Hot Under the Collar

by Roxanne St Claire

  * * *

  Bushrod Square was packed Friday afternoon, with an atmosphere of festivity permeating the square mile in the center of Bitter Bark. From end to end, there were tourists, food and craft vendors, musicians, jugglers, families enjoying picnics, and so many dogs.

  None of that distracted Jasmine as she trotted between Cassie and Braden, the three of them heading to the bleachers to watch today’s main event, the Waterford Farm Dog Show.

  “I can’t believe how long it’s been since Waterford held one of these,” Braden said, scanning the crowd and nodding to a dozen familiar faces.

  “Waterford has had dog shows before?” Cassie asked. “I never heard that.”

  “Not since my uncle opened the actual training and rescue facility,” he said. “But when Aunt Annie was alive, she used to wrangle up a bunch of foster dogs and rescues and friends, and it was a big party day at Waterford Farm. Not a real dog show like Westminster, mind you. Just a way to blow off steam and laugh at the antics. You know, Best Kisser and Fastest Tail Chaser. Nothing too serious.”

  “It should be fun,” she said, reaching over to squeeze his hand. “You’re not nervous, are you?”

  He threw her a smile, loving that she always got his undercurrent of feelings. He’d noticed that in this past week when they’d been virtually inseparable, except when he was at work.

  “Just really excited about seeing JB again,” he said. “After my conversation with Uncle Daniel last night, I couldn’t be more convinced I’ve made the right decision.”

  Yes, it had hurt a little when his uncle called with the news that Jelly Bean’s olfactory problems were still evident, and his scent detection was hit or miss. Mostly miss. There could be no “miss” for an arson-investigating dog.

  “And I’m excited to tell my uncle that we have at least one Accelerant Detection Canine ready to get trained for certification.” He pulled their joined hands to give Jasmine a head rub, the way they did whenever Jazz found her target scent, which was…always. “Right, Jazzy?”

  The regal Lab didn’t so much as lose a beat of her beautiful walk, her ebony head high, her long curve of a tail swishing side to side, her keen blue eyes scanning the crowds.

  “Will Jelly Bean sit with us?” Cassie asked. “I’m dying to see how these two get along.”

  “Of course. We’ll hang with the whole family over there.” He notched his chin to the massive white tent, already seeing many of his cousins, siblings, and the family dogs. “Look, your mom is checking people in.”

  Cassie slowed her step and held them back, and of course, Jazz did the same. “Look at her, Braden. She’s so happy.”

  He studied her mother, seeing so much of Cassie in her gestures and expressions and the way she tilted her head back and gazed up at Uncle Daniel, who stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders.

  Yes, he’d seen Cassie look at him like that. And that alone gave him hope.

  “They’re great together,” Braden mused. “I never dreamed my uncle could be so happy again.”

  “Right?” She shook her head and blinked as if her eyes were tearing up. “There was a time when I never thought my mother would laugh like that again, and now she’s downright joyous.” She sighed and looked up at him. “They belong together.”

  So do we.

  But Braden just squeezed her hand and nodded. He’d become an expert at not saying what he was thinking, at least when he was thinking the things he knew she wasn’t ready to talk about. Might never be, to be honest. But they’d made an agreement to live in the now, and right now—with sunshine pouring over Bushrod Square, almost all of the people he loved gathered under one tent, and a reunion with Jelly Bean just moments away—this now was great.

  “There he is!” she squealed, excited enough to elicit a bark from Jazz.

  Jelly Bean rested contentedly under another table filled with programs and brochures. A kick of happiness Braden honestly didn’t expect hit him right in the solar plexus as Jelly Bean sat up, looked right at him, and barked.

  “JBeee!” Braden called, letting go of Cassie’s hand to jog closer to his dog. Jelly Bean stood, shook off, and barked at him, then poked his head out from under the table. When he spotted Braden, he set off, loping full speed across the grass, rounding two people, and jumping so they both went right down to the ground for a good wrestle.

  Behind him, he heard Jasmine bark, then, seconds later, she reached the two of them, pulling a little more than she usually would at the leash Cassie held.

  “Whoa, somebody’s jealous of you rolling around with that dog,” Cassie teased. “Jasmine’s not happy, either.”

  Laughing, he got his arm around Jasmine’s head and Jelly Bean’s, too. “Get along, you two.”

  Uncle Daniel arrived, too, grinning at the three of them on the ground. “He’s been ready to see you for a few days,” he said, giving Cassie a quick hug as Braden hopped to his feet.

  “I’ve been ready to see him.”

  “How’s our Jasmine doing?” his uncle asked.

  “Great.” He looked the other man directly in the eyes. “She’s going to make an unparalleled ADC, Uncle Daniel. Your instincts are dead-on. She could smell two kinds of dirt on a fly’s ear in the next county. All we need is for you and Liam to run her through the paces and sign the affidavit. I’ve already arranged for a little time off to take her to the ATF for certification training.” Damn, it felt good to say that.

  Uncle Daniel looked down at Jelly Bean. “Shhh. He understands English, you know.”

  “Oh, I know.” Braden put a hand on Jelly Bean’s head. “But the truth is, when a decision is right, you just know it.”

  His uncle beamed at him, silent for a moment, then he gave Braden an emotional bear hug. “Good call, son.”

  “Thanks,” he said softly. “And thanks for steering me in the right direction. Can I take Jelly Bean now?”

  “Uh, no.”

  Braden jerked back. “Why not?”

  “Because he’s our best dog in the show.” He thumbed toward the massive ring set up in the center of the square. “The way that dog takes orders? He’s a shoo-in for Best Dancer, Wiggliest Butt, and by far the Fastest Hot Dog Eater. And just forget the Binky Bob.”

  “The what?”

  “He broke the practice record for finding the pacifier at the bottom of the baby pool.”

  Next to him, Cassie wrapped her arm around Braden’s waist and looked up at him. “That’s our boy.”

  He looked from one face to the other, then down at the dogs, almost crumbling when Jelly Bean sat up straight with a glimmer of pride in his eyes.

  “So, go get a beer and join the family in the VIP section right here.” Uncle Daniel nudged them toward the tent. “I think Jelly Bean is going to win the day.”

  “He already has,” Braden muttered as he crouched down in front of the dog. “Right, JB?”

  He barked once and wagged his tail ferociously.

  “And you don’t even snarl at my girlfriend anymore.”

  Cassie bent over to whisper in his ear, “That’s because the pressure’s off him. I’ve never seen him happier, Braden.”

  He turned to her, overcome with that same relief he imagined Jelly Bean had. It was just enough to say what he was thinking. “I’ve never been happier, Cassie.” He leaned forward and kissed her. “I just want you to know that.”

  “Oh, Braden. I—”

  “Cassie, there you are!” A man’s voice broke through the noise of the square, deep and unfamiliar. Not a brother, cousin, or friend, Braden sensed as he slowly stood, turned, and came face-to-face with Jace Demakos.

  “Hey, Braden, how are you?” He reached out to shake Braden’s hand like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like he wasn’t here to wreck the day, kill the moment, and suck the joy out of Braden’s life.

  “Jace. Good to see you.” Braden shook his hand, but the man’s attention was already on Cassie, who brushed her hair back and slayed the guy with a
smile.

  “How are you, Jace?” she asked.

  “You tell me.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a white business envelope. “Don’t look so shocked. I told you I’d bring it back from Chicago.”

  “Oh…wow.” She took it and glanced at Braden, a war zone of emotion in her eyes. “That’s, well…yeah. Thank you.”

  “Thank the head of Human Resources. I was able to get some sweet perks into that deal. They’re letting me build a great team, Cassie, and I really hope you’ll be on it.” He threw a look at Braden to add, “If you’re willing.”

  “It’s not my decision,” Braden said simply.

  “Yeah, yeah.” Jace nodded as if he had a clue what Braden was going through. “I know it’s a big change, but…” He nodded to the letter. “It’s a solid offer, Cassie. Take some time to look over the details, but I’m afraid you don’t have too much time.”

  “I don’t?”

  He let out a breath. “Minor change in timing means you’d have to start next week. The company has an apartment right on the lake that you can have for one month until you find your own place, if you don’t mind living on the twenty-sixth floor. But we hit the ground running on Monday, so I’d really appreciate it if you could give me your answer tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” She barely breathed the word, sounding as shell-shocked as Braden felt. “That’s the Kibbles for Kindness event, and after that—”

  “After that, we need you to pack up and go straight to Chicago on Sunday. HR is expecting you on Monday for a quick training program, then we’ll meet with the agency on Tuesday for the event on July fourth. You should be kicking ass and taking names by the end of the week as Family First’s brand-new manager of special events.”

  “Oh, Jace, I…”

  Can’t. Say it, Cassie. Say you cannot leave that soon.

  “I can’t…”

  Yes. Braden literally held his breath.

  “I can’t believe this,” she finished, stabbing Braden’s heart with a nine-inch nail.

  “Believe it,” Jace said, stepping back as if he had something way more important to do than stand here and kick Braden in the metaphorical teeth. “I gotta find the mayor. You…” He pointed at her. “Make the right decision and make it fast.”

  He added a wink, nodded goodbye to Braden, and jogged off to go make someone else’s life hell.

  Cassie stood stone-still, holding the envelope to her chest, looking down at Jelly Bean as if she couldn’t bear to look at Braden.

  “Congratulations, Cassie,” he said softly.

  When she looked up at him, her eyes were swimming with tears. “It’s everything I ever wanted,” she whispered, cracking his heart in two.

  “I know.”

  “But you just said when a decision is absolutely right, you know it.”

  He reached for her, pulled her into his chest, and planted a kiss on her head, with one simple thought: There was still hope.

  “Come on, babe.” He slid his arm around her. “Let’s go watch Jelly Bean slay the competition.”

  Because one of them had to.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  As night fell, the sparkling white lights in the trees all over Bushrod Square started flickering, casting a golden glow on the last of the cleanup campaign. Perched on the bottom row of the empty bleachers, Cassie finally opened the envelope that had been burning a hole in her handbag all day long.

  She’d refused to look, even though Braden urged her to. The moment she did, the very second it all became real, everything would change. The magical time with Braden would be over. The thrilling, precarious free fall into something that felt a lot like love would end with a sudden crash to the ground. The hours of sweet sex and hearty laughs and shared histories and bougatsa in bed would turn into…goodbye.

  Not for the first time that day, Cassie’s eyes welled up as she looked out at the square where Braden, Connor, and a few of their cousins were breaking down the last of the obstacle course and dog show equipment. She could hear the teases they flung, the jokes they shared, the undercurrent of family and unconditional love that seemed to surround the Mahoneys and Kilcannons and, now, the Santorinis, since Alex and John were in there, too.

  They’d all worked together to take down the giant tent and pack everything into various trucks and the Waterford Jeep. A few dogs wandered around, but most slept, worn out and waiting to get into one of those trucks and head home.

  Every once in a while, Braden glanced over at her, but he was giving her space and time, and she appreciated that. Didn’t mean she wouldn’t love to have him next to her right now, but he knew—and she did—that this had to be done alone.

  Taking a breath, she slid her finger under the back of the envelope and pulled out the folded pages, about three of them. No surprise, her hand trembled a little as she opened the letter and read the first line.

  …excited to offer you the position of…

  She blinked and skimmed.

  …starting salary of…

  “Oh.” She stared at the number, which exceeded what she’d expected. That much money would get her that dreamy high-rise apartment, and—

  A dog bark pulled her attention, making her look up to see Jelly Bean coming toward her. His Best of Show gold medal swung from his collar as he trotted toward the bleachers.

  “Hey, JB,” she called to him, reaching out her hand. “Nice work today.”

  But he walked right by her, barking at something behind the bleachers.

  “I’ll say you’re the best of show!” Simone London’s soft Southern accent floated between the bleachers, and then she came around the side to greet Jelly Bean. As she bent over to give him some love, she glanced at Cassie. “Hello,” she said softly. “I heard Jelly Belly was amazing in the dog show.”

  For one crazy minute, Cassie wondered if Braden had called her or texted her, and the thought cut right through her chest.

  “It was on the Bitter Bark website,” she said quickly, making Cassie know her face had given away her thoughts.

  “Yes,” Cassie said. “He stole a lot of hearts today.”

  “Good boy!” Simone said, rubbing his head. She straightened slowly and glanced at the open field, no doubt looking for Braden.

  Cassie quietly closed the letter she held and waited, sensing the other woman had something to say. Like…can I have him now?

  “So, I just came over to congratulate Jelly Bean and…”

  “You can go talk to Braden,” Cassie said, using the letter to gesture toward him. “He’s right over there.”

  She shook her head. “Actually, it was Jelly Bean I wanted to say goodbye to.”

  “Goodbye?”

  “I gave notice at the college, and I’m moving back to California tomorrow.”

  Cassie blinked, not quite processing that. “Really? That’s a big move.”

  “I have friends in LA and a good lead on a job in admissions at USC, which makes Vestal Valley College look like a grade school.”

  “I bet.” Cassie looked past the edge of the square to the red brick buildings at the edge of a campus she always thought was quaint and inviting. “Wow. Los Angeles. That’s…” Like the queen of big cities. Cassie waited for a little punch of jealousy, but all she felt was a twinge of sadness. For Simone.

  “Yeah, there’s really nothing to keep me in Bitter Bark anymore,” Simone said. “I’m ready for a place with real shopping and a concert hall and maybe more than one hair salon that isn’t called a beauty shop.”

  But Bitter Bark Beauty did a great job on Cassie’s hair. “I get that,” she said, but the words felt…false.

  Simone shifted from one foot to the other, sighing. “Braden seems happy,” she said, brushing back some blond hair.

  Cassie nodded, swallowing the fact that his happiness was probably going to end the minute she told him what was in this letter. “He was really proud of Jelly Bean today,” she said, remembering how he’d cheered for the dog until he almost
lost his voice.

  “Well, I feel kinda dumb.”

  Cassie drew back at Simone’s admission, which sounded like it came from the heart. “Why?”

  “You know.” Her pretty features fixed in an expression of embarrassment, and she gave a dry, self-deprecating laugh. “Trying to get him back and all.”

  Cassie just smiled. “Can’t say I blame you, though.”

  “Yeah.” Simone rubbed Jelly Bean’s head. “But a girl’s gotta know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em, right, Jelly Bells?”

  He barked once and rolled over, shamelessly begging for a belly rub.

  Crouching down, Simone ran her nails over his stomach, but looked up at Cassie. “I always knew that he’d change his mind about that ‘living alone because he’s a firefighter thing’ if he met the right person.”

  Cassie took a slow breath, her fingers pressing into the folded paper she held.

  “I just wanted to be the right person,” Simone finished. “But it looks like you are.”

  What could she say to that? I’m dumping him for a job and a high-rise? “He’s really a good guy,” Cassie said softly.

  “The best.” Simone stood and pulled her hair back in a makeshift ponytail. “Take care of him,” she whispered. “He deserves so much love.”

  Cassie stared at her, trying to swallow, but the lump in her throat prevented even air from getting through. “Yeah.” It came out like a croak. “He does.”

  With one more nod, Simone turned and went back the way she’d come, making Jelly Bean flip onto his feet, stand up, and watch her leave.

  “Don’t cry,” Cassie said to him. “Please don’t whine like your heart is broken. I don’t think I could take it.”

  He looked into the empty space for a long time, then walked straight to Cassie, climbed onto the bottom bleacher, and laid his head on her sneaker.

  “Damn, dog. You really can speak English.” She reached down and flipped his ear between two fingers, the way she’d seen Braden do it a million times. “Then would you please give me some idea what I should do with this problem of mine?”

  Jelly Bean lifted his head, licked her ankle once, and dropped his head back down.