Chapter 3
BIANCA AND JANSEN
KELLY JAMIESON
This day could not get any worse.
Now I’m back on the highway, exceeding the speed limit to get back to Oak Creek Canyon in time for date night with Jansen.
And what happens? Of course I get pulled over for speeding.
Unfortunately I’m not in Napa County where Clay works and where I know several of the officers, and despite my smiles and explanations and apologies, I end up with an expensive speeding ticket. And I’m going to be even later.
I tell my phone to call Jansen.
“Hey, honey,” he answers. “Where are you? I thought you’d be home by now.”
“Me, too.” I make a noise of frustration. “I’m running so late, I’m sorry. But I think I can get to the restaurant pretty close to seven, so why don’t you go ahead and I’ll just meet you there.”
After a brief beat of silence, he says, “Won’t you want to change for dinner?”
We have reservations at Old Dove House, the three Michelin starred restaurant in town. I’ve only ever been there once before and Jansen never has, so he suggested it. It’s expensive and classy.
I glance down at myself, wearing old jeans, boots, and a thick sweater. It’s December and the temperatures have been cool, nearly freezing at night. This is not what I wanted to wear to a fancy dinner date with my boyfriend.
“I did,” I say with a sigh. “But if I go home to change I’ll be even later.”
Another pause. “I think you should go home and get ready,” he says. “I’ll hold the table for us.”
“Really?” I pause. “Okay. I’ll be as quick as I can. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all good,” he assures me.
Okay. I set my cruise control so I won’t speed even though I want to. I’m close to home, just past Napa, when the car in front of me brakes hard and swerves wildly.
“Jesus!”
I brake, too, eyes wide, envisioning crashing into the car, and steer toward the shoulder. That’s when I see the black and white creature that just ran across the highway. It darts into the dry golden grass, but it was limping.
Did it get hit? What is it? A dog? A skunk?
The car in front of me didn’t even stop and has sped away. I stop my car and with shaky hands put it into park. The adrenaline rush is making my knees wobbly, too, and I suck in a breath. Whew. No collision.
But…
I throw open my door as a big truck roars by, blasting me with a gust of wind. I flatten myself against the side of the vehicle, then I make my way behind my car, searching for the animal I saw. There he is.
My feet crunch along the paved shoulder. As I get nearer, I see it’s a dog, crouched and cowering. The face is white down the center all the way to the chest, with black ears that are flattened to its head.
“Hey,” I say softly, approaching cautiously. “Are you okay, pup?”
The dog is trembling. I crouch down hold out my hand for him—or her—to sniff.
“Are you hurt?” I ask, studying him. He’s kind of a mess, with dirty matted fur. Big brown eyes gaze up at me and make my heart squeeze. I don’t see any blood, but with him lying in the grass, it’s hard to tell. He has a collar on, but no tag.
“Where did you come from?” I stroke his head.
“Are you lost? You’re too beautiful to be lost. Someone is missing you.
” I blow out a breath. “Will you come with me? My friend works for a vet.” I hook my fingers into the collar and give a gentle tug.
He rises to his feet and I lead him to the car.
But yeah, he’s limping. “You poor baby. What has happened to you?” I bite my lip, then pick him up.
I’d guess he weighs about thirty pounds, and I shuffle to the vehicle.
Luckily, he’s docile but even so, I have to do a bit of pushing to get him into the back seat of my SUV. Then I grab my phone and call Ana. “Hi. Are you at work?”
“I am. For another hour.”
“Oh good.” I exhale sharply. “I found a dog.”
“Another one?”
“That wasn’t me, that was Jansen.”
“Right, right. But still…what’s with you two, finding dogs everywhere.”
“He’s limping,” I say. “It looks like he’s been wandering around for a while.”
“Bring him in.”
“On my way.”
Then I remember I’m supposed to be on my way to meet Jansen for dinner. Shit. So much for going home to change.
I rush to the veterinary clinic and lead my new friend inside. Ana’s at the front desk and she gazes at my buddy. “Aw. Look at you.”
She has a leash that she clips onto his collar. “She’s a girl.”
“Oops. I thought she was a boy. You’re so pretty, sweet baby,” I croon. “How could I think you were a boy?”
Ana disappears and comes back with a small device. “Let’s see if there’s a chip.” She moves the device over the dog’s neck and back. “Yep! There is.”
“Oh yay!”
“I can look up this number,” Ana says. “And hopefully find the owner.”
“Oh perfect! Um…can I go now?”
Ana frowns.
“I’m sorry! I’m supposed to be meeting Jansen, uh…forty minutes ago for a dinner date.”
Ana gives me an up and down look. “Like that?”
I look at myself. “Shit.” I probably could have gotten away with jeans and a sweater, but now I’m filthy and hairy.
“Go!” Ana waves her hands. “We’ll take care of her.”
“Thank you.” I crouch down and give the dog a hug. “Sorry to abandon you, new friend, but you’ll be so happy to get back to your people.”
I take a quick picture to show Jansen then sprint out to my car and jump in. Should I go change? That’ll add about another twenty minutes. God.
I call Jansen. “Hey,” he says warily.
“Hi! You won’t believe this but I ran into another delay. I’m so sorry! But I can come right now if you don’t mind how I look.”
He sighs. “Okay. I’m sure you look fine.”
I grimace. “Be there in about ten minutes.”
I head back to the highway and into town. Old Dove House is on the other side of town, but Oak Creek Canyon’s not that big, so I’m soon pulling into the parking lot.
They’ve decorated for the Christmas season.
All the trees around the parking lot have been strung with little white lights, more lights glow in the vines twining up the side of the building, and potted evergreens with twinkling lights flank the door.
It’s so pretty but I’m stressed and rushed. And starving.
I rush in and the hostess greets me with a smile. “Hi, how are you?”
“I’m uh, good,” I say. “I’m meeting someone who’s already here…Jansen Beck.”
“Yes!” She gives me an up and down look and funny expression crosses her face. “Right this way.”
She leads me to Jansen’s table. I’m glad the lighting here is dim. Wall sconces radiate warm light and candles flicker on each white-clothed table. Every table is full, of course; this place is hard to get into.
We’re at a table for two in a corner. Jansen looks up as I approach.
I’m ready for him to give me another look like the hostess just did, like Ana did, like I’ve just dragged myself out from under grapevines after rolling in mud.
But he doesn’t. When he sees me, his eyes light up and a smile breaks across his face.
That handsome, precious face with his strong jaw, deep set eyes and full lips. As always, his smile melts me.
He stands and takes two steps toward me to set his hands on my shoulders and kiss me. “You made it.”
“I did. I’m so sorry. Really.”
He tips his head, the corners of his mouth lifted. “I’m just glad you didn’t stand me up.”
“I would never. Um.” I drop my gaze to my filthy hands. “I’m going to use the ladies’ room to clean up.”
“Go ahead.” And he actually gives my ass a little pat as I turn to walk away.
I smile. God, I love him.
I do my best in the ladies’ room to swipe off dog hair and dirt, wash my hands, even wipe off a smudge of dirt on my face.
I don’t carry a lot of stuff like cosmetics in my purse, but I have a hairbrush and lip gloss, so I use those.
I give myself a crooked smile in the mirror.
I’ve never been one to worry what I look like; I’m basically a farmer and a scientist. But I spare a moment of regret for the pretty dress I had hanging in my closet to wear tonight. I wanted to wow Jansen.
But it looked like I wowed him anyway just by being here. My heart does a happy little frolic in my chest.
I keep my chin up as I make my way through other tables to Jansen. He stands and holds my chair for me to sit, making my pulse kick again.
As he takes his seat, my eyes fall on the flowers on the table—lavender roses, blue and purple hydrangeas, violet stocks that I lean in closer to sniff. “Heavenly.” I look back to Jansen. “Are these for me?”
“Yes. I was afraid they would die while I waited for you.”
I choke out a laugh, my heart doing those funny antics again. “Oh, come on. I said I’m sorry.”
“I know.” We share a smile.
“My favorite colors.” They remind me of the night he told me he loves me.
He nods. “I’m glad you like them.”
“I love them. Thank you. Now I feel even worse for being late.”
“Where were you?”
“I, uh, had an errand to run.” I tell him about the morning’s problems at Tresorelle. The traffic snarl up. “Then I was running late and…” I look up at him through my eyelashes. “I got a speeding ticket.”
His eyes widen. “No!”
“Yes.” I make a face. “I was in a hurry! But the cop didn’t care about that.”
His lips twitch. “Probably not.”
“And then…I found a dog. I thought she got hit by a car.”
He stares at me. “A dog.”
“Yes. Like a border collie, I think? I couldn’t just leave her.” I hold his gaze with imploring eyes.
He shakes his head. “Of course not.” He reaches across the table and curls his strong, warm fingers around my hand.
“Look.” I pull out my phone and show him the picture I took, then tell him about the trip to the veterinary clinic to see Ana.
“So you left her there?”
“Yes. They should be able to find her owner. So don’t worry, we won’t end up adopting another stray.” I give him a toothy smile.
He shrugs. “We could.”
“Really?”
“Well, I think Moose should have the final say. I wouldn’t want to do anything that upset him.”
I roll my lips in on a smile. “Of course not. Anyway, it’s moot. Hopefully.”