Page 74 of Swept for Forever
The lie came easily. And Dom, being Dom, didn’t question it. Instead, he went full nurse mode, pulling me in, his palm pressing lightly to my forehead.
“You want something for it?”
I shook my head. “I’m good.”
He let it go, just like that.
This is messed up.
If I didn’t move fast, if I didn’t get out, he’d be asking a whole lot more soon.
I composed myself. “So, who was that?”
Dom sat back down. “That was Bill,” he said, nodding toward the man now easing into a beat-up pickup.
“One of the dinner crowd?”
“Not exactly. I just met him. Word is he’s selling his fishing shop.”
“Oh?” I arched a brow. “Let me guess, keeping the otter theme alive?”
That earned me a full laugh.
“An otter’s gotta fish, right?” He shook his head, still grinning. “God, that’s terrible. You’re rubbing off on me.”
I laughed too, my shoulders relaxing.
“So, do you think the fishing shop’s a good idea?” he asked.
I raised an eyebrow. “Are you seriously asking for my blessing?”
He scratched the back of his neck, already looking like he regretted opening his mouth. “Forget it,” he said, followed by a quick rap of his knuckle on the table. “C’mon. Let’s get out of here.”
He got my leftover pizza boxed up, with Erin helping him and flashing a smile at both of us. Maybe noticing me more than she meant to. Then, he dropped some cash on the check. I slid out after him, leaving my half-finished lemonade behind, along with the flutter in my chest that I didn’t have time for.
Because no matter how good he was, or how much I liked the idea of him asking me things that sounded a little too much likeus, I couldn’t forget that Stiff-Neck was still out there. And now, I knew he’d made his move. That sketch.
I hadn’t even had time to process it. I just knew I couldn’t let Dom get caught in this.
Even if part of me wanted to ask what color he’d paint the walls of that fishing shop.
Lulu hadn’t been allowed inside the pizzeria, so we’d tied her up out front in the shade, with Dom checking on her every so often.
But when we stepped outside, she didn’t get up to greet us.Normally, she would’ve been all over Dom. Instead, she barely lifted her head, her ears twitching at his voice, but nothing more.
“Lulu?” I crouched beside her, running a hand down her side. She felt unnaturally warm.
Dom frowned, untying her leash. “She doesn’t look good.”
“She was fine this morning. Did the stranger give her anything?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
My heart pounded. Something was really wrong.
Lulu let out a pitiful whine while Dom was already moving.
“Come on,” he said, scooping her up. “We’re going to the vet.”
