Page 108 of Forever in the Country

“Promise.” I press a quick kiss to her lips. “Right after the photoshoot.”

* * *

Pullingup to Vetted Paws is pandemonium. Cars and trucks fill the parking lot, but I can’t stop my smile when I see Otto pacing around the front entrance.

“Did you tell him?” Rhea asks as she stares from her brother and back to me.

“Nope.” I smirk before opening my door and stepping out into the sun. “Mornin’ Otto,” I call, and his head whips to me and then to his sister as if trying to determine the weaker link to get out of this.

“Dude,”—he lowers his voice as he hustles over—“at least give me a big dog, you know? These love handles are no joke, and Fallon says she loves them but she has to say that and I gotta cut back on sneakin’ Mama’s cobbler and—”

“Yoo-hoo! Otto!” Miss Thelma calls, and I’ve never loved this woman more than I do now. “We’re almost ready for you.” She winks at me as Rhea shakes with silent laughter.

It’s better than I could have imagined.

“Oh good, you’re here,” Hannah says as she comes around the corner, camera in hand. “I wanted you to get a look at the setup. Case is ready and this one,”—she hitches her thumb toward Otto—“has been crying since he got here.”

He gasps. “I have not. You’re my least favorite sister-in-law right now.”

“Aww, don’t be like that. I told you I could airbrush you if I had to.”

“I donotneed airbrushing,” he mutters.

“Oh, honey, you’ll be fine. The oil will take care of any problem spots, no worries,” Hayden says as he comes around the corner with the biggest bottle of tanning oil I’ve ever seen.

Otto’s mouth drops open, and Hannah and Rhea dissolve into a fit of giggles. They’re doubled over and barely holding each other up they’re laughing so hard.

“Otto,” I say on a laugh, “there’s no—”

“Okay, I’m ready. Let’s do this,” Case says as he comes around the corner holding a small towel around his waist in one hand and the leash of a dog in the other.

Hayden joins the girls laughing on the floor, and Case blushes from his chest to the tips of his ears.

“Whoa,” Hank says, spinning on his heel to avert his gaze from his brother. “I have not had enough coffee for this yet.”

“Oh, work it, Case!” Isla catcalls and he blushes harder. “Hey, maybe you guys can do a twin picture—that will totally bring in the money.”

“It IS for charity,” Hannah says from the floor between breaths.

“I fucking hate all of you,” Case mutters, and I take the leash from his hand so he doesn’t traumatize the poor animal more than he already has.

“So now that Case has almost shown everyone his cock before we’ve had coffee, why don’t you go put some clothes on so we can get started?” I say, trying to sound stern.

“But you said—” Case starts.

“You said—” Otto looks around the room before looking back at me and I lose it. A grin takes over my face, and I can’t stop the laugh that barks out of me.

No pun intended.

“You went along with this?!” Case asks Hannah who has managed to stand and is now wiping the tears from her eyes.

“So…worth it.”

“What the fuck, man. Where are your clothes?” Tanner says as he looks from Case to the rest of us. “I told you he was kidding.”

“Yeah, but I’m not scared of you.” Case frowns. “No offense.”

“None taken. Now can you please put clothes on so I can bleach this morning from my mind?” Tanner groans.

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