Page 5

TREVOR

Today’s the day. After three weeks of anticipation, Bram will be here any minute.

Standing on my front lawn, I peer at the road, hyper alert at every black SUV that drives my way.

Having my house on the inn’s property is convenient for me to attend to issues that crop up at odd hours of the night, but today, I wish it wasn’t so front and center for my reunion with Bram.

I could wait inside for him, but nervous energy pushed me out the door.

With a bark, Bandit races across the grass, the orange tennis ball we’ve been playing fetch with for the last ten minutes gripped in his teeth. He reaches me and drops it in my hand.

“Good boy.” Rubbing his head, I check the road again then lob the ball toward the maple and pine trees at the edge of the property. Bandit takes off with the same boundless energy as when we started.

I suck in a breath and slowly blow it out.

There’s a cool breeze blowing, and plenty of people are enjoying the Saturday afternoon sunshine.

Since we’ve been out here, Bandit and I have said hello to neighbors and to the inn’s guests on their way to the Playhouse, city park, the library, and the restaurants.

A black SUV turns onto the street. As it gets closer, it slows down and makes the turn into the small parking lot for guests behind my house, and I glimpse Bram’s profile in the driver’s seat.

He’s here.

The ball of nerves expands from my stomach and surges through my chest and limbs.

I rub my palms on my jeans and call for Bandit.

He abandons the tennis ball and runs to me.

Since I’m not certain how he and Hades will get along, I clip on his leash and, with my heart pounding, we walk to the parking lot.

Bram crouches beside his SUV, his attention on Hades, petting the dog who is also on a leash.

Hades spots us first, and Bram follows. A smile spreads across his handsome face.

His blond hair gleaming in the sunlight, he stands, unfolding that athletic body.

Clad in blue jeans, worn brown boots, and a gray tee, he looks so good.

My arms tingle with anticipation to hug him.

“Hi, you made it.” I want to rush to him, but the dogs haven’t been introduced yet, so I walk slowly. Both dogs strain their leashes in their attempts to get closer to each other. No growls, just happy barks and tail wags.

Bram’s smile widens, making my knees wobble. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”

“You too,” I croak out because apparently my vocal cords have a hard time working now that Bram is standing before me. It’s usually hard to keep my feelings for my friend in check, but knowing he’s staying with me, just the two of us, makes it nearly impossible to act normal.

The dogs sniff each other’s faces and lean in, attempting to circle, and we shift with them. Bandit is half Hades’s size, but he thinks he’s a big guy.

Tightening my hold on the leash stops my enthusiastic dog from tunneling under Hades. “How was the drive?”

“Not bad. We hit more traffic than I expected, but Hades is used to long rides, so we did okay.”

The urge to hug Bram intensifies, and I wiggle my fingers, but the tingling in my arms continues.

Keeping an eye on the dogs, I raise my free arm and Bram leans in, wrapping his arm around me in a tight embrace.

His woodsy scent fills my lungs and my pulse stutters at the feel of his torso pressed against mine.

At six foot one, I have two inches on him, and bulkier muscles.

Growing up, he was always the taller one, until I surpassed him the summer we turned fifteen.

His eyes, the deep blue of the lake we camped by dozens of times, meet mine as we draw apart.

I could look into them forever and never lose my fascination.

Though if I gaze for too long, I’m afraid I'll give myself away. He can read me too easily.

Thankfully, the dogs provide a distraction and place to direct my attention.

After making sure their leashes haven’t become entangled, I take a few steps back.

A butterfly, probably the last of the season, has caught Hades’s attention and Bandit pulls on the leash as he attempts to follow his new friend.

Bram shifts to stand beside me, giving the dogs more space to roam. He places his hand on my shoulder and his gaze travels over me from head to toe. “I like the lumberjack look.”

Heat flushes into my cheeks. I glance at my blue and purple plaid button-down. “The shirts fit our guests’ image of a New England inn owner.”

He strokes his thumb along the material. “It’s soft.”

My heart rate kicks into overdrive and my neck heats at the contact. Suddenly, I wish I was wearing one of my spring and summer shirts. With the thinner cotton, I could feel his touch even more. “Um, yeah. The weather’s turning cooler now, so I brought out the flannel.”

With a squeeze, Bram releases me. “I might have to borrow one. Relive our grunge rock era.”

“Help yourself to anything you want.” I lead the way up the steps and open the front door, tamping down the bubble of excitement that simmers to the surface with the thought of him wearing something of mine. “Let’s get your stuff inside so you and Hades can get settled.”

He and Hades step across the threshold, and the dog immediately starts sniffing around, pulling Bram farther into the living room. “Is it weird living here again?”

“The first few months after I moved back in were surreal, but then it felt like normal. I’ll point out the places I lived in town later.

” I grew up in this house, moved into my first apartment when I was nineteen, and lived in various rentals around Maplewood during my twenties and thirties.

When my parents retired to travel the country in their RV five years ago, the house became mine.

It feels like mine now with the changes in paint colors and furniture.

“Are you too tired from the drive, or are you still up for taking a walk around town?”

“I’m good to walk. Agnes texted me earlier, asking if we had time to meet up with her and her friends to get their cryptid stories this afternoon. So, you and I are supposed to be at her house in two hours.”

Bandit sits while I unclip his leash. I signal for him to stay and pat his head when he remains at my feet.

“I figured she’d want to see you right away.

She’s mentioned your visit every time I’ve seen her the last few weeks.

I’m going to put Bandit in the side yard while we bring in your stuff.

Hades has a water bowl in the kitchen. Oh, and that dog bed there is his.

” I point to the large, soft bed beside Bandit’s smaller one.

Bram’s grin widens and warms like sunbeams spreading over the maple trees, highlighting and deepening the brilliant colors of the leaves. “You bought my dog a bowl and a bed?”

“I wanted you both to feel at home.” My ears are burning. I hustle Bandit through the hallway and kitchen, then out the back door and into the small fenced-in yard.

When I return, Hades is off his leash and drinking water from his bowl. His hands tucked into the back pockets of his jeans, Bram nods at the dog bed. “You didn’t have to do that, but thanks.”

I shrug my shoulders, not wanting to make a big deal out of it.

I’d do the same for any guest in my home.

Sure, I may have researched the best kind of dog beds for big dogs, and yes, I may have splurged on a special foam mattress for Hades that costs more than some mattresses for humans.

But I’m sure I would do the same for any of my friends.

Probably. Whatever, it doesn’t matter, it’s done.

“Let’s get your stuff. The smallest guest room is probably the quietest for you to record in. You can sleep in my old room.”

Unloading his suitcases and his recording equipment takes two trips. We set the equipment in the guest room at the back of the house and put his luggage in the bedroom that used to be mine. It looks out over the space separating the carriage house and mansion from my house.

Bram slings a duffel bag on the bed, and his quick grin stutters my heartbeat. “This is great, thank you.”

“If recording in the other room doesn’t work out, we can find you someplace else. And, there’s a recording studio in New Island. Ever’s boyfriend used it to make his quartet’s latest album.”

“It’ll be fine. I’m not worried.” Bram’s gaze falls on the bookcase. “This is the one you made?”

“Yeah. Reclaimed wood from a barn that was torn down.”

He traces his fingers along the carvings. “It’s really nice. All the detail. And it’s so smooth.”

“I’m happy with the way it turned out.”

With a soft groan, he stretches his arms over his head. The hem of his shirt rides up, giving a glimpse of toned abs.

I drag my attention from his abs, my gaze colliding with his.

The air around us crackles. Or more likely, the crackling air is just static from low humidity and the lack of rain we’ve had the last several weeks.

I clear my throat and toss my thumb over my shoulder.

“We should go. I think I hear Bandit scratching the door.”

Downstairs, Bram enters the kitchen first so I don’t startle Hades.

When I open the back door, Bandit rockets toward me and jumps up.

Cradling him against my chest, I stand, mostly curious and a little worried that he and Hades will have forgotten about each other during the minutes they were separated.

Their tails wagging, Bandit and Hades look at each other, and Hades wanders closer, but Bram detours his path with a single command and we ready them for the walk. I don’t want to jump the gun on them becoming comfortable with each other, but so far, so good.