A thread of worry knitted around Anne’s heart. Wyatt had been offered the USC job, and she’d also gotten the call for the vice principal position. He had to realize that if she took it, she’d be grounded in Maryland. What future could they have together if he went to California?
She shook off the negativity. His enthusiasm when she’d told him about her offer had been genuine. He knew how much it meant to her.
Her phone rang, and she glanced at the screen.
Devon.
He’d called three times in the last week, making sure she was okay after the assault and the news-splash photos of them. Nice of him, but she just wanted to put the whole thing behind her. Considering he’d expressed feelings for her prior to the attack, she would rather limit their interactions strictly to business.
She frowned. Actually, he’d said he was interested in her, not that he had feelings for her. Regardless, she didn’t want to be rude, so she answered.
“Hi, Devon. What’s up?”
“I called to congratulate you on the job offer.”
“Thanks, but how did you know—”
“Larry Edmonson and I golf together, and he told me about it. In fact, we’re having dinner on Thursday. Would you like to join us? It might be a good opportunity for you to talk to the superintendent in a casual setting and get onboard.”
A tick of annoyance tracked up her spine. She’d earned the job and had told Devon before that she didn’t want to use his connections. She forced a polite response, because he probably meant well. “Thanks, but I’m going to do this on my own.”
After a pause, Devon responded. “Of course, I understand. Congratulations.”
He hung up, and she shook her head. Something in his voice…
Her phone dinged in her hand. A text from Scott. Maddie had gone into labor hours ago, and he’d promised to keep Anne updated. She tapped the screen and a picture of Maddie holding a baby wearing a pink beanie popped up with the caption, “It’s a girl. Zoey Ella. 7 lbs 13 oz.”
A thrill rushed through Anne’s body. She typed a quick congratulations and zoomed in on the image. The grin on Maddie’s tired face said it all. Anne stared at the baby, and her heart twinged with longing. She wasn’t getting any younger, and Wyatt had been clear about not wanting kids.
With a sigh, she opened the refrigerator and pulled out the fruit, cheese, and sandwiches she’d prepared for their lunch. She packed everything into the picnic basket she’d found at a thrift store. That day she’d felt like she’d won a free vacation. She had a thing for old-fashioned picnic baskets and had been looking for one for a long time. This basket had called to her with a pretty pink ribbon woven around the sides and matching bow on the front. Of course, she could have bought a new basket, but she liked to support the charity that ran the store.
She drove to Wyatt’s place since it was on the way to the park. When she knocked, Goober barked, and like the last time, thumped against the door. A giggle tickled her throat. So much for the training.
Wyatt opened the door and Goober bounded out to Anne, tail whipping. He whined as she bent to hug him, and Wyatt gave her an apologetic smile. “I haven’t been consistent, and I don’t get many visitors, so…”
“It’s okay. He’s probably just excited to go, aren’t you, boy?” She ruffled the fur behind his ears.
“What? Did you think he was coming with us?” Wyatt’s smile fell.
“Of course. He’ll love it.” She scratched his side, and his leg started thumping a staccato rhythm on the floor. “It’s so funny when he does this.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring him today.” Wyatt stared down at Goober with a slight frown.
“But I made him those special dog biscuits he likes, and he’s come before. Why not today?” Anne stood.
Wyatt shrugged. “Just…I don’t know…he might get into trouble.”
“Trouble?” What was he worried about? Goober wasn’t aggressive and got along with other dogs.
Her phone dinged, and she jerked. “Oh my gosh. I didn’t tell you. Maddie had her baby. That’s probably Scott.”
“Everything okay?” Wyatt cocked his head.
“Yeah.” Anne picked up her phone and clicked on a selfie of Scott, his arm around Maddie and the baby. A lump formed in Anne’s throat. “Precious.”
She held the phone out so Wyatt could see the picture. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and the corners of his mouth turned up. “They look so happy.”
“Yeah.” Anne sent a heart emoji and tamped down the longing in her own heart.
Wyatt opened the door wider and stepped inside. She followed him, and Goober raced to his bed and returned to Anne with a tug toy in his mouth.
“Aww. He loves this game.” She yanked the other end and he pulled back, play growling and thrashing his head from side to side.
“I’m ready to go when you are.” Wyatt snatched his keys off the counter.
“Okay.” Anne let go of the toy, and Goober pranced around with it in his mouth, showing off his victory prize.
When Wyatt opened the door, Goober dropped the toy and beelined to Wyatt.
“We’ll go for a walk when I get back, buddy. Be good.”
Goober whined and nudged Anne’s hand with his nose.
“Look at that face.” She rubbed his snout. “He’s here alone all week. We need to bring him. I can’t leave with those pleading eyes staring at me.”
Wyatt blew out a breath. “All right. We’ll take the truck.”
He didn’t look too happy, which made no sense because it wasn’t super-hot, and they took Goober to the parks on weekends all the time. “What’s going on with you today?”
“What do you mean?” He whipped his head around as he grabbed a leash from the closet.
“You’re not acting like yourself. Is something wrong?”
“No. I’m just…hungry.”
More like grumpy. She wasn’t buying it, but okay. “Well then, we can eat as soon as we get there. I brought a blanket and lunch.”
He took Goober to the truck while Anne brought over the picnic basket from her car.
Wyatt hitched an eyebrow and pointed to it. “What’s that?”
She held it up. “My picnic basket. Remember I told you about it?”
“I guess. I didn’t realize it would look like that.” He shoved a hand on his hip. “Am I supposed to carry that thing around in the park?”
Oh, this was more fun than she’d dreamed. “I don’t see why not.”
He gazed at it, a sour expression on his face like he’d just sucked a lemon. “Stay here for a minute, and I’ll get a cooler. You can hide…I mean put that flowery blanket in the basket and I’ll carry the cooler with the food.”
She bit her tongue to keep from laughing and had to wait a second to respond. “But I have it all packed up right.”
“It’s not china. I’m sure we can just throw it in the cooler.” He turned and took a step away.
“I bet Tarzan would have carried this picnic basket through the jungle for Jane,” she called out to him.
He stopped and pivoted. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m just saying. I think Tarzan was secure enough in his manhood to carry this.”
Wyatt’s eyes narrowed and he came back over to her. “Yeah, and he was surrounded by nothing but monkeys. Are you trying to make me crazy?”
She let out the laugh she’d been stifling and set the basket down. “I’m just messing with you. I’ll carry it. It’s not heavy.” She pressed a hand to his cheek. “You’re wound tight today for some reason, and I wanted to lighten the mood.”
He snorted. “So torturing me is your answer to that?”
“Yup.” She lowered her hand. “I think sitting on the rocks by the water is the perfect thing for us to do today.”
He kissed her forehead and gave her a hug. “All right. Sounds good.”
When they reached the park, they drove past a crowded picnic area. If someone recognized him, that would be t
he end of their privacy. She glanced around and pointed across the lot. “Let’s go near the woods away from everyone. I see a spot where we can put the blanket.”
“I’m down with that.” Wyatt parked in the farthest space and opened the door for Goober.
Anne carried the basket over to the grass and spread the blanket out. The sun warmed the top of her head and a soft breeze blew. Couldn’t ask for better weather.
Goober bounded over to Anne, and she gave him the biscuits she’d made. He plopped down and chomped them while she set up the picnic.
“I brought his bone to keep him busy while we eat.” Wyatt tossed it on the ground next to the dog.
“Aren’t these cool? I found these little plates with the dip holder in the middle so you can put the fruit around it and have your own dish.” Anne plopped a spoonful of peanut butter in the center of the cut-up apples.
Wyatt stood at the edge of the blanket and wiped his palms on his jeans.
He didn’t look like he’d even heard her. “Wyatt?”
“Huh?” He swallowed. “Sorry, did you ask me something?”
“Nothing important. Are you going to sit down and eat?” She slid over to make room for him. What the heck was going on?
“Oh, right.” He dropped to the blanket and wiped his brow.
Anne’s stomach tightened. He was sweating and it wasn’t that hot. Maybe he had a fever. “Are you not feeling well?”
“I’m fine.” He tugged at the neckline of his T-shirt. “Just a little warm.”
“We can move into the shade if you—”
“No. I’m good.” He gave her a not-so-convincing smile.
She frowned, finished setting out the food, and handed him a cold water. “Drink this. It might help.”
He downed half the bottle.
Good thing she’d brought a bunch more. They hadn’t even started the hike. She dipped an apple slice in peanut butter and took a bite.
Wyatt shifted so that he faced her. “Anne?”
“Yeah?” She munched on the fruit.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.” He wiped his brow again.
“Sure, what?” Her shoulders pinched with tension. Maybe he’d made his decision about the jobs.
“I’ve been thinking, and…”
A squirrel emerged from the woods, scampering next to them. Goober bolted up and trampled through the middle of the blanket, giving chase. He launched himself on the picnic basket, smashing the lid down and busting the sides out. His paws stomped on the food, and he knocked over their water bottles.
Anne jumped back to get out of the way, but a piece of watermelon flew up, smacked her in the chest, and slid down her shirt, leaving a pink streak.
“Goober, stop.” Wyatt leaped to his feet.
The dog slid to a halt and barked under a tree the squirrel had climbed.
So much for the picnic. The carnage was epic. Wyatt’s sandwich had landed in the grass, watermelon littered the blanket, and the plates were upside down.
Anne pulled the front of her shirt out as the sticky, cold goo from the watermelon trickled down into her bra. Wyatt dragged Goober back to his bone and snapped the leash on his collar. His gaze went to the destroyed picnic basket, and his mouth firmed. “This is exactly what I meant by him causing trouble.”
“It’s not his fault. It’s their nature to chase squirrels.” Anne opened a water bottle, poured some on a napkin, and stuck it down her shirt to wipe up the stickiness.
Wyatt’s gaze went to her breasts, following her movements, and then he sucked in a breath and knelt. He picked up squashed pieces of melon and tossed them into the trash bag Anne had brought. “I told you I didn’t want to bring him today.”
Her blood pressure spiked. She grabbed the overturned plates and waved them at Wyatt. “It’s our fault for not controlling him. And for the record, it’s not me who’s freaking out this time because of botched plans. It’s you.”
Wyatt tossed more food into the bag.
Harder.
Goober chewed on his bone, his tail slowly wagging like nothing had happened. What she wouldn’t give to be a dog sometimes with a short-term memory.
Anne continued to clean up the mess, refusing to look at Wyatt. She did shoot a glance at her picnic basket, all broken apart. Her heart sank. She’d been so happy to find it. Oh well. “Why don’t we just go home? You’re in a mood, and I have plenty of work to do.”
Wyatt sat back on his heels and scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Let’s go to the water like we’d planned.”
She eyed him, not sure what to think anymore. “I guess we can.”
They rolled up the blanket and put everything back in the truck. Goober trotted along aside them like he didn’t have a care in the world. Anne couldn’t help but smile.
Wyatt shut the truck door and faced her like a big annoyed grizzly bear. “Why are you smiling at him? He just crushed your prize basket, ruined our lunch, and probably destroyed your blanket and shirt.”
Anne glanced at the pink splotch on her blouse. She raised her gaze to his and held it. “Because this really amazing guy told me that I shouldn’t get caught up in expectations and outcomes. That I shouldn’t worry about perfection and learn from experience. That I should let things go and realize it’s not the end of the world if I have to wash a shirt or buy a burger from the snack bar when my picnic lunch went to hell in a handbasket. No pun intended.”
The tension lines in Wyatt’s face smoothed. He stepped closer and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You’re right. This is a big leap for you.”
“I’m working on it.”
He lowered his head and kissed her, soft and gentle. “I’m proud of you.”
“Then don’t make it so hard. Why did this outing matter so much?”
He stiffened and pulled her closer. “No reason. My bad.”
She rested her head against his chest and let the tension ease out of her muscles. The day wasn’t lost. They just needed to chill. “How about if I go to that general store by the picnic area and get us something to eat? You stay with Goober, and I’ll be right back.”
“Okay. I’d rather keep a low profile.” He let go of her and pointed to the interior of the truck. “My wallet’s in the glove box.”
“I got this. Thanks.” She walked to the store and bought a couple of hot dogs. Not her first choice, but with slim pickings, they’d have to do.
After they ate, Wyatt tugged on Goober’s leash. “This stays on for the walk. It reaches twenty feet, so he’ll have plenty of space to roam with it on.”
Anne grinned. “The squirrels thank you.”
As they hiked through the forest, she glanced at Wyatt. He’d stopped sweating, and his face was no longer blood red. But that reminded her that he’d been interrupted earlier when he wanted to ask her something. Anxiety squeezed her lungs. He might have been about to tell her his job decision.
Goober paused to sniff a bush, and she touched Wyatt’s arm. “What was it you wanted to say to me earlier?”
Wyatt froze and then stared at the ground. His knuckles turned white on the leash handle.
Shit. That must be it. He was going to tell her he’d decided to take the USC job. “Please, whatever it is, can you spit it out? I’m imagining a lot of things.”
“Right.” He took a deep breath and faced her. “This isn’t how I wanted to—”
“Oh my God, no,” she yelled as a startled skunk sprang from a bush, sprayed Goober, and ran away.
The strong, foul odor burned her nostrils and made her eyes water. She covered her mouth and coughed. “Ew. Ew. Ew.”
“Fuck.” Wyatt shook his head and shuddered. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
Goober sneezed and blinked. Poor thing didn’t understand what had happened.
Wyatt yanked on the leash. “We better take him home and scrub him down or something.”
“Wait, let me check his eyes. I think it only got his side
, though.” Gagging, she bent down to make sure he didn’t have any spray in his eyes. “He’s good. Let’s go.”
They took off at a fast pace. No stopping to smell any bushes on this walk.
“God, my truck is gonna reek.” Wyatt huffed. “I’m going to have to get it professionally defumigated.”
“I think you mean fumigated. Defumigated isn’t—”
“Are you serious? You’re correcting my grammar at this moment?” He shot her a sidelong look.
She closed her mouth. He had a point.
He cinched the leash, and Goober stopped. “Why don’t you go ahead of us. No sense in both of us smelling this stench the whole way.”
“Good idea, thanks. I’ll look up what to clean him with when I get to the truck.”
He tossed her the keys and then covered his nose.
She hurried back to the truck and googled what to use on skunk spray. Glancing at the carpet and upholstered seats, she frowned. If Goober rode home inside, it might never smell the same again, professional fumigation or not. She snatched a couple of towels from behind the seat and rounded the truck.
Wyatt approached as she tossed them into the bed. “What are you doing with those?”
“I’m gonna ride in the back with him so he doesn’t destroy your truck. It’s not that far, and if you go slow, I can hold him so he doesn’t try to jump out.”
“I can’t ask you to do that. I’ll just take it somewhere to get the smell out.”
She shrugged. “You didn’t ask me. I offered. My aunt paid to have a car that she’d bought from a smoker professionally fumigated. The smell came back. It’s not worth chancing.”
Wyatt looked down at Goober. “Well, then you drive, and I’ll ride with him.”
“No way. This truck is huge. I’m not comfortable behind the wheel. Let’s just go already.”
Wyatt scratched his head, and finally nodded. “All right. Thanks.”
He dragged the pet steps over to the tailgate and Goober climbed them and got into the bed. Anne covered him with a towel. Probably wouldn’t be enough to keep the stink from getting on her, but better than nothing. She gripped his collar, keeping her head as far away as possible and breathing through her mouth.
“We need to stop for apple cider vinegar, dish detergent, baking soda, and rubber gloves,” she said as Wyatt passed her.
Love on the Line (Love Beyond Danger Book 3) Page 19