LITMIR.BIZ

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they walked the single step of the guesthouse porch. The door was open, and voices reached her before she saw anyone.

      She hated to interrupt. “Hello, is anyone here?” she called out.

      Soon a tall blonde woman appeared. “Hi, you must be Shelby.” Her green eyes sparkled when she smiled. “I’m Brooke, Trent’s wife.” She looked at Ryan. “And you’re Ryan. My niece, Addy, is about your age.”

      The boy looked at his aunt and then smiled at the woman.

      Shelby held out her hand and shook hers. “It’s nice to meet you, Brooke. I apologize for invading your house last night.”

      “Not your fault.” Brooke waved her arm. “Trent talked with Jake Donaldson this morning, and he feels terrible about the mix-up. I hope the guys didn’t frighten you too much.”

      After her dealings with Gil and his police buddies, the sheriff and Trent Landry were sweethearts. “No, they were very considerate about the situation.”

      “Well, please come inside. The Donaldsons were great tenants, but still the house needs a good cleaning.”

      “Wait. Are you saying you want to rent this place to me?”

      Brooke paused. “That all depends. If you’re staying in Hidden Springs, and did you get the job at the café?”

      She hesitated, then nodded to both.

      “Then with your employment, I’m sure Trent and Cullen won’t have a problem renting to you.” Brooke gasped. “Of course, you want to see it first before you commit.”

      Shelby looked around the small, but cozy, living area. There was a leather sofa, and a high-back chair with two end tables and lamps. An area rug covered the scarred hardwood floors. She was drawn to the brick fireplace, then followed Brooke down the hall to a retro bathroom with green and black tiles. The next stop was a small bedroom with a single bed and dresser.

      “This could work for Ryan,” she suggested.

      Brooke agreed. “Yes, he doesn’t need much room.” She looked at the boy. “Do you like it, Ryan?”

      Her nephew nodded.

      They went to the last bedroom, which was a little bigger and held a bare queen-size bed and a dresser. The windows were void of any curtains, but there were shades for privacy.

      “If you add your own touches, it would really dress up the place.”

      She would love to. Question was, could she afford this house? “It’s lovely, but I need to know what the rent is.”

      “I guess we should ask the brothers that question.” Brooke smiled. “I love saying that they’re brothers. Trent and Cullen hadn’t been together in a long time. It’s time they were family again.”

      * * *

      WHEN CULLEN’S SHIFT ended he hadn’t been crazy about going back to his temporary residence at the motel. Instead, he’d stopped for breakfast and somehow he ended up talking with the Cummingses about Shelby Townsend, then called Trent and asked him about renting the guesthouse.

      Trent told him it wasn’t a problem, but then Cullen would have to live in the main house. He wasn’t crazy about that, but it was temporary, like his job.

      Damn. Why was he so gung ho on helping this woman?

      Two years ago, he wouldn’t have lifted a finger to help. So many things had changed, and his life would never be the same. To be on the safe side, he’d run Shelby Townsend’s name through the system and found she’d checked out. She was who she said she was. Not even a parking ticket.

      Now he was here, cleaning. And if Shelby and Ryan moved in here, they were going to be neighbors.

      “So Miss Townsend intrigues you,” Trent said as he paused from cleaning the upper cabinet.

      “She doesn’t have anywhere to go,” he said. “It was Hank Donaldson who brought her here for a job. A job that doesn’t exist anymore.” He continued to toss out all the packaged food and spices in the cupboard that had been left behind. “We’ve never had a problem about knowing where we’d live.” He couldn’t imagine having to do it with a child.

      “No. Uncle Sam took care of me for over a dozen years. And then Dad left me the Lucky Bar L.” Trent gave him a big smile. “And I finally found my home.”

      Cullen had to admit he was a little envious of his stepbrother. “And that pretty wife of yours.”

      “I think I heard my name.” A smiling Brooke walked into the kitchen, followed by Shelby and Ryan. He felt a sudden awareness as the woman glanced in his direction.

      Trent was the first to speak. “Hey, there, Ryan.”

      The boy’s eyes widened, but he stayed glued to his aunt’s side.

      Cullen’s attention stayed on the pretty aunt. Today she was dressed in a pair of dark slacks and a pretty pink blouse with a long tan coat sweater.

      “Hello, Shelby,” he finally greeted her.

      “Hello, Sheriff,” she returned.

      “I’m off duty, so call me Cullen.”

      Trent chuckled. “Heck, he’s only been sheriff what, ten days? Call him Cullen all the time.”

      That got a smile from her, and he wished he’d been the reason for it. “How about Sheriff Cullen?” she joked, and even Ryan laughed.

      Cullen looked at the boy. “So you like that, huh, buddy?”

      He was rewarded with a bigger grin and a nod. Why did that make his day?

      He looked at Shelby. “Did you go to the café?”

      She nodded. “Thank you for recommending me for the job.”

      Trent shot him a look, but he ignored it. “I only told Bess that you might be in today.”

      “Well, she hired me part-time for the restaurant now, then more hours for the catering side. They have several weddings booked starting next month.”

      Cullen nodded. “That’s good.”

      She didn’t look as happy. “I’m worried about Ryan. We’re in a new area and I need someone reliable to watch him. When we planned to work the roundups, he would stay with us.”

      Brooke spoke up. “I have a few names we use for our son, Chris. There’s also St. Francis’s preschool. My niece went there last year. I’ll get my phone and give you all the info. So does that help you make the decision about staying?”

      Shelby nodded, but she was pretty sure she couldn’t afford to live here. “I guess that depends on the rent for the cottage.”

      Trent looked at Cullen, then his brother said, “Why don’t we go a hundred a week until you see if everything works out with the job?”

      Her eyes grew wide. “Oh, no. I can’t accept that. That’s...too generous.”

      Trent raised a hand. “This was our mother’s ranch.” His voice grew husky. “I have no doubt she’d offer you the same arrangement. Sometimes we all need some help to get started.”

      Brooke stepped in, and slipped her arm around her husband’s waist, then said, “How about we give you a trial period, then increase the rent then?” She looked at Cullen. “Do you both agree to that? A trial period then if Shelby wants to stay you’ll raise the rent.”

      Cullen looked at the pretty brunette, suddenly hoping she’d take the agreement and stay around.

      * * *

      THAT AFTERNOON, SHELBY had their meager belongings moved over to the cottage. With the brothers giving her a cut in rent, she agreed to take the place only if she’d be the one to finish cleaning it.

      She looked around

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