Then, a tinkle sounded on the hardwood floor. “What?” Tiago dropped the puppy who yelped and ran under the table. Tiago glared at Peter. “I hope you can get your money back because I don’t want it. Stupid thing peed all over me. And I should’ve known you’d be just like the rest trying to buy me off.” He fled out the apartment door.
Ronnie’s shocked face swung from puppy to door. “Tiago! Get back here!”
What in the world had just happened?
Ronnie moved to the kitchen, ripped paper towels off the roll on the counter, and wiped up the mess on the floor. “I should’ve remembered.” She threw away the soiled paper towels and sank onto one of the dining room chairs.
“What did I do?” Peter scooped the dog up and sat down across from her. “Who was Tiago talking about, like everyone else?”
Ronnie pinched the bridge of her nose, eyes closed, and took in a deep breath. “It’s not your fault.” She reached over and put her hands on the puppy’s head, but she looked defeated, tears clinging to wet eyelashes.
“Tell me how to fix this. I want to help.”
She pulled away from the puppy. Shook her head. “You can’t fix this, Peter. It’s not your problem anyway. It’s mine.” She sighed. “I knew this was a bad idea.”
“What are you talking about?”
She looked away from him, out the window. “Look, Peter, I know what you’re trying to do. It won’t work. You…you’re good. Too good. How in the world can you understand people like us? Tiago and I didn’t grow up with happy families and homemade cookies and small-town festivals. We grew up needing to protect ourselves from our own family—or from the men my mother brought into our lives.” She looked back at him, met his eyes. “Like the guy who would hand Tiago twenty bucks and tell him to scram so he could have privacy with Mom. And heaven forbid if Tiago came back too early. I was old enough to know how to stay out of the way with these guys, but I missed a lot of his growing up. I wasn’t there to protect Tiago.”
He had nothing, everything inside him going hollow at her words. He looked at the puppy and felt a little sick.
Yeah, he could see how Tiago thought he might be buying him off to get time with his sister. Not exactly what he was doing, but in a way…
“Tiago just wanted some attention,” Ronnie said softly. “Instead he was kicked to the curb with money to blow. To him, you’re just another guy trying to buy him off, to get what you…want.”
But she was wrong about one thing. The most important thing. “Ronnie, I’m not looking for some…fling. Do you want to know what I really want?”
She looked up at him, and behind the anger and the sparks of indignation, he saw it—that scared little girl, like Tiago, afraid to want something that would be soon ripped away.
“I want you. I want Tiago. I want to be a part of your lives. I want to be there to celebrate when he nails his role in the musical. I want to be there when you save the next patient’s life. And I want to be there on the hard days too. When things fall apart. When he flunks a test, or when you have to kick my hotheaded uncle off the first responders team. What will it take to prove to the both of you that I’m in this for good?”
A few beats of nothing.
The puppy barked as if echoing the question.
Slowly, a smile slid across her lips. “How did you know I kicked Charlie off the team? You weren’t at our last training session.”
He met her smile with one of his own. “Small town, remember?”
She made a huffing sound but took the puppy out of his arms and looked at him with a small shake of her head. “Good thing it’s a small town. Can’t be too many places we’ll find my brother. Are you sure you want to give this a shot?”
“I’m in this. Let’s find Tiago.”
They clipped the collar and leash on to the dog. Peter pocketed a few of the treats and they walked toward the school. He had a hunch…
And it paid off. They found Tiago at the skate park. Alone. The cooler temps and gray skies that had moved in after the sunny morning must’ve kept others away.
The puppy didn’t want anything to do with the boy on the skateboard, scrambling away and pulling on the leash.
Peter handed Ronnie the leash. “Do you mind if I talk to him first?”
“Good luck.” She took the dog to the grassy area at the edge of the park.
He approached the boy, standing on the edge as Tiago tried a board flip. “Tiago, can we talk?”
“Leave me alone.” He set the board at the top of a ramp.
Peter took a cue from Ronnie and ran down into the pit, planting himself in Tiago’s path. “That’s not going to happen. In fact, I’m gonna bug you until you realize I’m here to stay. I can wait all day.”
“What’s there to say? You like my sister. You wanted me gone. Bam. You got what you wanted.” He turned on his skateboard to avoid hitting Peter and rode the board back and forth between one of the ramps and the quarter pipe.
“That’s not why I got you the puppy. I brought her to you because I thought you would be the perfect person to care for her. I thought you would understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Think about it. She’s alone for the first time, away from everything she knows. She needs a lot of patience and care. And I’ve seen the way you and Ronnie take care of each other. I thought you guys would be the perfect home for her.”
Tiago stopped, kicked up his board. Looked at him. “She doesn’t even like me. Peed all over me.”
“Because she’s scared. She’s been taken away from her mom and her family. I peed my pants for a month when my mom remarried and we moved into a new house.”
Tiago made a face. “Gross. TMI, dude.”
“I was six.”
“So what does this have to do with me?”
“This puppy doesn’t know you. You’ll have to earn her trust. Be gentle with her. And if you do, you’ll have a friend for life.”
Tiago didn’t say anything, but his gaze followed Ronnie walking the puppy around the playground equipment. A young mother and a preschooler walking by stopped and oohed and aahed over the puppy.
Peter walked over to Tiago. “You’re right. I do like your sister. But no matter what, you are Ronnie’s first priority. She already told me that if you don’t like it here, you’re going somewhere else, until you find a place you do like. And if you guys go, the puppy is still yours. She needs someone to love her. Train her. Take care of her. You in?”
Tiago was silent for a few beats. “Don’t think that this means I’m going to like it here.”
“That’s fair.”
Another beat. Finally, Tiago shrugged. “Okay.”
They walked to the edge of the skate park. “So, what are you going to name her?”
Tiago glanced at him, grinned. “How about Killer?”
“Your sister might have something to say about that.”
Tiago smirked. “Probably.”
Peter handed him a dog treat as they approached the puppy and Ronnie. “Try giving her this.”
The boy held out the treat. The puppy gave a sniff but stayed wrapped around Ronnie’s ankle.
“Here, Blue,” Tiago said with a gentle voice and squatted down.
The dog considered him, then finally trotted over and took the treat. Tiago picked her up and tried not to smile as Blue licked his neck.
Peter met Ronnie’s eyes and matched her smile. Then, easily, as if the earth hadn’t just moved, “You guys up for some pizza?”
“What do you say, T?” Ronnie said, still looking at Peter. Still smiling.
“I only like pepperoni. None of those gross peppers or mushrooms or anything.”
Peter reached out his hand for Ronnie. She took it. Squeezed.
“I think we can work with that.”
If this is what it took to get ready for an actual date, no wonder it had been awhile since Ronnie had gone on one.
It wasn’t so bad earlier in the morning. She’d still b
een floating high on a cloud of anticipation since Peter had asked her out after the whole puppy fiasco last weekend. But at this point, in the sweltering heat of the crowded store, the small-town shopping experience had lost all its charm. The lack of caffeine and the smell of the candles and incense sticks on display were giving her a headache. Her feet hurt from standing in the new wedge sandals she bought, and she would kill for a bag of Cheetos.
“Will one of you remind me again why we’re doing this?” Ronnie asked as she stood in front of the full-length mirror in her twelfth outfit for this store alone.
Ella and Megan eyed her critically from head to toe. Megan motioned for her to spin. “I like the color. That gold in the shirt looks amazing with your skin tone. But I’m not sure about the cut.”
Ella’s scrunched up nose said she didn’t like it either. “Try the purple one, Ronnie.”
And maybe it was a little childish, but she’d had enough. “No. I can’t try on one more thing until I get some sustenance.”
“Ronnie, you can’t go on a date with Peter tonight in yoga pants and a T-shirt. We need to find a few more things that are a little more feminine,” Megan said.
“And flirty,” Ella added. “Even if you don’t know where he’s taking you.”
“But I’m hungry.” And frustrated. And tired. All she’d wanted was to find a nice pair of jeans, but when she asked Megan where she could find some, she’d insisted on calling Ella and making a girls’ day of it. And what had started out as fun was now quickly escalating into a new form of torture and starvation. “And for the record, I have more than yoga pants and T-shirts.”
“Football jerseys don’t count.” Megan pushed Ronnie back into the dressing room. “Especially a Green Bay Packers jersey. Now go try one more top on, that cute lacy one in orchid, and after that we’ll go get you an iced mocha.”
Finally! A reward in sight. “With one of those Java Cup scones too?”
“Yup. We’ll get you a scone too. But first one more shirt.” Megan used her soothing but firm mom voice very effectively.
Ronnie threw the black and gold sleeveless top on the floor. It landed in a heap on top of her jersey as she wriggled into the lacy shirt Megan insisted on seeing. The white skinny jeans she still had on were highly impractical, especially for a girl who lived in black and gray because they hid so much. But Megan and Ella had way more experience with guys and fashion, so she’d give this one last try.
She popped back out of the dressing room. Immediately both friends shook their heads. “Maybe that red—” Ella started to say.
“No. No more. I need coffee.” She had to put her foot down at some point. “Please.”
“Fine. At least we found the dress and shoes and a couple of things to add to your wardrobe. Let’s go get your mocha,” Megan said as she picked up her purse.
Ronnie had never changed so fast in her life. Ella hung the clothes back on the rack and they left the store. Heat radiated off the sidewalk. Before they took five steps, they ran into Izzy Knight, the football coach’s wife. And while she was tempted to run the couple of blocks over to the Java Cup and leave Megan and Ella to discuss the weather and latest news with the sweet lady, Ronnie couldn’t abandon her friends after all they’d tried to do for her today.
Besides, she needed all the town support she could get.
But her mouth watered at the thought of that first sip of ice-cold mocha.
Sweat pooled down Ronnie’s back and she was ready to gnaw her own hand off by the time they started walking again. Where was the lake breeze today?
“I still can’t believe Peter got you a puppy,” Ella said after they waved goodbye to Izzy.
Megan stepped around a light pole. “I can. Let’s be honest. Cole always had my heart. But for as long as I’ve known Peter Dahlquist, I’ve wanted a good woman to see the hidden gem he is.”
Ronnie wasn’t sure she qualified as a good woman, but she couldn’t argue that he was a great guy. “Yeah, he’s amazing.” She sighed. “But don’t you think it’s fast? I mean, we’ve known each other a month. Maybe I shouldn’t be dating right now. I should focus on my job. I still have to prove Deep Haven and I are ‘mutually beneficial’ as Seb put it.”
And even though he loved Blue and was taking such good care of her, Tiago still wasn’t convinced about the place.
But the place was sure growing on her, and she was falling hard for Peter. Maybe too hard. Certainly, too fast.
“Ronnie, you’re just hungry. A scone and iced mocha will set you right up.” Megan led the way to the Java Cup entrance.
Ella fanned her face with one hand as she held the door for them with the other. “Besides, look at how many new trainees you have and how many people you knew at church. At this point, everyone has gotten over the fact that you’re not Kirby Hueston. You are showing this town that you belong,”
Ronnie drank in the words. They were right. She was fitting in. Everything would be fine once she had her scone and an ice-cold drink. She joined the long line inside the Java Cup. Coffee and chocolate should wake her up and knock some sense into her. She had a date to get ready for.
Megan stepped away to talk to someone she knew, and Ella went to save a table for them in the little room off to the side. Finally, there was only one more person in front of Ronnie in line.
He ordered seven drinks, the last five scones, and he scooped up the lone donut in the basket by the cash register.
No! No more scones?
By the time Ronnie reached the counter she wanted to cry. Or scream. It was a toss-up. Either way, she used all her strength to hold it together. “Please tell me you have some more scones hidden somewhere.”
Kathy—Ronnie’s usual barista—shook her head. “Sorry, that was the last of them. And I know you like your iced mochas, but with this heat our ice maker isn’t keeping up. I used what we had on the last order. I can only serve hot drinks at the moment.”
Oh, that was just it. “You’re kidding, right? Can’t someone run to the gas station and grab a bag of ice?” Or maybe tackle the guy who’d just left and wrestle the frothy iced-caramel frap out of his greedy hands?
“No, we can’t. Especially for someone wearing that.” Kathy smirked.
Ronnie looked down at her green-and-gold Aaron Rodgers jersey. “This?”
“We don’t serve Packers fans here.” Kathy winked at the other girl behind the bar. “Right, Sarah?”
The other customers snickered.
Maybe Kathy meant it as a joke. But this was not the time to mess with Veronica Morales. If Kathy wanted to withhold a caffeine addict’s coffee, she’d better be prepared for battle.
Ronnie slapped her hands down on the counter and leaned in. “I’m a paying customer. I’ll wear whatever I want. One large mocha. Please. I’ll go to the gas station myself and buy a cup of ice for it.”
“Oh, really?” Kathy fisted her hands on her hips and lost the amused expression on her face. The humor in the room died. “If you want the coffee, you’d better find a different shirt. And an apology.”
Why did everyone feel the need to critique her wardrobe today? “You can’t tell me what to wear.”
“I own the place. I can refuse service to whomever I choose. Says so right there.” She pointed to a printed sign on the wall behind the counter. “So until you come in with a different set of colors and a nicer attitude, don’t bother coming back.”
Was she seriously refusing service because of a football jersey?
Megan ran over. “Kathy, please. Ronnie’s just a little hypoglycemic at the moment. A little cranky, but a shot of coffee and sugar and she’ll be—”
Kathy pointed to the door. “I have zero patience for rude customers. Out.”
With mouth clamped tight, Ronnie allowed Megan to lead her out of the Java Cup.
Ella ran out after them. “I heard what happened. I’m sure Kathy will calm down in a day or two. Why don’t we grab some ice cream?”
Ronnie turned to them
both. “No, thank you. I think I need to just go back—” She’d almost said “home.” But that wasn’t the case, was it? “I’m going to go back to the apartment.” A place she probably shouldn’t get used to just yet, but where she could at least have a little meltdown, gorge on some Cheetos and a sports drink, and try to pull herself together before her date. “I’ll see you both later.” She grabbed her shopping bags and what dignity she could scrape up and left.
Guess she still had a long way to go to fitting in.
It was amazing what a little food, a cold shower, and a twenty-minute power nap could do for a person. Ronnie woke up with a clearer head and ready for a fun, romantic outing. The swirling sensation in her middle had nothing to do with hunger this time as she checked the clock on her nightstand. One last swipe of the lip gloss Megan had picked out for her and she was ready. The off-the-shoulder fuchsia top paired with studded jean capris was cute and comfortable. She’d taken Ella’s suggestion and left her hair down to display the natural wave she usually hid. It was a glammed-up version of Ronnie staring back at her in the mirror, but still her.
A knock sounded at the door. Of course Mr. Keep His Word was right on time. A strange nervousness tickled Ronnie’s belly. She brushed it aside and opened the door. “Hey.”
“Hi—” The look on Peter’s face made the whole shopping torture worth every second. He stood in her doorway and stared. “Wow.”
Yeah, she owed the girls big time.
She’d had men comment on her looks, heard catcalls while jogging, and had the occasional compliment from the opposite sex. But Peter’s obvious admiration was so much more. He wasn’t just looking at her body or noticing her curves. He was looking at her. And crazy enough, he seemed to like what he saw.
And so did she, even if he was in another T-shirt with cargo shorts. The man wore it so well, and the moss green and warm gold in the shirt perfectly set off his eyes.
It was safe to say her day had completely turned around. “So where are you taking me, hot stuff?”
“Hot stuff, huh? I like that.”
“Don’t let it go to your head. It’s only because you’re a fireman.”
Crazy for You Page 17