Page 36 of Jump

“He is,” he chuckles. “Marine. He’s got, like, seventy-two hours off, so he figured he’d come here instead of flying back to his ex.”

“Smart. Is he the self-centered, egotistical, it’s Veteran’s Day so you owe me a BJ type? Or is he gonna be cool?”

“Wow!” He presses a hand to his heart and snickers. “You’re full bitter today, huh?”

“No. Shut up.”

“He’s a good guy. His name is Clint, he’s twenty-nine. My mother’s sister’s son. Never married. No kids. His last relationship lasted, like, nine years. So he’s not a playboy either. He’s just… a dude. Much like me.”

“Mmhm.” I reach across and poke his rump until he slides off my desk. “Make sure he stays cool, or I might put you on poo duty for the next six months.”

“Uh-huh. Speaking of…” He laughs. “Guess whose morning it is to take them all out?”

Mine.

So I ignore my emails, and the metaphorical heart beating beneath my floorboards. Pushing up to stand, I battle my way around my desk and through the door just a step behind my friend.

“Let’s go, Treasure.” I head to her cage first. “We’re gonna shower and dress up today, pretty girl.” I open her door and forgo the lead I’m supposed to fasten to her collar. Instead, I step back and watch her spin her wheels and dart to freedom. “You’re meeting your forever family today. So stand up tall.”

I follow her into the yard, and groan when I find her already crouching and dropping a massive turd on the lawn.

“Get it all out,” I sigh. “Clean hair, clean teeth, clean bowels. That’s how we win a family.”

“I’m heading out at one to pick Clint up and take him to my house,” Jase murmurs. “He can catch a couple of hours of rest and clean up. Maybe drop a deuce,” he snickers. “Clean hair. Clean bowels. It’s how we win hearts, no?”

“You’re annoying.” I turn to grab a poo bag from the holder at the door, but when I find Jase already waving one the way a woman might have waved a handkerchief back in Elizabeth Bennet’s day, I snatch it from his hand and spin back to get to work. “Go let Diesel out,” I tell him. “Today may be their last day together.”

“It’s as tragic as Romeo and Juliet,” he mock-sniffles. “Worse, really. Because they have to live a lifetime apart.”

* * *

At eight that night, in a body-hugging sweater with a plunging V neckline, and tight jeans Hannah specifically approved, I walk by her side as we cross the lawn surrounding the lake. About three rows back from the band’s makeshift stage, we come to a stop beside two smiling men—only one of which I recognize—who sit on loungers beside two others that remain empty.

“You saved us seats?” Hannah gushes obnoxiously and draws the eyes of not only both men who wait for us, but of everyone in a twenty-foot radius. “Oh gosh, Jase. You’re just the sweetest thing ever, huh?”

He chuckles under his breath and pushes up to stand, opening his arms for her to step in for a fast hug.

Hannah is loyal to Axel. An impenetrable wall whose foundations cannot, and will not, be cracked. But she’s a social butterfly, too. And limiting herself to female only friends would be boring. So she hugs Jase back, then moves to the next guy and wraps him up in all his filthy female fantasies.

Out of a long relationship? Yep.

Ready to test the waters he’s been ignoring for nine years? Absolutely.

“I’m Hannah,” she chatters and pulls back. Then twisting, she grabs my hand and yanks me forward so my purse slips from my shoulder down to the crook of my arm. “This is Vivian.”

“Vivian.” Clint looks me up and down, and takes an extra moment to stare at the plunging neckline of my shirt, made worse by my heavy purse pulling it down. He grips my hand when I offer it, but instead of shaking it like a normal adult, he brings it up to his lips and presses a kiss to my knuckles. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you, Vivian. You’re my cousin’s boss?”

“I mean…” I gently pry my limb from his hold and fix my bag. “Technically. Though, the pay is abysmal, so really, it’s a volunteer thing, and he answers to no one but himself.”

“Here.” Hannah shoves me around. “Take a seat, Viv. You’ve been working all day. You must be exhausted.”

“Uh…” I slam to the chair on Clint’s right, then Hannah plops down beside me, so Jase is on the end. “Um… thanks.” I set my bag on the grass between my feet, and already wish I was at home. Alone. In the quiet.

“So you have to be pretty passionate about animals to do what you do, right?” Clint turns on his seat so his face is damn near touching mine. “There’s not a lot of money or accolades in running a dog shelter. You must love them.”

“Sure.” I reach into my bag and take out a glass bottle for Hannah, then a second for myself. If I have to sit here, I’m gonna need alcohol. “I love my work, especially when I get to re-home a dog who thought their life would always consist of cages or abuse. When they meet their forever family and everyone is smiling, it’s all kinda worth it.” I pull the cap off my drink and sit back to relax.

But damn, damn, damn me for taking the book from my purse too, and setting it on my lap.

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