just be until you can figure out a way to get a place of your own. Until you can find somebody who’s willing to go outside the box for you. Or until your credit improves, or whatever. And you can save up for your deposit and first and last month’s rent and all that.”
“Connor, I can’t stay here for free.”
“No, you’ll be staying here in exchange for groceries.” She already bought them for him, anyway. “Plus, I might need a little bit of help with my organization.”
Jack snorted. “You think?”
“We don’t all have obsessive-compulsive tendencies like Eli,” Connor said drily.
Eli, of course, chose that exact moment to walk back in, looking as if he was willing and able to lay down a little law and order. Sure, Eli was younger, but the two of them had banded together at a very young age to take care of the ranch and raise Kate. He’d had to start seeing Eli in a new light very quickly. There were only two years between them, anyway, but Connor had begun viewing him as an equal from the moment Eli had taken on household responsibilities.
And now that Connor lived alone in the big house, barely able to clean up after himself, he really appreciated all that Eli had done to make their lives better when they’d been kids.
Since then, Eli had gone from protecting the family to protecting the entire town. And while Connor didn’t go around gushing about it, he couldn’t be prouder. Even when Eli looked at him like he was a lost cause. Much like he was doing now.
“What did I miss?” Eli asked.
“Connor is defending his lack of housekeeping skills,” Jack said.
Sadie crossed the room to Eli and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply as though they hadn’t just greeted each other a few moments ago. “Hey, Sheriff,” she said.
“Not yet,” he said. “Don’t jinx it.”
“I’m not a jinx! I’m the human incarnation of a lucky rabbit’s foot!”
“Are you?” he asked, cocking his head to the side, the whole interaction way too cute for his formerly stoic sibling.
They separated slowly, Eli’s hand sliding over her hip before resting there. Connor’s stomach twisted.
“Connor isn’t just defending his housekeeping,” Sadie said. “He’s offering Liss a place to stay until she can find a new rental.”
“What happened with your old rental?” Eli said, frowning deeply.
Liss sighed. “I should have known that once the Garrett family got involved this whole thing would get epic. Long story abridged, my credit sucks because of Marshall, and my landlord is selling.”
Eli’s breath hissed through his teeth. “That’s a bad combination.”
“But it’s going to be fine,” Connor said, his tone insistent. “Because she can stay with me until she figures something out. I have plenty of room here. Anyway, she’s here every night as it is. And she already brings me groceries.”
“You’re a little too attached to the grocery thing,” Liss said.
He shrugged. “Hey, it’s your rent. A small price to pay for a bedroom at Chez Garrett.”
* * *
LISS FIDGETED, LOOKING AROUND the room at all the expectant gazes. The Garretts were her surrogate family, so it was no surprise they had all rushed to her aid. But she hadn’t told Connor for a specific reason. She’d found herself talking to Kate today during her lunch break, when they’d run into each other at the Crab Shanty during lunch hour. She should have known that the youngest Garrett wouldn’t employ discretion.
Anyway, this was a solution, and she did need a solution. It was just the idea of living with Connor was sort of a loaded one. For a variety of reasons.
Though resisting would be...well, stupid. Because it was this or living with her mother, and she could genuinely imagine nothing worse than living with her mother. Except, maybe, living under a bridge. Actually, though, the bridge might be preferable.
But Connor had a point. This was a huge house. She spent a lot of time here, anyway.
Though, under normal circumstances, she would’ve wanted a little bit of time to think it over. Just because it was a change. Just because any commitment to move was kind of a big deal. But with the Garrett clan, Sadie and Jack all staring at her as if she had to issue a formal statement now, she felt as though she could hardly leave them waiting.
So she just ran through a quick laundry list of excuses and drawbacks, to be on the safe side:
Connor’s house was farther from work.
She had never been that into the rustic look. Which his place had in spades.
She would have to put some of her furniture in storage.
Being in close proximity to Connor might make her loins burst into flame, starting another fire, leaving him homeless as well as barnless.
Yes, that. That was a problem. But then, she had done a lot of work in the loin department where Connor was concerned. She should be able to handle it. Honestly, she had been friends with the man for more than fifteen years, so her coping skills where he was concerned should be more refined. They were possibly even more refined than she realized. High exposure to Connor might actually help. If so, things like this morning, and that intimacy she had felt in the moment, would seem more commonplace.
So, there was a theory. And it was helping with her attempt at a snap decision.
“Thank you, Connor. I... Thank you. I really appreciate the offer. But we’re going to have to talk about logistics, because I’m not just going to stay here and sponge off you.”
“I’m not worried about that. Honestly,” he said.
“Well, I am. I don’t want to take advantage of you or our friendship.”
“You won’t,” he said, his tone carrying a note of finality. “If anyone has been taking advantage over the past few years, it’s been me. I didn’t even realize you were going through something. You didn’t tell me. That says a lot.”
“Connor,” she said, her voice quiet, “I just didn’t want to pile on.”
“That’s the thing. You sure as hell should not be thinking of sharing things with me as piling on. I’m your friend. Yeah, I’ve had my share of bullshit going on for the past couple of years, but that doesn’t mean you need to keep all this to yourself. I should’ve made that clearer.”
Liss’s chest tightened. She didn’t like putting her crap on other people. Especially not someone who was already going through so much. Regardless of what he said, it did matter. She didn’t like to be a burden to people. Least of all people she cared about. Why would anyone keep her around if she was taking more than she was giving?
“You should definitely stay here, Liss.” It was Eli’s turn to give his two cents. Apparently.
“I’m
