Rescue Me

by Catherine Mann

  He pulled out two plates and set them beside the barbecue, rolls and brownies in the middle of the table. He placed two long-neck bottles of beer beside their long-overdue dinner, twisting off the tops. How many more meals would they share before she learned more about him and walked away? Part of him wanted to delay that as long as possible and another part of him pushed to get everything out there now and see how she dealt with the real AJ Parker.

  He turned a chair around and straddled it, resting his arms on the back and watching her go straight for the brownie. “Thank you for all the time and work you’re putting into training Holly.” He thumbed condensation off the long-neck bottle. “And that thanks isn’t just for her but for me, too. My boss here was right about the whole emotional-support-dog notion. I left Atlanta because if I didn’t, I would end up fired or dead.”

  She glanced up sharply, then set her brownie on a plate slowly. “Could you elaborate?”

  He grabbed the beer bottle for something to do with his hands more than for the buzz of alcohol. “I’d spent so long undercover, I burned out. I was no good to anyone. Not the department, not myself. I took this job with my cousin to slow down and still be able to feed myself.”

  Although the job had backfired on him in a major way over Christmas and now his escapist coping mechanisms weren’t working so hot anymore.

  “I know you worked narcotics, but I envisioned more sting operations like over Christmas.” She frowned. “I take it your work went deeper than that?”

  He scratched the back of his head, his hair just brushing his collar, which was short for him these days. “You wouldn’t have recognized me. I had a magnificent beard. Scruffy as hell. My hair grew just past my shoulders.”

  “Pictures.” She grinned, resting her chin on her hand, eyes wide with mischief. “Please say there are pictures.”

  “Not that you’ll ever see.” He broke off a piece of brownie and tapped her lips.

  “Spoilsport.” She took the bite of chocolate, nipping his fingers, then sucking lightly.

  His body went hard at the flick of her tongue over his fingertip. He set his long-neck bottle on the table. He would need all his wits around this woman.

  He stroked along her plump bottom lip before continuing. “The highlight of that stage of my life came when I went to a concert between assignments, and these dudes standing next to me were debating about where to score some weed. One of them pointed to me and said, ‘Ask him. I bet he sells.’ My disguise was rock solid.”

  “What about your personal life? Wasn’t it difficult to have serious relationships?”

  Now, wasn’t that as sobering as any bucket of cold water? “Having friends or anything more was dangerous to those around me.”

  Dangerous for Sheila and her child.

  Mary Hannah nudged away the chipped plate, searching his face. “Are you going back to that once you’ve finished your hiatus here?”

  He couldn’t lie. “That was the original plan. Yes. To return to Atlanta or another large-city force where they can use my skills.”

  “Was?”

  He picked up her hand, loosely linking their fingers. “Are you asking me if I plan to stay in Tennessee long term now?”

  “I guess I am.” She gripped his hand in response, her chin tipping.

  “Uh, I didn’t expect you to admit that.” He was losing control of the conversation fast. He’d hoped to warn her off, to help her see how unstable his life was, and with her past, she needed, she deserved, a steady man. And damn it, right now he couldn’t bring himself to keep pushing her away.

  More than anything, he had to have her again, and again after that. He had no idea how he would ever get enough of her.

  He tugged her hand until she landed on his lap. “Let’s find those oils of yours so I can massage the tension right out of you. What’s your favorite scent?”

  Purring, she leaned into him. “The scent of you.”

  His arms went around her and he knew. This woman was his kryptonite.

  * * *

  IN THE TWO weeks that followed, it was tough for me to keep straight where I lived. Sometimes AJ took me to Mary Hannah’s and we all stayed the night there. Other evenings, Mary Hannah stayed at AJ’s. I was just glad they kept me with them and did everything I could to implement my mission to keep them together. Like one day when they started to argue, I sprinted away so they would have to chase me.

  For good measure I rolled in a smelly pile of trash I found behind a Dumpster so they would have to give me a bath. I liked nice warm baths with all the scented shampoos, such a treat after living in that cabin. Except I underestimated how badly the garbage stank. Like really stank. Skanky stank.

  Mary Hannah turned pale when they found me and said I smelled like “zombie entrails.” Which I thought was a little harsh, but whatever. Then AJ chuckled and she laughed, too, and I got so, so, so many baths back in Mary Hannah’s big tile shower as they worked on finding something to make the stench go away. They started with Mary Hannah’s excellent all-natural shampoos, then on to de-skunk shampoo.

  Then they stepped out all wet, having surrendered to using every Googled option. Mary Hannah didn’t even complain about AJ tracking water on the floor.

  I liked seeing them work together, even when they brought out dish soap and baking soda to scrub me down. They were smiling, and when they resorted to the final Internet suggestion, Mary Hannah burst out laughing. “Feminine hygiene? You mean . . . ?”

  He nodded. “Herbal . . .”

  Douche.

  They poured two bottles of wildflower water over me. I was so overcome by the lovely scent I almost missed what was happening between them. They were drenched, a total mess, and yet AJ was looking at Mary Hannah with this new expression, something special.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said, sitting in the shower. “Even more so than the first night I met you soaking wet.”

  “I’m a mess.” She pushed back her clumpy wet hair.

  “All I can see is your smile.” His eyes narrowed, and he leaned to kiss her.

  Not one of those out-of-control kisses where I had to stuff my head under the dog bed to get any peaceful sleep. It was a tender kiss. A kiss that said he cared.

  That was rare. I knew firsthand.

  I hadn’t forgotten that other place yet. Even living in a new place, I still saw reminders too often to let down my guard. Seeing familiar faces from the meth cabin made it tougher, too. I wondered where they got their drugs from now and worried they might take me there.

  Living that way had been horrible enough before. But now that I had seen the outside world beyond the chain, now that I had experienced a soft bed, good food and a gentle hand, the possibility of returning to my previous life made me tremble all the more.

  I tried my best to figure out what they wanted from me so I could stay even after they became a couple. Over time, it became about more than that. I wanted them to be happy all the time. I worked all the harder to figure out what made them smile and use that higher pitch to their voice when they said, “Good girl, Holly. Good girl.”

  My bond to them shifted from gratitude to something else. Devotion. You humans might even call it love.

  I just knew I wanted them to have the very best the future could give them. More than just protecting and tending to each other. They needed to love each other.

  And with some smarts gained from many, many episodes of television advice shows, I knew Mary Hannah and AJ were meant to find one house and live there, together. Forever.

  It was my mission to make that happen.

  Mission. That’s a word I learned from a dog named Trooper. He was Sierra and Mike’s dog. He explained to me that I had a purpose other than delivering babies after all—and I had been worrying about the puppy issue because I was afraid no one would have any use for me since I’d been spayed. But thank
s to Trooper, I knew better. Dogs were created by the Big Master to help and protect humans.

  Thanks to Trooper, I fully understood it was my job to help Mary Hannah and AJ realize they were meant to stay together forever. And to make sure that no one from that meth-lab cabin ever hurt them the way I’d been hurt.

  Eighteen

  The clock is ticking. You’re almost out of time to solve the puzzle.

  —HOLLY

  TWO WEEKS LATER, Mary Hannah hip-bumped her way into Sierra’s hospital room. She juggled the sack of takeout food and a shoulder bag of small gifts to keep her friend from going stir-crazy. A television game show played softly. Machines chirped and beeped, monitoring the baby’s heart rate, Sierra’s blood pressure and so many other details crucial to giving this baby the best chance possible.

  “Hello,” Mary Hannah called softly. “It’s me. I have thirty-five whole minutes for girl talk before I go see a patient on the next floor.”

  Thumbing off the remote control, Sierra lay in the slightly raised bed wearing a hospital gown, her hair in a side ponytail. “Thank you for keeping me company while Mike runs home to grab fresh clothes and a shower. He was seriously starting to look ragged from never leaving my side.”

  “He’s so sweet.”

  “Mike is, and I love him like crazy. But it’s tough to relax with him staring at my stomach the whole time.” Her hands fell to rest on her swollen belly covered in hospital blankets, her puffy feet elevated. “I’m going out of my mind in this place, and it’s only been a couple of weeks.”

  “You’ve made it two more weeks.” Mary Hannah set the bagged lunch on the rolling tray, a healthy Panera salad and soup. “That’s awesome. I’m here for you anytime you need me to help you pass the time.”

  “Thank you, and I know it’s a miracle that we’ve made it this far.” Sierra blinked back tears. “But still not what I wished for my baby, to be born early, to start his life with weeks spent in a hospital.”

  “I know it’s difficult to keep your spirits up. I wish I could do more.”

  Sierra tugged the tray toward her. “I have too much time to think. All the aromatherapy in the world isn’t going to stop my fears. Let’s talk about something else.” She pried open the lid to the soup. “Like what’s in here to eat?”

  “Both the soup and salad are on the approved diet list. They’re also guaranteed to be more appetizing than the cafeteria offerings that always seem to include soupy green Jell-O.” Mary Hannah sat in the chair by the bedside table and opened her bag with a sandwich inside.

  “Oh my God, I owe you a huge payback for this. We’re going to have a spa morning together as soon as I’m able. No arguments.” Sierra tapped the controls on the bed to raise her head higher, keeping her hand carefully over the monitors strapped to her stomach so as not to disturb them. “Tell me about you and AJ. I need a distraction. I want to hear details, and don’t bother denying things have progressed to another level. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other when you both stop by together.”

  Mary Hannah sipped her tea, weighing her answer. “We just decided not to fight the attraction anymore. I don’t know what happens next. After a messy divorce, I’m in no hurry to risk my heart again. I’m living one day at a time.”

  Sierra smiled sympathetically. “I guess we both are in our own way.”

  Guilt pinched. How could she be whining over having a sexy, generous lover when her friend was battling to save her baby’s life? “Please, tell me what can I do for you?”

  “You’re already helping by just being here.” Sierra jabbed the plastic fork in the salad topped with fruit. “And the smuggled food is worth its weight in gold.”

  “That doesn’t seem like enough.” But it was more than she herself had had at the worst point in her life. No one had come to see her as she lay in a hospital bed mourning the loss of her baby. Her own fault. She’d pushed everyone away.

  “Is this development between you and AJ a secret?”

  “I can’t imagine anything in this town stays a secret for long.”

  “What will you do when everyone knows?” Sierra forked another bite of green.

  “I haven’t thought that far in advance.” Day by day was so much easier. They were still working their way through the scents in her sack of massage oils, an approach that was turning out really, really well for her. “Right now we’re just enjoying the great sex and pretending the rest of the world doesn’t exist while we train Holly.”

  “What happens after the Valentine’s event?”

  She shrugged with more nonchalance than she felt. “I guess we’ll find out.”

  Sierra studied her through narrowed eyes. “But you always have a plan. This is very unusual.”

  “Isn’t it, though?” More so now that she thought about it. AJ brought out the uninhibited side of her. “I’m even swapping some of my paisley accessories for chevron patterns for the new year.”

  “You rebel,” Sierra teased, laughing.

  “That’s me, the wild one.”

  Somehow with AJ, she was. Uninhibited and even messy.

  But the moments that rocked her most? Stretching out on a blanket in front of the fire, sharing childhood secrets. Mary Hannah just wanted . . . to be sure she wouldn’t get her heart broken again. “Do you ever want to build a tree house and just hide out for a while? With a margarita machine, of course, since there are perks to being an adult.”

  “Are you kidding? Name the date once I’m free from this place. I’ll be there with chips.” Sierra grinned, playing along.

  “Why wait? I’ll come back tonight and bring virgin margaritas and chips. We’ll have a girls’ night with your mom.”

  “Just because I can’t drink doesn’t meant the two of you can’t enjoy yourselves. You both deserve to take a break from the Mutt Makeover prep.”

  Oh, crap. Sierra still didn’t know about Lacey’s pregnancy scare. Mary Hannah wondered how much longer Lacey intended to keep it a secret. Had she been to the doctor? They needed to talk.

  Not telling AJ was more than a little awkward, too, given his family connection to Wyatt. But Lacey was insistent that she couldn’t face any more decisions in her life until she knew Sierra and the baby would be okay.

  And if they weren’t?

  That thought was beyond bearing. “The Valentine event is definitely time-consuming, but worth the effort.”

  Sierra pushed the lettuce around in the dish. “How are the soldier and the kid doing with little Barkley?”

  “Reluctantly magnificent,” she said with pride. They’d come so far with the dog and with each other. “I have high hopes for them as a family.”

  “And Holly?”

  Mary Hannah rolled her eyes. “She’s making great progress, and she’s a wonderful companion dog. Very smart.”

  “Except?”

  Her cheeks puffed with her exhale. “She has too many undersocialization issues to overcome before this event.” The victories were rewarding, but seeing how deeply Holly had been damaged was also heartrending. “Our goal is to help her feel confident enough to walk into the auditorium, then we’ll play a video of her journey. She may not win, but she can soften some hearts to consider adopting other animals like her.”

  “Sounds like you have a solid plan after all.” Sierra set aside her fork and reached out, her hand taped with an IV port. “Thank you for today. For being here. For giving me a few minutes to be something besides absolutely terrified.”

  Mary Hannah leaned over to hug her friend. “We’re best friends. Comes with the territory.”

  Sierra hugged her back. “I wish you would let me do the same for you.”

  “I promise to be better in the future about sharing.” And she would try. It was just hard to break such a long-held habit of keeping things inside her. “Right now, though, all that’s important is keeping you
calm and happy. So let’s make a list of everything you need me to bring the next time I visit. Anything you want.”

  “A male stripper?” She wriggled her eyebrows.

  “What?” Mary Hannah squeaked. “You’re, uh . . .”

  “I may be pregnant but I’m still a woman.” She patted Mary Hannah’s hand on the bed rail. “No worries. I was just joking.”

  “Well, damn.” Mary Hannah picked up her tea. “I was looking forward to interviewing candidates.”

  Sierra laughed and Mary Hannah joined in, the infectious humor so natural between them and so welcome. She laughed until her eyes watered with emotion. She had much more in her life than she ever could have dreamed of when she lay alone in another hospital bed, detoxing, grieving. “I appreciate you, friend.”

  “The same here.” Sierra held her arms out.

  Mary Hannah hugged her again, grateful she’d taken the risk to uproot and move to this little town. She wanted to believe she was brave enough to take an even scarier risk by trusting the growing relationship with AJ.

  But to do that, she would eventually have to find the guts to tell all. A proposition that scared her all the way down to her new pink snow boots.

  * * *

  AJ HELD THE leash while Holly sniffed the snow, her paws leaving a zigzag pattern in the sparkling blanket of white. But hallelujah, she was walking on the leash. Not tugging. Not cowering. Just exploring the world as if the braided leash attached to her collar didn’t even exist.

  He felt like he’d just won the lottery, he was so damn proud of her.

  Mary Hannah strolled beside him, unusually quiet as she walked Mike and Sierra’s dog, Trooper. Trees rustled overhead with the movement of a few critters braving the cold.