Cassie snorted. “With good reason. Tell her to relax and keep giving out the free Santorini’s samples.”
“And Grandma Finnie says we just made our first thousand dollars on entry fees.”
“That’s awesome. Are you group-texting those two?”
Pru giggled. “I’m an official Dogmother now.”
“Really.”
“They needed a little youth on the bench, if you get my drift. But I had to pass a test to take it from ‘honorary’ to ‘official.’” She leaned closer. “Gramma would have let me, of course, but Yiayia isn’t quite so easy to wrap around my finger, you know?”
“Oh, I know. I was fourteen and trying to wrap her once. So, what did she make you do? Roll a dozen melomakarona in under a minute?”
“Nah, just break into a house.”
Cassie choked. “What business are these Dogmothers in, exactly?”
“The business of happiness, lass,” she said in a dead-on Gramma Finnie brogue. “And no worries. I was able to get in using this.” She tapped her temple. “Just like you found Yiayia’s key.”
“And who’s happy about you breaking into their house, if I might ask?”
“It’s all part of the scavenger hunt.” She gave a big smile, showing off perfect teeth that she often bragged had been in the hands of a good orthodontist. “We call it station zero. Oh!” Pru stood and peered in the direction of Ambrose Avenue, then texted with the super-thumbs of a teenager. “I gotta go.”
Cassie blinked at her and tried to grab her wrist. “Oh no you don’t. I don’t want to be up here alone with one foot in a cast, Pru, even with Wonder Dog.”
“You won’t be alone.” She turned and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Just stay still for…” She looked out to the square. “One minute. See ya!”
With that, she scrambled away, her long, dark hair flying as she darted to the bottom of the steps.
“But…” Cassie curled her fingers around the metal bench, watching with dismay as Pru stopped at the bottom of the bleachers, talking to someone around the side but blocked by the last few rows. She pointed up to Cassie, then disappeared behind the seats. And then she saw…
Shoulders.
A pair of big, strong, crazy-hot shoulders in a blue T-shirt that surely matched the color of his eyes. She couldn’t see them behind mirrored sunglasses, but when Braden looked up at her and slid those glasses off, everything in Cassie melted like chocolate in the sun.
“Braden,” she whispered.
Instantly, Jelly Bean’s head popped up, and he barked, slapping his paws on the bleachers, then throwing a look to Cassie. “You can go,” she whispered. “Run and kiss him just like I wish I could.”
Released, Jelly Bean tore down the steps, and Jazz, who stood at attention at Braden’s side, barked in greeting, and in a second the three of them were all but rolling on the grass in a happy reunion.
After a minute, Braden extracted himself from the two dogs and slid his sunglasses into the collar of his shirt, looking right up at Cassie.
“Glad to see you’re not afraid of heights, cuz.”
“I am a little dizzy,” she admitted. “Might need an EMT.”
He climbed the bleachers two at a time, reaching her before she could exhale the breath she’d been holding since the second she saw him. He loomed over her for a moment, then dropped down on the bleacher in front of her, putting a very gentle hand on the cast that had been signed by half of Bitter Bark.
“How’s my girl?”
My girl. She managed a shaky smile. “Better now.”
He leaned in and put his hand on her cheek. “I missed you.”
“Oh.” She closed her eyes and angled her head into his touch. “Same.”
“I can’t believe you’re still having the scavenger hunt.”
“All proceeds to Anything’s Pawsible, a nonprofit dedicated to retraining service dogs who haven’t quite found their calling yet.”
He frowned. “All failed serv—”
“But be careful. We don’t use the term ‘failed service dog’ around Jelly Bean. He understands English, you know.”
He laughed, and the sound rolled over her as warm as the sun. “You look good, Cass.”
“Crutches make me sexy.”
“Sexier.” He slid his hand over her shoulder and down her arm, leaving a wake of chills despite the summer sun. “So, I won.”
“The training? Was it a competition?”
He shook his head. “But Jazz did graduate at the top of her class.”
“Why am I not surprised? And her valedictorian bark?”
“Standing ovation.”
She laughed from her belly, maybe for the first time in weeks. “So, what did you win?”
“The scavenger hunt.”
She drew back. “Then get down there so they can ring the bell and give you a trophy. You and Jazz?”
He shook his head. “I have a feeling my portion of the scavenger hunt doesn’t count in today’s competition.”
“I’m confused,” she admitted.
“I was, too, until I found this.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled something out, pressing it between his hands. “The grand prize.” He revealed the folded, lined paper to her with the stubs from a spiral notebook feathered down the side.
Cassie stared at the familiar piece of paper as a thousand different emotions welled up and made her eyes sting. “You found it.”
“Of course. Clever clues.” He added a smile. “The Easter egg with baby aspirin? That was brilliant.”
“The Easter…” She couldn’t finish the sentence as so many possibilities swirled. But then she looked over his shoulder and spotted Gramma Finnie and Yiayia looking up at the bleachers. “I think we had some help from professionals,” she said.
“We needed it,” he said, leaning closer and pulling her attention back to his face. “You wrote this before I left.”
“Are you sure about that, Einstein?”
He nodded. “I saw you writing on the patio that morning, and I saw the page when it was blank not an hour before. And even if I didn’t know those things, Cass, I believe you. I believe everything you wrote in that letter.”
Except… “Um, can I read the letter?”
He inched back. “You wrote it.”
“I don’t remember exactly what I said. Something about finding it in the future and that I wanted to be there, but…”
“You can read it, but before you do, can I say something?”
“Anything.”
He reached both hands under her hair, tunneling his fingers and pulling her closer. “I love you with all my heart and all my soul and every brain cell I have.”
She smiled. “That’s a lot.”
“And if you want to go anywhere, to any city, at any time, I’ll go with you.”
She shook her head. “Not leaving Bitter Bark.”
“Cassie, wait a second. You’ve wanted this your whole life. You can’t just give up your dreams.”
She looked at him for the longest time, her heart beating steady with certainty. “I’ve wanted this my whole life,” she whispered. “The love of a man like you and this big, wonderful family of ours. We’ll visit the cities, but this is home. This is where I—you and I—belong.”
After a moment, his eyes shuttered closed and he leaned his forehead against hers. “That’s perfect, but I want you to know, I’d go anywhere for you.”
“But I want to stay here with you. Anyway, I’ve already started setting up my event-planning business, and I’m thinking I’ll do a little PR on the side. Jace agreed to let me consult, so I got a client in Chicago, and I’m going to pitch Anything’s Pawsible. I’m going to suggest they make Jelly Bean their national spokesdog.”
He leaned back. “You should call your company Woman of Action, Incorporated.”
“I like that, Einstein. You can be my business partner.”
“How about I be…” He eased her closer. “Your everything partner?
”
“Oh.” She breathed the word, almost kissing him. “I think we could do great things together.”
“Mmm.” He pressed his lips to hers. “We could make a home and a family and a life together.”
She sank into the kiss, and the promise, and the complete and total confidence that she was absolutely where she belonged. “We could make all our dreams come true.”
“Like the ones in your letter.”
“I better read that.” Opening it, she smiled as she skimmed the top list and then took her time on the part she’d written, each word coming back to her. After a moment, she closed it, put it next to her, and looked at him. “My father said when you write things down, you make them happen.”
“Smart man.” He pulled her into him. “And like my father, I’m not going to spend one minute worrying about life or death. I love you, and I will come home to you every day and every night.” He sealed that promise with a kiss.
“Braden. I love you, too. So much.” She deepened the kiss, feeling nothing but bliss and joy for the first time in three weeks. Nothing but certainty and love. So much love.
All of a sudden, a bell started ringing and dogs started barking and a cheer went up over Bushrod Square. They parted less than an inch.
“Is everyone watching us?” she asked in mock horror.
“Let’s find out.” Very slowly, they broke apart and turned toward the main tent, where crowds were surrounding a small group all wearing the same red shirts and a black and white dog in a red bandanna. One of the people held a trophy in the air.
“Oh, they won the scavenger hunt,” Cassie said. “That’s what all the cheering is.”
“Not all.” He nodded to two little old ladies off to the side, beaming up at Cassie and Braden, clapping with their own victory.
Cassie lifted the letter and waved it at them, making them laugh and high-five each other.
“Oh, I love them,” she said.
Braden settled next to her on the bleacher, putting his arm around her and pulling her against his amazing shoulder and good heart. “We should name our first daughter Agnes Finola.”
“No. I don’t love them that much.”
He laughed and pulled her closer, and at that moment, Cassie knew what her mother meant by feeling alive and secure and grounded, all at the same time. It felt exactly like this.
Epilogue
“Finn, my friend. We are off our game.”
Finnie lifted her shot glass and eyed the golden liquid she hadn’t had a sip of yet. “It’s a long wedding, lass. Katie hasn’t even thrown her bouquet yet. Best take it slow.”
“I don’t mean drinking.” Agnes jabbed her with a friendly elbow, then lifted the glass of ouzo in front of her. “Although you Irish do give us a run for our money at these events.”
“Sláinte.” Finnie tapped the other glass.
“Yamas,” Agnes responded, but didn’t take a drink, instead getting closer to look through Finnie’s bifocals like she was peering right into her soul.
“What?” Finnie asked when the stare became uncomfortable.
“It’s October,” Agnes said. “We are one-for-one and zero for trying.”
“Not zero,” Finnie argued. “We’ve worked on Connor.”
“Who hasn’t in this town?”
Finnie smiled. “He can’t help it. The ladies love him. And we tried Declan.”
“Look up confirmed bachelor and find his picture.” Agnes rolled her eyes. “We might have to go to plan B for Ella.”
“Oh no,” Finnie gasped. “Jace will be back. Cassie’s got him as a client for her new company, and he’s always finding excuses to have meetings here instead of Chicago. Maybe you should start to lay the groundwork for Alex or John, since Nick and Theo are not local.”
“They are at the moment.” Finnie launched a brow and pointed across the winery terrace where a hundred friends and family had gathered on a glorious autumn afternoon to celebrate Katie and Daniel’s wedding. Just off to the side, those two Santorini men stood talking to each other, both tall, dark, and Greek. Well, Theo was Greek. But Agnes seemed to have stopped seething about that, probably because she knew anger caused stress, and stress could cause trouble for her.
“Nick doesn’t seem too happy in Africa,” Agnes mused. “Too bad he’s only here for a few more days.”
“And he has a girlfriend,” Finnie reminded her.
“Does he?” Agnes snorted softly. “A real girlfriend would have flown here to meet the family. And Theo’s only on leave until tomorrow. We need to get cracking, missy.”
“We’ve been busy,” Finnie replied. “This is our third wedding in three months, and is it my fault that Cassie caught the bouquet at Darcy’s and Beck’s weddings?”
“She’ll probably catch it again today, since it is her mother doing the throwing.”
“I think that would seal the deal for a Christmas engagement,” Finnie said.
“Which means we better get to work on the next couple,” Agnes insisted. “What are we waiting for?”
Finnie sighed. “I have been distracted,” she admitted. “Molly had her little lad, and Chloe had her sweet lass. Look at them.” She pointed to the small gathering of Kilcannons on the side of the dance floor, many of them fussing over the babes both born two months ago. Molly’s little Danny boy was the spittin’ image of his father, Trace, who couldn’t seem to go ten minutes without holding the child.
And Shane and Chloe’s wee Annabelle was Kilcannon through and through, looking so much like Finnie’s firstborn, Liam, that she’d spent a few too many days out by the tiny gravestone, remembering those dark days when they’d lost him.
“The new wee ones have had my attention, and all that construction in the house, Agnes.” Finnie threw her hands up just thinking about the noise. “I might be too tired for much more matchmakin’ this year.”
Agnes slapped her hand on the table, making the little shot glasses tremble. “Finola Kilcannon, we made a deal. Don’t go crapping out on me now.”
Finnie gave her a wry smile. “I don’t think the Big Man likes when you talk to me that way.”
Agnes closed her eyes. “I should never have confessed all that.”
“’Tis a good thing to be honest.” She patted the other woman’s hand. “It’ll keep you nice and, well, nice, lass.”
“But what about our purpose?”
“Our—”
“If you don’t mind, sir, I have this under control.” The woman’s voice coming from behind them was tight and sounded like it had been ground out from between tightly gritted teeth.
Finnie and Agnes turned toward the door that led to the winery kitchen, where Alex stood about two feet from a blond woman they both recognized as Grace Donovan, the owner of Overlook Glen.
“I’m sorry, but the Pinot Noir won’t work,” Alex said.
The woman was a few inches shorter than Alex, with a narrow frame, but she lifted her chin as if she meant business. “The Pinot Noir is perfect for this meal.”
“It’s lifeless.”
She gasped and drew back. “I will have you know that that wine was made using the latest viticulture and enology, with a measured amount of sulfur dioxide and genetically modified grapes.”
“Exactly.” He shoved the bottle at her. “Cork your science experiment and give us something with a soul.”
“Cork it? Shows how much you know about wines. No one ‘corks’ anymore.”
“Then use it to water your plants and call someone to bring us wine that deserves to be served at my mother’s wedding. Preferably a Shiraz for this course, but we could settle for a Merlot.”
“Settle?” She grasped the bottle with both hands like she was squeezing the life out of the poor thing. Or maybe imagining it was Alex’s neck. “There is nothing wrong with this wine, Mr. Santorini.” She stood on her tiptoes and got right into his face. “Maybe there’s something wrong with your mouth.”
Even from where they sat, they could se
e that very mouth kick in an almost smile. “Are you serious? I’m a chef.”
“You’re a pain in my butt and have been since you first showed up at my winery.” She lifted the bottle high over his head. “First pour, sir?”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Grace stared him down, tipping the bottle a centimeter. “It would give me so…much…pleasure.”
Alex returned the glare, but it sure looked like his head inched a wee bit closer, like the woman was a magnet and he was steel.
For the space of three whole heartbeats, they stayed riveted like that, the only movement the rising and falling of their chests with each strained breath.
“Oh my,” Finnie muttered.
“I think he’s going to kiss her,” Yiayia whispered.
They both waited, watching, wondering what would happen next.
“I have a Shiraz,” Grace finally said, lowering the bottle.
Alex rubbed a knuckle under his lower lip, still holding her gaze. “I’d like a…taste.”
Yiayia sucked in a breath. Finnie gripped her chair cushion.
“I’ll have a server bring you a bottle.” With one more slow breath, Grace backed away and headed down a stone hallway, while Alex watched until she disappeared. He finally turned back to the wedding, closing his eyes and adjusting the jacket of his tuxedo.
“Every time,” he murmured. “Every damn time.”
Finnie turned slowly and stared at Agnes, silent as they picked up the glasses.
“To frenemies!” they whispered in unison, tapping the rims. Then they threw back the shots, ready for round two.
Pour a nice glass of wine, bring your appetite for love, and stay tuned for more romance with Grace, Alex, and a trio of precious pups in THREE DOG NIGHT, up next in the Dogmothers series!
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The Dogmothers
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