Sharing Spaces by Nadia Nichols

“That was a mighty quick shower,” she said, taken aback by the suddenness of his appearance. He’d shaved, nicking himself in a couple of spots. His hair was damp and disheveled. He was wearing a reasonably clean set of clothes along the same lines as the original—jeans, undershirt with a flannel shirt pulled over, unbuttoned down the front and sleeves rolled back He looked virile and disturbingly handsome.
    â€œMighty quick and mighty cold,” he agreed amiably. “You used up every last drop of hot water cleaning the kitchen.”
    â€œOh!” Senna felt her cheeks burn. “I’m sorry….”
    â€œDon’t be. The kitchen looks great.” He glanced at the cell phone she held. “Were you trying to call someone?”
    â€œYes,” Senna said. She kept recalling the heart-stopping sight of that mountain lion she’d seen, that wild, powerful symbol of strength and grace that reminded her so much of Jack Hanson.
    â€œWhy not use the house phone?” Jack asked, one eyebrow raised. “You’ll get a helluva lot better reception. Cell phones don’t work here. No towers.”
    â€œI didn’t know there was a regular phone.”
    â€œIn the living room on the end table.”
    â€œIf there’s a phone, where are the phone lines? I saw no telephone poles for the last half mile of road.”
    â€œUnderground cable. The admiral didn’t like the idea of wires strung everywhere. The electric and phone cable was expensive, but considering the wild storms we get up here on the Labrador, it was a good idea.”
    â€œI see.” Senna stared at him for a moment more, unable to help herself. He possessed an animal magnetism that was stronger than anything she’d ever encountered. “Supper will be a little late. I’ll get started right after this phone call.”
    He nodded, brushing past her on his way to the kitchen. He smelled faintly of soap, and the residualscents of wood smoke and mosquito repellent that clung to his clothing. He smelled good.
    Senna wandered into the living room, the next room on her cleaning agenda. It was a masculine room whose focal point was a big stone fireplace flanked by deep bookshelves. The wall of large windows overlooked the lake, and the comfortable rustic furnishings were well suited to the lake house’s character. She located the phone and sank down on the couch, tucking her legs beneath her as she lifted the receiver. Moments later she was speaking to her mother, who was anxious to hear about everything. Senna heard the screen door bang and craned to look out the window. She spied Jack walking out toward the dock, Chilkat by his side. Good. He wouldn’t overhear.
    She abruptly interrupted their staid conversation about legal matters and as quickly as she could she filled her mother in on the true state of her grandfather’s Labrador affairs. “This is going to be much more complicated than I expected, given the fact that everything was co-owned in a full business partnership,” Senna concluded. “Tomorrow Jack’s flying me out to see the lodge. I only hope it’s in good repair and won’t take too long to sell.”
    â€œWhat’s he like?” her mother asked.
    â€œJack? Oh, he’s okay, I guess, a little younger than I expected….”
    â€œWhy doesn’t he just buy out your grandfather’s half of the business?”
    â€œHe told me the banks wouldn’t look twice at him.”
    â€œYou hardly know this man, Senna. Do you think he’s safe to fly with?”
    â€œMom, don’t worry. I have a feeling he’s a very goodpilot. I’ll call you tomorrow night. Right now I have to get supper started. I promised I’d cook if he showed me how to tend the sled dogs.”
    â€œSled dogs?”
    â€œHuskies. The real thing. Twenty of them.”
    â€œGoodness. Senna, Tim called. He tried to reach you at your