Page 18 of Finding Love

She smiled and tried to hide her excitement. “You’re welcome to stay parked where you are for as long as you need.”

“Thanks.” He smiled at her. “But I’ve been putting off going home for a year.” He stopped just outside of her cottage. “I will take a week though.” He pulled her closer and ran his eyes over her face. “At least for now.”

She thought about the coming week and mentally rearranged a few things so she could have some time with Ryder.

She didn’t know what was between them, but like him, she wanted time to figure it out. To explore what it could be.

From the way he was talking, she could tell he wasn’t one to shy away from commitment or relationships. Then again, it wasn’t as if they knew one another all that well. Even though she’d spent half of the day yesterday with him, the conversation they’d had during the sail had been light.

“I’d better head in and shower.” She glanced at her watch.

“You don’t start at the crack of dawn? You do work in a bakery,” he joked as they crossed the sand.

“Nope. I made it very clear to my mother that I’m only a morning person as long as the mornings start after seven.” She smiled and unlocked her door.

Willy had jumped up on the sofa on the porch and was fast asleep.

“Will you two be okay here?” she asked.

“Sure. We were thinking of heading into town to grab some food. We might see you there. Those rolls were really good, and Willy told me he wanted another one of those pooch-chinos that you gave him yesterday.”

“It’s basically nondairy cool whip,” she joked. “My aunt started giving them away to all the dogs years ago.”

“He liked it just fine,” he said, motioning to Willy.

“Then I’ll see you there,” she said before stepping inside. She tried to steady her nerves as she showered the sand off and pulled on a pair of jeans and a blouse. She even took a little more time than usual to fix her hair and makeup before stepping outside.

She noticed the van was gone and her heart sank. Then she realized that he would have to drive it into town. After all, it was not only where he was staying but his only mode of transportation.

When she got into work, her aunt nudged her hip against hers.

“So…” Becca smiled. “Kate and Nick tell me that you invited that boy and his dog who stopped by here yesterday out sailing.

Brook rolled her eyes. “His name is Ryder,” she said. “And I would hardly describe him as a boy.” She chuckled.

“I never did hear exactly how you two met? He’s camping? Where is he staying?” Becca leaned on the counter and watched Brook as she made her own favorite coffee and took an apple fritter for herself.

“I rescued him.” She smiled and took a bite of her fritter. “He’s parking his van at my place. For now.”

“Oh?” Becca leaned a little closer and lowered her voice. “Is it true that he lives in a van?”

“He does for now. It’s a sleeper van. He even has a kitchen in there,” she said, having seen the inside of it for a split second. She’d been impressed with not only the size of it inside, but how neat he kept it. She’d noticed the bathroom and shower and had wondered how he stood up in there. Which is why she’d offered to let him use her outdoor shower and her washer and dryer. She’d taken plenty of family camping trips in her youth and knew how bad it could be living in a camper.

“Well, what does he do for a living? Where is he from?” Becca asked as several townspeople came in.

Brook didn’t answer until they were finished with the customers. Then she told her aunt that he was from Seattle, and she didn’t know what he did for a living.

After that, the main rush hour commenced, and they were both too busy to chat.

Ryder and Willy strolled in shortly before the end of that hour and once again sat outside in the sun and enjoyed their breakfast.

Her aunt came back out front with a plate of brownies. “Go, get some answers. Your mother and I are dying for details.” Brook chuckled until her aunt poked her in the ribs. “Go.”

“Okay.” Brook laughed. She took the brownies, grabbed a bottled water, and stepped outside.

“Hey,” she said, sitting across from him at the table. “My mother and aunt sent me out here to sugar you up and get details so they can gossip about you to everyone in town.” She set the plate down.

“Hey.” He glanced at the windows where her mother and aunt were watching them. He smiled and waved before taking a brownie. “What kind of details do they want?” he asked.