Chapter 13
Hank
My phone rang just as I was locking up BowWow’s doors Friday night. Jamie’s name flashed on the Caller ID.
A smile spread across my face as I picked it up. “Hey, I’ve got to run Bruno home, and then I’ll head over to the pub.”
“I’m so sorry, but I can’t make it tonight.”
“Working late?”
There was a pause. “No, I got a flat on my way home. The dogs are restless because they’ve been cooped up all day. I need to walk them, and I just don’t have it in me to change that tire tonight.”
“I could change it for you.”
There was a breath of silence. “No, I can do it tomorrow.”
“Why don’t I come by with Bruno? The dogs can play, and I could grab some take-out and a six-pack of beer.” Or maybe his palette was more refined. “Or wine? Tell me what you like and I’ll get it.”
“Beer is fine, but you don’t have to do that.”
“I want to,” I said, realizing that it was true.
Jamie and I were supposed to meet up to talk shop about the dog festival, but the thought of going home to my empty house—or worse, finding my brother there ready to comment on my empty life—did not appeal.
“I could really use some help with these festival plans.”
“Yeah, of course,” Jamie said.
“Unless you’re too tired,” I added. “I don’t mean to be pushy.”
He laughed, a soft, breathy sound that warmed my insides. “I probably would have eaten a package of Oreos for dinner, so I won’t turn down food and beer.”
“Ah, you only want me for my take-out,” I teased. “I see how it is.”
There was a lengthy enough pause for me to run those words back through and realize how flirty they sounded. I winced. I hadn’t intended them that way, but Jamie was just too easy to tease. I could so easily imagine the blush that was spreading across his cheeks.
“You caught me,” he said lightly. “I’m very hungry.”
I laughed nervously. That had sounded a little flirty, as well, but how could I call him on it when I’d started it?
“I better get going then. See you in ten.”
Luckily, Jamie had the presence of mind to text me his address, because I hadn’t thought to ask. I stopped by the liquor store to grab a six-pack of beer, then hit the drive-through next door.
I pulled into the driveway behind Jamie’s little green Beetle about ten minutes later. As I got out, I saw Jamie at the end of the block, his two Labs dragging him along by the leashes. It looked more like they were walking him. Poor guy.
I unbuckled Bruno and set him loose, knowing he would head for his new friends, and gathered the bag of food and six-pack of beer.
“That was fast,” Jamie said. His eyes landed on the logo. “Ooh, I love Squealin’ Pig.”
I scoffed. “It doesn’t come close to the fancy foods you make.”
Jamie waved a hand. “Please, half of catering is presentation over flavor. Besides, no one wants to eat their work all the time, do they?”
I followed him toward the porch, the dogs crowding around our legs and nearly tripping us. We were both seasoned dog owners, carefully sidestepping leashes and nudging away inquisitive noses until we made it through the front door.
“I definitely don’t want to eat my work,” I said, gazing at the pooches crowding us. “That would be sad.”
Jamie laughed. “Lady and Tramp are grateful.”
“Mm-hmm. As if they wouldn’t eat me if push came to shove.”
“Hopefully it never comes to that.”
Jamie bent over to unhook his dogs’ leashes, and I hovered in the doorway, watching. His jeans pulled tight across his ass, highlighting the shape, and—
Why was I staring? I jerked my gaze away to take in the rest of the room.
There were two couches, one armchair, and a flat-screen television on the wall.
The floor was strewn with dog toys. There was a sad-looking Eeyore missing an eyeball and a tail; a grimy rubber ball; and a frayed rope that looked about one tug-of-war from unraveling completely.
A half-chewed rawhide treat laid off to one side of the door.
“Sorry it’s such a mess,” Jamie said, following my gaze.
He bent to grab up a few of the toys, carrying them to a big dog bed on one side of the room that seemed to be a catchall for dog accessories.
“They were pretty bored today.” He shot me a sheepish smile.
“Guess I should have brought them to day care again.”
I set the food and drinks on the coffee table. “It’s not making it worse on the days they have to stay home, is it?”
He dropped another armful of toys in the dog bed and turned. “No, it’s not any worse, and when they go—” His eyes widened. “No, don’t sit there!”
I paused with my ass hovering over the couch. “What?”
“That’s the dog couch.”
I turned, noticing now that it was covered in hair. Lady jumped up and sprawled over the cushions, claiming her furniture.
“My mistake,” I said. “I’ll just…”
Jamie pointed me toward the smaller, two-seater couch. “This one is for humans.”
I laughed. “Okay. Wow. They really do have you where they want you, huh?”
He rolled his eyes. “I know. I’m a total pushover.”
I grinned as I took a seat. “Well, you loving dogs is half the reason I like you, so…” I shrugged. “Whatever works.”
Jamie averted his gaze. “I’m going to let the dogs into the backyard. They’ll never let us eat in peace. Are you okay with Bruno playing out there with them?”
“Sure. It’s enclosed, right?”
“Yeah. Six-foot privacy fence, or Tramp would never stay in.”
“Right. Should be good, then.”
Jamie hurried off, whistling for the dogs. I gave Bruno’s butt a little nudge when he stayed seated by my foot. He got up with a little grunt and trotted after the two Labs, who’d gone eagerly for the back door.
Once they were outside, Jamie grabbed plates and silverware from the kitchen, then returned to take a seat beside me. The couch was small enough our knees brushed.
He scooted over an inch. “Sorry.”
“I don’t have cooties,” I said. “I assume you don’t either.”
He smiled reluctantly. “Hope not. I haven’t been checked lately.” He frowned. “Not like I’ve really had any reason to catch them lately.”
I pulled a bottle of Michelob Ultra from the six-pack and handed it to him. “Me either, friend. Feels more like a dry season than a dry spell.”
Jamie laughed. “Same, but…” His brows drew together. “Why?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I mean, I know why I haven’t been dating. There’s limited options in Granville, and I got tired of app hookups that weren’t going anywhere. But you…” He waved a hand at me. “You have a lot more options.”
I reached forward to unpack the bag, withdrawing the container of meat, the buns, the sides of spicy beans and coleslaw.
“Sorry,” Jamie blurted. “Guess I was being pushy that time.”
“No, it’s just hard to explain.” I shrugged. “I guess at the end of the day, my reasons aren’t that different from yours.”
Jamie started assembling a sandwich, keeping his eyes on his plate. “How so?”
I remembered what he’d said at the park when we’d met for our first date. That I could meet someone much more easily as a straight guy.
“You weren’t wrong. I have more options. I could go to the bar and meet a woman, take her home, but it’s just like with the app hookups. It doesn’t go anywhere.”
“I’m sure some of these women want more than sex,” Jamie said.
“Yeah, and sometimes we end up dating after hooking up. Like with my ex. We were all wrong for each other, but we dated for almost a year. Made each other miserable, too. I guess that’s why I went along with the Matchmaking Mamas.
Thought maybe they’d at least help me meet someone I could connect with outside of physical attraction. ”
Jamie nodded slowly. “That makes sense.” He shot me a tight smile. “I’m sorry that went so wrong for you.”
“Well, it wasn’t all bad.” I scooped some beans and coleslaw onto my plate. “I made a friend out of the deal.”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “I guess it could have been worse.”
I patted his knee. “That’s the spirit.”
He laughed. “Lucky us. It could have been worse!”
I snorted a laugh and lifted my beer for a long swallow. I watched Jamie watch me out of the corner of my eye. I wasn’t totally oblivious. His gaze slipped over my face, caressed my throat, and dropped to my arms.
I didn’t mind the perusal. It was nice to be appreciated, even if it couldn’t go anywhere. I’d been upfront with Jamie about my sexuality. I’d never lead him on. But I wasn’t going to go all weird just because he liked looking at me, either.
“So, dog festival,” Jamie said suddenly, voice a little too bright. “What can I do to help as a volunteer?”
I lowered my beer and licked my lips. “Well, I need someone to help me recruit more sponsors and vendors. I’ve got most of the obvious pet-related businesses and organizations covered through Sammi’s connections, but I need other people to get involved.
We need food vendors for our human guests, you know? Maybe some live music…”
Jamie nodded thoughtfully. “My boss might be interested in running a food booth,” Jamie said. “It would be good exposure.”
“Yeah? That would be great.”
“I’m good friends with a wedding planner. He’d probably have some good ideas for live music. Maybe for some other sponsors, too.”
“That would be amazing,” I said.
We continued to toss around ideas as we ate, and gradually we ran out of steam. I leaned back against the couch, sipping my second beer, while Jamie got up to let the dogs in.
Lady made a beeline for the dog couch. Tramp went and lapped noisily from his water bowl. Bruno trotted over and sat on my foot. I reached down to lazily scratch behind his ears.
Jamie dropped onto the sofa beside me with a sigh. “Such a long day.”
“You work hard.”
He slanted me a look. “You do too. Here it is Friday night, and you’ve been working all evening.”
I nudged his shoulder. “Beats listening to my brother tell me to get a life.”
Jamie laughed. “How sad we are.”
“But at least we’ve got beer.”
I raised my bottle, and he clinked his to mine. “Cheers to that.”