Page 8 of Home Between Homes

I jumped out of bed. I couldn’t go downstairs in just my briefs. I slipped into my black joggers, grabbed my shirt, pulled it over my head, and stumbled into the hallway. I’ve never tried to get dressed as fast as I did at that moment.

“Well, look who it is.” A deep male voice echoed through the house—not Mr. McCormac’s, but as familiar. “Aren’t you a good girl?”

A shiver ran down my spine as I followed the voice downstairs. I turned the corner into the living room and could already see Jack in the kitchen, cuddling with Maggie, who was trying to lick his face.

“Jack?” I asked at a sight that was both sweet and unsettling. Last night, I had dreamed of meeting him again, but now that he was standing in front of me, I didn’t know what to make of it.

Jack craned his head up, holding Maggie down so her tongue couldn’t reach his face. The two looked as if they’d known each other for a long time. Her tail wagged gleefully as she gave up trying to lick Jack’s face and closed her eyes, surrendering to his pats.

When he noticed me, his eyes went as wide as mine. “Noah?You’rethe dog sitter?”

I shook my head since I wasn’t the one with some explaining to do. “What are you doing here?”

“Didn’t they tell you I was coming today?”

“Who?”

“The McCormacs?”

“Why would you come here if they weren’t home?”

He pulled back his open jacket and pointed to a small logo on his shirt that had his name on it. “I’m the Home Services Expert,” he said with a smile that quickly faded when my confused expression didn’t change. “As in, I’m here to clean thehouse? Judging from your expression, they didn’t mention I was coming over.”

“You got that right,” I replied more harshly than I wanted to. Nothing in his demeanor told me he was lying, but it wasn’t like I’d known him for years and could trust him blindly.

To Maggie’s utter displeasure, Jack let go of her and fumbled his phone out of his jeans. “Please call them so they can confirm this.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way,” I said. “It’s not that I mistrust you. This just comes as a surprise.”

He held his phone closer to me. “No. Please. For both our sakes, please call them.”

I nodded toward the stairs to signal that I’d rather usemyphone, and he replied with an understanding smile.

Three minutes later, I walked back to the kitchen, still clutching my phone from the call with Mr. McCormac.

Jack was sitting on the kitchen table, his jacket now hanging over the chair. His shirt was a little too tight around his chest, revealing his brawny arms. His face was so soft that it almost contradicted the rest of his body. He was patting Maggie again but jumped up when he noticed me. “Sorry, whenever I see her, I can’t stop myself from patting her.”

“The good news is,one, they landed safely in Aruba;two, Mrs. McCormac is very excited about a sunset sail; andthree, they forgot to tell me about your arrival.” I pursed my lips. “Sorry for being so suspicious.”

“No. You’re right. Better to be safe than sorry.” His eyes went briefly to Maggie, who was scratching his leg, begging for more cuddles. “I would have knocked or rung if I’d known. I even reminded them yesterday morning to inform whoever was taking care of Maggie.”

“Don’t worry.” I tried to take a softer tone. “It’s not your fault they forgot.”

We stared at each other for a moment, and only then did I realize that the chance I had hoped for had come, almost as if Santa Claus was real and could make such things happen.

“So, um…”

“Let’s just pretend this didn’t happen,” I replied.

“Okay.” Jack’s right hand rushed to the back of his head as he nodded, his eyes sweeping the floor. “Deal.” He took his jacket off the chair and hurried out of the house through the living room.

I watched him leave, and Maggie joined me, equally confused. We could see him through the window in the door as he put his jacket back on, cleared his throat, and turned back to us.

A bell rang through the house.

Maggie ran to the door, barking like a security system, and I followed her, laughing. Jack rang again, then pretended to see me through the window and waved with a broad smile.

I opened the door for him. “Yes?”

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