Trip put down her hamburger. She glanced at Grace, who was staring at her food, her smile gone. No sense dancing around the issue.
“Job interviews?”
Dani nodded as her face reddened. “They made me an offer I couldn’t turn down.” She reached for Grace’s hand. “I apologize for my delivery.”
Grace pulled away. “Your delivery? Just to be clear, you’re not apologizing for keeping this from people who were depending on you? Not for leaving your employer in a lurch for two days? To say nothing of practically jumping from my bed and into your car without a word.” Grace rose from the table, plate in hand, but stopped beside Dani. “You really are something, Dani Wingate.”
“Grace, can we talk about this later, please?” Dani glanced toward Clay and Trip.
Trip felt Clay tense beside her. Grace, however, seemed to consider it, studying Dani for several long seconds. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I heard you perfectly the first time. Congratulations on finally getting what you wanted. I’m happy for you.”
Trip suddenly lost her appetite. This felt too much like when Jamie left her in college without even a note of explanation. No, she and Dani were colleagues. She wasn’t crushing on Dani. But her stomach didn’t seem to know the difference. She grabbed her plate, still heaped with food, and tossed it in the garbage. “I took a chance on you, Dani, and you pull this crap.” Her head knew Dani was not likely to stay, but her heart had become convinced that Dani would stay. Like Jamie would stay. She knew there was no reasonable connection, but what she and Jamie had started last night still felt very fragile. Would Jamie leave, too, if she and Petunia got a better job offer…maybe from the state or federal government?
“I can work a notice, if you need me,” Dani said.
“Probably best for Grace if you leave right now, but it will take me two weeks to restructure the schedule so I can handle the clinic and the farm calls again. Right now, you can handle calls and treatments today since I worked in your place yesterday. Clay and I need to take care of Grace.” Without another word, Trip followed Grace into the house.
* * *
Cruising her usual route through town, Jamie alternately hummed and quietly sang the ’90s tunes that played in her head, along with the good memories of her college days with Trip—fooling around at basketball practice, the team singing in the locker room shower together, Sunday afternoon challenges to see who could run the most steps in the football stadium or hit the most fast balls in the baseball team’s batting cage. She didn’t want to think about being with Trip last night or she’d end up with a giant wet spot in the crotch of her uniform pants. Acknowledging that, of course, sent her traitorous mind in that exact direction. Thankfully, her daydream was interrupted by the chiming of her cell phone.
“Jamie Grant.”
“Ms. Grant. This is Victor Helms. I’m calling you on behalf of the Strange Foundation.”
Jamie held out her phone and stared at the number calling her. She recognized the Albany, New York, area code. “What can I help you with, Mr. Helms?” She pulled the cruiser into the Piggly Wiggly shopping center and parked so she could concentrate on the phone call.
“The Strange Foundation is interested in developing and supporting a program I believe you helped pilot—the Shelter to Working Dog program.”
“There were others in that pilot program. My dog and I dropped out.”
“We are aware there was a health issue that disqualified your dog. That’s exactly why you’re the person we want to persuade to help us get this program off the blocks and moving. We need someone with your determination to overcome any obstacle. We want to talk to you about our plans and discuss a consulting contract or full-time employment with the program.”
“I’m not job hunting, Mr. Helms. But I might consider a consulting contract if I can work it out with my current job.”
“Good. As long as you keep an open mind. That’s all I’m asking. Could you possibly meet our southeast director Tuesday? She’ll be in Savannah on other business and could meet you around four.”
Jamie calculated the time she’d need to drive to Savannah after her shift. “Four thirty would be better.”
“I’m sure that will be fine.”
Jamie wrote down the address he recited and thanked him before disconnecting. A nationwide program like this could mean a second chance for so many dogs. They could start with detection animals—drugs, explosives, cadavers, trackers—and branch into service dogs for the disabled and veterans with PTSD. Jamie smiled. She couldn’t wait to give Trip her news.
* * *
The day turned out long with a major pileup on the interstate. Pine Cone was called to assist by setting up a detour route while highway patrol troopers worked to clear the wreckage and get traffic moving.
When she and Petunia finally made it back to the B and B, even the dog was tired and grumpy. She refused to eat and only drank a little water before climbing into her crate and closing her eyes. Jamie called Trip’s phone again. It’d been going straight to voice mail, but Jamie figured she might be on a call and had left it in her truck while she was working with a patient.
“Jamie?”
Jamie’s brain stuttered. “Uh, yes?” This sounded like Essie answering Trip’s phone.
Oh, no. Her brain jumped to a hundred conclusions, all bad.
“This is Essie. I was just about to call you.”
“Is everything okay? Has there been an accident? Is Trip okay? I’ve been trying to call her.”
“The bonehead left her phone here in my kitchen. Must’a put it down when she was rootin’ around in the liquor cabinet a few minutes ago. She’s in a mood, sittin’ out by the pool and sipping that fire stuff right out of the bottle. I think it’d help if you came over. Otherwise, Jerome is likely to find her sprawled out there on the grass when he comes to feed horses in the morning.”
“I’m on my way over.”
“You let that little pup in the house when you get here. I like her company.”
“Yes, ma’am. Miss Essie?” Petunia’s ears went up at mention of Essie’s name.
“Yes, honey?”
“Does Trip drink a lot?”
“She works too much, but I can’t say that she’s that much of a drinker. She’s just hit a muddy place in life’s road. She’s been hauling her wagon and everybody else’s. Now, her wheels are mired in the mud, and she needs a reason to keep faith in her ability to get free of it.”
A nose pushed against Jamie’s leg. Petunia wagged her tail when Jamie looked down. “Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.” Jamie put Essie on speaker so she could throw some things in an overnight bag, then grabbed her keys. “We should be there in about fifteen minutes.”
“Oh, and, Jamie?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“I don’t want to find clothes all over my yard in the morning.”
Jamie felt her face heat. “N-No, ma’am. No clothes in the yard.”
Essie’s cackle rang out over the phone’s speaker before she disconnected.
* * *
Jamie parked in front of the house and shook her head when she found the front door unlocked. Convenient for her, but the police officer in her wasn’t happy. People in small towns were so trusting. Essie waved from her doorway down the left hallway, and Jamie released Petunia to go to her.
“She’s still out back,” Essie said before taking Petunia into her rooms and closing the door.
Jamie paused by the patio doors. Trip sat with her feet in the water, silhouetted against the pool’s underwater lights. She shed her shoes in the kitchen and closed the door with a soft click to pad across the grass. Trip spoke when Jamie neared.
“Trying to sneak up on me?”
“As if. You need to oil the hinges on that door.”
“Then I wouldn’t know when Essie was headed out here to swat me with her newspaper.” Trip didn’t turn, but held up her hand for Jamie to join her.
Instead, Jamie straddled Trip a
nd wrapped her arms around her from behind. The sudden change in their relationship still felt a little weird, but in a good way. A really good way. “Tell me what has you out here sipping whiskey?”
Trip held it up. “Fireball. Tastes like that hot candy we used to eat when we were kids.”
Jamie sniffed it, then tasted. “It does.” She coughed when the burn hit her throat. “Except for the afterburn.” She set the bottle to the side, kissed Trip’s neck, then began a gentle massage of her tense shoulders. “Now answer my question.”
Trip heaved a huge sigh. “Dani’s back. Her sudden need to take care of something was actually a job interview.” Trip’s barked laugh echoed across the pool. “Stupid, trusting me. I didn’t even ask for details. I was sure it was some family issue since she asked at the last minute. But she had to know about the appointment days, at least a week in advance.”
Jamie had gotten a call today for a meeting day after tomorrow. “You don’t know that, Trip. Lots of things could have caused them to call her at the last minute. So, did she take the job?”
“Yeah.”
“That sucks.” Jamie stopped her massage and rested her cheek against Trip’s when Trip sank backward into her embrace. After a long moment, she kissed Trip’s temple and tightened her arms. “So, make a plan. You ran the clinic alone before Dani. You can do it again until you find another suitable hire. What about your second choice when you interviewed Dani?”
“He already had another offer and was holding them off while I made my decision. I’m sure he took that offer when I chose Dani because of her zoo experience. When I called to let him know I’d decided on another candidate, he said he was disappointed, but his wife and kids weren’t excited about moving to the South and had been pressuring him to take the other offer anyway.”
“Third candidate?”
“Nobody else I interviewed even made my short list.”
Jamie couldn’t believe Trip was this defeated. The woman she knew in college was a problem solver. In fact, she loved to solve problems. “You can make a new list after Brenda rearranges your schedule. Now tell me what’s really bothering you.”
Trip twisted out of Jamie’s arms and jumped to her feet. “Grace has fallen in love with Dani.” She began to pace the concrete poolside.
“I didn’t know they were dating.” Now that she thought back, there were some looks she’d noticed passing between Grace and Dani that made sense now, and some nights when she didn’t hear Dani moving about in the room next door. Had she been in Grace’s cottage?
Trip snorted. “I don’t think they have dated.” She stopped her pacing and held up a finger. “Oh, unless you want to count that lunch at the diner when Dani said the only seat open was the one at the counter next to Grace.” She started to pace again. “So, Dani wastes my time settling her into my practice, beds one of my best friends, and then breaks her heart to run off after the first job offer that comes along.” Trip stopped again and dropped her chin to rub her eyes with the heels of her hands. “Grace is crushed.”
Jamie stood and tugged Trip’s hands away from her face. “Grace will hurt, that’s for sure. But she’s a strong woman. She’ll survive. Dani obviously wasn’t the one for her.”
Trip didn’t meet Jamie’s eyes. “We haven’t really dated.”
Finally, the heart of the problem.
Jamie smiled and let go of Trip’s hands to cup her face and capture her eyes. “Sweetie, we slept within a few feet of each other for two years, ate most of our meals together, spent every afternoon together at practice, and showered in front of each other. That’s got to be some kind of lesbian record.”
Trip laughed and the spark Jamie loved returned to Trip’s eyes. “I love it when you’re right.” She tugged Jamie close, then Jamie laughed when Trip lifted her off her feet to twirl her around. The world spun even faster when Trip claimed her with a kiss that warmed Jamie’s mouth and heated everything else farther south. Maybe it was the remnants of Fireball on Trip’s tongue. Nah. Jamie knew better.
* * *
Jamie had insisted that no clothes come off until they crossed the threshold into Trip’s bedroom, so shoes, shorts and T-shirts began to fly before the door clicked shut. They laughed as, naked, they playfully wrestled for dominance until Jamie yielded and Trip claimed victory with a long, hot dance of soft lips and probing tongue. Jamie had never wanted a woman so much…so much that her head was buzzing.
Trip cursed and drew back.
“What?” Jamie blinked. Did she do something wrong?
Trip grabbed her phone from the bedside table, and the buzzing stopped. “Beaumont.”
A muffled voice sounded on the other end.
“No. I have the number in my contacts. I’ll call them.” Trip ended the call and glanced at Jamie. “Sorry. Essie must have brought my phone up here. That was my answering service.” She put the phone to her ear again. “Hey, Will, it’s Trip. What’s up?”
More muffled words and Trip began to search around for her clothes, tossing items into a nearby chair.
“You have some of those pre-loaded doses of Banamine on hand? …Good. Give him one now, like I showed you. I’m on my way.”
Trip tossed the phone onto the bed and flopped down next to Jamie. She brushed her fingers along Jamie’s cheek. “I am so sorry, but I have an emergency colic. This client paid a ton of money for this horse. I might be all night.”
Jamie kissed her. “It’s okay. I understand. P and I can go home.” She rose from the bed and looked to see where her clothes might have landed.
Trip pulled the bedcovers back and guided Jamie back to the bed, pushing her down and covering her. “Please stay. I’m sure Essie and Petunia are already tucked in bed, and I like thinking of you snuggled in my bed while I’m out sweating in a dusty barn.”
Jamie shivered when Trip snuck her hand under the sheet and cupped her breast. “No fair. You’re leaving me in a bad way as it is.”
Trip smiled. “Hold that thought. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Trip glanced at the clock and Jamie admonished herself for delaying Trip this long.
“Go. If I’m not here when you get back, it’s only because it’s after seven and I had to leave for work.”
* * *
It was close to five thirty when Jamie woke to Trip crawling under the covers. She was very naked, but the tired lines of Trip’s face stopped Jamie from doing more than rolling over to cuddle against Trip’s back. Within seconds, Trip’s breathing evened out and she was limp in Jamie’s arms.
Jamie stared up at the ceiling. She hadn’t told Trip about the call from the Strange Foundation. They’d gotten caught up in the Dani-clinic problem and then the Dani-Grace problem and she just forgot to tell Trip. No. That wasn’t true. We haven’t really dated.
Trip hadn’t actually yet said the three no-going-back words—“I love you”—but she expressed it in a hundred other ways. Jamie hadn’t ever come close to admitting how she felt. Not in words.
Was she afraid? Yes. She was afraid that when she told Trip about her meeting with the foundation, Trip would jump to the conclusion that she was going to follow Dani’s example and chose a dream job over Trip.
Would she? Not even she could say for sure. One thing was certain—she would not sneak out of town like Dani did and come back to announce she was leaving. But she had only one day, and she needed a plan.
Chapter Nineteen
Trip smiled without opening her eyes. This was a nice dream. Soft lips were planting little kisses along her backbone, then a tongue licked along her neck, and teeth nipped playfully at her earlobe. A shiver ran through her entire body when a warm hand glided over her naked buttocks and fingertips swirled along the back of her thighs. She moaned and opened her legs in invitation. “I thought about you all night and dreamed about you all morning.”
A heavy weight covered in soft fleece pressed against her back, pinning her against the bed and the fingers sampled her arousal. “What did you dream?” The wo
rds were a warm, moist exhale in her ear that caused her belly and sex to tighten.
She scrunched her eyes more tightly shut so she wouldn’t accidently open them and cause the dream to vanish. “I dreamed of your thumb inside me and your fingers around my clit, thrusting and thrusting, filling me, milking me…yes, like that, holy mother…yes.” Trip screamed into her pillow. When she stopped jerking, she realized the touch that had pleasured her was gone. Had it been a dream? She opened her eyes to bright sunlight.
“Jamie?”
A playful slap to her butt prompted her to roll onto her back. “You’d be in a lot of trouble if it wasn’t.”
“I thought I was dreaming…a very, very good dream.” Trip lifted the covers and grinned. “Get in here with me. I thought you had to work today.”
Instead, Jamie stood and shucked off the soft robe she’d borrowed from Trip’s bathroom. Trip frowned. Jamie was fully dressed underneath. She was just trying to fool Trip with the robe.
“Nope. I went in and swapped a shift with one of the guys, and Brenda has cleared your afternoon. I’ve got plans for us today, so get up and go shower.”
“Plans?” She liked Jamie’s plan so far. What else did she have in mind?
“You said we haven’t really dated, so I want a date. Several dates. One right after another. Today.” Jamie’s expression softened.
Trip took the hand Jamie extended and let Jamie tug her into a loose embrace. Jamie kissed her, just a caress of her lips against Trip’s. “Will you go on a date with me today, Trip Beaumont?”
Trip tilted her head. “Why, yes. I think I will.” She batted her eyelashes, which made Jamie laugh. “I just need a few minutes to wash off my perfume de whorehouse.”
* * *
As soon as Jamie heard the shower come on, she opened the bedroom door and ushered Amani’s wait staff in to quickly set up a brunch of crepes, fruit, ham and potato fritters, fresh orange juice, and coffee on the bedroom balcony.
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