Page 10 of Dashing for Love

Nice. That’ll get you a sample bite of fudge at the Fudge Shoppe in Lucky.

You know Lucky?

I do…

Does that ellipsis mean you don’t want to tell me more?

It does. Can’t give too much away just yet, right?

I can’t stop the grin that spreads on my face.

Couldn’t agree more.

Look at you—a man who knows how to pick up on a woman’s subtle hints.

I laugh and scratch the chihuahua’s knobby little head, chuckling at the happy snuffle he makes. I’m already a goner. No way am I going to place him with anyone else. He’s way too cute, and he’s the chillest chihuahua I’ve ever met. Now I just have to come up with his name. I turn back to the conversation with Dawn.

Not to brag, but I’m known for my ability to pick up subtle hints.

You’re funny

Can I screenshot that? My friends will never believe it otherwise.

Lol sure, go for it.

My stomach rumbles, ready for dinner, but I can’t make myself get up just yet. I’m enjoying the conversation too much. I spend the next hour talking to Dawn, and by the time we finally sign off, I’m amazed. I’ve never been able to talk to anyone so easily.

Well, no one other than Willa. And Goldie, too, I suppose. But those are the only two women—hell,people—I’ve ever been that comfortable with. I mean, I’m a vet because I like animals better than most humans. They never let you down. Humans? They’re a whole other story.

I shrug off the momentary blip of sadness and focus on the good things in life. Things I got by relying on myself and myself alone.

Chapter 5

Goldie

JAMES

Good morning

Dawn

Good morning

Hope you have a good Sunday

Thanks!

Sundays are yoga and a pier walk day. It used to be a sacred thing that Willa did only with Matty, but once Reid came into the picture, all bets were off. And I need the mental and physical release of yoga, especially after I spent hours yesterday hunched over my phone like a love-struck teenager.

James is fun. He’s easy to talk to and seems genuine. Could I be getting catfished? Of course. But it seems like it’d be a lot of trouble to go to on this app. For now, I’ll take it nice and slow.

Regardless, I could use the stretching of mind, body, and spirit, so off to yoga I go. Willa and Reid are already there, with their black cat Midnight picking her way through the mats like she owns the place. Reid brought her in here when he was co-parenting her with Willa, and the owner basically couldn’t say no to Reid’s muscles, so there you have it.

The whole town had the hots for Reid back then, and it’s easy to see why: He’s cute as hell, has dimples that might be as deep as the ocean, he’s fit, and looks damn good in running shorts. A couple of people—Willa and my mom included—were all formeand Reid getting together when he first got here, but it became obvious very quickly that he was down bad for my sister. And thank goodness, because she was just as bowled over by him.

I give Willa a hug hello, and she immediately asks, “Did you talk any more with James?” Her eyebrows wiggle.

I laugh. “A little, yeah. He sent me a good morning message this morning, and I sent him one back.” I unroll my mat. “It’s good. Nice and slow.”

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