Page 10 of Found by the Pack

I smooth my hair as I climb out of the car, trying to act like I didn’t just dream about my dead husband and cry in front of a teenager.

He grins and strides over, extending a hand.

“Sadie Devereaux?”

“That’s me.”

“I’m Jake Marshall. Welcome to Driftwood Cove.”

We shake hands. His grip is firm, warm. Confident in that Alpha way I haven’t had to stomach in a while. He’s good-looking, too. Not model-perfect, but real. Like he works with his hands sometimes. There’s a silver ring on his right hand, thick-banded and worn.

“Coffee?” he asks, holding one out.

“God, yes. Thank you.”

He passes me a cup and gestures toward the bench outside. “You’ve met Shepard, I see?”

I nearly choke on my sip. My hand flies to the collar of the shirt I’m wearing.

Oh my god. I’m still in his damn shirt. Of course he can smell him on me…

“Uh. Yeah. I got caught in the rain. He offered dry clothes.”

Jake laughs, easy and warm. “That sounds like Shepard. Nicest guy in town.”

Maybe anywhere.

I take another long sip, grateful for the distraction. Jake settles beside me, pulling a folded map from his coat pocket.

“Let’s get you oriented,” he says, spreading it over his knee. “We’ve marked the six locations selected for murals. Some are on public buildings, some on private businesses. You’ll have access to all of them.”

I nod, scanning the little red dots on the town diagram. One near the harbor. Another by a school. Two on the main strip. One near a hiking trail?

He continues. “You can use your vehicle to get to all the sites. We’ve got a small fuel budget for you. I’ll have it reimbursed weekly. And if you need equipment—lifts, paint, scaffolding—we’ve got a supply partnership lined up.”

That catches me off guard. “You’re really set up for this.”

Jake smiles. “We’re trying to do it right. No half-assing. This town needs life again. Color. Hope. You came highly recommended.”

I don’t ask who did the recommending. I just nod. “Thank you. I’ll do my best.”

He folds the map neatly and tucks it back into his coat. “We’ve also got housing arranged for you. It’s near the beach. Just east of the marina.”

My eyes widen. “Beach?”

“There’s a row of new-build cottages. Yours is the last one on the stretch. Brand new. Full kitchen. Laundry. Ocean view.”

“That’s…” I blink. “That’s amazing.”

“If there’s anything you don’t like, let me know. I can make changes. Or move you.”

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s perfect. I just—didn’t expect all this.”

Jake pulls a sleek black card from his wallet and hands it to me. “My number’s on there. Day or night. If you need anything.”

I take it, folding it into my sketchbook.

He stands and stretches slightly. “Welcome to Driftwood Cove, Sadie. You’re one of us now.”