21. Hot Diggity Dog
Shaggy’s Place.
The sign meant so damn much. Not only as a tribute to the best dog Garrett had ever known, but as a sign of how much Kimi understood him.
He knew she’d worried about his reaction, but he’d had to let the sign sink in. The guilt that had been his constant companion for years had settled into a soft ache of grief. Kimi was right. Shaggy would want him to leave the guilt behind and to move forward and really live.
He’d lost his parents, his grandparents, and his dog. And himself.
But he wasn’t lost anymore.
He’d found himself here in this town with the ridiculous name. Mostly because he’d lucked into buying the plot of land next to Kimi.
They left the two new dogs in the office, where there were dog beds if they needed a nap, and headed outside with Olaf. They crossed to his land and stopped to study the place. “I’m not sure whether to put the sign on the barn, or at the entrance to the backfield, or on one of the paddocks.”
They wandered the space, with Kimi holding his hand and checking him regularly to see how he was holding up. His small paddock had lower fence rails, and he finally lifted Kimi up to sit her on the rail. Then he moved between her legs, and she looped her arms around his neck.
When she started to speak, he tapped her lips with his finger. “Don’t you dare ask me again if I’m okay with it.”
She frowned, and he put his hands on her hips. “I’m more than okay with it. I’m thrilled with the sign. It took me a moment to absorb it all, but I love it. I think it’s perfect, and I want you to quit doubting it.”
She studied him with those serious eyes of hers for a long moment before she finally nodded. “Okay. Good. I’m glad I didn’t screw up.”
“Even if I hadn’t been ready for it emotionally, it wouldn’t have been a screwup. That would have been on me. But I’m not fragile.”
She snorted out a laugh and ran her hands over his biceps. “No kidding. And I’ve never thought of you as fragile. Grief takes its own path and time.”
He nodded. “It does. After my grandmother died, I was the only family member left. Meeting Shaggy and working with her helped me cope with it. When she died, I was alone again.”
Her hand came up and caressed his jaw. “I’m sorry.”
She didn’t point out he’d been surrounded by good friends who loved him. She understood what he was trying to express.
“I’m not alone now.”
Her eyes lit up before the smile reached her lips. “Me neither.”
“So, you’re going to marry me, then?” Shit. He hadn’t meant it to pop out like that. “Damn. I was trying to think of a romantic way to ask.”
Kimi laughed and pressed a big, smacking kiss to his lips. “I absolutely am going to marry you. And this is about as romantic as it gets. We had our first kiss on a fence not too far from here. We’re surrounded by our land and our animals and our future.”
Olaf barked, making them both laugh. She smiled down at the dog. “I believe Olaf approves. Now, why don’t you kiss me, and we’ll seal the deal?”
Garrett hung his Stetson on the nearby fence post. Then his lips crashed down on hers and he poured all the love he felt into the kiss. If they weren’t in the middle of his yard where anyone could drive in, he’d strip her naked right there, but he wasn’t taking chances with her.
Instead, he lifted her off the fence. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he filled his hands with her ass, covered in those sexy jeans.
He was heading for the barn, the nearest building with a locked door, when he heard Nina’s laugh as she called out to her dog.
Swearing, he eased Kimi to her feet. “Incoming teenager.”
Kimi’s groan echoed his emotions. He kissed her. “To be continued.”
Nina’s voice carried over the fence. “Hey, guys. Dad wanted me to give you a message.” Her eyes were bright as she took in how they stood with Kimi in his arms.
“What’s the message?”
“You’ve got thirty minutes to wrap things up and be at the Saloon.”
Garrett sighed. “Why didn’t he just text me?”
Nina’s gaze darted between the two of them. “He said you didn’t answer, and that you might need me to help you with the animals if you’re going to make it in time.”
Kimi laughed. “Okay. Why don’t you feed the goats and the bunnies?”
She bounced off to help, with Animosh and Olaf following along right behind her.
Garrett sighed. “I may have to kill Heath.”
Kimi laughed again. “We probably won’t have to stay long. Then we’ve got a whole night ahead of us.”
“I like the way you think.”
When their group went into Phail, they often car-pooled. While it was only a couple of miles, every little bit helped the environment. Tonight, they took his truck. He wasn’t staying any longer than he needed to. He wanted to slip his grandmother’s ring onto Kimi’s finger and celebrate the fact that she loved him all night long.
First, they’d have to find out what Heath was up to. They parked and walked over to the Saloon. Inside, their friends had already claimed a table with open seats for them, and Branna and Sean who were working the bar .
Garrett held a chair for Kimi and sat between her and Marcus. “What’s up?”
Marcus shrugged. “No idea.”
Garrett studied Heath’s face across the table, but he looked relaxed and happy. Nothing to worry about, at least.
They chatted for a few minutes before Sean’s whistle split the air. When everyone turned to him, he grinned at the group. “It’s time to introduce another new brew from Phail Brewery. This time, it’s a sweet porter. It has a dark, malty flavor.”
Garrett’s favorite type of beer. Sean confirmed his suspicions when he looked at him and waved him to come up to the bar. He rolled his eyes, but Kimi laughed and kissed his cheek. “Don’t ruin his fun. Go on up.”
Sean handed him the glass. “You get the first taste of our new Scooby’s Sweet Porter.”
That made him grin. Today was definitely all about names. Names that no longer punched him in the gut.
He made a show of holding up the beer to inspect the color. Then he took a sip and didn’t have to pretend the grin. “This is fantastic.”
Sean grinned back. “Of course. First round is on the house.”
Everyone cheered, and he helped Branna and Sean carry glasses to everyone in the room. Before he sat down, Sean lifted his glass. “To the best K-9 officer I’ve worked with. To the man who’s going to continue to change more than a few lives for the better. To Scooby.”
The room repeated the toast. He lifted his own glass, hoping like hell the emotion wasn’t going to spill out. Then he took a sip and sank into his seat. Kimi hugged him with one arm, and when he turned to her, her eyes shone. She kissed him lightly, and he knew she was thinking the same thing about the names. “I’m okay.”
Her eyes danced at that. “I’m glad, and you’re more than okay.”
He was. He really was.
He laced his fingers with hers and leaned back in his chair with a smile.
C ontentment filled Kimi as Garrett pulled into the driveway leading to her cottage. They’d enjoyed an evening with friends, and she’d heard more Scooby stories than ever. His friends had known how much Shaggy’s death had gutted him, so they’d avoided some of the stories before. Now, he’d healed enough to enjoy the memories.
Instead of heading into the cottage, they walked to the backfield to follow their nighttime ritual of checking on all the animals. The ritual had always brought peace to Kimi. “My grandmother always insisted we check on the animals before we went to sleep. She said she could only have a restful night if she knew the creatures in our care were resting as well.”
Garrett lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. The gesture always made her feel loved. “I wish I’d known your GG. I think I would have liked her a lot.”
Kimi nodded. “She would have loved you and your big heart.”
The bunnies were sleeping happily in their stall. The kittens were able to roam, but a few returned to this stall at night to hang out with their friends. Others had moved into Garrett’s barn and still others wandered the land.
Outside, they chatted with Snoops and the tiny pygmy goat who’d decided the cranky donkey was his best friend. They checked on the other goats and the pigs, the rheas and the peafowl, then crossed over to Garrett’s side to check on the horses. Inside the barn, all four nickered softly as they walked down the aisle.
Kitty and Onigis had decided inside was okay as long as their friends were inside, too. Kimi stroked her mare’s neck. “I’m glad you’re comfortable inside now. Winter is always around the corner here in Vermont, and you’ll be happy to be inside where it’s warm.”
Several cats roamed the barn while Bill meowed from the top rafters.
As they turned back, Kimi squeezed Garrett’s hand. “I’m so proud of you and what you’ve done. What you’re going to do.”
“I wouldn’t be doing a thing without you and that horse of yours. ”
She laughed. “You’re never going to let Onigis forget that she’s the reason I pulled a gun on you, are you?”
“Not a chance. You could have blown my head off while standing barefoot and wearing barely-there shorts. I nearly lost my mind when I finally saw you.”
Another laugh. “Right. You were steady as a rock. You were more concerned that I was abusing my horse than anything else.”
He laughed, too. “Nah. Well, only for a minute until you asked if I was thinking of hurting your horse. Then I knew you were okay.”
She bumped his hip. “I was just glad I didn’t have to shoot that sexy ass of yours.”
“Me too.”
On the way out of the barn, he detoured into the tack room and grabbed a couple of thick blankets. Then he steered Kimi toward the backfield.
He climbed the fence, and when Kimi did the same, he leaned forward to kiss her. “Hold that thought.”
He hopped over the fence and spread out the blankets, then set his Stetson on one corner.
“Do cowboys always remove their Stetsons before kissing?”
He grinned and moved to stand between her knees. “Only if they’re worried they’ll get carried away. A man’s hat is important. And if they’re doing the kissing thing right, it’s going to get knocked off. Better to keep it safe in the first place.”
She sparkled at him. “Are you planning on getting carried away?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good.”
When she leaned forward to hop down from the fence, he held up a hand to stall her movement. “First, I have a plan.”
She grabbed onto the fence and steadied herself but didn’t say anything.
He ran his hands up and down her legs and then up her arms to cup her face. “You’re an amazing woman, Kimi, and I love you so damn much. I want to spend my life with you. At your side, at your back. I want it all.”
He dug into his pocket and took out the ring. “This belonged to my grandmother, and I know she would be thrilled if you wanted to wear it. She would also completely understand if you think it’s too old-fashioned or not your style. In fact, that would make her laugh. So, it’s okay if you want a different ring, but I wanted to have something when I did this properly.”
Kimi swallowed hard as tears filled her eyes and love filled her heart.
Garrett lifted her left hand and held up the ring. “Kimi, will you marry me?”
Her heart filled. “Yes, absolutely, yes.”
He slid the ring onto her finger and then kissed it.
Her tears spilled over, but she didn’t care. The ring was gorgeous. A striking gold with diamonds spread around the band. She’d be able to wear it while she worked and not have to worry about it being caught on anything.
“The ring is perfect. I love it.” Then she leaned forward and threw herself into his arms, knowing he would catch her.
“I love you, Garrett.”
He spun her around in a circle and then set her on her feet and swayed her into a dance. “Never did have that fancy date yet.”
“We have lots of time for that.”
He kissed her softly, and her body melted into his. “We do have lots of time. We have forever.”
B onus Scene
Marcus Rivera
Marcus didn’t enjoy taking time off. Phail had become his home after his military career had ended. He liked taking care of the town and its people.
The town was growing, thanks in large part to Troy and Piper. A constant stream of ideas ran through her head, and Troy always found a way to make them happen.
A growing town meant more people, which always led to more fun but also opened things up to new problems. Some were little, like finding places to park. Others were larger, like keeping the people safe from those who wished them harm.
Taking time off felt wrong. He was the only law enforcement officer in town. If anything major happened while he was out of town, the guilt would consume him and he didn’t need even an ounce more guilt.
Of course, that thought brought memories crashing down. An Afghani village. Strong and vibrant people. A school for girls. An American teacher who had more determination and courage than many of the people he’d worked with in the army.
Terrified girls. Scooby and Shaggy helped him find the last child who’d been too scared to move.
Elina returned to look for her student.
Then the explosions.
They’d lost Shaggy, but the dog had herded everyone else away from the danger in her final act of selfless bravery.
For a moment, he’d thought the collapsing roof was going to crush Elina. But he’d managed to get her out of the way, and she’d lived.
He hadn’t seen her again, but she’d lived.
Marcus shook off the memories. Every time he needed to upgrade his prosthesis, it brought it all back. Tansy Cheveyo had set him up with a team of specialists over in New York. She’d worked with them before and assured him they would have the best and most advanced tech.
He’d need to do physical therapy to get used to the new foot, and he’d be gone over a week.
It was probably time to upgrade more than his leg. It was time to upgrade his department and find a better location. Then he could hire a few more officers to help carry the load.
At least the busy work of finding the right place and the right people would keep the memories at bay.
He wondered what Elina was up to these days. Without knowing her last name, he didn’t have a hope of finding her. He just hoped she was happy.