Jase paused on Minnow cabin’s porch steps. Like every building at River’s Sigh B & B, the aptly named cabin was picture perfect. Set in the shelter of three massive cedars, Minnow was sided with warm wood, trimmed in deep scarlet, and featured a wall that was mostly windows. With its tiny porch, huge black rocking chair—replete with a comfy-looking quilt—and the gleaming burl platform that served as a table attached to the railing beside the chair, it was like something that should be on a cabin life Pinterest board or something. (It killed Jase that he even knew what Pinterest was, but he had no good defense. His last employer was addicted and passed the pleasure of daydreaming through various boards onto him—much to Colton’s glee and harassment.)
The only detail about River’s Sigh that stood out as not quite right was the absence of a dog. A place like this should have at least one friendly mutt to hold down the fort—and if it was his place? He’d have three. Or two, at the very least.
He was bending to check out the titles of the small stack of books on the table when the door flew open.
“Hello?” Aisha’s voice was friendly and seemed on the verge of adding something else—and then she appeared in the doorway and her tone cooled. “Oh, it’s you.”
Jase flushed, realizing what it looked like—like he’d been lurking on her deck, scoping out her stuff. Which, of course, was exactly what he had been doing. “Sorry, I was about to knock. I got distracted.”
Aisha smiled wryly and glanced down at her reading material. “Oh, yeah?”
“Um, I’m sorry, but we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot, or—”
“No, I’m sorry,” Aisha said firmly. The blushing, awkward girl he’d first met in the bushes seemed to have taken a hike. “I’ve been rude to you.”
Yes, she had been. Multiple times. Jase didn’t really care, but he was curious about why. What was it about him that set her off? She didn’t elaborate further, and he shifted his weight from foot to foot. There was no way she’d appreciate what he’d come to say.
Her eyebrows—perfectly arched and penciled to be darker than her fair hair—shot up. “So, going to share why you’re here, or do I have to guess?”
Jase considered the question and her snippiness in general, and wished he was one of those guys who had “game.” Colton would’ve given an aw, shucks grin and said something like, “Do I need a reason to chat up a pretty girl?” and she would’ve lit up and just like that they’d be friends or more. But if Colton’s skills hadn’t rubbed off on him by now, it was pretty obvious they never would. Also, he never wanted to say or do anything that could be construed as creepy or threatening, so he just slouched there like an idiot, hands in his pockets.
“Seriously,” Aisha said, “what?”
Feeling more foolish than ever, he stood a bit straighter. Tried to tell himself it was a coincidence when she took a step back. “I told him it wasn’t a big deal, but Callum’s pretty firm.”
“About?”
“That I have a spotter when I’m falling some of the bigger stuff. Colton’s . . . not here, and Callum’s in town all day. Said I should ask you.”
“Yeah, okay. Is there something else you can do for an hour, though?”
The gauzy curtain covering the big window overlooking the porch moved. The little girl from the dining room popped into view and pressed her face against the glass, her glossy curls a mop, her huge brown eyes full of curiosity.
“Oh, you’re babysitting—or is that your kid sister? No problem. When does she get picked up?”
A funny, almost shy expression softened Aisha’s face, and Jase realized something. Even when she’d been blushing like crazy the other day, she hadn’t appeared anything less than one hundred percent confident. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Not babysitting. No siblings. Parenting. My daughter. But she has a play date at 10:30.”
Aisha had a daughter? She must’ve been a kid herself when she had her. Jase’s stomach did the weird twisting, tightening thing it always did about some subjects.
“Should’ve clued in,” he said, motioning at Aisha’s captivating white-blond hair. “The curls. Different color, but they’re yours.”
Aisha nodded and wrapped her arms around herself even more tightly.
“No worries. I have lots to do. Just come find me whenever you’re ready.”