Jeanie London - The Time of Her Life

She did have big shoes to fill. Jay’s leadership was what set the tone for the staff, and here she was a first-time property administrator—a world of difference from a man who’d grown up learning to meet the needs of The Arbors.

Northstar had placed their trust in her abilities by offering her this position, but she also knew that their faith had been encouraged by her boss, Gerald, who was also a friend. Still, everyone seemed to be interested in making a good first impression, and as the day progressed, Susanna found herself far too busy to do anything but learn her way around.

It wasn’t until the sun had set and second shift had served dinner that Susanna was ready to call it a day.

“I thought of something I wanted to ask you before I leave, Jay,” Susanna said, after retrieving her laptop case from her office and bidding Walter goodbye. “Do you park in the employee lot? I haven’t noticed an assigned administrator space, and I don’t want to inadvertently commandeer anyone’s spot in the employee lot.”

Jay had dispensed with his jacket sometime between lunch in the second-floor dining hall and the intake meeting in the conference room. Now he loosened his tie with a few quick tugs, lending him a more casual appearance.

“I don’t drive my car. I usually walk or take a golf cart.”

“Oh, that makes sense. Gerald mentioned that you lived in the main house. I didn’t realize it was so close.”

“Just over the rise from the guest cottage.”

A new neighbor for her new home, which was charming, although she hadn’t actually seen it in the light of day yet. But by moonlight and the paling sky of predawn, her new home couldn’t have been more perfect.

Susanna had only seen one photo of the main house in the property portfolio, and it appeared to be from another era. Even the sliver of roofline she could see peeking above the trees from her office brought to mind Gone with the Wind.

“You take the road?” she asked.

“There’s a path through the arbors. It’s a hike on foot but not bad with a golf cart. We should probably get you fixed up with one, too. They’re handy for getting around here even if you drive in. Just park nearest the employee entrance you use. It’s first come, first served around here.”

“Okay, thanks.” They left the administrative corridor and headed to the lobby, and silence fell between them. Suddenly Susanna was all too aware of how Jay unbuttoned his collar and breathed as if this were his first unconstrained breath all day.

“We had a par course at my last property, and it was my favorite way to spend lunch breaks when I could get them,” she said to fill the quiet.

“It’s good to get outside every once in a while.”

“Especially during the months when it wasn’t buried under six feet of snow.”

He laughed, such a rich sound. Was it possible even his laughter had a hint of the South, too?

They emerged in the front lobby, walking side by side. Security served as nighttime reception and Jay told the man at the desk, “Pete’s on tonight, if you need anything.”

Then they passed through the open doorway, where two furry golden beasts bounded at her, tails wagging, yelping and barking a friendly greeting.

“Hello, guys,” Susanna said in her dog-friendly squeaky voice as they circled her legs, clearly wanting attention. She extended a hand, waited to see how it was received.

The dogs shuffled nearer, half sitting, half standing, vying to get closer to her like two almost-identical twins elbowing each other out of the way. With a laugh, she knelt and gave each a hand, ruffling their chests in a place most dogs loved to be petted, laughing as they preened beneath the attention. “That feels good, guys, doesn’t it? So who are you? You’re so friendly.”

One sharp whistle answered her question. The barking stopped and the dogs bounded toward Jay. But only for an instant before they shot past him toward the facility entrance.

Susanna watched with amusement as Jay rolled his eyes and whistled again, bringing the dogs to a halt in the entrance and the sliding doors that opened drunkenly.

“Come on, you two,” Jay commanded “We’re not going in tonight. It’s too late. You can visit your buddies another day.”

Susanna hadn’t come across any other dogs in the facility and assumed Jay referred to the staff or the residents. Greywacke Lodge had been affiliated with an organization that trained dogs specifically for senior visits, and most residents loved the friendly canines. Judging by the way these two dogs kept glancing at the entrance, looking disappointed if possible, Susanna suspected they enjoyed visits, too.

“Boys, sit,” Jay instructed. “Try to make a good first impression for once.”

Susanna couldn’t imagine these two making any other. They were obviously well trained. “Golden retrievers?”

“Yep. Their names are Butters and Gatsby.”

“Oh, that’s sweet. Butters is younger?”

Jay narrowed a disapproving gaze at the dog that could barely sit still. “How can you tell? His lack of manners?”

True, Butters’s hind end kept popping up, tail thumping wildly before he’d remember he was supposed to be sitting.

“My fault entirely,” Susanna admitted. “How is he supposed to behave when I’m doing the squeaky voice?”

“Yeah, well, he should.” Jay scowled at the dog who’d sidled up against her to be petted again. “They like you.”

She ruffled the soft fur around Butters’s neck. “They’re so friendly, I’m guessing they like everyone.”

“Okay, you like them.”

“I do. My kids had Hershel while they were growing up. He was a golden and Akita mix.”

“Had?”

“Wonderful quality of life until he was fifteen. We still miss him.”

Jay nodded, but she could tell he approved. Something in the twinkle of his deep-green eyes. There didn’t seem to be any artifice with this man, Susanna realized. Professionalism didn’t distance him from saying how he felt or force him to only express the politically correct response.

Yet somehow he was very professional. She’d witnessed that firsthand. A natural leader.

Susanna found that very different, very refreshing from the often tentative diplomacy of corporate-speak.

Jay tossed his jacket over his shoulder. “You ready to head home, boys?”

Both dogs were on their feet instantly, glancing at her as if excited for the company.

“Enjoy your walk. I hope you all have a good night.” Somehow in the artificial light of the lamp, Jay no longer looked like the administrator and owner of The Arbors, but simply a man who’d worked a long day.

“It was a good second day, Susanna. Enjoy your night.” Then he herded the dogs away and headed toward the slope.

Susanna was still watching as they passed beyond the glow of the parking lot lights and vanished into the darkness, warmth growing inside her because of his approval.

* * *

“TWO DAYS, Suze?” Karan Steinberg said incredulously over the phone. “I can’t believe you didn’t call me last night.”

“I’m so sorry. We didn’t leave work until late, and by the time Jay helped me get my bags to the house and I got everything organized, I passed out.”

“Well, forgiven, then. But only if you slept all night. Did you? Don’t lie to me.”

“I would never lie. I can’t believe you’d suggest—”

“I’ll take that to mean no, you didn’t.” Karan’s sigh filtered over the phone. “Suze, what am I going to do with you?”

Susanna leaned back in the chair, a caned oak rocker that was one of a set gracing the gallery in front of her new home, the most picturesque cottage she had ever seen. Though it was dark, the moon illuminated the surrounding forest, and the quiet night sounds reminded her of the sunroom in the home she’d left in New York.