No One Like You

Book 4: Barefoot William Beach

by Kate Angell

Genres: Small Town & Rural; Women's Fiction; Contemporary Romance; Romantic Comedy

Synopsis

Helping a baseball pro take care of his dogs leads to something more than puppy love in this beach town romance by the USA Today bestselling author. The Florida beach town of Barefoot William may be home to Rylan Cates, but the pro baseball player needs to focus on spring training. To keep himself and his four dogs organized for the next eight weeks, he decides to hire a personal assistant—and Beth Avery turns out to be the perfect pinch hitter. Beth is still looking for her place in the world, and a couple months caring for Rylan's two dachshunds, his golden retriever, and a Great Dane named Atlas should shore up her finances before she moves on. Except it's Atlas appears to have other plans. Beth swears the dog is pushing her toward tanned, scruffy, sexy Rylan every chance he gets. One more strike and she's calling the dog out—unless she and Rylan admit that the attraction they're feeling is a game-winning grand slam.

Release date: April 28, 2015

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 306

Sample

Dog playing dead in the middle of the road.

Beth Avery couldn’t believe the black Great Dane had stopped, dropped, and rolled onto his side. He had a mind of his own and was testing her patience. She shook her head. She should never have applied for the personal assistant position. Dog walker wasn’t on her résumé.

The big boy couldn’t be coaxed or talked from the crosswalk at Center Street and Egret Way. Nothing worked. He’d lain down and stayed down. All one hundred and fifty pounds of him.

The situation was hopeless.

Beth tugged gently on the leather leash attached to his harness. “Up, Atlas, up,” she pleaded again.

Not a flicker of his ears. He even closed his eyes. What if he was sick or hurt? She stared at his chest. The rise and fall was slow and peaceful. Had he fallen asleep?

Atlas was the alpha dog of the four dogs she was walking. Dismayed, she watched the golden retriever and two dapple dachshunds follow his lead. They, too, settled on the asphalt. The dachsies, Oscar and Nathan, turned onto their backs so the sunshine could warm their bellies. They stretched, yawned, looking way too comfortable.

What was she to do? Beth clutched the loop handles on the leashes so tightly they left an imprint on her palm. For a beat, she thought about letting go. See what they would do. It couldn’t be any worse than watching them sunbathe on the road. She wasn’t a dog person. She favored cats. So how was it that she found herself in this predicament at ten a.m. on a Monday morning?

She knew why. She was so desperate to find work, she’d somehow missed the dog walking requirement in the ad. She was so excited she’d been called back for a follow-up interview with Rylan Cates for the assistant position, she didn’t dare tell him she had no experience with canines. He’d met with people all week and had narrowed his choices to three women, herself included.

The final applicants went on to walk, feed, and bathe his dogs. She had no idea how the other ladies had fared before her, although Atlas smelled profoundly doggie. Beth shook her head to clear her thoughts. She wasn’t doing all that well, either.

She’d walked the pack for close to an hour, up and down the streets of Olde Barefoot William, where the homes were handed down through generations. She’d fallen in love with the beachside town, which was as eclectic in its architecture as it was harmonious. William Cates had founded the community. Here lay the inner circle. The old Florida-style cottages were quaint. The houses were shingled and shuttered, with wide porches. They’d withstood hurricanes and time. A few had had minor facelifts.

Enormous evergreens lined the narrow two-lane road. Ancient moss clung to the cypress. The sun cast shadows through the scarlet-flowered branches of the Royal Poinciana trees that cornered the street. The scent of plumeria, gardenia, and hibiscus was heavy on the air. Sprinklers on automatic timers kicked on, watering lawns.

Only three blocks from Rylan’s house, Beth sighed heavily. The neighborhood was momentarily quiet. No cars and no joggers. No one to witness the sleeping dogs. Thank goodness. How was she going to explain she’d fallen off schedule because Atlas pulled a Rip van Winkle? Baths needed to be given to the dogs before noon. Ry had handed her a canine cookbook for their food. They ate organic. A blender and baking were involved. Lunch would be late.

Determined to find a solution, she transferred the leashes to one hand, and then patted the back pocket on her cutoff jeans with the other. She had one trick up her sleeve she’d yet to play. She’d purposely changed her clothes and had dressed down for the walk. Had to. Drool stained white linen slacks. Dirty paws would leave permanent marks. She couldn’t afford cleaning bills. Not in her current economic state.

Sweetening her tone, she tried, “Atlas, treat? Yum, yum.” She smacked her lips.

Treat didn’t get the slightest reaction from the Dane, but the other dogs perked up. The two dachshunds scrambled to their feet and the golden retriever looked at Atlas then back to Beth. Rue was slow to make her decision.

“Oatmeal-apple biscuits,” Beth said, enticing the golden with a handful of snacks she pulled from her denim pocket.

Rue sniffed the air, then nudged Atlas with her nose, but the Dane wouldn’t budge. The retriever slowly rose.

Three up, and one to go. A minor victory, Beth thought.

The dachsies and golden ate their snacks, then eyed Atlas once again, waiting for him to make his move. Or not. Beth agonized over the moment until inspiration struck. Looping the leashes over her wrist, she crouched down near the big dog. There, she quickly tied her retro red Keds. Atlas had stomped all over her feet when he’d spotted a squirrel. She’d tripped twice over the loose laces.

Leaning forward, her cutoffs rode up and snugged her bottom. The fringe tickled the tops of her thighs. Her bright blue crop top had shrunk in the dryer making the back hem even with her sports bra. The sun kissed her bare skin.

She didn’t care if she looked ridiculous, whispering to the Dane. She needed this job. She drew in a breath and started making promises that she never planned to keep, sweet-talking him. “No organic food for you, Atlas. I’ll cook you a big, juicy steak if you’ll get up.”

The Dane cracked his eyelids, a good sign that he was listening.

“You can have the entire couch to yourself. I will stand for the remainder of my interview.”

His tail thumped.

“We could even skip your bath.” She had dreaded it anyway. The shampooing might not be so bad. Rinsing him off would drench her. What other enticements could she offer?

“He doesn’t take bribes,” said a man from behind her. His voice was deep and concerned. “I’ve tried.”

Rylan Cates’s sudden arrival took her by surprise. Beth sat down hard on the asphalt. Small rocks jabbed her bottom. She jarred her tailbone. Winced. His shadow loomed over her, larger than life. She turned slightly, tilted back her head, and worked her gaze up his body.

Navy flip-flops. Long legs dusted with brown hair. Gray board shorts. Lean hips. A hint of his package. Defined abs beneath a T-shirt scripted with I Came to Play. Muscled arms. Solid shoulders. A scruffy chin in need of a shave. A masculine mouth that tipped up at one corner. Straight nose. Eyes so blue they made the sky jealous. His hair was dark blond and shaggy. He looked more surfer than professional baseball player.

He was way hotter than she remembered. Or was it because she’d barely looked up from her hands folded in her lap during the interview? Interviewing was new to her. She’d been incredibly nervous then, and was even more so now.

He cleared his throat, shifted slightly, breaking her stare. He extended his hand, and she took it. He helped her up. His grasp was strong. His palm callused. He squished her fingers. She shook out her hand when released and brushed pebbles from her thighs and butt cheeks. Tugged down her top then faced him.

Her stomach tightened, her mind working overtime imagining what he must be thinking. Where had he come from? she wondered, glancing along the street. She hadn’t heard him approach, but soon understood why. He drove a McLaren. The black sports car was built for stealth and speed and was good for sneaking up on someone. Especially someone walking his dogs. He could easily spy on her. It was parked against the curb, looking shiny and pricey against the backdrop of aging homes.

He ran one hand down his face. “Why is Atlas sleeping in the street?”

“He needed a nap,” was said with more snark than she’d intended. She had never been more frustrated.

“He can’t stay there all day,” he told her. “Traffic picks up closer to noon.”

She tried to read his expression. Was he amused or angry? She couldn’t tell and released a short breath. “I’m open to suggestions.”

He stuck his hands in the pockets of his board shorts, rocked back on his heels. She couldn’t believe he had the balls to debate helping her.

Moments passed before he said, “Give him Rue’s leash so he can walk her home.”

A dog walking a dog? Her eyes widened. Surely he was joking.

“The big boy likes to be in control,” Rylan explained as if she should have known that and adjusted her dog walking style. “He’s had a crush on Rue since they were puppies. She won’t mind.” Ry paused, looked her in the eye. His lips twisted. “Staring at me like I’m crazy won’t get him up.”

She blushed, embarrassed by her inability to manage Atlas. He hadn’t taken to her, but it hadn’t been for lack of trying. She wondered if the other applicants had won him over. Perhaps this job wasn’t meant for her after all. A position stocking shelves at Crabby Abby’s General Store or scooping ice cream cones at The Dairy Godmother might be a better choice. At either place she wouldn’t have to contend with scooping dog poop.

Rylan nudged her aside and took the leashes from her. Separating Rue’s hot pink lead from the others, he held it up for Beth to see the teeth marks—big indentations made by a big mouth—on the curved handle. No mistaking the Great Dane’s signature bite. “Watch this. Atlas, take Rue home,” he instructed the Dane.

Atlas stood up so quickly, Beth swore the earth moved.

Rising on his back legs, the dog put his paws on Rylan’s shoulders. They were eye to eye. Ry smiled and scratched the dog’s floppy ears. Atlas barked. It was a sight she’d never forget.

Dropping back down, Atlas snatched Rue’s leash from Ry’s hand and gripped it between his teeth. His tail whipped wildly. He was happy and attentive. He took off at a trot, dragging Rue several steps before she balked. He then slowed his stride so the golden could keep up and they headed down the sidewalk.

Beth stared after them, utterly blown away. She wouldn’t have believed it, had she not seen it. She needed to catch up to them, she realized, or her chances of landing this job were long gone. They were already a half-block ahead of her. The dachshunds had short legs. She decided to scoop them up and carry them, tucking each under an arm. Like footballs.

She left Rylan standing on the crosswalk, not daring to turn around to see if he was watching her. She was already so embarrassed, she didn’t want to mess this up, too. No doubt he was observing her every move. His judging her did not sit well. People in her past had taken her to task, and she’d not enjoyed the criticism.

Jogging, she caught up with Atlas and Rue. Ry trailed behind them in the McLaren. Apparently he didn’t trust her to cover the three blocks alone. Not that she blamed him. What dog owner wanted to see his animals sprawled out and asleep on the asphalt? It was not a pretty sight.

Rylan’s two-story cottage sat west of Center Street on Manatee Way. The heavily wooded lot provided him privacy. Only hints of gray paint and white shutters could be seen through the trees.

Slowing to catch her breath, Beth followed the lime rock driveway that wound between tall hedges. She pulled in her gut and kept going. She was determined Atlas and company weren’t going to get the better of her. The problem was, they knew the terrain, and she did not.

She nearly turned her ankle on a loose stone in her attempt to keep up with the lead dogs. She winced, wanting to stop and rub her foot, but they had picked up the pace and were headed for their water bowls aligned in a row on the porch. The dachshunds squirmed in her arms, wanting down. Once on the ground, they scrambled up the steps.

Tires crunched on the driveway behind her, and she heard Coldplay on Ry’s car radio before the engine cut off. Exhaling, she pushed back the hair falling into her eyes and straightened her top. She barely had time to adjust her shorts before Rylan joined her at the front of the house. He looked down at her. She tried not to notice that his light eyes looked tired and he hadn’t shaved this morning. He seemed to have a lot on his mind. Perhaps the man needed an assistant more than she’d realized. She hoped it would be her.

“You made it back okay,” he said.

She nodded. “Just in time to—”

Be slobbered on. Oh, no. Atlas had drunk deeply, then jumped off the porch, coming straight to her. He wiped his muzzle on her denim hip. She was his towel. Drool spread from her crotch to her thigh. She flinched.

“Sorry about that,” Rylan apologized as he tugged off his T-shirt. “Let me dry you off.”

“No, I’m fine—”

“I insist.”

He touched her. She should’ve remained wet. His hands were large and rough; the fabric of his shirt soft from wear. His bare chest brushed her breast as he bent toward her hip. The warmth of his breath blew across her belly. His rubdown was fast, thorough, and disturbingly intimate. He didn’t seem affected, but she nearly came out of her skin. Goose bumps rose.

She waved him off. “I’m okay, really,” she managed and moved away from him, only to walk into Atlas. The Dane still invaded her space.

Rylan smiled, appearing relieved. “He likes you.”

She found that hard to believe. “He wiped his face on me.”

“He’s playing with you.”

“Then why am I not having fun?”

“You’ll get used to him.”

His words gave her pause. He would have to hire her for that to happen. She wasn’t sure she could live with a dog the size of a pony and the stubbornness of a mule.

“I’m not certain this job is for me.” She was being honest with him and herself, even if it meant the interview ended right there. Being broke was no longer an option. She hated to let the job go, but she didn’t want to get in over her head. Been there. Done that. Her past hadn’t played out well.

Her hesitancy had Rylan narrowing his eyes. He did the unexpected. Throwing back his head, he released his inner beast. He howled. The sound cued the dogs to do the same. They howled so loudly, Beth covered her ears.

“What are you doing?” she asked once the racket eased.

“We’re talking you into staying.”

She shook her head. “You’re crazy.”

“I’m also smart, practical, and tend to be too serious, according to my family,” he told her. “I’m an animal lover and a decent ballplayer.”

Decent ballplayer? She’d Googled him before she applied for the job. Statistics showed he ranked among the best. He was a gifted athlete.

She needed to come clean with him. “I lied on my résumé,” she confessed. She figured her admission would put him off.

“I know,” he surprised her by saying. “I checked your previous employers and references. If you worked where you said you did, you were invisible.”

“Why did you let me slide?” she asked, confused.

He shrugged. “I’m honestly not sure. I trust my dogs’ instincts. Atlas is an excellent judge of character. He wouldn’t let anyone in the cottage who didn’t belong. He joined you on the sofa during your first interview and you didn’t freak out. I had one applicant leave the house screaming.”

“He is rather large.”

“Large, but harmless,” Ry assured her. “He’s still growing. He’s just two years old.”

Still growing. Her heart nearly stopped.

“The job is only for eight weeks. It starts a week before spring training and ends a week after,” he reminded her. “I have a permanent assistant in Richmond. She’s just gotten married. I gave her time off for an extended honeymoon in Cancun.”

The timing is ideal, Beth thought. Free of her previous obligations, she didn’t want to stay in one place too long. She had a lot of country to explore. She wanted to lose herself in her travels. Returning home was not an option. She wouldn’t be missed.

“It’s a busy time for me,” Rylan continued. “I’ll have personal and professional obligations. I’ll need someone to keep me on track.”

Beth swallowed hard. Some days she lived chaos, all on her own. Could she keep his life and her own running smooth? That was to be seen. Organization could be challenging.

To her surprise, he took her silence as holding out for more money. “You’ll receive a salary and a household budget. You’ll have a business credit card for emergencies. Should you come up short for any reason, just let me know.”

The man was trusting. Perhaps overly so. She didn’t want to disappoint him. She quickly gave the job a final assessment. The pay was enticing—she’d make more money in eight weeks than she had made the previous year. The cash cushion would be nice—she could take a short vacation once she left town. She wouldn’t be forced to immediately seek another position.

She had one final question for him before she accepted. “You had far more qualified applicants. I couldn’t be your first choice. So why me, Rylan? Besides the fact your dog likes me.”

Because I’m not attracted to you. He didn’t admit that to Beth; he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

Plain and simply put, she wasn’t his type. He didn’t have a lot of time to date, but when he did, he favored tall, slender, savvy blondes. The two other women he’d interviewed had turned him on. He didn’t need the distraction or the erection. No work would’ve gotten done.

Beth Avery had quirky written all over her. Her brown hair was curly and unruly. The tip of her nose turned up slightly. She pursed her lips a lot. She had a chin dimple. She couldn’t be more than five foot two.

Her style in clothes was mismatched. She’d shown up to her first interview wearing a lavender prairie flower print top, a flowing ankle-length green skirt, and white cowgirl boots with silver scrolling. Peace sign earrings had dangled from her ears, and a crocheted and beaded bracelet had wrapped her wrist.

Her amazing eyes had gotten her a second interview. Rain cast in color, the blue-gray reminded him of the Gulf of Mexico before a summer storm. He’d noticed that the hue changed with her mood. Blue dominated when she was relaxed. Gray indicated her frustration. Atlas had aggravated her greatly. Her eyes had turned gunmetal gray.

Ry was polite when he informed her, “I’m going on gut instinct alone in hiring you,” he admitted. “You seem nice, have an ability to adapt, and if you screw up, Atlas will let me know.”

“Atlas looks like a tattletale,” she agreed with a glance in the dog’s direction.

“I need someone immediately,” he added. “You’re standing before me. The job is yours if you want it.”

No hesitation. “I’ll take it.”

“How soon can you start?”

She glanced toward her PT Cruiser parked at the curb. “I travel light. I’m temporarily living out of my car.”

She lived out of her car? That made him blink. He had no room to criticize her. He’d taken road trips in college. He’d lived free and easy until responsibility had forced him to grow up. Playing professional ball aged a man.

“I’ll grab my suitcases,” she said, cutting across the yard.

“I’ll help you.” He was right behind her. Atlas came, too.

“Will I get a ticket parked at the curb?” She cast a look over her shoulder. No other cars were on the street.

“I’ll get you a city parking sticker later today.” He saw the pained look on her face and guessed the reason. “There’s no charge.”

She released a breath. “I would’ve needed an advance on my pay otherwise.”

“You’re broke?” slipped out before he could stop himself.

Her lips thinned. “I’m on a tight budget.”

Before he could ask her any more questions, she jumped the dwarf Natal Plum hedge near the curb, and he was surprised she cleared it. He didn’t take her for athletic. He and Atlas hopped over it next. She circled to the rear of the vehicle, pulled a keyless remote from the side pocket of her shorts, and popped the hatchback.

He noticed her out-of-state license plate. She’d listed her permanent residence on her application as White Bear Lake, Minnesota, yet she had Missouri plates. A HIKE MICHIGAN bumper sticker and Arizona flag decal trimmed her bumper. VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS and PROPERTY OF IOWA, HAWKEYE STATE stickers noted her travels. The lady was a nomad.

The pieces to her puzzle didn’t quite fit.

He was intrigued.

She pulled two suitcases from the Cruiser.

Rylan stepped back. He’d been so involved in reading her stickers, he nearly forgot his manners. He hung his T-shirt over his shoulder, and took the suitcases from her. Dingy gold hardware hinged the battered, scratched, and ancient brown leather. A man’s name was barely visible near one handle. Lou Vui. Her father, brother? Husband? He glanced at her left hand. She wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.

The cases were surprisingly light. He had expected heavier. She would settle in quickly.

“I inherited my house from my grandparents,” he told her as they headed up the driveway. “Frank and Emma lived here for twenty years before they moved rural. The empty lots on both sides belong to me, too. The cottage has four bedrooms—two up, two down. You can have the connecting rooms on the first floor. Bedroom, full bath, and office. My dogs have the run of the place. Close your door for privacy. Atlas is known to twist a doorknob with his mouth. He’ll also paw and scratch to get your attention.” The Great Dane could be pushy and persistent.

They climbed the steps to the porch and entered through the double doors. The dogs followed them. The dachsies and Rue took to their plush corduroy dog beds in the living room and waited patiently. They had manners. Atlas, not so much. The big dog was bumping Beth from the back. He was hungry and hurrying her along. It was close to lunchtime, and he expected her to feed him.

Rylan noticed it with a wry smile and looked around the entryway. His home was his sanctuary. It was where he could exhale and hang out with his dogs. He never took the peace and quiet for granted. The floors were dark Florida pine, as was the staircase to the second floor. The walls were stark white. “This way,” he said, moving down the hallway.

He nudged open a door with his foot and set her suitcases inside. He was pragmatic and didn’t buy anything he didn’t need. Except his McLaren. The splurge came from bonus money when he’d been traded from the St. Louis Colonels to the Richmond Rogues. It was his dream vehicle. He also had a Range Rover with washable mats to haul his dogs. He kept it parked in the garage.

He glanced around the guest room and wondered if Beth would feel at home. He’d furnished the room with a queen sofa sleeper, but had no idea if it was comfortable. She would find out at bedtime. A mirrored dresser leaned against the wall and a yellow-cushioned fan back chair sat in one corner.

“There are a few hangers in the closet,” he told her. For those few clothes she might need to hang up. Again, that puzzled him. “The dresser once belonged to my sister Shaye. The drawers have scented liners. Smell like flowers.”

“Nice. I like flowers.”

“Sheets, a comforter, and two pillows are stored in the old seaman’s chest used as a bedside table.”

“No gold or treasure?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Shaye had it refurbished. It once belonged to my great-great Uncle Cletis. He was a commercial fisherman.”

“I like antiques and family history.” Beth smiled. For the first time. A soft smile while she scrutinized the dresser with the decorative carved mirror. It was old, and the bottom drawer was slightly warped. But at least it closed.

He went on to show her the bathroom situated between the bedroom and the office. Functional, but not fancy. He’d supplied a set of blue towels. Shaye had suggested pear shampoo, a neutral olive oil soap, and a natural sea sponge.

Rylan next entered the office. Atlas followed Beth in. She didn’t seem to notice that every step she took,. . .