Page 8 of Spring Break with a One Night Stand

“Odette.” He wanted to say more, but the words wouldn’t come.

“Mr. Price?” Brenda held the brown and white furball under her chin, rocking from one foot to another. “Can we adopt one of these puppies when we leave?”

“Achoo!” Linsey began sneezing uncontrollably. “Achoo!”

“Great.” Jamie rolled her eyes. “Lins, are you, by any chance, allergic to dogs?”

The waiflike sophomore nodded between sneezes.

“This wasnotnoted on her paperwork,” Jamie hissed. “Nelson, why don’t you make a drugstore run for some antihistamines while I call Linsey’s mom. Odette, maybe you can get the rest of the kids started on…something.”

Odette glared at him over the heads of the students, but he was close enough to see the pulse at the base of her throat fluttering like mad and the scarlet blush beneath the pallor of shock.

For the first time in weeks, he smiled. Odette might be mad, but there was no doubt she remembered their night together…and it meant just as much to her as it did to him.

Chapter Five

It was almost impossible to get a table at Love Beach Brews when the spring break crowds were in town, but the manager had recently adopted a pair of cocker spaniels that were helping her cope with an empty nest which meant she’d do anything for Odette.

She was on her third diet soda when Ginger, Willa Leigh, and Jezzy showed up. The latecomers scrambled into the booth, talking all at once. Something about “flight delayed out of Montana” and “Waze app was wrong” and “I need a fucking drink.”

That was Jezzy.

“Thanks for coming, guys.” Odette blinked back tears.

She’d been avoiding Nelson all week, and she was exhausted. She’d been on high alert at the animal shelter so the second Nelson appeared, she could come up with an excuse to disappear. Somehow he’d gotten her cell number, and the first time she answered and heard his voice, the phone tumbled out of her hand. She added him to her contacts–so she could let his nightly call go unanswered–but it was getting harder and harder not to give in. Worst of all were the sleepless nights. She tossed and turned, memories of their one-night stand coming at her from all directions.

She just had to get through two more days, and he’d be out of her life.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.” Willa Leigh leaned across the table to cover Odette’s hands with her own. “Lulu had a riding competition, and Kobe already had travel planned.”

“You’re here now.”

“We’ve been here all week,” Jezzy pointed out. “If it was a real emergency, shouldn’t you have handled it before today?”

“Quit harassing her.” Ginger elbowed Jezzy. “Can’t you see she’s upset?”

The trio scrutinized her face.

“You don’t look good,” Willa Leigh said. “Are you sick?”

“Is there a problem at the animal shelter?” Ginger asked.

“It’s man trouble,” Jezzy pronounced.

“No way.” Ginger shook her head.

“Odette doesn’t date,” added Willa Leigh.

“Tell them.” Jezzy flagged down a server and ordered a pitcher of sangria, then sat back and waited.

“She’s right,” Odette mumbled.

“Let me guess.” Jezzy’s tone softened. “What happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas.”

“What are you talking about?” Ginger looked at Willa Leigh who looked at Jezzy who was still looking at Odette.

“When I was in Las Vegas for Valentine’s Day”–she didn’t bother hiding her sarcasm–“I met a guy. We sort of slept together. I cut out the next morning while he was still sleeping. Then, bam! He showed up at my animal shelter on Monday with a group of student volunteers, and I don’t know what the hell he wants.”

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