“Cowboys are made that way. Knights from a bygone age,” Maud agreed. “But you’re comfortable with him being there?”
Shrugging, Shiloh said, “Fine. Not a problem.” There was no way she was going to tell anyone how drawn she was to Roan. Heck, she couldn’t even explain it herself! Placing her hand momentarily on Maud’s shoulder, she said, “I’m just appreciative you’d let me come out here and roost for a while.” Shiloh could see the concern in Maud’s eyes dissolve. She didn’t want to worry her mother’s old friend. Roan was an adult and so was she. Of course, she didn’t know what Roan thought of her, but she knew how her body was sure reacting to him. Shiloh wasn’t going to tell Roan a thing. Whatever was going on, was obviously one-sided.
Roan was rough around the edges. Untamable. Look, but don’t touch. Because Shiloh felt that if she ever kissed him, he would take her and there would be no stopping his sweet assault upon her. She would melt like a marshmallow over an open fire. Roan had masculine power around him to burn, and although she wasn’t afraid of it or him, it made Shiloh circumspect. He was a man who played for keeps, her instincts told her. At least, that’s what her life experience told her. She didn’t own an encyclopedia on the male of the species, or even how to find, keep, and grow a relationship. For a writer who wrote happily ever after, her love life was a sad story of continuous train wrecks and loss.
As Shiloh walked into the employee house, she fell in love with its size, high ceilings, and open-concept kitchen–living room. “Wow,” she murmured, looking around. “This is great, Maud. It’s so open! So light.”
“Typical Western style of living,” Maud assured her. “I’m sure Roan told you that he wasn’t the chief cook and bottle washer around here? That you two split all the kitchen duties and keeping the house cleaned up?”
Grinning, Shiloh followed her into the living room. It was laid with gold and red cedar flooring, a few colorful Western motif rugs here and there, lending more color. “That he did. I’m fine with it.”
“I’m sure you’ll work out something with him. He’s pretty flexible.”
“I didn’t get that impression at all.”
Maud grinned. “He’s a tough, closed-up hombre, but he has a good heart. Roan’s kind to animals, so I’m sure it crosses over to being kind to humans, as well. All the tourists who come here seem to like him a lot.”
“Okay,” Shiloh teased, “I’ll take your word for it.”
“Here’s your bedroom,” Maud said, gesturing into it. “It’s right across the hall from where Roan sleeps.”
Inwardly grimacing, Shiloh stepped into the room. “Ohhhh, this is gorgeous, Maud. It looks like vintage nineteen-thirties decor! I love it!” She turned. “You do know I love that era, don’t you?”
“I didn’t, but I do now. Go on in.”
Shiloh stepped into the room. It had a colorful water lily–designed Tiffany lamp up on a walnut dresser. The bed had a crescent-shaped walnut headboard and was covered with what looked like a Depression-era quilt, a real patchwork quilt that had been hand sewn. There was a light green velvet settee made of walnut, the legs curved and elegant. What caught Shiloh’s eye the most was a gorgeous vanity. It had a sun ray beveled mirror held in place by walnut on either side of it. She loved the fact there was a large rolltop desk in one corner with good light above it. “This is perfect for me to sit and write,” she said, gesturing toward it.
“We have a large office here you can use if you want,” Maud said. “I’ll show it to you, but if you want to sit in here and create, that’s fine with me.”
“I love this room,” Shiloh murmured, moving her hand along the old quilt. “There’s just something about the Depression era, having so little, yet the gorgeous handmade furniture that came out of that period still stands the test of time to this day.”
“You’ll love the bathroom more,” Maud promised with a grin.
Following the older woman, Shiloh smiled. “This is like a hotel, Maud. A shower, bath, and a Jacuzzi. What more could a girl want?” Indeed, cedar wood glowed warm and golden beneath her feet. There was a huge glass-enclosed shower big enough for two people along with two huge, circular rain-shower nozzles. The bathtub was from the 1930s and sat up on brass claw feet. On the other side of the vanity was a hot tub big enough for four people.
“Oh, I thought you being a writer and all, a good hot soak in a Jacuzzi would get you to relax and put your brain in neutral for a while,” Maud teased. “Be sure to pour yourself a glass of wine, set it on the side over there, and life’s good.”