“How can he smell anything through the snow?” Cam stood beside her as they both watched Casper and let him lead them around the building.
“He’s a dog,” Zoey said. Her keychain had a tiny light on it and she shined it at the bushes. If Casper found whatever he was searching for, Zoey wanted a heads up.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cam check his watch. Once. After that, he kept his hands shoved into his pockets and didn’t complain. But he didn’t speak.
Zoey couldn’t stand it. “You could swear or something,” she said.
“I am swearing. On the inside.” He grinned. “Cussing out loud is not a good habit to fall into when you deal with the public. So I have a mental list of substitutes. I don’t need to say them anymore. I just think of their number.”
“Oh, so when you go all quiet, you’re secretly swearing?”
He went all quiet and stared at her for a long moment. “Not all the time,” he said softly.
“What’s number one?”
“Darn.”
“That’s not bad. You could say darn in public.”
He shook his head. “That’s for when I shouldn’t say anything.”
“Oh. And what’s number ten?”
“Why do you assume I have ten?”
“I’ll bet you have more than ten. So what is it?”
He gave her a look. “A compound variation featuring number six with number seven used as an adjective.”
“And what’s this situation?”
“A one with potential.” He pointed at Casper, who was lying on the sidewalk. “He’s got something.”
And she hadn’t even noticed. Inhaling sharply, Zoey knelt, steeling herself to wrestle something nasty away from the dog. “It’s what’s left of the chew toy I gave him.” She stood. “He must have carried it out of the car and dropped it. They warned me at the kennel that he becomes overly attached to them.”
Cam raised his eyebrows. “Do you have any more of those?”
Zoey shook her head. “Come on, Casper.”
The dog got up immediately, trotted to the car beside them and obediently jumped into the backseat. He settled himself and resumed gnawing at the misshapen lump. He didn’t even protest when Zoey worked his hat off him.
Cam peered in at them. “Will you be okay here for a few minutes?”
She nodded and he took his laptop back inside the restaurant.
By the time he reappeared, bearing coffee and hot chocolate, Zoey had Casper’s coat off and was attempting to dry his feet with paper towels. Casper wasn’t fond of having his feet touched.
Cam set the cardboard drink holder on the front seat and started the car. “I found a pet store in DeKalb so we can get more of those magic chew toys.”
“That’s okay. I can buy them in Seattle.”
“It’s not just the chew toy. His coat is wet and I noticed you didn’t bother with the booties. You can buy him something cheap but dry to wear.”
“There’s another coat in the suitcase, but I was saving it for Seattle. I want him to make a good impression.” Which sounded silly now that Casper’s paws were so dirty. Maybe she could clean them while they waited at the airport.
“So what will he wear on the plane?”
Zoey made a face. “You’re right. I just hate that we’re causing you all this trouble.”
“Technically, Casper is causing the trouble, but I don’t mind. You know why?”
“Because you’re too busy going over your swear list?”
“Because if it weren’t for Casper, I wouldn’t have met you.” His eyes caught hers in the rearview mirror.
“Oh.” Her throat tightened so she couldn’t joke about how his life would be easier. She swallowed hard and looked away, fiddling with her seat belt. “When you put it that way...” Reaching out, she scratched Casper’s topknot and mouthed, “Thank you” at him.
“Just don’t expect anything from the designer rack,” she murmured aloud. Then Cam’s earlier comment sunk in. “Wait—you said DeKalb. That’s in the wrong direction.”
“PetWorld is the nearest store that stays open until nine.” He merged onto the highway and Zoey read the mileage sign.
“Seventeen miles! Cam, are you sure you want to do this? Do we even have the time to do this?” As she asked, Zoey mentally subtracted from the previously comfortable cushion.
“We’ll be fine,” he assured her. “And we won’t have to hang around the airport for as long.”
“Excellent point.”
In fact, they made great time. Zoey called her sister from the pet supply store and Kate even managed to calm down long enough to help Zoey choose approved items for Casper—except for the raincoat and booties. Casper’s normal brand was only available online, and the only raincoat the store had in his size—that didn’t strain Zoey’s credit card too much—was in a zebra print with hot pink piping that said Princess on the side and had a blinged-out crown over the i. It came with matching booties. Kate would have been horrified, but it made both Zoey and Cam snicker—right up until they stepped outside and were smacked in the face by big, fat snowflakes.
8
We made it to Des Moines and I’ve turned in the car. You’ll get a confirmation email. Great to meet you, and thanks again, Joyce.
CAM SENT THE TEXT and stopped by a men’s room to change shirts and clean up. Because it was 4:00 a.m., the place was deserted, so he was even able to shave.
Other than his neck being a little stiff, he actually felt pretty good. But then, he’d slept for the past six hours while Zoey drove them all the way to the airport.
She’d only been able to convince him to let her drive because she pointed out that her sleep schedule was still messed up after working nights for several months. Cam had intended to doze for an hour or two at most, but when he woke up, they were in Des Moines and Zoey was looking a little ragged around the edges. He hoped she could sleep on the plane, but until then, he’d take care of her.
Cam liked the idea of that, which was a dangerous path to go down, but he wasn’t concerned at the moment. He rubbed some of her skin balm into his skin, telling himself it was just because she’d asked for male input, but the truth was that it was wickedly cold outside and the balm kept his skin from hurting. So, yeah, he’d give it a thumbs up.
And, okay, the lemony scent reminded him of her. Not that he needed the reminder.
Cam was in a good mood—no, a great mood. It was amazing how sleep could change a person’s outlook. He zipped up his bag and headed to the ticketing area. Zoey ought to be finished dealing with Casper’s paperwork by now.
He smiled, remembering his emails with Gus. When he’d relayed to his cousin that they were driving to Des Moines, Gus had asked if the cold had frozen his brain. In reply, Cam had sent him a picture of Zoey and Casper that he’d taken with his phone. Gus had advised him to cool off one head and warm up the other.
Cam was still grinning as he made his way to the ticketing area—at least until he spotted a still figure in a candy-cane-striped hooded scarf sitting on a bench, clutching her cell phone and staring blindly into the distance. Casper’s travel kennel and Cam’s box were on the floor at her feet.
This was going to be bad.
Zoey didn’t move when Cam sat beside her. Definitely bad. He waited for several moments before finally saying, “You don’t act like a person who is about to get on a plane to Denver.”
“Because I’m not a person who is about to get on a plane to Denver,” she said quietly.
“What happened?” He twisted around and checked the empty ticket counter. “Don’t tell me they sold out.” Last night, there had been plenty of seats.
She shook her head and he noticed the phone she held. “Did the, uh, window close? Is it too late for Casper?�
�
“It’s too cold for Casper. The airline won’t let him on the plane if the temperature is below twenty degrees.”
“But don’t you have a waiver from the vet?” She had all kinds of papers. Cam had no idea traveling with dogs was such a hassle.
“All bets are off when it’s below twenty degrees. It’s nine degrees outside right now and the forecast says it won’t get above sixteen today. Or tomorrow. Possibly even the day after. So Casper and I are stuck here until the next heat wave comes along.”
Zoey spoke like a zombie and Cam realized she’d reached her limit. He’d been there. “I was focused on finding the right type of planes and a long-enough layover.” He’d congratulated himself for discovering that not all commuter planes could accommodate Casper’s large kennel. “I didn’t read the rules about the temperature. I’m sorry.”
“So am I. It was a mistake to leave Chicago.”
“No, it’s a mistake to give up.”
She slumped. “Cam, right now, I’m so tired, all I want is to find a dog-friendly hotel so I can crash. And I’m not waking up until spring.”
“Sounds like a plan. But I can come up with a better one.”
Zoey managed a smile. “Funny thing about plans, they just never seem to go my way.”
Cam let his gaze roam over her face. “That’s not always a bad thing.”
Her smile brightened and she quickly moved in to kiss him.
Cam knew she intended it to be a fast kiss, but he cupped the back of her head. Holding her in place, he deepened the kiss, just to reinforce that there were benefits to some plans going wrong.
“Hmm.” She pulled away and this time, he let her go. “A good thing for us is still a bad thing for Casper.”
They both peered into the crate, where Casper lay curled on his side, sleeping.
Zoey slumped down on the bench and sighed. “You’d better go buy your ticket.”
No way. “I’m not getting on the plane without you.”
“What about your meeting?”
“Richard can’t meet with me today.” Which was the truth. “So I can stick around.”
“Cam, I’m not even sure I’m still taking Casper to Seattle. I’m waiting for Kate to call and tell me what to do.”
“Then I’ll wait with you.”
“Will you at least get your ticket first?” She gestured behind him. “Better hurry. A crowd’s forming.”
Cam observed a single passenger at the counter.
“Very funny. Seriously, I don’t have to be on that flight, and I’m not leaving you here on your own.”
Her mouth flattened. “Why? Because I’m so clearly incompetent?”
“No. Because we’re a team. No man—or woman, or dog—left behind.”
She started to protest, but then her face softened.
Cam gazed into sea-green eyes swimming with emotion and felt himself completely fall for her. To be honest, it was more of a jump. Right off the cliff. The realization sent a tremor through him. Too fast. Too soon. He reminded himself they’d met in unusual circumstances and had bonded over shared inconvenience. This wasn’t real life. It was the equivalent of a summer fling—or maybe not, since this was more of a winter-travel horror tale. They were both experienced enough to appreciate that fast-growing relationships had shallow roots. When they returned to their real lives, these intense feelings would evaporate.
Cam’s voice of reason finished the lecture only to be drowned out in a wave of desire. And he made sure Zoey saw that need in his eyes.
The longing in her expression changed to regret, and when she spoke, he noted resignation and a touch of bitterness in her voice. “You’d better escape while you can or I’ll take you down with me.”
He reached for her. “Zoey...you’re saying that because you’re tired—”
“I know I’m tired! That doesn’t mean I’m not right.” Sucking the breath between her teeth, she rubbed at her forehead and temples with both hands. Cam moved to take her in his arms, but her phone buzzed and chirped.
“It’s Kate. I figured she’d be awake.” She waved him off. “Go. Get your ticket. I’ll be fine.”
Cam hesitated, but she pulled away and turned her shoulder to him, so he stood and walked to the counter. He hoped she would be distracted by talking with her sister and not notice he’d left the box behind. If she spotted it, she’d realize that if he had any intention of getting on the flight, he would have taken it with him.
Dawn hadn’t broken yet, but two more passengers had arrived and the airport was beginning to wake up. He heard a grinding sound as the employee of a coffee kiosk raised the metal grate and, thankfully, opened shop.
Cam waited all of a minute in line before it was his turn to talk to a ticket agent. “My friend and I are trying to transport a large dog to Seattle. She said something about a twenty-degree rule?”
He’d hoped to figure out a way around it, but after the agent explained, he realized that wasn’t happening. “What about Denver? If we drove to Denver, what would be our chances of getting on a flight?” Cam wasn’t sure how far it was to Denver. Or the temperature there. But he was sure that he wasn’t leaving Zoey to hole up in Des Moines for days.
The agent pointed out several possibilities and suggested they stick to flights in the middle of the day. She offered to book tickets, but with the way their luck had been running, Cam decided to wait.
He headed back and found Zoey hunched over, face in her hand, still on the phone with her sister, so he kept walking past her all the way to the rental cars, where he proceeded to rent the biggest SUV available. Technically, the agencies weren’t open yet. Technically, Cam didn’t care. He stared at the one employee in the whole place until the guy switched on a computer.
As Cam signed the paperwork, he tried to figure out how he was going to convince Zoey that this was a good idea. Or plan, since she was all about following plans.
The rental agent had said that, depending on road conditions, Denver was about a nine-hour drive, which would put them there by midafternoon. If he and Zoey lucked into a flight today, they’d sleep in Seattle tonight, which had a familiar ring to it, or spend the night in Denver and fly out the next morning.
Lots of options. Abandoning Zoey was not one of them and he wasn’t going to argue with her about it. He’d slept. She was exhausted. He’d wait until she passed out and carry her into the car if he had to.
Zoey was off the phone when Cam returned. “All set?” She stood and hoisted her backpack over her shoulder.
He nodded. “So are you headed for Seattle or going home?” It didn’t matter to him because either way, she couldn’t travel by air from Des Moines.
“Good news or, rather, not horrible news. We’ll be okay if Casper gets to Merriweather Kennels within three days. Kate says Martha—she’s the owner—is nervous and has lined up another stud but would really rather breed Alexandra to Casper.” She looked down at the crate, where the dog had lifted his head when he heard his name. “I should redo his coat before she sees him, or she’ll think he isn’t worth the wait.”
“Maybe she won’t have to wait very long.” Cam held up the key ring, the paper ID tag dangling.
Other than a couple of blinks, Zoey didn’t react. She must be really tired.
“I rented an SUV,” he explained.
“But...I don’t want an SUV.”
“I do. There’ll be plenty of room for Casper. On the way to Denver,” he added when she still said nothing.
“I’m not driving to Denver.”
“No, I am. You’ll be sleeping.” Cam actually braced himself, expecting her to fling herself at him in exhausted gratitude.
She blinked a few more times and then exploded. “Are you insane?”
Not the reaction he was going for, but maybe
a valid question. “Insane would be to hang around here, gambling that it’ll be warm enough to fly out on Friday. Saturday morning is day three, Zoey.” He held up three fingers. “You want to cut it that close?”
Stepping forward until she was right in his face, she tilted her chin. “It’s insane for you to drive me to Denver when you’re supposed to be flying to Seattle!”
So Zoey was both belligerent and irrational when she was tired. Duly noted. “It was my idea to leave Chicago, so it’s my responsibility to get you to Denver.”
“But what about your meeting with that Richard guy?”
“I’ll catch a flight from Denver.” Why was she arguing when she should have collapsed against him in gratitude by now?
“No, you’re going to catch your flight here.” She pointed to the security screening. “Now go!”
He did not go. For one thing, he didn’t have a ticket. He had a car—a great, big gas guzzler of a car. “Do you honestly expect me to leave you? Is that the sort of guy you think I am? One who abandons his...friends when they need help?”
“I think you’re the kind of guy who has an overdeveloped sense of responsibility. And when I say overdeveloped, I’m talking on steroids!”
“If the situation were reversed, would you get on the plane?”
“In a heartbeat!”
That stopped him momentarily. “No, you wouldn’t. You’re just saying that.”
“We’ll be going our separate ways when we get to Seattle anyway,” Zoey pointed out. “And in that scenario, I would remind myself that you’re only some guy I just met with a dog that’s not even his. And I’ve got that meeting. That important meeting. You know, with an investor who’ll save my beer company.”
“Richard is not saving the brewery. The brewery is just fine.” Cam wanted to make that clear. “Anyway, wouldn’t you worry about me? I’m exhausted and...I have a dog.”
“That’s what cell phones are for!”
“A lot of good that does when I’m thousands of miles away!”
“Hey, there, you two. It’s your lucky day.” The barista from the coffee kiosk held a cardboard tray with two giant to-go cups. “You’ve won free coffee.” He handed a cup to Zoey. “Take it with cream and sugar? Doesn’t matter—you do today.” He handed the other cup to Cam and backed away. “Drink up.” He gestured with a little bow. “Enjoy.”
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