Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
She had to agree. Everything Jay said made sense. Plus, a small, niggling part of her was happy she would see Jay again so soon. But again, she pushed it away. Trying to imitate Jay’s natural businesslike manner, she made a plan to meet him at the beach at seven in the morning.
They stood for a moment on the doorstep, and there was an awkward moment when she didn’t know whether to just walk off or hug him or give him a fist bump. They were in uncharted territory here. Ever since that intense hug full of longing on the beach, she felt as though she had to be careful. She didn’t want either of them getting the wrong idea. Jay was so not for her, and she was so not for him, even though she was finding herself more and more drawn to the man.
In the end, he solved the hug/no hug problem by reaching out and giving her a pat on the upper arm. “Thanks for your help, there, short stuff.”
Just his use of that nickname seemed to reset the relationship and remind them both that she was Archer’s kid sister. “Good night yourself, there, big shot.” She’d started calling him that a while ago, sometimes reminding him that the initials were BS.
* * *
Buzzy wasn’t very happy when she got home. He sniffed her, obviously able to tell that she’d been spending time with another dog. This must be how a betrayed woman felt when she smelled another woman’s perfume on her husband.
She gave her sweet dog extra attention and a dog treat. “It wasn’t like that, honest. You’re my one true love.”
When she got the leash and took Buzzy for his own walk—an extra-long one with plenty of ball throwing—she could tell that all was forgiven. But when they got back, she explained to him that he’d be spending a lot of time with Nelson over the next few days. She only hoped they’d get along. She couldn’t imagine what would happen if her dog and Jay’s didn’t like each other. It could be the end of the budding friendship growing between her and Jay.
However, the next morning she discovered right away that her fears were unfounded. She and Buzzy walked down on the beach to find Jay and Nelson already there. Nelson came running toward her, obviously remembering her from the night before, and seeing Buzzy, he ran forward, tail wagging, pretty much his whole wriggling body and posture saying, Please like me!
Buzzy played hard to get and didn’t immediately extend the paw of friendship. He walked around a bit, they sniffed butts, and then Buzzy began to run. His favorite thing was to run along the beach, ears flapping, tongue lolling out. Nelson took off in hot pursuit. For a little guy, he was really speedy. They raced around, jumping all over each other, circling each other, rolling in the sand, while she and Jay walked along behind them enjoying the spectacle.
As the dogs dropped to the sand side by side, panting, she said, “I think your socialization experiment is working.”
“I think it’s hero-worship, not socialization.”
She chuckled, a little proud. It was true—the younger Nelson jumped up the second that Buzzy did. And then they were off and running.
“How was he last night?” she asked. “Any trouble settling in?”
“Fine. He slept like a baby. We both did.”
He looked a bit sheepish, and she turned to him, shocked. “Julius Malone, did you let that dog sleep with you on the bed?”
Big, tough Jay Malone looked pretty embarrassed. “I put that expensive dog bed on the floor and he wouldn’t get in it. He just sat there looking at me with his big eyes. And then he kind of started to tremble. What could I do? I’m sure he’ll grow out of it.”
If she knew dogs—and she did—that would not be happening. But Jay would figure all that out for himself.
Suddenly he asked, “Are you reading anything good at the moment?”
She was so taken aback by the non sequitur that she stopped in her tracks and peered at him.
He laughed. “Is it such a weird question?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. It’s just not one I ever expected to hear coming from your lips.” A sudden shiver went through her at the thought of Jay’s lips. They were full and a pleasing shape and for a moment she thought about what they might feel like grazing her neck, her collar bone. . . down, down, until—
She stopped there, chastising herself. What was her mind doing? “Prodigal Summer,” she blurted.
“Prod what?” Jay asked.
She stared at him. Was he teasing her? His eyes were full of mischief.
“Prodigal Summer,” she repeated. “It’s by one of my favorite authors, Barbara Kingsolver. I read her novel The Poisonwood Bible when I was a teenager and I’ve loved her work ever since.”