Take a Chance

by D. Jackson Leigh

  “I can’t stop thinking about her,” she said at last.

  Clay nodded, her eyes dreamy and fixed on the flow of the water, as though the river had also spoken the same answer to her.

  Trip should admit the same. Jamie had been on her mind constantly since the cookout. But the confession stuck in her throat. She’d look like a fool if she let her friends know she wanted to risk letting Jamie break her heart again. She shoveled a spoonful of potato salad into her mouth to stop from blurting out something stupid. Yeah, she was being a coward, but this wasn’t about her.

  Trip put down her plate and slapped her knees. Nothing chanced, nothing gained. “Okay. You’ve got a pulse and you’re hot. You have to slow down and take your time to get a skittish horse to cross the creek. We both know you’re the Glitter Girl, and for once, I agree with your choice. Your problem is that you always break out of the gate early and set the pace too fast.”

  “What?” Grace grabbed a drumstick and tried to fling it at Trip.

  Clay, always a great wingman, snagged it from her hand and endorsed Trip’s advice. “Nothing wrong with wanting forever, Gracie, but it’s not a good idea to advertise the fact on the first few dates.”

  “So far you guys aren’t being very helpful. I need useful advice not a list of what I’m doing wrong. You know her, Trip, what’s the best approach?”

  “Yeah, Fast Break, tell us more,” Clay said, opening a couple more beers and passing one to Trip. “I’d like to get something besides a full stomach and a swim for my twenty dollars.”

  “Very funny.” Trip washed down her potato salad and turned to Grace. “If you yank on the lead rope to force a horse to follow, he’s either going to balk or his flight instinct will kick in and he’ll drag you off your feet. So instead, you guide the horse to go where you want by teaching them to give to pressure. It’s how a stallion moves a herd, or a boss mare leads it. Before you know it, she’ll be following you around like a puppy.”

  “I thought we were talking about dating, not riding lessons.” Clay shook her head. “Seriously, dude, how did you ever get a woman, much less bed half of Pine Cone with advice like that?”

  “Dating, training horses, a lot of the same techniques apply. That’s why I’m so good at both.” Trip blew on her fingernails and brushed them against her shoulder.

  “Okay, I get it, maybe,” Grace said. “But you know I’ve got no game.”

  “Absolutely none.” Trip had to agree. Grace was no player. Whether she admitted it or not, Grace went on every date unconsciously hoping this woman would be the one.

  Clay draped her arm around Grace’s shoulder. “The important thing is to just be yourself, Gracie. You’re a people person who enjoys chatting and sharing time, and that’s all it takes. Just let Dani see the real you. Let her know you’re interested. She’ll either come around or she won’t. And if she doesn’t, she’s not worth your time anyway.”

  “Exactly,” Trip said. Dani could be good for Grace. She was a good vet and the compassion Trip saw when Dani interacted with clients and their animals spoke volumes about her. Yep. Trip liked her.

  “She practically bolted from the cottage the other night, like her butt was on fire.”

  “Your cottage?” Trip asked. Now Grace had been withholding information.

  Clay rolled her hand, encouraging Grace to come clean.

  She shook her head. “It wasn’t like that. She’s trying to figure out why Harry hates me, so I asked her to come by and check out my place. We had a couple of drinks, and…”

  “What were you wearing?” Trip caught and held Grace’s gaze.

  “Perv,” Clay said, nudging Trip with her foot before looking again at Grace. “Tell me it wasn’t your Daisy Dukes.”

  Grace nodded.

  Trip couldn’t stop her howl of laughter. “You’re killing me, Gracie.”

  Clay touched her beer bottle to Trip’s. “Dani’s a goner, but doesn’t know it yet.”

  “And we almost kissed…or I almost kissed her. I’m not exactly sure who moved first. It just sort of happened, but it didn’t. I felt like I’d accosted a teenager on her first date. All I saw were elbows and dust shooting up from her shoes all the way back to the house.” Grace paused, her face flushing red. “Then she kissed me at the cookout.” She gave Trip a shy glance. “I think she was jealous after she saw Jay crying on my shoulder.”

  “Yes.” Trip pumped her fist in the air. “Then what’d you do?”

  “Well, her kiss was a bit awkward. Sort of like ‘There. I did it.’” Grace ducked her head and grinned. “Then I showed her how to really kiss.”

  Clay hooted, and Trip reached behind Grace to bump fists with Clay.

  “Sounds to me like she’s coming around,” Trip said.

  Grace frowned. “I don’t know what to do next.”

  “Cook for her,” Clay added, her stomach never far from any conversation.

  “Screw her brains out at the first available opportunity,” Trip said. “She can get good food at a dozen restaurants, but great sex—”

  “You guys are worthless, totally worthless.” Grace pulled up two handfuls of grass and tossed them simultaneously. “Let’s talk about something else.” She eyed Clay. “Like maybe Clay scoring with the gorgeous River Hemsworth?”

  “Wait, what?” Trip looked at her.

  “Nothing,” Clay said.

  “Come to think of it, why did you leave yesterday in such a hurry? You didn’t even say good-bye. And you left River poolside looking kind of upset.” Trip’s attention was fully focused on Clay now.

  “I don’t want to talk about me. We’re here for Grace, remember?”

  “Too late,” Grace chimed in.

  “So? What happened yesterday?” Trip wanted to know that at least one of them was doing more than treading water.

  “We had a misunderstanding,” Clay said.

  Trip gritted her teeth. Dragging information out of Clay was as hard as starting an IV on an iguana. “And?”

  “We spent last night sorting it out.” Clay’s cheeks flushed red.

  “All night?” The pitch of Grace’s voice notched up.

  “And this morning.” Clay’s smile was slow and dreamy.

  “I knew it.” Grace smiled too, the worry finally gone from her face. “I knew she was into you. That very first day under the maple tree, sitting on that stupid fake plastic deer. If you’d been ice cream, she’d have poured herself all over you like hot fudge.”

  “Yeah, well, it just took me a little longer to figure it out.”

  “Maybe you’ll finally cheer up. I miss my pal, Clay.” Trip playfully punched Clay’s shoulder. Still, she knew this thing between Clay and River wasn’t a done deal. The toothpick Clay chewed and rolled from one side of her mouth to the other told Trip that she was still worried. Would Clay return to New York with River? They picked at the grass, scratched a few mosquito bites, and peeled damp bottle labels, but nobody was ready to talk about that elephant sitting on the riverbank with them.

  Clay rubbed her hands over her face. “Okay, okay…enough about me. We’re here to help Grace, remember?”

  “Talking with you two always helps.” Grace smiled. “More chicken? And don’t forget the potato salad.”

  Clay and Trip reached for second helpings of both, then settled back to eat. They ate in silence until Clay tossed her empty plate into a garbage bag and offered it to Trip.

  Grace wrapped an arm around Clay and kissed her on the cheek, then looked at Trip. “And what about you, Fast Break?” Grace smoothly moved the spotlight away from Clay, who relaxed and lay back on her elbows. “Who’s the next unsuspecting woman to fall victim to the Trip Beaumont charm?”

  “Nobody, really.” Trip shook her head. She’d been sure earlier that she wasn’t ready to talk about Jamie, her biggest regret in life. Even eighteen years and lots of women since hadn’t lessened the shame or changed the feeling there would always be a tear in her soul. But how did she explain it? Sh
e finally shrugged. “It’s…complicated.”

  “Oh, do tell.” Grace rubbed her hands together.

  Trip peeled at the label on her beer bottle. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all, but she’d already put it out there. “She’s someone from my past, and she’s not the forgiving type.”

  “Somebody you were in a relationship with and you cheated on her?” Grace stared at Trip and sipped her wine cooler. Her smile was slow as she swallowed. “No. You’re too honorable to make a promise, then cheat.” Grace tapped the bottle against her chin, her gaze wandering over the evening light playing in the swirls of the river. Her eyes snapped back to Trip. “Did you sleep with this person’s girlfriend?”

  Trip stared at her feet. “When they were together.” She held back the most incriminating detail. Revealing that would be an invasion of Jamie’s privacy.

  Clay sat up. “Oh shit, dude, really?”

  Grace’s eyebrows shot up. “The girl from college?”

  Trip studied her feet, digging her toes in the sand.

  Clay frowned. “Did you run into her in Savannah?”

  Trip shook her head. “Here. She’s in Pine Cone.”

  Grace looked at Clay. “Who did we miss? The only new women in town are…let’s see…Dani and River.” Grace began to sputter as realization dawned across her face. “Jamie? My Jamie?”

  No. My Jamie. Trip nodded to confirm it.

  Clay shook her head. “I’m confused. Isn’t she the one who’s been sticking parking tickets on your truck like wallpaper?”

  Trip smiled grimly. “She’s always been Jamie Do-right.”

  “She’s just doing her job, Trip. I’ve asked her to use more discretion, but she’s military—by the book.”

  “I’d be happy to pay every single ticket if she’d just talk to me.”

  “We’re a sorry bunch,” Grace said.

  Trip sighed. “Pathetic.”

  They were all silent for a few long moments, staring out at the river while they contemplated their woman issues. Then Grace threw her head back and laughed.

  “You guys can sit down here and sulk if you want.” She turned both her thumbs toward herself. “Glitter Girl is going after her woman.” Grace pointed at them again. “And as soon as y’all are done with your little pity party, go home and put on your big girl pants, then go courting too.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Trip looked up when Dani tapped on the open door to her office.

  “They’re in exam room three,” Dani said.

  “Thanks,” Trip said, putting her pen down and rising from her chair. She’d been staring at breeding charts without digesting any of the information for the past thirty minutes. She wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans and stopped herself from combing her fingers through her short hair. She’d carefully styled it into a messy look and didn’t want to un-mess it. She tried to seem casual, but Dani was a veterinarian. Since their patients couldn’t talk, vets were trained to observe, and Trip was overly aware of Dani watching her. When she brushed past, Dani’s hand on Trip’s arm made her pause. Before she could speak, Dani reached around Trip and neatly slipped the white lab coat from the hook by the door.

  “I’m told that a white coat with doctor on the name tag always impresses,” Dani said, handing the coat to Trip.

  Trip wanted to smile but could only manage a nod and a weak “thanks.” Yep. Dani was a keeper.

  Michelle stepped out of exam room three, pulled the door closed, then gasped for breath. “Oh my God,” she said, her voice carrying down the hallway. “I should’ve put that one in a room with a window you could open.”

  Trip saw red. She’d had just about enough of Michelle’s immaturity.

  Dani jumped in. “Michelle, can you give me a hand with the Hollister beagle in the back?”

  Trip stopped her. “Actually, Dani, I’d like you to see the Grant dog with me. Two heads will be better than one.” Trip glared at Michelle. “I want you to wait in my office. We’re going to have a little chat about your continued lack of professional decorum.”

  Michelle opened her mouth to say something, but checked herself and went directly to Trip’s office. Dani wisely refrained from comment.

  Trip sucked in a deep breath and opened the door to exam room three, Dani trailing silently behind her.

  “Hey, Jamie.”

  Jamie looked up, her eyes questioning when they slid from Trip to Dani. A wheat-colored, wire-haired terrier mix sat on the exam table, watching them with wary eyes and pressing herself against Jamie’s chest. “I thought we were seeing Dani this morning.”

  “Dani and I talked about what you told her Saturday and agreed that two brains would be better than one to try to figure out your pup’s problem.” Trip spoke in a soothing tone for Petunia’s benefit, but hoped she could put Jamie at ease, too. “Will you introduce us?”

  Jamie seemed to consider refusing Trip’s input, but finally stroked the terrier’s head and nodded. “This is Petunia.” Jamie’s face twisted in a grimace. “I just call her P. I’m thinking that some joker at the shelter named her that because of her gastric problems.”

  “Hello, P.” Trip held out her hand for Petunia to sniff while Dani made notes in Petunia’s chart. “Hey, girl. I understand you’ve got a bit of a bellyache.” Petunia’s lips curled into a silent snarl.

  Jamie cleared her throat. “It’d probably help if you ditched the white coat. She was rescued from a research lab, and they probably wore lab coats.”

  “Sorry. You didn’t tell me that,” Dani said, shucking her coat and taking Trip’s as well. “I’ll toss these in my office.”

  “While you’re doing that, will you send Michelle out back to help Jerome for the rest of the morning?” Trip kept her voice nonchalant so she didn’t upset Petunia, but she was fuming inside. “Then call Jerome and let him know she needs to strip some stalls for him.” Shoveling out the bottom layers of urine-soaked wood chips was the worst job in a stable.

  Dani grinned. “Sure thing, Trip.”

  But Jamie frowned. “You don’t have to do that for me. I’m used to people saying crap about P’s gastric problem.”

  Trip looked up sharply. “Not in my clinic. Not about my sick clients.” Not about your dog. She took a deep breath to settle her emotions and extended her hand to Petunia again. She got another lip curl.

  “Stand down.” Jamie’s tone was so stern that Trip dropped her hand and stepped back, blinking in surprise. For the first time, Jamie’s mouth twitched with the hint of a smile. “I was speaking to P, not you.”

  Trip felt her face heat. “I knew that.” Damn. Why did she feel like she was back in college? She cleared her throat. “Look. I swear this isn’t some kind of trick, but I need for her to relax with me so I can palpate her abdomen. If she’s tense, I won’t be able to tell as easily if I hit a sore spot.”

  “You want to sedate her?”

  “No. That would also mask any pain reaction.” Trip shifted and cleared her throat again. “I want you to hug me.”

  Jamie stared at her. “You want me to hug you.” It wasn’t a question.

  “If she sees that you like me, then she hopefully will too.” Trip slid her hands in the pockets of her jeans and out again, then shrugged. Jamie made her nervous. “Maybe you could pretend for a few minutes?”

  Jamie looked down at Petunia, absently scratching behind her ears. “P, stay,” she said softly. She rounded the table to where Trip stood, but hesitated when their eyes locked.

  The moment she felt Jamie’s stiff arms slide around her shoulders, Trip closed her eyes and tugged her close for a long heartfelt hug. Jamie smelled of soap. “You can’t fool animals, Jamie. Relax, for Petunia’s sake.” Trip whispered into Jamie’s ear. “I really do want to help.”

  Jamie’s arms relaxed a bit, then a bit more, but Trip lamented the armored vest Jamie wore under her uniform shirt. Could Jamie feel her heart pounding? Could she feel Trip’s arms around her? Ever hopeful, she gave Jamie a last
squeeze when she heard Dani slip quietly into the room. Jamie’s face was flushed when she stepped back, and Trip offered a soft smile. “Now, let’s see if Petunia is buying it.”

  Petunia’s dark eyes went from Jamie’s face to Trip’s, and she sniffed at Trip’s scent on Jamie. Trip tucked the diaphragm end of her stethoscope inside her shirt to warm it against her breast and held out her hand to Petunia again. Petunia snuffled Trip’s hand, then stood on the table to thoroughly examine Jamie’s scent on her. Trip scratched behind Petunia’s ears like Jamie had done, then knelt next to the table to put herself at eye level with the terrier, but not so close as to be in Petunia’s personal space.

  “So, P.” Trip worked her scratching fingers around Petunia’s neck to her chest, then her back. “Your mom and I go way back to when we were both baby dykes strutting around the college campus like we thought we were special. Actually, Jamie is sort of special.”

  Petunia thumped her tail against the metal table as if agreeing with what Trip had said, then her back foot when Trip scratched a particularly itchy spot along her spine.

  “She upped my game on the basketball court so much, we both were being scouted to play pro.” She kept up the running monologue while her scratching turned to a massage and she slowly stood. “But things happened and she ran off to join the army. I didn’t even get to talk to her before she left, and I was really scared when I found out she was doing tours in Iraq.” Trip finally chanced a look at Jamie, who was watching her with an unreadable expression.

  Petunia sighed and rolled onto her back, releasing a long expel of flatulence as she relaxed into Trip’s gentle massage of her belly. Trip continued, keeping her voice low and even, and Dani scribbled notes as Trip dictated. “Possible neuter scar along the belly crease, but since she came from a research lab, it could be from a different, more extensive surgery. Significant bloating, but flatulence odor is indicative of incomplete digestion rather than fetid bowel. Tenderness apparent in the upper quadrant upon palpation and a thickening of tissue which could indicate a number of things—intense inflammation, blockage, scarring from previous surgeries, intestinal cysts or tumors.”