Chapter Eleven – Doreen
Doreen fluffed up the pillows and straightened the throw on the sofa for the third time as her eyes drifted toward the clock on the wall.
As if drawn by some invisible force, she went to the window and peered out at the snow-covered path before turning back to straighten the same cushions she’d already fluffed three times.
Jake’s laughter filled the cabin as he rolled across the floor with Bash, the golden retriever, playfully tugging at his sock. The contrast between their carefree roughhousing and her methodical fussing highlighted just how tightly wound she truly was.
“Sit still, you goof,” Jake giggled as Bash flopped onto his back, paws waving in the air.
Doreen smoothed her sweater, running her palms over the soft burgundy wool. What was wrong with her? She was acting like a lovesick teenager waiting for her prom date, not a grown woman waiting for another dog training session with the local deputy.
But that was the effect a certain Deputy Pike had on her. Whether she liked it or not.
And if she were honest, after her conversation with Sorcha yesterday, she was ready to like it. More than ready.
Which was why she’d been up since six, showered, dressed, made breakfast, and still found herself with too much nervous energy and nearly an hour to kill. Because she could not wait to see him again. To feel that connection that flared between them whenever he was close.
Damn, she hoped he wasn’t late. If he were, she might lose her mind. And the pillows might lose their stuffing from too much fluffing.
She’d always valued punctuality, perhaps too much. Walt had been chronically late, always with an excuse, always making her wait. In those final months, she’d come to see his tardiness as just one more small betrayal.
James arriving on time today would mean something. Proof that he kept his word. Proof that he wasn’t Walt.
Jake looked up from the floor, catching her glance at the clock again.
“Is Deputy Pike coming soon?” he asked, holding Bash’s front paws as the dog tried to lick his face.
“Yes. Any time now.” Doreen nodded, trying to appear casual while her heart seemed determined to outpace the ticking clock. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, wondering if she should have put it up instead of leaving it loose.
The seconds ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last. She moved to the kitchen, wiping down the already clean counter just to have something to do with her hands.
At precisely nine o’clock, Bash’s ears perked up first, his entire body going still for a split second before he bolted upright. Then, a firm knock sounded at the door. Doreen jumped, even though she had been expecting it.
“He’s here!” Jake shouted, scrambling to his feet before Doreen could even turn from the counter.
She took a steadying breath, ran her fingers through her hair once more, and moved toward the door. Her fingers hovered on the knob for half a second longer than necessary — ridiculous, but she felt the moment stretch, charged, expectant. With a long exhale, she opened the door.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice steady and sure, somehow making her feel both flustered and calm at once.
“Good morning. You’re right on time,” she managed, stepping back to let him in.
The scent of cold air and pine followed him into the cabin as he stomped snow from his boots.
Doreen was intimately aware of him. As if his very presence could reach in and touch that frozen part of her and melt it faster.
Jake immediately launched into questions, barely pausing for breath. “Are we going to practice more for the dog show? Did you bring treats? Do you think Bash will remember what he learned yesterday?”
Bash circled James’s legs in joyful greeting, his tail wagging so hard his entire body wiggled with it.
James laughed, kneeling to ruffle the dog’s fur. “Whoa there, buddy. Yes, to all of those questions, Jake.”
Doreen watched them, a surge of happiness flowing through her. He’d said nine o’clock, and here he was at nine exactly. Not a minute early, not a minute late. He’d kept his word.
“Should we get started?” James asked, looking up at her with those clear blue eyes.
“Of course,” she nodded, reaching for her coat. “Let’s head outside.”
The morning air was crisp and cold, burning slightly in her lungs as they stepped onto the porch. Bash wiggled with excitement, barely containing himself as James demonstrated the first command.
“Remember, firm but gentle,” James said, his voice calm and firm. “Bash, sit.”
His hands moved with precise, confident gestures that Doreen found herself watching too intently. There was something mesmerizing about the way he gave a command, the certainty in his movements, the unmistakable authority in his voice.
Bash obeyed immediately, looking expectantly at James.
“Now you try, Jake,” James encouraged.
Jake mimicked the gesture with surprising accuracy. “Bash, sit!”
The dog hesitated, glancing between Jake and James before lowering his hindquarters to the snow.
“Good boy!” Doreen exclaimed, surprising herself with her enthusiasm.
James turned to her with a smile that made her melt inside. “Jake’s a fast learner.”
“Just like Bash,” Jake said happily, ruffling the dog’s ears.
While Jake guided Bash through the “stay” command, the dog investigated a patch of snow, nose twitching with interest at some hidden scent.
James kneeled beside Jake, adjusting the boy’s hand position slightly. “That’s it. Consistent signals help him understand what you want.”
Jake nodded solemnly, his face scrunched in concentration. Then, as if the thought had just occurred to him, he looked up at James. “My dad said he was going to help me train Bash when he got back from his business trip... but he broke his ankle and couldn’t travel home.”
The simple statement hung in the frosty morning air. Doreen felt a pang in her chest, hearing the disappointment behind Jake’s matter-of-fact words.
James’s expression softened, his eyes filled with understanding as he placed a gentle hand on Jake’s shoulder. “That must be hard,” he whispered. “I’m sorry your dad couldn’t be here.”
Jake shrugged, trying to appear brave. “It’s okay. Aunt D brought me here to Bear Creek, which is amazing. And now you’re teaching me dog stuff.”
“Well,” James said, his voice warm, “I think you’re doing an amazing job.”
“When my dad gets home, I’m going to show him everything Bash has learned,” Jake replied.
“Your dad would be proud of how well you’re taking such good care of Bash,” James told him.
Doreen watched as Jake’s face brightened at the praise. James had a knack for saying just the right thing.
“Hey,” James said, his eyes finding Doreen’s for a brief moment before turning back to Jake. “Have you seen the enormous tree in the town square?”
Jake shook his head, curiosity replacing the momentary sadness on his face. “Nope. Is it really enormous?”
“It is. And it’s pretty special,” James continued. “People from all over Bear Creek hang their wishes there at Christmas time.” He paused, glancing at Doreen again as if seeking permission. “If you’d like, we could go there after training. You could make a wish for your dad.”
“Really?” Jake’s eyes widened with excitement. “Can we, Aunt D? Please?”
“I think that sounds wonderful,” she murmured, her eyes meeting James’s over Jake’s head. He’d effortlessly managed to switch the focus of Jake’s worries about his dad.
His smile in response was like sunshine breaking through clouds. Maybe if he could fix Jake’s worries, maybe he could fix her fears, too. “Then it’s settled,” he said, standing and brushing snow from his knees. “Let’s finish Bash’s training, and then we’ll head into town.”
They spent the next half hour putting Bash through his paces—sit, stay, come, heel—and Doreen couldn’t help but notice how the golden retriever seemed to be responding better with each command. Even his usual distraction with nearby wildlife seemed to have lessened.
“Down, Bash,” Jake commanded with surprising authority in his young voice. To everyone’s amazement, Bash immediately dropped to his belly in the snow, his eyes locked on Jake’s face with attentive devotion.
“That was perfect!” James exclaimed, genuine pride warming his voice as he kneeled beside the boy. “You’re a natural dog trainer, Jake.”
“He did it!” Jake’s face lit up with delight as he looked from Bash to James and back again. “He really listened to me!”
“I think that’s enough for today,” James said, ruffling Jake’s hair. “Bash is doing so well, we should end on a high note. How about we head into town now and see that special tree I told you about?”
“Yes!” Jake pumped his fist in the air. “Can we go right now? I already know what I’m going to wish for!”
“Let me grab my keys,” James said, zipping up his jacket. “My truck’s parked just down the path.”
“We’re going in your truck?” Jake bounced on his toes. “Is it a police truck?”
James laughed. “Just my personal one. Though it does have a radio.”
“I need to go grab my purse,” Doreen said. “I’ll just be a minute.”
“Take your time,” James replied with a smile that warmed her down to her toes. “We’ll be right here waiting.”
Inside the cabin, Doreen grabbed her purse and quickly checked her reflection in the small mirror by the door. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, or perhaps from something else entirely. She smoothed her hair once more, applied a fresh coat of lip balm, and took a deep breath.
“It’s just a trip into town,” she whispered to herself. “Not a date.”
But as she stepped back outside and saw James helping Jake secure Bash’s leash, she acknowledged the truth. No matter how many times she tried to tell herself this was not a date, she sure wished it was.
“Ready?” James asked, looking up at her as if he had been waiting all his life for her.
“Ready,” she confirmed, ducking her head so that he could not read her expression.
They walked together down the snowy path, Jake racing ahead with Bash. When they reached the parking area, James led them to a dark blue pickup truck, sturdy and practical against the winter landscape.
“Bash can sit in the back with me!” Jake announced, already climbing in.
James helped secure Bash’s leash to the seat belt, ensuring the dog couldn’t lunge forward while they drove. When he turned to help Doreen into the passenger seat, she was struck by the natural courtesy of the gesture. And she resisted the urge to tell him she could manage.
Not because she didn’t want to brush him off. But because she wanted to feel his touch. Feel the jolt of recognition that shot through her whenever they touched.
There it was! He placed his hand on her elbow.
James slid behind the wheel, and the truck came to life with a gentle rumble. The interior smelled pleasantly of pine air freshener and leather, with subtle notes of coffee.
As they pulled away from the cabins, Doreen became acutely aware of how close they sat on the bench seat.
Each time James shifted gears, his arm brushed against hers, sending tiny sparks of awareness through her body.
She pressed herself against the door, trying to maintain a respectable distance, but somehow found herself drifting toward the center of the seat instead, as if drawn by some invisible force.
This was too easy. Too comfortable. Too dangerous. How long had it been since she’d felt this drawn to someone?
“The heater works great,” she said, immediately regretting the banality of the comment.
“One benefit of living where it snows every year,” James replied with a smile. “You learn to prioritize a good heating system.”
His eyes met hers briefly before returning to the road, and Doreen’s thoughts scattered like startled birds.
“Did you see how Bash sat when I told him to?” Jake’s voice piped up from the back seat. “He didn’t even try to chase that squirrel! I think he’s ready for the dog show.”
“He’s making amazing progress,” James answered as he glanced at Jake in the rear-view mirror. “But you need to keep practicing.”
“Practice makes perfect, that’s what my dad says,” Jake replied as he scooted over to the window and stared out at the snowy scenery outside.
Doreen turned slightly to check on Jake, and without warning, Bash lunged forward as far as his tether would allow, his wet tongue catching her directly on the cheek.
She jumped with a startled “Oh!” Her hand flew to her face.
James’s laugh filled the cab of the truck, deep, rich, and uninhibited. “Sorry,” he said, not looking sorry at all as his eyes crinkled at the corners. “Bash must really like you.”
“That sure was one wet kiss,” she said, wiping her cheek with her sleeve, unable to suppress her own smile.
“Bash gives the best kisses!” Jake declared proudly from the back seat.
Doreen’s gaze drifted from Bash to James, catching on his profile as he drove.
That strong jawline, those expressive eyes focused on the road ahead.
A flutter stirred low in her stomach as she found herself wondering what his kisses might be like—gentle at first, perhaps, but with that same quiet intensity she’d glimpsed whenever their eyes met.
She had a feeling they’d put Bash’s sloppy affection to shame.
They might just be the best kisses she’d ever experienced.
If she dared let him in.