Welcome To Redemption: Series Collection (Books 1-6)

by Donna Marie Rogers

  “That you gave Roy Adams a little of what he’s been dishing out.”

  “Jenny called 911 and the son-of-a-bitch wouldn’t let me in the house.” Charlie’s rage resurfaced at the mere mention of the man’s name.

  “Thank God she finally called for help,” Carrie said.

  He took another drink of coffee, trying to forget the image of the small woman’s battered face. With effort, he managed not to crush his cup in his hand. Added to the rest of her injuries, she’d be lucky to be out of the hospital by the end of the week.

  Carrie punched him lightly on the arm. “You might be one of the few good guys left.”

  “Yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “I got suspended for my thanks.”

  “I heard you’re on vacation.”

  “Same difference—God, nothing’s private in this damn town. And since when do you listen to gossip?”

  “Tara told me, settle down.”

  The thing was, he hadn’t talked to his sister since before yesterday’s drama, so it still meant the gossip mill was running overtime.

  Carrie backed toward the door of her shop. “See you tomorrow.”

  “Hey wait. The blonde that was just in there—you happen to catch her name?”

  Carrie gave him a knowing smile, but not the answer he wanted. “No, sorry, she paid cash.”

  “Well, if she comes in again, buy her two of whatever on me, okay?”

  “Sure, I’ll add it to your tab.”

  “Thanks.”

  He saluted with his cup as she disappeared inside, then walked Sugar the long way around the block and through the park so he could stop by his dog sitter’s house on the way home. One knock on the front door set off five doorbells of varying decibels on the other side, and Sugar joined in alongside him. His lingering background headache exploded.

  Allie Daniels swung open the door, surrounded by two miniature Daschunds, one English Springer, a Golden Lab and a baying Bassett hound. She grinned when she saw Charlie in full grimace.

  “Hey, Charlie.” She looked over, her diminutive height putting her only a foot or so taller than his dog’s head. “Hi, Sugar. Come on in.”

  Charlie unhooked the Great Dane’s leash, and she scrambled to greet her daycare pals. The dogs barreled through the doggie door to the large fenced in backyard as Charlie walked into the kitchen and took a seat. Setting his insulated paper cup and sunglasses on the table, he buried his head in his hands and massaged his temples.

  Allie leaned back against the counter with her arms crossed. “You look like death warmed over.”

  He groaned. “I wish people would stop saying that. You got some Tylenol?”

  “I told you last night you shouldn’t drink so much.” She reached into the cupboard next to the fridge. “How many did you take already?”

  “Two, about an hour ago—and it’s not every day I get suspended,” he retorted.

  “Vacation.”

  He growled as she set two pills next to his coffee cup. “Same thing.”

  “You need some time off, Charlie. Even Tara said you’ve been a bear lately.”

  He massaged harder. This time of year was always bad. Next week was the anniversary of Annabel’s death, and every year the guilt crept back up on him—only worse. It didn’t matter how many lives he saved in his job as an EMT, his other sister would never come back. The fact that he’d let her talk him into taking her to the damn party with him would never change, either.

  Allie sat kitty-corner from him. “What’s up with you?”

  Charlie lifted his head and regarded his dog sitter for a moment. She’d been friends with Annabel, but she hadn’t been there. Obviously she’d moved on, which was great; it had been fourteen years.

  He’d never told anyone about taking Annabel to the party. Because they’d all blame him. His parents, Tara, Allie…probably the whole damn town. He was the big brother. He should’ve been watching out for her—not rounding third base with Wendy What’s-Her-Name when some jerk slipped those pills into her beer. The fact that he couldn’t remember Wendy’s last name only twisted the knife.

  He swallowed the guilt with the extra strength Tylenol and forced a smile for Allie.

  “No big deal, I guess. I’ll take a couple weeks, pacify the department shrink, and it’ll be fine.”

  Allie didn’t look like she believed him, so Charlie ignored the hammer in his head and ratcheted up his smile. “See, it’s been good for me already.”

  She rolled her eyes and got up to check on the dogs outside. “Are you going to bring Sugar by at all this week?”

  “Probably, if I take the Harley out a few times. And I got two weeks, so I might as well—it’s not like I have much else to do with my time. Do you need to know which days?”

  She shook her head. “Just bring her by, I’ll be here. But still not before nine, unless you want to walk the park with me.”

  Charlie remembered the one and only time she’d tried to walk Sugar with the rest of the dogs. He’d almost had to look for a new sitter until he agreed to bring her later so Allie could walk the other dogs before he arrived. Now he walked Sugar himself before dropping her off.

  “Oh, and Thursday morning, I have a doctor’s appointment, so my cousin Dana will be here. Remember I told you she was coming this week?”

  “You mentioned something about it.”

  “She drove in from Minneapolis late last night, which is why I left Rowdy’s before the real fun started.”

  Charlie raised his brows and looked around. “Where is she?”

  “Actually, she had a—”

  Bennie, the Basset hound who’d stayed indoors, started baying, and then Charlie heard the front door close.

  “That’s probably Dana now.” Allie sat up straight, looking toward the foyer as she called, “We’re in the kitchen!”

  Chapter 2

  Dana McClain suppressed a groan when she heard Allie say we’re. She’d been a good sport about the coffee incident, but she didn’t feel up to meeting yet another new person in her still damp, stained suit. The hot tattoo guy, even though he looked a little on the rough side, coupled with the good-looking vet and his receptionist, had been more than enough witnesses to her unintended peep show.

  Granted, Sugar’s owner—she wished she’d gotten his name, darn it—had been the only one to see her wet, see-through shirt plastered to her chest, but she didn’t want to get technical about her humiliation. She knew she should’ve just opened the damn door herself. Set the coffees on top the car and open the door. But no, she’d grabbed at the first excuse she could think of to get Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome’s attention again.

  How about, it sure is nice today, or pretty dog you got there.

  Once again, her impulsive idiocy had bitten her in the butt. Or the boobs. There, how’s that for technical?

  Moments ago, she couldn’t wait to tell Allie all about her interview with Rick Wilde, and maybe try to find out who the guy with the dog was, but right now, she just wanted to go shower and change.

  “Dana?” Allie called. “You coming in?”

  Fine. She sighed and walked toward the kitchen as she shrugged out of her jacket. Dana stopped short when she met the brown eyes of the guy from the sidewalk. His gaze dropped to her chest, then quickly bounced back up, and she felt heat flood her cheeks. Geez, it was like she was an infatuated teenager all over again.

  “What the heck happened to you?” Allie exclaimed.

  Dana gave Sidewalk Guy a weak smile, but before she could say anything, he said, “I’m afraid I did—or Sugar, actually.”

  Allie looked at him with a confused smile, and Dana leaned against the counter as he explained what happened. His deep voice rumbled through the kitchen, and she took the opportunity to look him over more thoroughly.

  After she got past the tattoos, a couple on each arm and one on the inside of his wrist that she found surprisingly sexy, she let her gaze wander over his broad chest and the muscles in his arm under an eagle with
the American Flag on it’s wing. She’d noticed his biceps earlier when he’d been restraining his dog. Very nice. Nice enough to warrant a lingering second look. Nice enough to make her want to touch.

  She forced her attention back to his face and let her gaze trace the arch of his dark eyebrows, his ungodly gorgeous eyes—bloodshot and all—and the straight line of his nose above a mouth that in her fantasies most definitely knew how to kiss.

  As heat spread across her skin, Dana gave herself a mental slap. Geez, Louise, you might want to learn his name first. A small jagged cut on the top of his right ear caught her attention, until Allie said with a shake of her head, “Charlie, you really need to get Sugar in some obedience classes.” Then she turned to Dana with her eyebrows raised. “So, you still went to the interview? Like that?”

  She shrugged, resisting a glance at Charlie. “Mr. Wilde, or Rick, as he insisted, was very understanding.”

  Her cousin’s mouth thinned, but before Dana could decipher the look, Allie asked, “Did you get the job?”

  “He has two more candidates scheduled, but said he’d let me know by next week.”

  “You kept your jacket on, didn’t you?” Charlie asked.

  Allie gave a surprised laugh as Dana caught him looking at her chest again. That tingle of awareness pricked her skin. Or was it embarrassment? Though it was hard to be offended when she’d just finished ogling him, she raised her jacket in front of herself with one hand, and folded the other under her elbow, across her stomach.

  “I kept my jacket on,” she confirmed.

  Not that it would’ve mattered. Rick Wilde had steered the conversation around to Allie enough times that if Dana did get the job, she’d wonder if her charm and intellect cinched it, or her cousin. Dana smiled at the self-mocking, over the top comparison, then realized both Allie and Charlie were staring at her.

  “I suspect he’s looking for someone with more qualifications than I have, but hopefully I was able to persuade him I’d be an asset to his business with all the extra services I’m willing to provide his clients.”

  Charlie choked on his coffee—discreetly, of course—but Dana noticed and shot him a get-your-mind-out-of-the-gutter glare.

  “Dana’s working to become a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist,” Allie boasted.

  “A what?” he asked, looking at Dana, those dark brows drawn together.

  “It covers a multitude of things, but mostly I specialize in counseling problem animals and their owners.”

  This time he made no effort to hide a snort of disbelief. “Like an animal shrink?”

  “Oh, she’s a certified psychologist, too. For humans,” Allie clarified. “But she only works with animals now.”

  Dana wished Allie would shut up, especially when Charlie’s expression screamed Crazy Woman, and he asked, “Why is that?”

  His open skepticism rubbed the wrong way. So, when Allie took a breath like she was about to spill all Dana’s secrets, Dana pushed away from the counter. “Because I like animals. They don’t judge.”

  She tossed her uncooperative curls over her shoulder, gave Allie a fierce look, and stalked out of the kitchen to take that shower.

  ***

  The next morning, Dana left the house with Allie as she walked the dogs. Half way through the park, they parted ways and Dana went for a five-mile run. She made sure to finish the roundabout way so she could stop at Coffee to Chai For on her way back. Smiling as she had yesterday at the catchy name, she hoped this time she’d actually get more than a sip of her drink.

  Inside, Dana ordered a French vanilla cappuccino, and took a moment to survey the shop. It was decorated in such fresh, inviting colors, and as long as the coffee was good, she figured she’d be visiting often if she remained in Redemption.

  When she turned back to study the chalkboard menu, the woman behind the counter asked, “You were in yesterday, right? Are you new in town?”

  “Hoping to be,” Dana answered. “My cousin Allie lives here and I interviewed for a job yesterday. I should know in a week.”

  “Allie Daniels?”

  “Yeah, you know Allie?”

  “It’s a small town. We all know everyone. I’m Carrie, by the way. I own this place.”

  “Dana. And I have to tell you, I love your shop—especially the name.” Dana pulled out her money to pay as Carrie slid her cappuccino across the counter.

  “Thanks, but put your money away,” Carrie told her. “This is already taken care of.”

  Dana frowned. “What? No—”

  “Compliments of Charlie Russell and his dog Sugar,” Carrie explained with a grin. “And you still have one more coming.”

  “Oh.” Well, that certainly changed things. Maybe the whole fiasco yesterday morning was technically her fault for not opening her own darn door, but his attitude about her profession still pissed her off. Buying her two coffees was the least the man could do. Dana plucked the cup off the counter and dropped the money in the tip jar instead. “Good. Thanks.”

  “My guess is he’s hoping to get your number.”

  Dana gave an unlady-like snort. “Oh, I’ve already got his, and guess what? It’s not going to happen.”

  The woman’s chuckle followed Dana out the door.

  Dana made her way back through the park toward Allie’s house. A refreshing breeze and the birds singing in the trees soothed her irritation, so she located a bench along a path that wound around a small pond.

  Sitting down, she closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun. Man, she hadn’t realized how much she’d needed this time off to get a little perspective on where her life was going. It felt nice to relax on a day she otherwise would’ve been rushing to work. She didn’t even plan to worry about the job until next week.

  And if you don’t get it?

  She waited for a flash of panic, or at the least a ripple of anxiety, but neither surfaced. She smiled up at the sun before opening her eyes again. Butterflies flitted from flower to flower along the water’s edge, and by the lily pads, dragonflies skimmed low across the water. If she didn’t get the job, then maybe she’d come up with an alternate plan, because she liked this town. Spending time with Allie would be great, too.

  Halfway through her cappuccino, she saw a large fawn-colored dog streak across the grass on the opposite side of the water, a Frisbee in its mouth. She recognized the dog just as it dodged to the side to avoid its owner’s grab for the toy. Deep masculine laughter rang out.

  Charlie Russell and Sugar.

  Beautiful dog, gorgeous man, yet they obviously both needed some work. Dana watched the two of them, squinting a bit against the light that glinted off the pond water. Don’t go there. It’s not your job to disabuse the man of his prejudices against your profession, and any help with that dog must be paid for. No more freebies to hot men with nice dogs.

  Charlie’s athleticism was like watching poetry in motion. Cliché, she knew, but she was too busy enjoying the view to think of something else. Sugar was pretty awesome, too. Powerful, majestic, playful, and clearly in love with her man. Sugar didn’t care that her owner could be a jerk. Like Dana had said, no judgment.

  She tore her gaze away from them and rose to her feet. She cared. She was tired of fixing things for men and then being tossed aside when no longer needed. Or when someone better came along.

  She grimaced when she realized the path back to Allie’s house would lead her closer to Charlie and Sugar, but didn’t see much of a choice. Besides, if she got the job and stayed in Redemption with Allie, then she’d have to get used to seeing the guy. Maybe, eventually, they could even become friends.

  “Sugar! No! Come!”

  Dana sighed at the sound of Charlie’s raised voice. Of course one of them would spot her; luck had never been her friend. She glanced over her left shoulder to see the Great Dane barreling toward her, tongue flapping as her head bobbed up and down with each stride. Charlie gave chase.

  Dana couldn’t hold back a reluctant smile at the
dog’s unabashed zest for life—until she realized Sugar ignored Charlie and hadn’t changed course.

  She put her hands out and started talking, hoping the hundred-twenty pound bullet would at least slow down. The dog chopped her strides in half, but didn’t actually stop until she’d plowed Dana backward. Her cappuccino cup went airborne. Sugar overshot her by about five feet, then doubled back to slobber Dana’s face and neck.

  Dana avoided the bath by catching her collar with a hand on either side. Lying on her back, she didn’t have the strength to do more than lock her elbows to keep Sugar just out of tongue’s reach. The Great Dane’s excitement was so comical and heartwarming, Dana found herself laughing.

  And that there was half the darn problem; the dogs got to her every time.

  Charlie rushed up and caught Sugar’s collar. “I’m sorry about—oh. Hi.”

  Dana’s laugh turned indignant as Charlie hauled Sugar off her. “Oh, hi? What does that mean?”

  Holding the Great Dane with one hand, Charlie extended the other to help Dana to her feet. She automatically accepted, then wished she hadn’t when his large hand engulfed hers. His warm palm was just rough enough to make her shiver at the thought of it grazing over her skin.

  “I didn’t recognize you at first with your hair all bunched up.”

  She yanked her hand free to self-consciously brush herself off. “It’s called a ponytail. And I don’t rate an apology?”

  “That’s not what I meant. I was just surprised, that’s all. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  Charlie released Sugar, who ironically, ignored Dana and went to nose around a nearby tree. Charlie sidestepped and picked up Dana’s spilled coffee cup. “Looks like I owe you yet another one.”

  “Expensive dog you have there,” she quipped, not bothering to tell him it’d been almost empty. Let him keep paying. He smiled briefly before motioning for her to turn around.

  “What?”

  “Trust me. Turn around.”

  She narrowed her gaze. His gold-flecked brown eyes were clear today, dark and dangerously striking with a frame of thick eyelashes. Added to the sexy stubble on his jaw and windblown hair, he didn’t look very trustworthy.