Page 90 of Quietly Falling
BODHI
TWO WEEKS LATER
“That couple from Nashville is comin’ today to pick up Thor and Boomer, but Tanner and I will take care of that. Inspection for the house is today, right?” Sorren asks and I nod.
“Yeah, I’ll have to leave soon.”
“Good.” He turns and looks at the schedule board that lines the office wall. “Jude should be here any minute. I want to show him Astro, Coco, and Dez.”
I dip my head in acknowledgement, knowing the three he named off are all rescues in training right now and had been flagged after Jude had filled out an application.
Former military.
Injured during service.
“I think those are solid picks,” I tell him, mentally putting my money on Dez being the winner. “Isn’t Arden supposed to be stopping by too?”
Despite Sorren’s initial hesitation with the media attention, he’s learned to tolerate it for the sake of the shelter.
For the benefit of the dogs.
“I’m already here,” she says, poking her head into the office and smiling. But it’s not so much of a smile as it is a grimace.
“Are you all right?” I ask, as Sorren and I head to the lobby where Tanner is eyeing her with concern.
“What? I’m fine, I’m completely—” Her words are cut off not by the bell chiming over the front door but because she doubles over and throws up in the trash bin beside the counter. Without thought, I hold her hair back as Tanner gets her a tissue and Sorren grabs a cup of water from the cooler. “Sorry. I’m so sorry,” she murmurs as she stands and wipes her mouth.
And then freezes.
Because it’s no longer just the four of us.
Jude and his brother stand stock-still in the entryway, and while Tanner’s mouth gapes at Jude’s brother, all I can see is the way Arden is looking at Jude.
And the way he’s looking at her.
“Jude, hey. What are you guys doing here?” she manages, and his gaze narrows as it drops to the garbage before traveling back up again.
The weird feeling I’d gotten from Arden when Ellison had announced her pregnancy springs to the forefront of my mind.
It’s just a lot on the heels of…other stuff…
Oh, shit.
“Can I talk to you outside for a minute?” he says, his voice low and gruff as he pins her with a stare.
“Sorren, I’ll reschedule. And sorry for—” She motions toward the trash bag that he tied up and replaced.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” he murmurs as he takes in the scene in front of him.
And what a scene it is.
With one last look, Arden walks reluctantly to the door, Jude pushing it open as she passes by before following her into the parking lot.
“Ten’s too early for a beer, right?” Jude’s brother says, looking up at the clock and back at us with a shrug. “Got any coffee?”
* * *
“Sorry I’m late,”I tell Ella as I press a kiss to her lips before taking her hand and walking toward the house. “It was…a day.”
