Chapter 28
BODIE
Sunday afternoon, I dropped Lacey off in front of her dad’s house and tried to pretend like I wasn’t already missing her. She gave me a quick kiss, the kind we might trade back and forth all the time if we let ourselves. After spending two nights with her in my arms, I was ready to be all in.
“See you tomorrow night.” Her lips curled up in one more smile.
I smiled back and nodded like having her come over for dinner wasn’t a big deal, like I didn’t already have plans to go home and clean my whole damn kitchen.
But come Monday morning, I wasn’t thinking about what kind of wine she might like or how it would feel to hold her again. I was staring at a vet tech who looked like she got paid to ruin my life. Turns out, the dog I’d agreed to foster for a few weeks was pregnant. And not just a little pregnant.
I looked at the vet tech like she’d sprouted another head. “That’s impossible.”
The woman gave me a nervous smile. “Actually, it’s not.”
I shook my head. “How could this have happened?”
“It’s actually quite simple. Surely you’re familiar with a little lesson you’ve probably heard before about the birds and the bees?”
Groaning, I lifted my shoulders and let them fall again. “But when? Since I’ve had her she hasn’t been out of my sight.”
The tech ran her finger down a piece of paper. “You sure about that?”
I had taken her with me to my mom and dad’s place. Maybe one of the farm dogs had gotten to her. That had to be it. There was no other way. “For Pitties’ Sake has got to take her back. I let them talk me into fostering her for a bit, but damn, I can’t handle a pregnant pit bull.”
“I’m sure they’ll take her back. And in their defense, unless they were planning on spaying her soon, they probably didn’t know. Most pups don’t go through their first cycle until they’re older.”
I wasn’t going to do this. I wasn’t going to talk about a dog’s menstrual cycle with a complete stranger. “Yeah, okay. I’ll let them know when I return her.”
The tech closed the folder and met my gaze. “She’s a very sweet girl who’s been through a lot. It might do her good to be with someone she loves and trusts while she goes through her pregnancy.”
I stepped back. “Whoa. I said I’d watch her for a few weeks, max. Never signed up to foster a pregnant dog.”
“I’m sure you’ll work it out.” She slid a piece of paper in front of me. “If you’ll just sign here I’ll go get her for you.”
I flicked my gaze over the long list of items. Intravenous hydration, twenty-four-hour supervision, electrolytes.
It all added up to the tune of over three grand.
And all because of my dad and my pops. They’d be hearing from me about this.
If I hadn’t spent the past twenty-four hours tracking down Lacey they would have already had another visit.
I scrawled my signature over the credit card slip. There went my boat fund. The tech disappeared and came back a few minutes later with Shotgun. The dog sniffed cautiously at the floor, uncertain about her whereabouts.
“Hey, girl.” I squatted down to run a hand over her head.
At the sound of my voice she launched herself at me, covering my face in big, sloppy kisses.
“She trusts you,” the tech observed.
I stood and took the offered leash, choosing not to acknowledge that comment. “Anything else?”
“Nope. Should be good to go. But you’ll want to check in with her regular vet to monitor her pregnancy.” She took a treat out of a canister on the counter and offered it to Shotgun. “Good luck with her. She’s a sweetheart.”
“Thanks,” I muttered. How had I gone from living the single life, a confirmed bachelor, to getting tangled up with Lacey and taking on a pregnant dog?
I’d have to see if Zina could take her back sooner rather than later.
I could barely keep my own life in order.
There was no way I could become responsible for Shotgun and a couple of pups.
Before I did anything else though, I had to have a conversation with my dad and pops.
With everything going on with Lacey and her plans to turn our corner of Texas into wedding central, I couldn’t afford to get tangled up with the likes of Mayor Little and Swynton.
My career aspirations would have to wait.
By the time I got Shotgun settled at home and checked in at work, I was hungry, tired, and cranky—the perfect time to resume the conversation with my family.
I was already in a bad mood so Pops wouldn’t have a chance to ruin it much more.
I pulled into the drive next to my dad’s fully loaded truck.
At least he was here and not off scheming with Buck.
I entered the office to the sound of Johnny Cash crooning over the built-in speaker system. “Dad?”
No answer. I walked farther into the office.
“Out here,” Dad called from the back. The office building shared a patio with the main house. Dad sat on the stamped concrete patio surrounding the huge crystal-clear pool.
“What are you doing outside?” I pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. Temps were in the low fifties this time of year, not exactly poolside weather.
“I think my office is bugged.”
“What makes you think that?”
Dad pointed to his face where the purple and blue had faded to a gruesome greenish color. “How else would they have known what was going on?”
I ground my molars together. “Dad, you’ve got to come clean with me and tell me what’s going on. Otherwise there’s no way I’m going to be able to help you.”
Dad shrugged. “I changed my mind about telling you. Your pops and I have it under control.”
If “under control” meant continuing to dodge someone who obviously had it out for them, then they weren’t doing such a great job.
My phone rang, preventing me from saying as much.
Lacey. My heart warmed at the sight of her number.
But now wasn’t the time. I swiped at my phone then set it back on the table.
“Doesn’t look like you and Pops have a grip on things. Why don’t you let me handle this?”
Dad shook his head. “You give any more thought to Buck’s offer? Bodie Phillips, sheriff of Sewell County. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
“It does,” I agreed. My lifelong career goal, handed to me on a silver platter. Was I being too rash in declining the offer?
“Think of it. With you as sheriff it won’t take long to run the Cherish girl out of town and then Buck can take over. He’s got a vision that will put Swynton on the map.”
“I bet he does. But—”
Dad’s phone rang. He put up a finger, silencing me. “Yeah?”
While he waited, I checked my phone. For some reason it appeared to be midcall. “Hello?”
The sound of the line disconnecting hit my ear. Lacey. Shit, shit, shit. Instead of dismissing her call I must have answered. Which meant she’d probably just heard the conversation between me and my dad.
“I’ve gotta go.” I dialed her number and got sent straight to voice mail.
With no time to spare, I shoved my phone in my pocket.
The conversation with my dad would have to wait.
.. again. I had to get to Lacey and find out what she’d heard.
If she thought I was working against her she’d doubt everything that had happened between us.
I couldn’t afford to have that happen. No matter what my dad and pops had their greedy fingers into, it was high time I separated myself from their undermining efforts.
Now I just needed to find Lacey and tell her that before she came to conclusions on her own.