Page 79 of Sunsets at the Beach House

“Go get him,” Roxie said. “I can let myself out.”

Paulina gave her a quick smile, then dashed off to take care of her son. Roxie waved at Elena, who waved back, then followed after her daughter.

Roxie left, replaying the whole conversation in her mind all the way down to her car.

Jesse opened the door to the Dolphin Club with a big smile on his face. “Morning, superstar.”

Jules smiled back. “Morning. Thanks for not minding that I had to bring Toby with me.” She’d called Trina, but she’d been out for the day already. She was with Miles and Alex, which to Jules meant she had more than enough on her plate.

Jesse took Toby’s leash. “No problem. You think he’ll be all right to chill in my office? I thought that might be more comfortable for him than the control room.”

“It will be. We had a good long walk on the beach this morning. Chances are he’ll be asleep on your couch most of the day.”

“Which is exactly what Shiloh would do.”

Now free of Toby, she walked in with an insulated cooler bag and her purse over one shoulder, and her guitar over the other. She liked being in the club before it was really open. It was quiet and seemed a little like seeing behind the curtain.

Jesse gave her a quick kiss. “Did you pack a lunch? Or is that for Toby?”

She laughed. “I do have bowls for him in there and a bag of kibble, but the bag is really because I brought two slices of pie that my sister made. She wanted you to try it, so I figured I’d bring it for our dessert. Have you ever had sour orange pie? It’s amazing. If you like key lime, which I know you do, you’ll like this.”

“That was nice of her. Never heard of it, but always willing to try something new. Speaking of something new, only two of the musicians are here. Bobby Perkins, the fiddle player, and Rita Dean, the slide guitarist.”

Jules stopped walking. “You mean Sierra’s not here, either?”

“No, she’s here. Sorry, didn’t mean to imply she wasn’t.” Jesse stopped next to her. Toby seemed pretty content to sit, too. “But Nina Donavan, the drummer, is running late, and she’s Arlo Ritter’s ride. He plays banjo.”

Jules sighed. “It is what it is. We’ll just rehearse as best we can. We’re already out Cash today.”

“I know.”

They started walking again.

“Can Bobby or Rita sing?” Jules asked. “Sierra will be the only one on backup vocals today.”

“Rita can. And I think Arlo can.”

“That would be great. I’m happy to work with whoever we’ve got.”

“True.” He paused by his office door. “All right, Toby. This is your domain for the day.”

He unlocked the door, flicked on the lights, then led Toby in.

Jules unzipped the lunch bag and took out the two bowls she’d brought and set them up against one wall. One she poured some kibble into, the other she picked up. “I’ll run to the bathroom and get him some water.”

“Not sure if that bathroom water is the best for drinking,” Jesse said. He opened the small fridge in his office and took out a bottle of water. “Use this.”

“Fancy,” Jules said. She handed him the lunch bag. “Want to put the pie in there?”

“Sure.”

She filled the water bowl with about half the bottle, then took Toby’s leash off of him, wound it up and set it on the corner of Jesse’s desk.

Toby promptly hopped up onto the couch, turned around three times, and laid down.

Jules smiled as she looked at Jesse. “Is it really all right if he sleeps up there?”

“It really is.”

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