Page 29 of Against The Tide

“Sure.”

“Scarlett!”

“Yes, I got it. Jeez, Mom…” she huffs as she unbuckles her seatbelt and lets herself out of the car.

“Little…madam.” Callie jumps out after her. “I’ve told you not to mess with the child lock!”

“It wasn’t me,” Scarlett calls behind her, running past Jo and Rhett as he fusses over three large German shepherds. One chases after her, skidding to a stop when she turns and yells for Iris to follow her.

Even though my chest tightens at the thought of letting Iris out of my sight, I nod for her to follow Scarlett. The two of them are almost inseparable, with Iris obsessing over as much purple as she can.

“Word of warning,” Callie sighs when I meet her in front of her car. Iris is in her element befriending the dogs. She seems relaxed with Rhett after their chat in the coffee shop. It’s a pleasant development given she was so jumpy with him before. Even with Rowan, who she’s met before.

“Jo can be a little full-on. She’s a real character. No boundaries and a lot to say. However, she’s a good person…the best, actually.”

“She reminds me of my mom.”

“I can see that.”

“She reminds me of Nora too.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m a glutton for punishment.”

The minute Rhett stops fussing over them, the two dogs bound at me and Callie, wagging their tails and barking. It’s a welcoming whine more than a threatening warning.

Laughing, he manages to get them to sit down in front of us. “These guys get very excited over new people.”

“Only new people?”

“Anyone actually. So long as you’re friendly, they love you.” Callie pats them gently before following Jo into the house.

“This is Ship,” he tells me, crouching to fuss over the dog with the black bandana around his neck. “And this is Wave.” He touches the tip of his nose to the dog’s. I’m assuming it’s a female by the red bandana.

“Can I pet them?”

“Sure, they’re as friendly as they come. Ship likes it when you scratch behind his left ear, and Wave likes it when you rub her snout with your fingertips. Up and down…all day long.”

Crouching beside Rhett, I scratch behind Ship’s ear while he pets his back. A long yowl sounds from him as he falls onto the floor contentedly. I use the time to take in our surroundings better. The house is large and spread out, white with a dark roof and shutters that contrast the bright casing of the panes. Brick chimneys poke out of the roof, and a large stone flue sits on one side by the porch.

Although the ground is all dirt and grit, the drive is surrounded by a lush green manicured garden and a stone half wall with a sign that reads The Lighthouse Ranch. A white-and-blue striped lighthouse water feature stands in the middle of the small garden in front of the plaque.

It’s all so tranquil. You can hear the light breeze rustle through the trees around us. God, it feels so good as it caresses my warm skin like a wistful whisper.

“You doing okay?” he murmurs while we continue fussing over the dogs.

“I think so.” My body groans when I try to stand, and to stop myself from disproving my reply, I keep petting Ship in the hopes that Rhett will follow Callie and Jo inside and I can get myself up without an audience.

“Good.”

Wave leaves us, and as though he knows what I’m avoiding, Rhett holds out his hand to me when he stands.

“Drink?” he asks, helping me up.

The feel of his hand clasped tight around mine is different to anything I’ve ever felt. My throat swells at the sight of his smile beaming at me, ocean gaze sparkling in the golden afternoon light. A stray, lighter blond lock falls in front of his eyes, and it makes him look boyish with the lopsided tip of his mouth.

We’re stuck in a staring contest when I’m jolted into him. My knees cave, hands clutching at his shoulders so I don’t fall to my ass.

“I’m sorry,” I tell him, and the faster I try to push away, the more the dog jumps at us, making it impossible for me to steady myself.