Page 85 of Always a Bridesmaid
“Did you find another porcupine?” she asked Will.
“Nah,” he said. “Just a pile of porcupine shit. Right as I was about to turn the dogs around, they unearthed that mouse. Figured it’d be a good training exercise for ’em.”
Right. Training. Not odd at all.
Next thing she knew, Ford and Pyro were looming over her.
She smiled up at Ford’s sexy, rugged face. “So? Did Trouble and I do a good job?”
Ford glanced at her puppy, who’d moved from untying her shoelaces to attacking a stray gum wrapper. “I mean, he’s not entirely focused, and you’re takin’ a nap, but hiccups are common during first jobs. I’d give you guys a C. Maybe even a C plus.”
“Did you hear that, buddy? We passed.” Violet pushed herself to a seated position and held her hand up for Trouble to smack it—not that she’d taught him that trick.
The traitor ignored it and leaped on top of his sister, choosing to bite her ear and start a fight instead of celebrating.
Pyro nudged her side, so she turned to shower him with affection. “You got an A plus,plus, didn’t you? You’re such a brave dog.”
Ford crouched down on Violet’s other side, forearms braced on his knees. One corner of his mouth kicked up while two creases appeared between his eyebrows, as if he couldn’t settle on concerned or amused. “Bet you’ll rethink coming along the next time I get a strange emergency call.”
“Are you kidding me? That was such a rush! Save mud bogging and…”
Will’s focus was on untangling the leashes, and naturally the dogs had decided to help by climbing on and licking him.
Violet lowered her voice to a whisper. “Afterward in the shower…” Yep, her cheeks were turning red; she could tell by the heat that accompanied her bold declaration. Lingering on it would only make her trip over her words, so she charged on, her voice returning to a normal decibel.
“This is the most adventurous date I’ve ever been on. Most guys go for the typical dinner and a movie.” She patted the side of Ford’s face and left her palm against his stubbled skin. “But you, you pull out all the stops.”
“Anything for my girl.” He slid his hand behind her neck as he guided her mouth to his. He began to pull away and then dove back in, capturing her lower lip between his teeth and topping the kiss off with a sensual nip. “Shep, we might need those keys to the janitor’s closet. You go on ahead, and we’ll lock up in a few.”
Violet smacked his arm and did her best to hold a dirty look. “Nice try. One, afewminutes? Seriously? You think that’s motivating? And two, I don’t want some hussy’s leftover make-out spot.”
Obviously she didn’t mean the hussy part.
Well, she did her best not to, even as the envy coating her insides thickened. There’d been times in the past she’d caught women flirting with Benjamin, but she’d never felt jealous. Partially because she thought the two of them were unshakable.
But even when she’d caught him at Maisy’s wedding, this desperate sort of need to claim him as hers hadn’t come along for the ride.
“Sounds like I’d better find us a nicer spot, then.” Ford grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet.
“I’d suggest you do,” Violet said, and then they grinned at each other and all the world was right.
Which was wild, considering she’d just survived her first bazaar, a run-in with Cheryl, and a porcupine hunt in one hectic night.
Chapter Nineteen
It’d been ages since Ford brought a girl with him to Tucker’s houseboat. And by ages he meant since high school, when they used to have the occasional party. One that would generally get a few of them grounded.
Never him, though.
For that, Dad would have to give a shit where he was. A lot of nights, Ford had ended up sleeping on the couch, and more than a few times, the floor. That was the beauty of being young and recovering in hours instead of days.
Before he’d picked up Violet, he’d sent Tucker a text telling him they were on their way to the houseboat that moonlighted as Tucker’s law office. Ever since he moved back to Uncertainty last fall, Friday nights were once again reserved for poker.
Ford assisted his beautiful date out of the truck, taking a moment to admire the woman he’d spent a few nights with this past week. So far, Violet had handled most everything the country had thrown at her like a champ. The confrontation he’d had with his brother at the baseball field, mud bogging, stirring up rumors at the bazaar, and even a porcupine chase with a mouse using her as a springboard.
Unease churned in his gut, although he couldn’t pinpoint why. Possibly because every aspect of his life that he pulled her into was another string that could trip or entangle.
“You’re quiet.” Violet wrapped him in a side hug, linking her fingers above his hip. “You’re never quiet.”
