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Chapter Five
Sadie trudgedin from training the dogs in the backyard with Reggie nipping at her heels. Her energy dragged, and she needed another cup of coffee. She hadn’t been able to sleep so had come in around four to check on him. She had told the plucky beagle it was all his fault she’d tossed and turned all night. He’d just huffed and looked at her like she was full of it. She was, of course, and the fact that the dog called her out had her worried.
No matter how many times she’d lain in bed, telling herself she couldn’t get all worked up about Bjørn, her stinking, hormone-infused mind wouldn’t let it rest. She’d replayed the meeting and their talk over and over until her brain had decided she wanted it on a constant loop. She’d finally been able to fall asleep on the kennel’s couch sometime after six, only to have punctual Aurora scuttling in at eight to crunch numbers or whatever it was she did as she typed away on her computer all day.
To add to Sadie’s lack of sleep, she’d had the lovely job of digging through all of Reggie’s poop from the night. Thankfully, she’d found what appeared to be a plastic piece from a toy. With a few days of chicken and rice, Reggie’s system should be back to normal. She eyed him at her feet, her face scrunching up in doubt. Unless he swallowed something else he shouldn’t have.
Her stomach growled, and she pressed her hand to it as she glanced at the clock. How was it already ten? She’d have to get more than coffee. Maybe she’d run out and grab something at Rez Art. She turned to head back to the yard to ask the others if they wanted something when the front door opened. The howl of a wolf that was the kennel’s bell sounded, and Bjørn walked in.
The sun haloed his body like some saint. A robin belted out a song of greeting like Bjørn had paid the thing to make his entrance grand. Not that he needed musical accompaniment or backlighting. Sadie bet he walked into any space and the world stopped for a moment to gawk. Did that make the gravity around him different? She bet it did, because she was rooted to the spot, staring.
“Is this a good time?” Bjørn closed the door with his foot, bringing her attention to the cup carriers and the paper bag clutched in his hands.
“Yeah.” She hurried forward and reached for one carrier. “Let me help you.”
The Rez Art logo on the cups had her mouth watering and her stomach hollering to fill it. She really should’ve grabbed a granola bar or something hours ago. The smell of lemon, lavender, and sweet coffee hit her, and her stomach groaned so loud it shook.
Bjørn’s smile stretched across his face, his dimples caving in on his cheeks. “You have a bear in there?” His low chuckle filled her with warmth, like she’d chugged a rich cup of Mexican mocha.
“Maybe,” she quipped back as she took the carrier and headed to the small kitchen area. “More like time got away from me. I can’t believe you stopped at Rez.” She turned and cocked an eyebrow. “Are you a mind reader or something? I literally was just going there to grab breakfast.”
“Nope, just wanted a coffee and figured I’d bring enough for everyone.” He set the other carrier and bag down.
“Well, you’re my hero.”
Refusing to look at him, she snatched the bag, breathed in the buttery goodness, and pulled out her favorite lavender lemon scone. She took a big bite. Zesty citrus and flowers zipped along her tongue, and she closed her eyes with a sigh. How could the Bell Tower Bakery in the Resurrect Art Coffee House make flour and butter taste like angels made them?
“So good,” she spoke around the bite.
“The barista said it was your favorite.” Bjørn’s words popped her eyes opened.
He’d asked about her? Was that just him being considerate, or did it mean more? She mentally shook herself. She’d been over it a thousand times the night before. It didn’t matter how attractive or nice Bjørn was. Men like him would never want someone scarred like her. She swallowed the scone past the lump in her throat.
“Thanks, but you didn’t have to.” She grabbed the to-go cup he extended to her and took a tentative sip. The rich, smooth cinnamon and chocolate of the Mexican mocha coated her mouth, giving her brain the jolt of caffeine needed to bring her back to reality.
“I didn’t mind.” He shrugged and took a bite of his own scone. His eyebrows winged up in surprise as he pulled it away from his mouth to look at it. “Wow. This is amazing.”
“Right?” Sadie let his easy manner settle her more.
Was he always this comfortable to be around? She hoped so. Handsome or not, he seemed like he’d be a good friend.
“Are your sister and cousins here?” He motioned to the rest of the cups. “The barista made their favorites too.”
Sadie shook her head in both amazement and teasing. “I don’t think we need to share.”
“No? You don’t like to share?” His eyes danced with a smile as he stared at her while he took a slow drink.
“I don’t mind sharing.” She took another bite, then used the scone to point at the bag. “We could always hide the bag, though. I mean, they’d still have the fantastic coffee, and the girls would never know.”
“Never know what?” Denali asked from behind her.
Sadie puffed out a surprised breath, spraying scone crumbs onto her shirt. Bjørn took another drink to hide his laugh. Man, those dimples of his were killers. She brushed off her shirt, put her finger to her mouth to shush him, and turned to her family.
“Hey, Bjørn brought breakfast.” She stepped back even with him while displaying the goods with her hand dramatically, like a game show assistant.
“Oh, pastries!” Violet bounced on her toes as she peeked into the bag and pulled out a muffin. “You sure know the way to a girl’s heart.”
“Really? I’ll have to remember that.” He peeked at Sadie before tipping his cup to the counter. “Truth is, I was out of coffee at home and didn’t want to be rude.”
