Page 363 of Boots, Bucket Lists & Bad Ideas
I pause outside the bedroom door, heart thudding way harder than it had any right to.
I push open the door.
The room is dim with only the amber light bleeding in from the dusty window. Smells faintly of candle wax and something floral
I scratch the back of my neck as my eyes drop to the bed. It doesn’t look safe. An ancient wooden frame, its paint chipped and peeling as if it had been through one too many storms.
Two leashes sit coil neatly on the edge of a quilt that looks like moths have eaten through it. Perhaps we’ll end up calling Dean for help.
Jade stands by the far wall. Barefoot. Calm. Smiling. She’s gorgeous. Fully dressed. I expected naked.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hi.” She doesn’t move.
She knows I have no idea what the fuck to do.
I wrap a collar around my neck and fumble with the buckle. “Is this what you want?”
She says nothing, just stares at me with her gorgeous hazel eyes.
I step toward the bed and pick up the leash, hooking it on the collar. I swing the end of the leash like I’m ready to lasso her.
Not a word.
I give her the dumbest, crookedest grin, “I’m ready for whatever this is. Probably. Sort of. Ninety percent ready, but seriously freaking out inside.”
She bites her lower lip, and I’m ready to claim that mouth as my own.
Instead of the kinky affair I expect, she opens a side door I hadn’t noticed. Two dogs came barreling out like living cannonballs. But not any two dogs, Hershey and Godiva.
Hershey tackles my legs, while Godiva launches straight into my chest, licking my face with pure chaotic joy.
I stumble backward and let go of the leash, still dangling from my neck, to scrub my hands over the animals.
My knees drop to the dusty wooden floor, and the dogs attack me with love. Godiva plants wet, eager kisses on my cheek and licks my ear. Hershey nudges his head into my lap, eyes bright and pleading for attention.
Jade joins me. “Meet our new family members.”
“You adopted them.” I catch her hand, but Godiva shoves her way through, hitting my face with her tail.
Jade laughs. “Yes.”
“I tried to adopt them, but I was too late.” Godiva licks my nose and face.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“I’m surprised.”
She tries to kiss me, but Godiva beats her.
I laugh, full-body, can’t-breathe kind of laugh.
Jade grabs the rubber ball and tosses it across the room. The dogs explode into action, claws scraping the old floorboards as they chase after it.
Barks echo off the cracked walls. Dust kicks up. Tails wag. We enjoy serious rounds of catch. Every time the ball bounces back, the dogs are on it, quicker than the last. Godiva almost takes out the rickety bookshelf in the corner. Hershey has the area rug bunched up.
“They missed you, but I missed you more.” Somehow, Jade manages to straddle my lap as she kisses me.
