Chapter 26
“Where are we going?”Bones asked as I locked up the house.
“It’s a surprise,” I said. “We’ve got to take my car though.”
“Fine.” He took a sip of his coffee from the travel mug I’d given him. “This coffee isn’t bad.”
“Glad you like it.”
“You know what else I like?”
“What?”
“Waking up in your bed.”
“I kind of like that too.”
The heaviness and truth of last night’s conversation evaporated. This morning, it had taken all of my willpower to get up and not beg Bones to stay in bed with me all day.
He opened the driver’s side door for me and after I got in, he walked around to the passenger side and did the same.
“You think we can make it a more regular thing?” he asked.
“We could,” I said. “But if we do, that means I should probably have a talk with Charlie.”
“About?”
“About her not coming over without calling first,” I said with a smile. “She’s known to walk in whenever she feels like it.”
“Might be awkward if she does that and finds you laid out on the dining room table with my head between your thighs.”
“You can’t talk like that,” I admonished.
“Why not?”
“Well, not when I’m driving. I don’t want to get into an accident and then have to explain to the police that it was your dirty talk that caused it.”
“My dirty talk is good enough to cause an accident? And just like that, my reputation has been restored. Are you really not going to tell me where we’re going?”
I reversed out of the driveway. Bones’ bike was parked in the second spot and a thrill of happiness went through me when I saw it. I was getting used to seeing it there, and I liked it.
I liked him in my house, in my kitchen, and in my bed.
“So, this thing I do, it happened by accident.” I told him about the rescue dogs and pairing them with elderly people. “I pay the adoption fees and vet bills if there are any. People on fixed incomes in their older age can’t usually handle the expenses associated with having animals.”
“That’s pretty cool actually. How do you know which dog and person belong together?” Bones asked.
“I don’t know. I just have a hunch.” I wasn’t ready to tell him that Charlie and I were thinking about expanding it into something bigger. “You think it’s weird.”
“What? Following your gut? That’s always a good idea. Do you do it with cats?”
“No. I’m not a cat person. I’m a dog person.”
“And you haven’t found a dog that’s yours?”
I shook my head. “Not yet.”
“But you’re open to it?”
“Back to the dog thing, huh? They’re a lot of responsibility.”
“So are babies.”
I frowned. “Babies? We weren’t talking about babies.”
“I’m just saying dogs are easier than kids. Do you like kids?”
“Sure.” I was confused how we’d even gotten onto the topic of children. “Do you like kids?”
“Yeah, Duchess. I like kids.”
My stupid little ovaries perked up at the thought of the brawny, tattooed biker holding a tiny infant.
Brain melted. Ovaries now in control.
We pulled into the parking lot of the animal shelter and I cut the engine. Bones held my hand as we walked toward the building.
“How do your magical powers work?” Bones asked.
I grinned. “I walk the rows. I look at the dogs. When I see one, I ask to spend time with it. I know everyone at the Rose Hill Retirement Community and it just kind of…merges. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“What if you pick out a dog for someone who doesn’t want a dog?”
“Hasn’t happened yet. You can literally see the moment a person falls in love with a dog.”
Bones and I were silent as we walked down the shelter rows. The dogs jumped and put their paws onto the fence, their tails wagging, some of them vocally greeting us.
It tore at my heart. I hated that I couldn’t save them all.
We came to the end of a row and there was a black Shepherd mix that was laying on the cement floor.
I crouched down and softly called to the animal.
It lifted its head and stared at me, but it didn’t get up to investigate.
A volunteer I knew by name came around the corner and stopped when she saw Bones and I at the Shepherd mix’s kennel.
“She came in a few days ago,” Annie said. “We think she’s about six months old. She should have more energy, but Dr. Henderson said there’s nothing physically wrong with her. Best we can figure, she’s depressed.”
“She’s the one,” I said, rising. “Can I take her?”
Annie smiled. “Sure thing. Let me get a leash for you.”
She disappeared around the corner and I heard a door open and close.
“Just like that?” Bones asked.
“Just like that,” I said. “I’ve done this enough that they know the drill.”
“Who’s she going to? Do you have an idea?”
I nodded. “I have an idea.”
I knocked on the apartment door and waited.
“Coming!” A voice called from inside. A moment later, the door opened. Jazz was wearing glasses, her dark hair in a loose braid and she was dressed in a pair of yoga pants and a purple sweatshirt.
“Bones,” she said in surprise. “I didn’t know you were coming.” Her gaze dropped to the dog sitting serenely next to him. “You brought a dog.”
“Who’s there?” Brielle called from somewhere in the apartment.
“Hayden and Bones. And they brought a dog…”
I held up a bakery box. “And apple tarts.”
A white, furry, wiggly body appeared at the threshold. He bent his front legs and lifted his butt into the air, his tail waggling furiously.
The Shepherd mix let out a low whine.
“I think she wants to play with your dog,” I said.
“I think so. This is Fluffernutter,” Jazz said. “I didn’t realize you guys were at the stage where you were getting a dog together. Congratulations. First comes dog, then comes baby, then comes the wedding.”
I frowned. “I don’t think that’s the way it goes.”
“Hmm. No, she’s right, Duchess. We don’t follow the standard blueprint.” Bones winked at me.
“Well, she looks like a sweet thing,” Jazz said with a smile. “Let her off leash and come on in. I want to say hi to her.”
Bones unclipped the dog’s leash and she trotted into the apartment. We stepped into the loft after her and noticed the huge windows.
“Bones and Hayden got a dog together,” Jazz announced.
“That was fast,” Brielle said from her seat on the couch.
Bones leaned down to me and whispered, “Why did you let Jazz think that’s our dog?”
“Trust me.”
Brielle was covered with a fluffy blanket. “Sorry, I’d get up but I’m comfortable and I don’t want to.”
I held up the box of apple tarts. “Want one of these?”
“Yes, God, please,” Brielle moaned.
“So, what’s her name?” Jazz asked as she went to the cabinet to pull out plates.
“Haven’t figured out a name yet,” I said.
“Bones? You want some coffee?” Jazz asked.
“Sure thing.”
The dogs were sniffing one another and both tails were wagging. Fluffernutter nipped at the Shepherd mix’s hind leg, instigating a chase.
“Fast friends,” Brielle remarked.
The Shepherd mix ran around the couch and then jumped up into Brielle’s lap and began to lick her face.
“Oh,” Brielle murmured, sinking her fingers through the dog’s fur and fighting through the kisses.
I looked at Bones. “Three, two, one?—”
“She’s adorable,” Brielle crooned.
“She’s really sweet,” Jazz agreed. She brought Bones his cup of coffee. “Cream is on the counter if you want it.”
“Thanks,” he said.
Jazz looked at the dog and it began thumping its tail against the couch cushions.
“Round two,” I whispered.
“She has soulful eyes,” Jazz said. “Doesn’t she have soulful eyes?”
“Absolutely,” I agreed.
The door to the apartment opened and the Shepherd mix lifted up in a defensive stance.
“That’s a dog,” the man rasped.
“Nothing wrong with your eyesight, is there?” Jazz sassed.
Brielle sighed. “Hayden, Homer, Homer, Hayden. My brother lives in our building. He time-shares Fluffernutter, and he and Jazz bicker every time they’re in the same room.”
“We do not,” Jazz protested.
“Yes, we do,” Homer stated.
“They even bicker about that.” Brielle rolled her eyes.
“You let them name a dog Fluffernutter?” Bones looked at Homer. “Dude.”
“Don’t dude me. I wasn’t consulted about the name. I wasn’t even involved in deciding whether or not I wanted to time-share a dog in the first place. That was an accident.”
Fluffernutter ran up to Homer and put his paws on his shins. Homer leaned down and scooped up the dog. The Shepherd mix must’ve realized that Homer wasn’t a threat because she hopped down off the couch and went to sniff Homer. Her tail slowly began to wag and then she began to press against his leg.
He reached down to pet her. “Aren’t you sweet…”
Bones looked at me. “Three for three, huh?”
“What’s that mean?” Jazz asked.
I smiled. “She’s a present.”
“Who’s a present?” Brielle asked.
“You wanted another dog, so I brought you the newest member of your family,” I said.
“But she’s your dog,” Jazz said. “Yours and Bones’.”
“You guys got a dog together?” Homer asked. “That’s fast.”
“She’s not ours,” I said again. “She’s yours. Well, technically, she’s Fluffernutter’s. I got your dog a dog.”
Homer set Fluffernutter down and then leaned over and snuggled up against the Shepherd mix. She looked up at him and licked his forehead.
“Fuck it,” Jazz said with a sigh. “I’m not a monster. We’ll keep her.”
“Well?” I asked as I buckled myself in.
“That was kind of unbelievable,” Bones said.
I grinned. “Do you have time to do another one? I’d like to take you to Rose Hill if you’re up for it.”
“I’m up for it.”
He settled his hand on my thigh as I stuck the key into the ignition. “You didn’t freak out.”
“About what?” I asked as I started the car.
“When Jazz thought we’d gotten a dog together.”
“But we didn’t get a dog together. So, there was nothing to freak out about.”
He paused for a moment and then said, “We could get a dog together.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“You like dogs. I like dogs. I like you. You like me.”
“Yeah, but getting a dog together implies commitment. A relationship. It’s a huge step.”
“So?”
“So, we haven’t even slept together yet,” I pointed out.
“Formality.”
“We’re dating, Bones. We’re not even?—”
His sudden smile had me stopping mid-sentence.
“You jerk,” I said with a laugh.
“That was fun.”
I snorted. “For you, maybe.”
His phone rang and he reached into the breast pocket of his leather cut. “I’ve got to take this.”
I nodded.
Bones pressed a button to his ear. “Yeah?”
He paused for a moment and listened. “Okay. I’ll be there.” He hung up and put his phone away. “Sorry, but I’ve got to bail. Club shit.”
I tensed. “All right.”
Even if I asked what that entailed, I knew Bones wasn’t going to give me an answer. The reminder that there would be things Bones would have to keep from me sprang up between us. Tension filled the car.
Our ride was silent and uncomfortable until my phone rang. It was a number I didn’t recognize and I planned to ignore it, but I couldn’t stand the strain.
I pressed a button on my steering wheel. “Hello?”
“Hi, is this Hayden?” came a male voice.
“It is.”
“Hi, it’s Walker Anderson. Your mother gave me your number.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Bones clenched his hand.
“Right,” I said. “She mentioned that she did.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to call. I would’ve called sooner, but I went out of town unexpectedly. I know that sounds like an excuse, but it’s the truth. Anyway, I’m back and I’d love to take you out to dinner. Preferably before the charity gala we’re both attending next week.”
“That’s a really nice offer,” I said. “But I think it’s only fair to inform you that my mother kind of jumped the gun on giving you my number. She only told me about it after she did it.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Yeah.” I took a deep breath. “I’m sure you’re a lovely person, but I’m not interested. I’m sorry.”
“Hey, no hard feelings. I understand the meddlesome parent thing. I guess I’ll meet you at the event, then.”
“Bye, Walker.”
“Take care, Hayden.”
I hung up with him right as I pulled into my driveway and cut the ignition.
“Why didn’t you tell him you were dating someone?” Bones asked.
“Why does it matter? I said no to the date, didn’t I?”
“You said you weren’t interested.”
I exhaled in annoyance. “Seriously? You’re mad that I didn’t tell a complete stranger I was involved with someone else?”
“Mad is the wrong word.”
“Then what word would you use?” I snapped.
“We’re more than involved. You know we are.”
“I don’t know anything,” I stated.
“God damn it, Duchess. I’m ready to fuck the attitude right out of you just to prove a fucking point.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
The gauntlet was thrown down. We stared at one another and at the same time, reached for each other. His lips were on mine, his tongue was in my mouth, and I wanted him to prove what he’d just said.
I was done being patient.
I was done hiding.
My hand wrapped around the back of his neck as I strained to be closer to him.
He wrenched himself away, breathing hard. “Why do you always start this when I can’t finish it?”
My gaze narrowed. “Bold accusation.”
He held my stare. “Tonight.”
I licked my lips. “Tonight.”