CHAPTER 22
Jess looked at a rather cryptic message as she walked up the driveway to the front entrance of Linford Castle: Just a heads-up, Afric is going ape-shit.
She wondered if she’d have time for a coffee before having to deal with her. If it had anything to do with the tunnels, she might have to come clean and admit that she couldn’t face going into them either.
As she reached the double doors, the biggest German Shepherd she’d ever seen ran skidding across the tiled floor of the foyer, heading directly for her.
“Shit!” She turned and bolted back out, her heart racing as she banged the heavy oak doors shut behind her. How had that thing got in? Only someone with a pass could get into the grounds and she was certain the bars of the gates were too narrow for an animal that size to slip through.
She leaned back and tried to picture the high walls that ran around the periphery. Could it have jumped them? Maybe. If it was on steroids!
There was a loud thump on the other side of the doors, and she let out a small shriek. Oh crap, it was trying to get out. Her mouth dried – she’d be torn limb from limb.
What was she thinking? She couldn’t leave it in there – everyone would be in danger. Right, she’d open one door really fast and when the dog ran out she’d have time to get in and close the door behind her. Then they could call the local guards, or the nearest animal shelter.
She took a step back and turned the handle quickly, preparing to make her move.
“It’s okay, we have him!” came a distinctly British male voice. “Come on in, he won’t hurt you!”
That was definitely a matter of opinion.
“How sure are you?” she shouted.
“What?” There was more barking. “He’s a big softie, I swear.”
Heart still thumping, Jess peered around the door. Emily was standing right inside, looking as wary as Jess felt. A tall, dark, slender man had one hand firmly on the dog’s collar, as the animal in question pulled him around in wide circles, barking loudly.
Spencer Torres, meanwhile, appeared to be trying to cut across the dog’s path to slow him down.
“Emily, explain quickly?”
“The guy who’s holding on to the dog?” Emily winced as the dog whipped past her, the man holding firmly on to his collar. With his other hand, he seemed to be struggling to get something out of the pocket of his jeans. “That’s the English dancer Ben Colbert.”
“I’ve heard of him,” Jess said.
“He’s given the dog to Spencer as a birthday present.” Emily kept her eyes firmly on the dog. “He and Spencer know each other through Megan Wilson. They all hang out together when Spencer goes to London.”
“Got it!” Ben threw something onto the floor, and the dog skidded to a halt. “There’s a good boy!”
Jess edged a bit closer. The dog, its tail wagging furiously, was now devouring some small, bone-shaped biscuits.
Spencer caught Jess’s eye. “Birthday surprise!”
“So I heard,” Jess said faintly.
“He’s a good boy, aren’t you, Snuggles?” Ben rubbed the dog’s ears.
Snuggles? Was he insane? Snuggles was what you called your pet hamster!
As if she’d read her mind, Afric Brooks stormed into the foyer from outside, Diva clutched tightly to her. Immediately, Snuggles leapt up and started to bark again. From the safety of Afric’s arms, Diva yapped back furiously.
“I’m not having that thing anywhere near Diva!” Afric yelled, glaring at the two men. “You!” She pointed to Ben with her still-bandaged hand. “You had no right to bring him here! Take him back!”
Right, this was starting to feel like a troubleshooting moment.
“I can’t take him back,” Ben said, calmly. “He’s a rescue dog, and if I hadn’t taken him from the pound he would have been put to sleep. The poor boy had nowhere to go after his old owner died.”
“His old owner was probably savaged to death by him!” Afric snapped.
“The people at the pound assured me he’s a little lamb,” Ben said, “or I wouldn’t have brought him here.”
Jess could definitely see Afric’s point. Diva looked like the perfect-sized toy for a dog like Snuggles. But if she was allowed to keep Diva at Linford Castle, then Spencer Torres could argue he was entitled to keep Snuggles there too.
“Why don’t I have a quick word with the manager and see about Snuggles’ situation?” Jess said. “He’ll need someone from the staff to mind him when you’re filming, Spencer. And somewhere to sleep.”
“I brought a cage kennel with me,” Ben said. “And I’m going to crash with Spencer and look after this chap until he settles in.” He shot Afric a pointed look. “He has insecurity issues, so he’ll need lots of reassurance.”
Afric gave Ben a long look before switching her focus to Spencer.
“Please, Afric?” Spencer said quietly.
“There was no need for the dog,” Afric muttered.
Jess cleared her throat. “Good, at least there’s a plan.” Spencer had one of the cottages, so there’d be room for Ben and the huge dog. “It had to be a German Shepherd, I suppose?”
Ben looked a bit sheepish. “Yeah, but he’s well-trained and really friendly. He’s just going to need some time to settle down, having been stuck in the kennels for so long.”
As if he knew he was being talked about, Snuggles began to bark even louder.
“Right.” A huge dog with insecurity issues! Jess smiled brightly at everyone. “How about you wait here while I run a couple of things by Anthony, and we’ll take it from there?”
Without waiting for a response, she left, relieved to get away. A German Shepherd and a Toy Poodle together in Linford Castle for the next four weeks? What could possibly go wrong?