Page 105 of Forever and Other Lies

Predictable.

“I can’t believe you!” Jayna had barely climbed out of her pickup and was already ranting. “Where do you get off proposing, running straight out the door, and stealing my brand-new doormat?”

His heart skipped a beat. Jayna had always been gorgeous, but an angry Jayna was a sight to behold. Her cheeks flushed a very becoming shade of pink and her blue eyes deepened in color. As she stepped closer, the sun caught her flaxen blonde hair. For a brief moment, the long curls turned golden. Wow. She took his breath away.

“Hey, fake fiancée who is now my real fiancée!”

“Oh, don’t get ahead of yourself. I can give back the ring.”

Tommy dropped the soapy sponge back into the bucket. “If this engagement is off, then I’m not washing your truck.”

“And that’s another thing!” Jayna pointed at Tommy, who stood next to Derek’s pickup. “Who makes a bet on their proposal?”

“It was his idea,” Tommy held up both soapy hands and then pointed at Derek.

“Snitch.” Derek shook his head.

Jayna stalked up the front path to the deck where he stood. The new puppy and Tommy’s puppy charged toward her, tails wagging, barking that high pitched joyful puppy bark.

“Hi you two.” She bent down and scratched Norbert’s head and then scooped up the German Shepherd puppy. “Hey little guy.”

“Girl,” Derek supplied.

“Hey little girl, you sure are cute. What’s your name?”

“Chaos.”

“That’s a really stupid name.” Jayna kissed the puppy’s soft head.

“Told you so,” Tommy added.

“Stay out of it,” Derek snapped, then pointed. “You missed a spot.”

“Where?”

“The other side.”

“She looks like a Bella.” Jayna sighed, holding the puppy up, staring into her face.

“No dog looks like a Bella,” Derek grumbled. “Definitely not a badass German Shepherd.”

“She’s not a badass, she’s a sweetie.” Jayna turned her attention from the puppy back to him. “Her name is Bella!”

Jayna sank onto the first step of the deck, hugging the puppy to her. Was she crying? His chest felt tight, panic surging. Was she here to return the ring?

“What’s wrong?”

“You bought a puppy.” She was crying.

“You don’t like puppies?”

“I love puppies,” she sniffled.

This is why he didn’t do relationships. Women were complicated. He glanced over at Tommy and lifted his hands. What was he supposed to do?

Tommy pointed at Jayna. Derek shrugged, shaking his head. “Comfort her,” Tommy mouthed and made a circle with his arms, imitating a hug.

Damn it. Jayna was a tough chick. She’d pretty much taken Sonny out before he stormed into the cellar. Blood had been pouring from the psycho’s nose. But a puppy had her bawling her eyes out?

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