Page 57 of All Inn Thyme
“Do you miss them?” I ask.
“More than anything. That’s the only hard part of being up here. I don’t get back as often as I’d like.”
“Can they come visit? I bet they could stay at the inn.”
“My momma was asking about that the other day. That would be nice. I think you’d really like them, and I know they’d just love you and Kase.”
“Tell me more about them.” I squeeze in closer to him and rest my head on his shoulder.
“I already told you, but my momma grows the best tomatoes in the entire south. She’s patient and kind, and she’s a good mom.”
“She sounds great. I wish she could come try the tomatoes you helped me plant.”
“Yeah,” he says. “And she would love that. Is there anything better than a fresh tomato sandwich?”
“I can think of a few things, but that’s right up at the top of the list.”
Ty hears Nova whine at the door and goes over to get her.
“How did she get out of Kase’s room?”
“She opens doors.”
“No way. How did she learn that? I’ve never met a dog that opens doors.”
“Yeah, she can do the lighter interior doors, but she struggles with the heavier exterior ones.”
“That’s wild.”
Nova relieves herself out in the yard, then comes over and snuggles up next to me on the chair. “Well, hello there,” I say, rubbing her ears. “You didn’t want to snuggle my boy anymore?”
He tips his chin up over at me and asks, “Where’s your family?”
“My parents died in a car accident when I was a little… I hardly even remember them. I was raised by my great aunt, but after I graduated from high school, she moved on and I don’t hear from her anymore. It’s just me and Kase now.”
“I’m sorry, Mel. That’s sad.”
“Yeah, well, it is what it is. The inn and all these people? They’re my family now.”
His eyes watch me and soften. “She likes you,” he says, motioning to Nova, easing into a lighter subject.
“I love her,” I say softly, petting her ears as she leans into me for more, closing her eyes. “We had a dog back home, but we had to leave her when we ran. It makes me too sad to think about her now,” I say, wiping a tear quickly and kissing Nova’s cheek. Ty is watching us, not moving. His expression is unreadable and he’s so still it’s concerning.
“What?” I ask.
“Just sad about your dog. That’s not right,” he finally says. “She really loves you and Kase.” He looks like he wants to say more but he’s not if he should.
“What about you?”
“I’m definitely also falling for you, Mel,” he says without hesitating, a big smile spreading across his face.
“I’m definitely falling for you, too,” I whisper, my heated gaze on his.
“What are we going to do about this?”
“Well, it’s scary as hell, but let’s see what happens?” I ask as I lean into him and kiss him softly.
“I can do that,” he says as he folds me into his arms and pulls me onto his lap. He kisses me as his hands explore my breasts. I suck in a deep breath, wanting him to touch me, craving his hands on me. The fire light warms us as he kisses me, his hands exploring and pulling me closer, mine gripping his thick shoulders.
