Page 99 of Wild Ride

“Ruby. Nice to meet you, Ruby. Would you like to hold Cleo?”

“I could do that?”

“Of course. She loves to be held, and she’s really too small to do any damage.”

Ashley got the distinct impression this woman had not been around animals for a while. Sadness rolled off her, a cloud of despair. But the moment her fingers wrapped around Cleo’s soft, furry body, Ruby’s demeanor changed. The raincloud lifted and in its place was a big ball of sun.

“She’s so soft.”

“She is. And look at those eyes—she’s gonna be a heartbreaker.”

Ruby was suddenly lost in the joys of holding the kitten. Ashley had seen it before, how animals soothed and made a person’s problems fade away, if only for a while. It couldn’t heal all wounds, but it certainly made the harder moments better.

“Can you manage her while you fill out the application?” Ashley was curious to see if Ruby was a multitasker.

“I think so. Even if she is quite the attention hog.”

“You know there’s a cat café just off the main street where you could get your fix.”

The woman nodded. “Because I can’t volunteer here?”

“Oh no, not at all. Just giving you more options for cat interaction if you want.”

Deciding to give the woman space, Ashley stood, just as the door opened and Dex walked in. She’d thought he might not show since his PR duties had received such a positive response, and relief on seeing him coursed through her. He still wanted to be here, maybe even continue to see her …

“Hey there,” she said to Dex, who smiled at her in a way that seemed oddly familiar.

She didn’t have time to think about that because the smile vanished in an instant. Dex’s gaze had switched to the woman playing with the kitten and shifted to a darkness she barely recognized.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Ashley blinked and moved her gaze to Ruby. The clipboard fell from her hand and she held the kitten over her chest like armor.

“I was hoping to see you,” the woman said. “You haven’t stopped by the diner?—”

“There’s a reason for that. You’re supposed to have gotten the message.”

“I saw that online post that said you were volunteering here. I thought maybe you might be open to talking.”

“You thought wrong.” He moved in closer, brushing by Ashley who may as well not be here. “You need to give back that kitten because no one is less qualified to look after it.”

The woman looked like she’d been struck. Quickly she stood and held out the kitten for Dex to take it.

Which he did.

In that moment, Ashley despised him for it. Like he’d stolen something precious, this woman’s brief connection with joy.

“Dex! You can’t do that.”

He turned, his mouth still twisted with fury. Not even the kitten in his hands could change it.

“What’s she doing here?”

“Volunteering. At least, that’s what she said …”

The woman—Ruby—was moving toward the door. She caught Ashley’s eye. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”

“No, it’s ok?—”

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