“Why are you always so hesitant to date?”
“I’m not hesitant, exactly.”
“Harvey,” I sigh, waiting him out, knowing I have never once won one of these. Usually it’s always him saying my name on a sigh and me giving in immediately. But I have also never seen Harvey in a state like this.
Minutes pass, and the only reason I don’t crack first is because I’m suddenly bombarded with memories of Karma. We are walking through the same park we always took her to, which makes me realize just how much I miss her.
“People just always disappoint—my parents, my sister, my Army buddies. They just all … They disappoint.”
I hold my breath, waiting for Harvey to continue. This is the first time he’s brought up his family, and I didn’t even know he had Army friends. Harvey was in the Army?
“I just don’t see the point investing in people when it’s never worth it in the end.”
This is so much like how Joey used to think, it’s uncanny.
“I like to think I was a good investment. And the guys at work, you’ve gotten closer to them.”
“Only because you kept pushing,” he grumbles. He soon sighs, his shoulders slumping. “You’re right. You’re my best friend and you haven’t let me down once. And those guys are okay.”
“Harvey,” I growl, shoving his side a little when he still doesn’t relent.
“Fine, they’re my friends, too. I get that not all people are bad; it’s just been my experience that most people are disappointing.”
“You have to take a chance on someone eventually, and maybe the fact that you feel this way already, that your mind has latched on to this guy, means there is something more there. This could be your instincts telling you it’s time to try again.”
“You’re right,” he suspiciously agrees.
“I am?”
“Yeah, it’s been a while since I gave this dating shit a try. I’m probably going to be rusty,” he warns.
“If this guy is right for you, then he’ll be patient.”
“And I’m still a grumpy guy. I’m not changing for anyone.”
I’m not even sure who he’s talking to—me still or more to himself.
“I wouldn’t expect you to.”
“And I don’t hold hands.” He shakes his head vehemently. “I don’t do romance, and I don’t do drama.”
“Okay, I’m not sure you should be having this conversation with me, but if you need to get it out, then fire away.”
“Shit,” he grumbles, looking more terrified than I have ever seen him. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“It must be; otherwise, you wouldn’t have come over to see me early Sunday morning just to ask for my opinion,” I point out.
“Actually, I only came over here because Joey asked me to. I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone, and pick your brain while I was here.”
“Joey asked you here? Why?”
“He wanted me to distract you for an hour or so.” He glances down at his watch. “I think we can probably head back now.”
“Distract me? What’s going on?”
He shakes his head, an evil smile taking over now. “I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”
I narrow my eyes at him, unsure if I like this idea of him and Joey colluding behind my back. Regardless, a small part of me is excited to know what Joey has installed for me.
It’s still a week until Christmas, but maybe I’m getting my present early.
I have been dropping hints that I want to redecorate the house, especially since I still haven’t replaced the few items Joey and Grayson broke last year when they tried to beat each other up. But I’m not sure I trust Joey to get that right. He would likely just buy a bunch of novelty clown items. Already he has us sleeping on a new clown bedspread that he thought was hilarious.
I have never had a fear of clowns, but I also never imagined they would be involved so much in my day-to-day life. I fear for any children Joey and I bring into this world. They are going to be terrified of those things.
“If my house looks like a circus, I’m not going to be happy,” I warn, but Harvey doesn’t offer me any hints over what to expect.
We walk back in silence, both lost in our own thoughts. Mine are drifting from what Joey is up to and back to Karma and how much I miss her. I’m sure Harvey is still latched on to that guy, given the deer-in-headlights look he keeps projecting.
I can’t wait to meet the guy and watch Harvey tumble down the rabbit hole. I also look forward to telling him how uncomplicated love is, like he once told me.
Getting back to my place doesn’t give me any hints. The only change is that Joey’s car is now parked out front.
“I’ll catch you later,” Harvey says, leaning in to give me a kiss on the cheek.
“Wait, aren’t you going to come in with me?”
“Nah, I’ll wait until later to experience the surprise.”
“You are the worst! What good is a best friend if he’s not going to ruin surprises for me?” I complain, not really meaning it.
He shrugs, smiling.
“Go see your man,” I tease. “And I want all the details tomorrow, or I’m going to organize a surprise party for your birthday, and you can watch me not give you any warning about that!” I lamely threaten.
“Goodbye, Teagan,” Harvey calls back, not at all fazed by my threat.
Maybe Joey can give me some information on this mystery guy so I can go see him for myself …
I make my way over to the front door, a little worried about what I might find. I don’t even give myself time to overthink it as I step inside and glance around.
My house looks the same. No clown paraphernalia in sight.
“Joey?” I call out, and that’s when I get a big clue as to what is going on.
“In here, babe,” he calls back, his answer barely audible over the loud yapping.
I round the corner, and sitting on Joey’s lap, only barely since it’s wiggling around like crazy, is a puppy.
“Meet Madden, babe. She’s our new rescue pup,” he says, letting her go.
She leaps off the couch, her small body coming at me like a bullet, reminding me of Karma’s usual greetings. Then Madden runs right into my legs and nearly takes me out.
“She’s a four-month-old Labrador/Collie mix, and she is completely nuts. As soon as I saw her knock over a volunteer, I knew she belonged with us.”
Madden licks away at my hands, my shoes, my pants, and then catches her teeth on them and tries her best to chew through that, too.
I’m completely speechless. Happy, thrilled, sad, heartbroken, hopeful—I’m everything except verbal, apparently.
“Teags, talk to me. Is this okay? Is it too soon?” Joey asks, walking up to me and wrapping his arms around me. Madden now latches on to his clothes, trying to tug them off.
“It’s—” My voice cracks. “It’s perfect. She’s perfect,” I finally get out, hugging him as I burst into tears.
“Shit, are you sure?”
“Happy tears,” I cry, though some are sad ones for Karma.
“I had to give her to you early because the rescue place didn’t have room for her, but the only people who could take her were Sasha and Declan, and I didn’t trust they would give her back to us.”
I laugh, imagining Sasha falling in love with Madden quite easily.
“This is amazing, Joey. Thank you.” I lean up and give him a kiss, one that is almost immediately interrupted when Madden bashes into my legs and nearly knocks me over. For such a small dog, she has a lot of strength.
“I think she wants to play.”
“So do I,” he mutters, wrapping me back in his arms. “I love you, Teagan Bevon.”
I grin, knowing with all my heart that I am completely, one hundred percent in love with Joseph Kim.
“I love you, too,” I manage to get out before Madden charges us again and we fall back into the wall.
“Shit, she really is mad,” Joey gripes.
<
br /> “Is that your shoe?” I ask, glancing down to see a sneaker held in her mouth.
“Oh shit, how did she get that already?”
“We might need to doggie-proof this house,” I suggest, laughing when she won’t let his shoe go.
“Either way, I will be the favorite this time!” he determinedly announces.
“No way, she already loves me more,” I tease.
“How do you figure?”
“She’s destroying your shoe, not mine.”
“Crap, that is a new sneaker, too. Drop it!” Joey tries to coo, which sounds like a game to Madden apparently, since she starts to race around the house, Joey hot on her tail.
I laugh, and instead of helping, I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge.
I also have my present for Joey all ready, except he won’t be able to see the gift for another thirty weeks or so.
Still, maybe since I got my present early, he deserves to hear about his gift early, too.
I already let it slip last night to the girls, so it’s only fair.
“Teagan, she’s eating the curtains! You win. She’s your dog!” Joey yells.
I smile again before rushing out to try to rescue my innocent drapes.
Something tells me our household isn’t going to be any less crazy and hectic for a very, very long time. And I can’t fucking wait.
Burning Joey’s house down was the best accident that ever happened to me.
And from that, came everything.
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- Jessica Frances
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Looking for a Romantic Suspense series?
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I Stole His Car
I Knocked Him Out
I Burned Down His House
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Taken By Surprise
Taken By Force
Taken By Choice
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Earth
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Haunted Love
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Happily Ever Single
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Revolution
I Burned Down His House (Love at First Crime Book 3) Page 28