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A smile pulled at Josie’s lips. With Lane’s help, it didn’t take long to make the rounds. There was just one place left to stop.
She turned to Lane. “I can finish up on my own. Thank you for your help.”
“You’re welcome. And I don’t mind finishing with you.”
Now what was she supposed to say? That she was going to her family’s business, and she felt awkward about introducing him? Not that there was anything to feel awkward about. After all, Lane was nothing more than a business partner—one she hoped to keep long enough to save up her money and eventually buy him out.
With that in mind, maybe it was a good idea to bring him along. Her parents were friendly and put people at ease. Any time there was a small family gathering at her parents’ house, it meant half of the island would be there. Meeting them might make Lane feel more at home on the island.
“Get in.” She gestured to the inn’s golf cart. “We have one more stop to make.”
He sat down next to her. His broad shoulders brushed against hers. She shifted in her seat, trying to put some space between them. It only succeeded in their arms continuing to brush against each other. She stopped moving and instead focused on the road.
The store was on the northern edge of town. Her family owned the biggest furniture store on the island. It had been her grandparents first. They handed it down to her father. And someday they would hand it down to her brother Kent.
“Is the town always so busy?” Lane asked.
“This is nothing.” She turned left and headed away from Main Street. “You should be here in July. By then, the island will be inundated with tourists. There won’t be any rooms available anywhere. It’s like that all summer long.” She hoped to drive home the fact that the inn was profitable.
“Stop!”
She tramped the brake. Her chest tightened with worry. She glanced over at Lane. He looked all right. “What’s wrong?”
“Over there.” He pointed past her. “Are those goats headed toward us?”
She looked to the left. There was a little black pygmy goat walking down the center of the street with another goat by his side.
She smiled. “That would be Dash and one of his friends.”
Lane shook his head as though in disbelief. “What kind of place is this? Do goats always roam the streets of Bluestar?”
“It’s a small town with farms on the outskirts. And no, goats aren’t always in town, but they visit frequently.”
Disbelief shone in his eyes. “And no one has a problem with this?”
His astonishment was entertaining. She struggled to subdue her amusement. “Dash is a bit of a Houdini. His owner has done all sorts of things in order to keep the goat from getting away, but eventually, Dash figures out a new escape plan.”
Lane arched a brow. “You know these goats?”
“I know of them, but I’ve never actually been close to them.”
She turned off the golf cart and got out. “Hey, Dash.”
When she went to approach the goat, Lane rushed to her side and held his arm out in front of her. “Stop.”
“What are you doing?”
Without taking his gaze off the goats, he said, “You can’t go near them. They might bite.”
“Bite?”Is he serious?
“Yes.” Concern was written all over his face. “You always hear on the news about people getting bit by wild animals.”
Josie couldn’t resist laughing. “Dash isn’t a wild animal. He’s the Bell family pet.” She pushed away his arm. “I’ll be fine.”
As she crouched down and stepped forward, Dash lifted his head. His gaze darted around as though deciding whether or not to make a run for it.
Needing to distract him, she spoke to the little goat in a calming voice. “Hey, Dash. Everything is going to be okay.”
