Taken by Storm

by Heather MacAllister

  Okay, he’d admit it. He had counted on hearing, “Oh, Cam, I love you, too!” and Zoey falling into his arms. Now he had sixteen more hours of awkwardness to get through and it was his own fault. Sixteen more hours of making conversation about nothing or pretending to sleep.

  Pretending to sleep sounded more appealing than discussing the weird cloud formations in the sky ahead of them, as they were doing now.

  Cam closed his eyes and heard Zoey sigh.

  The car slowed.

  He opened his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “You’re acting weird because I didn’t tell you that I loved you, too.”

  She pulled over to the side of the road and shut off the car, just when Cam had accepted that discussing those three little words was off the table.

  Fine. “I didn’t tell you I loved you just so you’d say it back, but you didn’t say anything at all.”

  “Because I didn’t want you to say anything yet!”

  Yet. Cam heard that.

  She continued, “You were saying you’d really be there for me, as though you expect to have to rescue me. I want you to expect that I won’t need rescuing.”

  “Got it.” At least he hoped he did. “No rescuing.”

  “I mean it,” Zoey insisted.

  “So do I. I couldn’t rescue you even if I wanted to. I’ll be at the farm with Richard. But I wanted you to know I’d love you even if you did need rescuing.”

  “But I won’t.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay.”

  They stared at each other. Zoey didn’t restart the car.

  “Are we good?” he asked.

  “Will you take it back?”

  Cam looked her right in her sea-green eyes. “No.”

  She smiled. “We’re good.”

  * * *

  ZOEY PARKED THE car and exhaled. “We’re here.” She’d done it, at least the important part. Not that getting Casper home safely wasn’t important, too, but she was going to savor this moment.

  “Congratulations.” Cam appeared genuinely pleased for her.

  She was glad he understood. Zoey had insisted on doing most of the driving and he hadn’t argued with her. He’d even slept some.

  That showed he trusted her, didn’t it?

  And now she was here, with Casper, a dozen steps away from the Merriweather Kennel’s door—not to be confused with the front door of the elegant house attached to the kennel.

  She breathed deeply. “So this is what success feels like.”

  “It’s great, isn’t it?” Cam stretched. “I hope to experience the feeling myself this morning.”

  “You will. Remember, sometimes ya gotta walk.”

  “So you’re quoting me to me now?” Cam laughed.

  “If the quote fits...” She was aware that Cam wanted an infusion of cash to lighten his load at the brewery, and she understood she was now part of that reason. But she didn’t want him to agree to a bad deal.

  “I won’t be stupid, Zoey. Don’t worry.”

  “I’m not worried.”

  “Great. Neither am I.”

  They got out of the car. “Wait a sec,” she said.

  Cam stood to the side while Zoey took a picture of the kennel entrance and sent it to Kate. She’d also taken a picture of the entrance gate off the highway and sent that to her sister, which had prompted a squealing phone call from Kate that was cut short because she and Ryan had been about to board a plane for their flight home.

  To be honest, Zoey was glad that Kate wouldn’t be able to talk to her because she half-expected Kate to want to be on the phone with her while Casper did his thing.

  A beeping sounded. “Oops. There went the battery.” She dropped the phone into her pocket. “I’ll have to remember to find someplace to recharge it.”

  Cam helped her unload the luggage and Casper’s crate. They could hear dogs barking in the early morning. Casper was sniffing the air and behaving perfectly. Zoey supposed his dog show training had kicked in.

  She’d called Martha last night and warned her that they’d be arriving early. She and Cam had even had time for breakfast and a gallon of coffee. She’d also reassembled the now slightly diminished gift basket of her products for Martha and brushed Casper.

  He looked handsome.

  And so did Cam, with his dark stubble and slightly messed up hair.

  He loved her. He’d told her so.

  And she loved him. She had not told him so.

  But she would. If all went well, maybe sooner rather than later.

  Cam set Casper’s suitcase by her feet and drew his hands to his waist. “Well,” he said and smiled down at her. Zoey almost, almost threw her arms around him and shouted that she loved him, too.

  She forced herself to be patient a while longer. “Well,” she said. Goodbye was stuck in her throat.

  “I’ll call—”

  “Best of luck with—”

  They broke off and laughed. “So you’re staying overnight, yes?” Cam asked. “I just want to make sure before I leave you here.”

  Zoey nodded. “They’ve got a guest room for this very situation.”

  “I’ll stop by on my way back to Seattle. Not to check up on you or anything, but I’d like to tell you about my meeting with Richard.” Then he showed those dimples of his. “And if you want to report on how Casper and his lady friend are getting along, it would be nice to hear that, too.”

  “Call first,” she warned, even though his dimples were very persuasive.

  “Absolutely.”

  He gazed intently at her, and Zoey remembered other times he’d looked at her that way and what had happened shortly after...

  She gasped. “What are we doing standing here? You should go!”

  “I’ve got plenty of time.” Cam reached for her. “I’ll get there by nine or nine-fifteen.”

  Zoey nodded and stepped into his arms. They held each other for a few minutes, saying everything that needed saying without words. That was a good thing because Zoey’s throat was really tight. For pity’s sake, she wasn’t going to cry, was she?

  Cam tilted her chin and gave her a hot kiss that dissolved into a tenderness that made Zoey’s heart melt.

  He drew back and gave her a scorching look, well aware that he wasn’t playing fair.

  “Later,” she whispered, stepping away.

  Cam stooped to pat Casper before getting into the car. “Remember to romance her a little first, okay, buddy? She’ll be putty in your paws.”

  “Cam!” Laughing, Zoey waved him away, watching until he flashed his taillights and turned onto the highway.

  Casper whined.

  “Yeah. I miss him, too.”

  A door opened behind her. “What an attractive male,” she heard a woman say.

  “Yes. He’s my boyfriend,” Zoey said, trying out the term. It didn’t seem adequate.

  The woman laughed. “I meant your dog. But the guy wasn’t bad, either.”

  Zoey laughed, a little embarrassed. “I’m Zoey Archer and this is Casper. Are you Martha?”

  The woman shook her head as she approached Zoey. “I’m Sheryl. I’m one of the handlers.”

  “Martha is expecting us. We’re here to, um, well, Casper is here to make puppies.” Could she sound any prissier? “I apologize for showing up so early, but I know timing is an issue.”

  “Not a problem. I’m actually about to leave. Martha is in the kennel and will be out in a minute.” She gestured to the leash. “Do you mind if I...?”

  “Go ahead.”

  Zoey surrendered the leash and Sheryl walked Casper several feet away. With a few softly worded commands, they trotted around an imaginary show ring.

  As she watch
ed Casper’s elegant trot, Zoey understood why her sister and brother-in-law loved showing and raising dogs, and this breed in particular.

  Casper was gorgeous. With his long nose and aristocratic air, he looked sleekly sophisticated His coat shone in the morning sun, and, yes, Zoey was going to take credit for that. She loved the way it moved and rippled.

  Sheryl came to a stop. “Does he self stack?”

  “Huh?”

  She said something and Casper assumed the position, as Zoey thought of it. Sheryl knelt and ran her hands over him and Casper didn’t flinch.

  What a pro. Zoey smiled to herself as she remembered the wet dog zooming between rooms in the motel.

  Sheryl gave Casper a final pat and stood. “What a wonderful dog.” There was a touch of surprise in her voice.

  Guess they didn’t know just how great Casper was. Zoey would have to remember to tell Kate.

  She glanced sharply at Zoey. “You are aware this dog could give Alexandra a run for her money?”

  Zoey wasn’t sure how to respond. “This is my sister’s dog. I just brought him here for her. But I’ll pass along your comments.”

  “She’s not a breeder then?”

  “Oh, yes. Ryka Kennels in Virginia.”

  “Virginia.” Sheryl stared at Casper. “I’ve heard of them. They’re fairly new at this, aren’t they?”

  “Three or four years, I believe.”

  “And siring Merriweather puppies will quickly enhance their reputation.” She nodded to herself and then smiled quickly at Zoey. “Let’s hope it works out for them.” The way she spoke sounded as though she doubted it would.

  What was that about? Before Zoey could ask, Sheryl reached for her suitcase. “Let me help you carry in your things, and then I have to get going.”

  Hoisting her backpack over her shoulder, Zoey put the gift basket inside Casper’s crate and brought it and Casper into the kennel offices.

  The first thing that greeted Zoey was a huge painting of Alexandra of Thebes anchoring a display that covered an entire wall.

  “Wow,” Zoey said. Because, well, wow.

  “You’ve never seen her in person?” Sheryl asked.

  Zoey shook her head.

  “I’d put her through her paces for you now, but we’re trying to keep her calm.”

  “I understand,” Zoey said.

  “Well, it was lovely to meet you and Casper, and I’ll let Martha know you’re here,” Sheryl said.

  Zoey took her gift basket out of the crate and set it on a console table in the little sitting area as though she was leaving a tribute at the altar of Alexandra of Thebes.

  She surveyed the room, noting that other Merriweather champions had also been featured. “Hey, Casper, check it out. You’ll have a wall like this someday.” Ribbons and photographs covered every possible bit of wall space in the sitting area, as well as the office she could see into and the long hallway leading in both directions. A bookcase held giant scrapbooks. The overflow pictures, Zoey guessed.

  But of course the wall visitors saw first upon entering was Alexandra’s. The photographs from the dog shows all looked the same to Zoey. She enjoyed the puppy pictures best. Merriweather had kept two other puppies from the same litter as Alexandra, Cleopatra of Thebes and Rameses of Thebes. Like Casper, Rameses had the CH in front of his name, designating a champion, and had what would have been an impressive bunch of ribbons if they hadn’t been displayed next to his sister’s.

  But the other dog, although she appeared in lots of pictures with Alexandra and was the mirror image of her, had only a couple of ribbons. “Oooh, poor Cleopatra,” Zoey murmured aloud. “Living in the shadow of your perfect sister. Been there, done that.”

  A door opened at the end of the hallway and a woman approached Zoey and Casper. The woman was tall with brown eyes and a thin face. She wore her shoulder-length gray hair parted in the middle. Zoey’s eyes widened and she wished Cam were here. He’d get a kick out of this woman who looked as though she could be Casper’s distant relative.

  “Oh, what a pretty boy!”

  Naturally, she greeted Casper first. She stooped and ran her hands over him, getting personal really fast.

  If Zoey’s eyes hadn’t already been wide from the woman’s appearance, they would have widened at this.

  “I’m Martha Merriweather.” Standing, she offered her hand to Zoey, who tried not to think about where that hand had just been. Dog people. Sheesh.

  “Zoey Archer. I’m Kate’s sister. She’s very sorry—” understatement “—that she couldn’t be here, but she and her husband were at a wedding in Costa Rica.”

  “Yes, she told me. Aren’t you a special sister for bringing Casper here for her?”

  Zoey smiled, although she didn’t much like the sound of the word “special.”

  “Have you eaten breakfast? May I get you some coffee?” Martha asked.

  “I’m fine,” Zoey assured her.

  “All right.” She gestured. “Come with me and we’ll let these two get acquainted. I’ll show you where you can leave your things afterward. Normally, I wouldn’t be so abrupt, but we’ve left this a little late.”

  Zoey led Casper down the “Gallery of Champions,” as designated by a plaque in the hallway.

  “Do you work at the kennel?” Martha asked.

  Zoey shook her head. Surely Kate had mentioned that Zoey was a total novice.

  “Do you live nearby? Visit often?”

  Again, Zoey shook her head.

  “But you must share your sister’s love of the breed.” Martha wasn’t asking, but Zoey got the impression she expected an answer, and it had better be one she wanted to hear.

  “Just not her experience.” All parties needed to be clear on that. What did it matter whether Zoey was a nut about Afghan hounds? She liked Casper. That was enough.

  Martha led them to the indoor–outdoor kennel runs, laid out in long rows. Ryka had a similar setup but on a much smaller scale. “I’m going to put Casper in Cleo’s run. It’s right next to Alexandra’s. We’ll introduce them to each other slowly before we let them into the larger play area.”

  Only one dog was in the kennel, a magnificent white creature that could have been Casper’s twin. Casper perked up, sniffing eagerly. She backed up against the metal fencing separating the runs.

  “Where are the other dogs?” Zoey asked.

  “Oh,” Martha gave a little stressed sigh as she opened the door to the run. “Some are being groomed and some are at shows, and we’ve moved the others to the side exercise yard. We don’t want these two to get distracted.”

  “I don’t think Casper will be distracted.”

  Casper had leapt into the run and was moving back and forth trying to find a way to get to Alexandra, who looked at him with wary disdain.

  Zoey couldn’t help comparing him to an inexperienced freshman putting the moves on the head cheerleader.

  Casper flung himself at the fencing and Zoey winced. Alexandra snarled.

  “That doesn’t look good,” Zoey said.

  “It’ll be a different story once she decides she’s ready.”

  Alexandra lunged and snapped. Casper jumped away.

  “They just need to get used to each other,” Martha said. “It might take a day or two.”

  “Do we have a day or two?” Zoey had assumed she’d barely made it in time.

  “Nature will take over eventually,” Martha said, which didn’t exactly answer Zoey’s question. “Meanwhile, do you have some papers for me?”

  “Yes. They’re in the suitcase.” Kate had scanned Casper’s medical history and lineage and had already emailed them to Martha, but the other woman wanted hard copies. “Oh, and I brought you a gift.” Some of Joyce’s advice about branding and packaging floated thr
ough Zoey’s mind. “They’re samples from my organic skin-care line. I know when you work around dogs you don’t want to use any product that could irritate their skin or eyes or make them sick if they ingest it. My products are all natural. I don’t put anything in them that you couldn’t eat.” Target marketing. Was she on fire, or what? And if Martha asked, she’d point to Casper’s coat, which was way shinier than Alexandra’s, and mention that she’d used her own hair conditioner on it. Except she’d used up the sample she’d intended to put in the basket.

  “That sounds lovely,” Martha said without taking her gaze from the two dogs.

  Her products would speak for themselves, Zoey told herself as she made her way back down the long, award-filled hallway to the kennel reception area.

  Zoey took a moment to peer into some of the other rooms; Kate would ask about Merriweather’s setup. She saw one room that was clearly used for medical care. It reminded Zoey of a school nurse’s office. Another looked like a day care, and Zoey imagined prospective owners and puppies bonding there. And then she passed the nursery with padded boxes surrounded by a low barrier that would let mama dogs out and keep puppies in. The whole place seemed first rate and clean, as it should.

  When she got to the reception area, Zoey carried her suitcase, backpack and Casper’s crate into the office to get them out of the way, but she decided to leave the gift basket sitting on the console table. As she turned around, she noticed a cabinet by the front door that contained dog-grooming supplies bearing the Merriweather label.

  Oops. It would have been awkward if she’d pointed out how shiny Casper’s coat was compared to Alexandra’s. But she’d definitely mention it to Kate. And maybe Zoey could develop a dog-grooming line for Ryka! How perfect would that be?

  As she returned to the kennel runs, papers in hand, Zoey felt light and happy for the first time in...forever. Things were finally going her way. She was confident and full of possibilities for Skin Garden, and she’d met Cam.

  Cam. She stopped and closed her eyes as emotion washed over her. At first, she’d thought he was too good to be true, but now she realized she’d believed he was too good for her.

  She didn’t want to believe that. She didn’t like believing that. Success would change how she saw herself.