Free Obsidian by Teagan Oliver

it’ll help me get a lay of the land around here. You wouldn’t want me to get lost, would you?”
    She shook her head. “This is a small town. There’s only one way in and one way out. If you get lost then you have bigger issues then I can help.”
    But the reality was that she wasn’t sure she wanted to include him in her walks. Up until lately, those walks had been her saving grace, her chance to try and get her life back together. They offered her peace and calm in a world that wasn’t always so easy. She wasn’t sure she was willing to give that up. Even for a pretty smile.
    “Besides, I’m guessing that you won’t be around long enough to be going on any walks with me.”
    “Ouch,” he said, smiling at her. “Maybe, or maybe not. We’ll see.”
    The man was a master of saying the most with a minimal amount of words.
    “Just how long are you going to be here, Mr. Rivard?”
    He shrugged, pushing away from his spot against the counter.
    “I don’t know. I’ll let you know when I figure it out. Unless, of course, you’re concerned that I’m going to skip out of the rent.”
    They both knew that she wasn’t really worried about that.
    “No, I think you can be trusted… to pay the rent.”
    Her hesitation was enough to emit a laugh from him. “I assure you, I can be trusted.”
    Shelby pulled the box back toward her, momentarily catching him off guard as she hoisted it off the counter and headed in the direction of the door. But within seconds, her arms ached from the pull of the box and she regretted her attempt at pride. She was almost to the door when her conscience began nagging. Jamie may be a stranger, but she was raised to be polite.
    Balancing the box on crate by the door, Shelby turned, expecting to find Jamie still standing by the counter. Instead, she found herself facing an expanse of white cotton fabric, stretched taught across his broad shoulders. She sighed. They were nice shoulders.
    The box started to slide from her hands and she grabbed for it, her fingers fumbling against his as he reached out to help her.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I was just going to get the door for you.” He stepped around her, opening the door and levering his back against it to hold it open.
    “I can I take that for you, if you’d like? It looks heavy.”
    He smelled good; too good.
    Shelby shook her head as she struggled to hoist the box up to a comfortable level. Having him so close was wreaking havoc on her senses. Her fingers refused to do what she wanted them to do, and her brain was incapable of forming intelligent responses.
    “I've got it,” She grumbled. “I just didn’t realize you were behind me. You could scare a person half to death sneaking up on them like that.”
    Jamie held open the door wide for her as she stepped out onto the granite steps. Evidently, she’d been cooped up in the store for too long. Her uncle was right, it was time to get a life.
    Before she realized his intention he had reached out and taken the box from her.
    “Do you mind if I tag along and help you make your delivery? I have some time this morning since I’m not going out on the boat with your uncle until tomorrow.”
    “I'm not going far. I'm just taking this out to a lady that lives on the point.”
    Jamie stood in front of her, squinting at her in the sunlight. “This an olive branch. I’m offering an apology for the way I acted the other day. Besides, that box is pretty heavy. I think you put rocks in it.” He smiled at her. “Not that I don't have total confidence that you can handle it.”
    Maybe he really was trying to make amends. “I guess it is heavier than I thought. If you want to help me take it out to her I’ll treat you to lunch.” She must be a fool. He’d offered help and she’d offered him lunch.
    “That's great. I’m starving.”
    As if it were the easiest thing in the world, Jamie strode toward the truck with the box in hand and hoisted it over the back of the