Page 2 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

A quick thrill rushed through Elsie’s core, even if it was ridiculous to assume more than a casual friendship with Dean Kingston. “Well, Dean shares Cal’s home office, so yes, he’s there. Besides, Jimmy’s so enamored with Dean’s dog, there’s stars in his eyes that would make him imagine all sorts of things.”

“And I’m sure there’s no other reason for taking Jimmy to Jenna’s place tonight than an innocent play date, right?”

Elsie planted her fists on her hips. “Do you think I’m pimping out your son so I can maybe see a handsome man? You don’t know me at all.”

Mila let out a hoot of laughter. “Honey, we’ve been friends our entire lives. I know you all too well, which is why I want that wine and girl talk tonight. I’m hoping you’ll have something more interesting to share than how Jimmy and his friend rolled trucks around on an endless track.”

“Don’t set your expectations too high. It’s been a long time since I’ve had interesting news to share about anyone from the opposite sex.”

“You and me both,” Mila said with a wink. “Thanks again for watching Jimmy for me. I’ll see you tonight.”

Elsie was too bogged down with a mountain of clothing to wave before her friend disappeared into the hallway. She sighed, wishing for a moment she’d have better gossip to share with her friend when the time came. But life had taken her down a different path.

One with good friends, a job she loved, and a hopeless crush on a man who’d always be beyond her reach.

Dean satin a leather bucket seat across from his best friend and business partner, Calvin Spradling. He bounced a tennis ball against the hardwood floor while Calvin finished telling him about his latest case. He’d joined Calvin’s private investigator business the year before when he’d moved back to his hometown of Water’s Edge, Tennessee, with a broken heart and no job.

Since there’d been no openings in local law enforcement, joining forces with Calvin had made sense. An opportunity he’d always be grateful for, especially with how much he’d grown to love working in the private sector. Not to mention how much he enjoyed spending his days with his high school buddy, with his dog Boo usually at his side.

Calvin sat behind the large mahogany desk in his home office. Books lined the built-in shelves at his back, and the fading evening sun sent muted streams of light through the lone window. “Will you throw that damn thing already? Your dog’s about to jump out of his skin.”

Boo, Dean’s giant German Shepherd, stared at him with big brown eyes. He sat on his haunches and his skin twitched with anticipation.

“You sure you want him running after this thing in here?” He bounced the ball again, and Boo’s head nodded along with themotion. “He’s a moose. Might knock off every book in that shelf if he runs into it.”

“Then don’t throw it far.” Calvin ran a hand through his short, dark hair.

“Not that far to throw it. Space is a little tight, don’t ya think?” Dean tossed the ball high in the air then leaned back in his chair, hooking his ankle over his jean-clad knee.

Boo leapt up and snapped open his jaw, catching the ball then trotting to Dean’s side and laying on the floor.

“Good boy,” Dean said, rubbing a palm over his head.

“Like I was saying, we can close the Peterman case.” Calvin ignored his quip about the cramped office. “How are you doing on the Gilbert file?”

Dean winced and scratched the shallow dent in his chin. “Found the husband. He was holed up a couple towns over with his mistress. Not the news Mrs. Gilbert wanted, but we both know she wasn’t surprised.”

Telling the young wife about her husband’s infidelity had soured his stomach, the sensation still lingering hours later. The way the hopeful gleam in her eye had transformed to anger and sadness would haunt him tonight.

Remind him of his own feelings of betrayal when his wife had left him for another man.

But he’d moved on and his life was beginning again at the ripe old age of thirty-one. If he could put all his baggage in the rearview mirror, so could the young woman he’d spoken with earlier.

“Bastard,” Calvin muttered.

“Agreed, but we can’t all be as lucky as you and Jenna.”

Calvin snorted. “I’m not sure you can call the path Jenna and I took to get back into each other’s lives lucky.”

“True,” Dean said. “More like you’re a lucky sonofabitch Jenna would marry you and give you a beautiful family.”

Calvin grinned. “Now that I can agree with.”

The sourness in Dean’s stomach intensified. He’d wanted a family with Gina. Hell, he’d thought they were actively trying to have a baby until she’d blindsided him. Maybe he hadn’t moved beyond his baggage as much as he’d thought.

The squeak of the front door opening perked Boo’s ears. He lifted his head, and the ball dropped from his now open mouth.

“Jenna and Oliver home?” Dean asked.

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