushed to her aid. But she hadn’t told Connor for a specific reason. She’d found herself talking to Kate today during her lunch break, when they’d run into each other at the Crab Shanty during lunch hour. She should have known that the youngest Garrett wouldn’t employ discretion.
Anyway, this was a solution, and she did need a solution. It was just the idea of living with Connor was sort of a loaded one. For a variety of reasons.
Though resisting would be...well, stupid. Because it was this or living with her mother, and she could genuinely imagine nothing worse than living with her mother. Except, maybe, living under a bridge. Actually, though, the bridge might be preferable.
But Connor had a point. This was a huge house. She spent a lot of time here, anyway.
Though, under normal circumstances, she would’ve wanted a little bit of time to think it over. Just because it was a change. Just because any commitment to move was kind of a big deal. But with the Garrett clan, Sadie and Jack all staring at her as if she had to issue a formal statement now, she felt as though she could hardly leave them waiting.
So she just ran through a quick laundry list of excuses and drawbacks, to be on the safe side:
Connor’s house was farther from work.
She had never been that into the rustic look. Which his place had in spades.
She would have to put some of her furniture in stora
ge.
Being in close proximity to Connor might make her loins burst into flame, starting another fire, leaving him homeless as well as barnless.
Yes, that. That was a problem. But then, she had done a lot of work in the loin department where Connor was concerned. She should be able to handle it. Honestly, she had been friends with the man for more than fifteen years, so her coping skills where he was concerned should be more refined. They were possibly even more refined than she realized. High exposure to Connor might actually help. If so, things like this morning, and that intimacy she had felt in the moment, would seem more commonplace.
So, there was a theory. And it was helping with her attempt at a snap decision.
“Thank you, Connor. I... Thank you. I really appreciate the offer. But we’re going to have to talk about logistics, because I’m not just going to stay here and sponge off you.”
“I’m not worried about that. Honestly,” he said.
“Well, I am. I don’t want to take advantage of you or our friendship.”
“You won’t,” he said, his tone carrying a note of finality. “If anyone has been taking advantage over the past few years, it’s been me. I didn’t even realize you were going through something. You didn’t tell me. That says a lot.”
“Connor,” she said, her voice quiet, “I just didn’t want to pile on.”
“That’s the thing. You sure as hell should not be thinking of sharing things with me as piling on. I’m your friend. Yeah, I’ve had my share of bullshit going on for the past couple of years, but that doesn’t mean you need to keep all this to yourself. I should’ve made that clearer.”
Liss’s chest tightened. She didn’t like putting her crap on other people. Especially not someone who was already going through so much. Regardless of what he said, it did matter. She didn’t like to be a burden to people. Least of all people she cared about. Why would anyone keep her around if she was taking more than she was giving?
“You should definitely stay here, Liss.” It was Eli’s turn to give his two cents. Apparently.
“I’m going to. Thank you.”
Jack took another piece of pizza off the tray and leaned back in his chair. “Are we going to play cards, or are we going to stand around debating living situations? Not that you asked, Connor, but I might like to come and stay here, too.”
“Why would you do that? Your house is nicer than mine.”
“Yes, but Liss is going to be in your house, buying groceries. I’m assuming she might even cook some of those groceries.”
“I never said anything about cooking,” Liss said. “And even if I were going to cook, I would not be cooking for you. I will, however, kick your ass at poker.”
Jack spread his arms wide. “Bring it on.”
Everyone jostled and started taking their spots at the table, Eli reaching out to the center of it and grabbing a deck of cards. “It’s about to be brought, Monaghan,” Liss said.
And for a moment things felt normal. Things felt sane.
Pretty soon all of that would change, but for now they were just going to play some cards.
CHAPTER THREE
“HEY, LISS,” CONNOR SAID, following her out the door to his house and down the steps of the porch. The poker game was done, and Jack had already gone home, while Kate was in the dining room lingering over the bowl of pizza rolls, and Eli and Sadie were just sort of happily sitting in the same chair.
Liss was ready to go, blaming an early work schedule, but they still had some things to figure out as far as Connor was concerned.
It was dark outside, cold enough that Connor could see his breath as he exhaled, the sharp bite of air in his lungs a signal that fall was fleeting and winter was biting at its ankles.
“We need to talk just a little bit before you go,” he said.
Liss paused and turned on her heel, the gravel crunching beneath her feet. “Do we need to talk tonight?” She sounded tired, and he couldn’t blame her. Had she sounded tired this morning? Had she sounded tired for longer than that? What else hadn’t he noticed?
“It’s not going to be long and involved, I promise. I just want to get a few things straight. You’re not paying me rent.”
“I’m going to have to compensate you somehow.”
“Sure you are. You will bring me food, like you already do, and I will actually give you something in return.”
“Connor, don’t be difficult about this. At least let me go over some of the paperwork for the ranch. Get things organized. And maybe the house, too. If I’m going to be living in it, then I need things at a slightly higher level of cleanliness.”
“Fine. Done.” He ignored the tightening in his stomach. All of these offers of payment sounded very...domestic. Which was fair, he supposed, since they would be sharing the same house.
“Good,” she said, nodding. “I’m glad we could come to an agreement.”
Something about the situation struck him as funny then, loosening the knot in his gut. “I feel like we should shake hands or something.”
“It does feel a little formal, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. Better idea.” He reached out and pulled Liss into a hug, not really thinking about it until she was pressed up against him, warm, soft and very feminine. He didn’t hug people often. He didn’t hug people ever, really. Sometimes he hugged Kate, an awkward half hug. And he was more likely to punch Eli in the face than pull him into an embrace.
Very likely for those reasons the contact hit him with the force of a two-by-four. And while he was still reeling from the hit, time seemed to slow, and he became acutely aware of small things he would never normally notice. Of how soft she was, how tiny she was, folded into his arms, and—of course—the press of her breasts against his chest, because he was only human.
Connor breathed in deep, inhaling a hint of wood smoke coming from his own chimney, a bit of sea salt mixed with pine and a floral note he knew was coming from Liss’s hair. The kind of girlie shampoo that had once cluttered up his shower, but had been absent from his house and his senses.
And for some reason, in this strange slow-motion moment it seemed perfectly acceptable for him to run his palm up Liss’s back.
“Connor, you’re kind of squishing my face.”
Liss’s muffled voice broke the moment, time suddenly returning to its normal speed. He laughed, a short, harsh sound that wasn’t really intentional. But apparently, the release was necessary.
He let go of her and took a step backward. “Sorry about your face.”
“Hang on to that, Connor. That could be a really useful insult later.”
“I meant it sincerely. The squishing of your face, not the features of your face. The features of your face are fine.” He had a feeling he wasn’t making any of this better, or less weird.
“Thank you,” she said, her tone letting him know that he definitely seemed weird to her. “I’m going to go home now. If I don’t get my sleep, the numbers will not be effectively crunched tomorrow.”
“That would be a shame.”
“Not really. But I need the paycheck.”
“So when do you want to move, then?”
She kicked her foot across the top of the gravel, the rocks clacking against each other. “I don’t know. I mean, I have time...”
“Well, whatever you want. I’ll even help you move.”
Liss pulled a face. “What exactly has come over you? You’re being all helpful and things.”
“I guess it’s the realization that I haven’t been very helpful at all recently.” They both knew exactly since when.
“I understand. I’m not going to tell you how you should handle all this. It’s not my place.”
“You’re about the only one who thinks that. Eli thinks I need to get over it. Jack thinks I need to ge
t laid.”
Liss cleared her throat loudly. “With that in mind, I will be the one who thinks you just need to do what you can.”
“I can do this,” Connor said. “I can give this to you. So let me.”
She scuffed her toe over the gravel, the rocks clicking together. “I am. We’ll work out the logistics later. Thank you.”
He gave her a halfhearted wave and turned away from her, walking back up the steps before pausing and watching her get into her car. Waiting until it started to go back inside. At least the thing would get her home tonight.
He shut the front door behind him and walked into the dining area, coming face-to-face with three very rapt sets of eyes. “What?” he asked.
“So, Liss is going to move in?” Eli asked.
“Were you not here for the entirety of this?” Connor returned.
“Just confirming.”
“She needs me. She’s a friend.”
“I know,” Eli said.
“Well, you look too interested. There’s nothing to be interested about.”
Sadie’s expression turned placating, which only irritated him more. “Of course not.” She reached into her offensive orange bowl and started digging around for candy. “It is very nice that you’re doing this for her.”
“You all have the wrong end of the stick,” he said, pointing at the group. “You would not be reacting like this if I offered Jack a place to stay. And if Jack needed me, I would have him stay here, too. And he’s a way bigger pain in the ass than Liss.”
“True,” Kate said. “On all counts.”
“See? Katie agrees with me.”
“Not,” Kate said, her tone filled with warning, “if you keep calling me Katie.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “Whatever you say, Katie.”
It was Kate’s turn to reach into the bowl. She pulled out a couple of M&Ms and hurled a couple at his head. “Serves you right,” she said when one clocked him in the temple.
“Oh, no,” he said, in mock terror. “You threw candy at me.”
“Beaver candy,” Sadie said.
