THE PARK OF SUNSET DREAMS

by Ava Miles

Matt. Not Matthew like the sign on his law practice read. And he knew her name. Yeah. She didn’t want to think about all the people they knew in common or the fact that Dare was such a small town.

  “Yes, that’s right. Jane Wilcox.”

  “You must be a hell of a dog walker to be hired professionally.”

  She only hummed in response. If he only knew what her real skills were.

  “I see you almost every day here,” he continued, “Henry’s a handful, but I should have introduced myself earlier. This is Dare Valley, after all. My cousins, Meredith and Jill, have said great things about you.”

  Right, and people here introduced themselves to outsiders all the time. So unlike Las Vegas.

  “I saw you laughing at that man before I got all tied up,” he said.

  “Yes,” she said, not bothering to fight the grin. “I know it probably wasn’t nice, but I couldn’t help myself.”

  “I know! I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or help him, but I didn’t dare give chase with Henry. If he’d gotten to the toupee first, he would have destroyed it.”

  “That poor man. Looks like he’s finally leaving.” And sure enough, he was shoving his dog into his SUV and slamming the door. “That had to be embarrassing.”

  “Hopefully he’ll remember to use more glue…or whatever it is that holds that sucker down.”

  It wasn’t glue…or at least it shouldn’t be. Jane could have given the bald man a tutorial in how to properly secure a wig to his head. She’d become a master at it. “I wonder if he’ll be washing it out in the sink.”

  “Now there’s an image,” Matt said and snickered.

  And then they just stood there smiling at each other.

  “Well, seems like the sun is about to go down, so we should probably finish our walk,” Matt said. Henry jerked at the leash again.

  “No,” Jane called out, and the dog instantly stilled.

  Matt’s eyebrows shot up until they practically met his hairline. “Seriously. I worship at your feet. Do you take on other clients? You seem to have made a dent in this numbskull’s head, so I’d love to have your help. Whatever the price.”

  Money? Ugh. That was so not what she wanted from him. “I don’t take on other clients per se, but since we come to the park at the same time, why don’t I work with you both here?”

  His brows knitted together. “Still, I’d like to compensate you somehow.”

  “How about you buy me a beer at Hairy’s sometime?” she suggested and was instantly proud of herself. That was her best friend’s influence rubbing off. Elizabeth always met men casually for beer. Granted, Jane didn’t like beer or bars, but who cared? It would give her a night out with Matt—not Matthew—Hale.

  “That works, although as bad as this guy is, it might be a lot of beers.”

  “Dinner then,” she said, “if he’s really uncooperative.”

  His eyes scanned her face, and she knew what he was seeing. No makeup. Nothing but cherry-scented organic lip balm. And then she remembered the way he’d called her tiny, and she felt redness spread across her chest.

  “Deal. If you get Henry in shape, you’ll be a miracle worker.”

  Truth be told, if she could get Matt Hale to fall for her, she’d be a real miracle worker.

  But miracles had never run in her family.

  Chapter 2

  Matt Hale took the measure of the woman in front of him. She was skinny as a bean and barely came to his shoulder, but her chocolate brown eyes were enormous in her flawless, makeup-free face. Her cheekbones were a slash above her jaw, and the slender line of her neck made him want to trace it with his fingertips. He’d seen Jane in town without a stocking hat on, so he knew her brown hair was cut short to her skull, rather like a young Audrey Hepburn. And her voice…well, Jane spoke like a member of the upper class from back east, rounding out her vowels and drawing out her words. It was a brilliant voice, strong and powerful, a remarkable contrast to her slight frame.

  No wonder Henry had responded to it.

  Her suggestion of dinner made him wonder if she was flirting, which surprised him since she’d always seemed so reserved, as though she wanted to keep to herself. Perhaps he had misread her. When her eyes flickered down as if she were nervous, he had his confirmation. Well, well. She was adorable and friendly, and if she could make Henry come to heel, he’d paint the town red with her.

  Not that there was much to paint in Dare. He was still getting used to all the differences between his hometown and Denver, where he had spent the last seven years.

  “I’d better head out. The Hales are all getting together. You got any plans tonight?”

  “Ah, not sure yet,” she replied, still studying the ground “My best friend and I have a standing date for Saturday night, so I’ll probably do something with her.”

  Right, the gorgeous blond everyone was talking about. Rhett’s personal assistant or publicist or something. He’d seen her, and she was undeniably a bombshell. But not his type. He liked his women somewhat more conservative.

  “Okay, I’ll see you next time.” He gave Henry more leash, and wouldn’t it figure? His numbskull dog jumped on him. Again.

  “Want some help?”

  Her dogs didn’t even sniff at Henry or bark at him like other dogs did. They simply stood there like high school kids would, shaking their heads over the little kids’ antics.

  “Please.”

  He approved of her chocolate lab. But the girly dog dressed up like Barbie’s pooch made him think of that movie an old girlfriend made him watch. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. It was the same dog that had made Matthew McConaughey wince with pain.

  “Tell Henry to sit and stare at him. You’re a lawyer, right? Stare at him like he’s a defendant who’s guilty as hell and is lying to you under oath.”

  “Henry,” he said, using his courtroom voice. “Sit.”

  The dog danced, deliberately mocking him.

  “Sit, dammit!”

  “There’s no need to swear at him. If you do it enough, he might start to think his name is Dammit, Henry.”

  “That’s actually how he got his name.”

  There was no way he was telling her that he’d renamed this dog from Otis to Henry. Or why. Not when they’d only just met.

  “Really.”

  “Yep. Growing up, when you’d ask one of my great uncles, ‘What do you say, Henry?’ his response was always, ‘I say, dammit.’ As kids we used to laugh ourselves silly asking him that. It was awesome.”

  Henry’s name was a reminder of a good and funny memory…something he’d needed when he’d agreed to raise the dog after the death of his client.

  “I guess you had to be there,” he said.

  “You’re not a very intimidating lawyer,” she commented, cocking her head to the side as though she were studying him.

  “I can be.” He just didn’t want to be that way anymore. When the time had come at his firm to choose between having a soul and losing it, he had chosen the former. Another reason he’d returned to Dare to be closer to his mom and brother.

  “If he doesn’t obey your vocal commands, you might have to use another tactic until he understands you mean business.”

  “Yeah, he seems to know I’m a pushover.” But he wasn’t usually. He just couldn’t be stern with Henry. Not after the poor dog had lost his original owner in such a horrible way. Most days he felt like Henry’s behavior was his penance.

  “Let me show you something. Let’s trade dogs for a sec.” She extended her leashes.

  He hesitated. Almost looked around to see if anyone was watching. God, to be seen holding the leash to that girly dog. His brother, Andy, would have a field day. Probably put up flyers around town with him and the dog with a caption like: Have you seen my brother? He was last seen with a girlie dog wearing a pink parka.

  How in the world did Rhett keep his head up at the poker table with this dog? Word around town was that he’d given up his smoking hot poker babes as a compromise wi
th his new wife, Abbie. But this dog? Seriously?

  “Afraid your manhood might be affected?” she asked, a smirk on her face.

  He cleared his throat. “No, it’s fine.” The dogs didn’t move so much as a muscle when he took their leashes, and part of him wished, just this once, they’d misbehave so he wouldn’t feel like such an idiot. Or a failure.

  Jane grabbed Henry’s leash from him. “Let’s walk back to the car and see what Henry pulls.”

  He followed Jane, the little dog prancing like a queen while her lab walked sedately beside her. “What are your dogs’ names?”

  “Annie is the Chinese Crested, and she’s technically Rhett’s, but we agreed they’re happier together so she stays with me and Rufus full-time.”

  Henry kept to the path, not jerking once on his leash, pausing only to mark his territory when Rufus did. It was as if he knew who was in charge. The little pixie girl. And didn’t that make him feel like a doofus?

  Matt took a moment to gaze across the park. The sun had completely sunk behind the mountain now. Twilight was rolling in, smothering the rosy streaks of sunset with the deeper tones of violet and jet. God, he’d loved this nameless park while growing up. There had been picnics here with his family, and, of course, some parking with girls and drinking with friends. Now he was back in Dare as a man, forging a new road. His private practice had just opened, and he already had a few clients. Some of his Denver clients had come with him, which was one of the reasons he’d been able to make the move. Now he lived in the town of his birth in a big new house on the north bench of Dare. And he always left the office in time to watch the sunset, something that had never happened in Denver. It had been the least significant of his many reasons for making the move, but he still appreciated it.

  When they arrived in the parking lot, Jane was still fighting to hide her smirk. Yeah, she knew she was good. And she had to be, right? How else could a woman make a living as a dog walker for one client, no matter how rich that client was? His gut told him there was more to the situation than met the eye, but he had no idea what.

  “Well, it seems like Henry can walk sedately for a few minutes. That’s a good sign.” Then she leaned down and kissed the dog’s forehead and rubbed him all over his shiny coat. “Yeah, you’re redeemable. What a good boy.”

  Henry barked and fell to the ground, instantly rolling onto his back so Jane could rub him there too. Rufus gave a bark, and she turned toward her dog. Her mega-watt smile was filled with so much love and playfulness it hit him right in the solar plexus.

  She held out the leash to him, and Henry immediately jumped him. Her dogs scurried out of the way, and Matt pushed the lab down with a hand.

  “No,” Jane called out in that booming voice. “Sit, Henry.” Her voice made his belly quiver. God, the power of it was such a contrast to her small frame.

  His dog instantly sat.

  “We’re going to need lots of help, aren’t we?” he asked with a sigh.

  “Oh, I think you’ll be all right. We just need to get you in touch with your Inner Alpha.”

  His mouth parted as he fidgeted with the end of the leash. “Excuse me?” She was questioning his alphaness? Well, dammit.

  “You just need to show him who’s boss,” she quipped, trying not to laugh.

  “There’s nothing wrong with my Alpha,” he felt compelled to add.

  “I’m sure you’re right,” she said, unable to keep a straight face now.

  “Fine. Laugh. Just because I can’t control this lamebrain doesn’t mean anything’s wrong with me.”

  And yet their dog instructors had said a million times that a dog’s behavior is a reflection of the owner’s. Didn’t they say the same thing about parents and kids?

  “You’re going to be fine,” she assured him. “You’re just a nice guy who’s had a high-pressured job and doesn’t want to use excessive will on anyone anymore.”

  What the hell? Was she a shrink too? “That’s a pretty big leap.”

  “Well, I’ve known a lot of lawyers.” There was a cynical thread in her voice that spoke volumes.

  “Oh yeah? Boyfriends?”

  Her mouth flattened. “No, my father. Well, I’d better get going. Have fun tonight. And if Henry jumps, put your hand on him and hold him down. Keep giving him the same command until he stays there. Be patient with him and yourself. You’ve got this.”

  And with that, she gathered her dogs up and hustled them into her Rover. How in the world could a dog walker or whatever she was afford a Rover?

  Yes, something about her definitely didn’t add up.

  As he waved goodbye, he realized he was more than intrigued. Well, since she’d agreed to help him with his dog, he’d have plenty of time to figure her out.

  He opened the door to his own car. “Ready to go home?” he asked Henry, praying the dog would just jump in nicely. It grated on him when he had to drag him by the collar and shove him inside.

  It was like Henry had read his mind. He stood where he was, refusing to budge an inch.

  If only Jane were still around.

  Chapter 3

  Meredith’s house was about a mile from Matt’s, on another section of the bench. Both he and his cousin lived in the newer part of Dare Valley. Custom-built houses with acres of land butting up against forest and rock. It felt like a different town than the section where his elderly relatives had lived while he was growing up with their older homes and sweeping porches. Of course, his Grandpa George and Grandma Eve had passed away, but his great uncle, the journalistic legend, Arthur Hale, still lived in the house he’d bought over fifty years ago. The house where Matt had grown up was now owned by a young professor’s family. He drove by occasionally while making his way through town, and it was always jarring to realize the house was no longer his house.

  Matt hadn’t made the move to Dare Valley alone, thank God. Though his three sisters were still in Denver, he, his brother, and his mom had all returned to their hometown. His mom had separated from their dad and was renting a house not far from Main Street, while his widower brother had bought an A-frame house with a big yard close to his son’s school. A change in environment had brought them all peace.

  When he arrived at Meredith’s craftsman house, the mountain wedging in Dare to the west towered above him like a giant. He stepped into the cold night and leashed Henry, who bounded out of the back seat and started barking for his pal Hugo, Meredith and Tanner’s dog. When the knucklehead jumped on him and tried to lick his face, making him laugh, he gave him a good rubdown and tried out his new commands. He could ignore the wet marks on his fleece, since he liked it when Henry was affectionate.

  “Sit,” he said. The dog just stood there, giving him a strange look.

  “Still struggling with that?” Tanner McBride asked, coming down the porch steps.

  Meredith’s husband was a former war correspondent in places like freaking Iraq and Afghanistan. Now he taught journalism at Emmits Merriam and worked at the Hale family newspaper, The Western Independent. Matt liked him a lot.

  “Hey, man. Yeah, the whole obedience thing hasn’t been working for me.”

  Henry made a dash toward Tanner as though he were going to jump on him too. The guy just put his hands on his hips and stared the dog down. “Sit,” he said, without even raising his voice.

  The doofus dog immediately obeyed.

  Jane’s earlier statement about getting in touch with his Inner Alpha replayed in his mind. What did she think he was? A eunuch?

  “Come on in. It’s a mad house. And just a warning. Jill’s trying to scare Meredith about labor. Some seriously disgusting things have been said in the presence of Arthur, who slammed his cane down and put a stop to it. But Jill’s still mumbling.”

  “Part of her charm,” Matt said, already smiling. Ah, family.

  Tanner snorted, a habit he’d picked up from spending time with the Hales, and they went inside. Tanner took Henry off to a playroom with Hugo, thank God. It would be n
ice to have a short respite.

  And his friend was right. It was a madhouse inside. Jill’s baby twins were resting on a pink blanket with lime-green polka dots, so his cousin’s style. His nephew, Danny, was running around while making airplane noises, obviously trying to play with the girls or entertain them. But Mia and Violet just drooled and squirmed in place like beetles stuck on their backs.

  Brian was chasing Jill around the couch with a wooden spoon—God, he wasn’t even sure he wanted to know why. Married couples.

  “Well, here he is,” his brother Andy called out, beer in hand. “About time you got here.”

  “Uncle Matt!” Danny called out and rushed him.

  Matt lifted him off the ground and threw him in the air, making the five-year-old squeal. Once he finished with his duties as an uncle, he headed over to his mother. April Hale might be over sixty, but she was still glowing and beautiful.

  “Hey, Mom,” he said and kissed her cheek.

  “Hey, kiddo. Henry still giving you fits?”

  “Yeah.”

  Leaning back, he studied her, making sure she looked…well, not depressed. When his mother had announced she was leaving their father three months ago because he didn’t really want to be married anymore, he and his four siblings had been worried. All she would say about it was that life was too short to spend with someone who no longer appreciated you, who thought marriage to you was just comfortable.

  “Hi, Uncle Arthur,” he said. Looking just as sharp as always, his white-haired great uncle was sitting in a corner armchair, surveying the insanity through his wire-rimmed glasses.

  “’Bout time you got here. Someone needs to calm Jill down. If that girl gets her gums a-flappin’ again to scare Meredith, she’s going to feel my cane on her backside. I don’t care how old she is.”

  Just then the troublemaker herself wrapped her arms around Matt from behind, squeezing with all her might. “Dammit, Jill, will you ease up a bit?” he said.

  “She doesn’t know how,” Brian noted. He held up the spoon. “I figured it might help if I shoved this in her mouth, but she’s being even more contrary than usual.”