One Day in Apple Grove(45)

Joe stared at him but didn’t say anything, while Caitlin called Jamie and damned if the little pup didn’t just trot right over to her and sit, offering his front paw and the now-mangled pair of boxers.

She tossed them to Jack who had to snag them midair before Jamie got another chance to grab them again. “That’s the third pair this week.”

“Don’t you have a hamper?” Joe asked.

“Yeah, but it doesn’t have a padlock on it, and as soon as I get home and grab a shower, he’s in the bathroom with me, pouncing on the damned thing.”

Cait cleared her throat when she realized her father was frowning. “We can wait here with Jamie while you get dressed.”

He felt his face go hot and cursed the fact that, with his pale Irish skin, he was prone to flushing when angry or embarrassed. “Thanks. Be right back.”

He wondered why Cait had decided to bring her father by. If she’d have warned him, he might have shown up wearing more than a towel. Then again, he had thought about ditching the towel because he was expecting Cait, thinking maybe it would help them get past the hesitation they were both feeling. Good thing he hadn’t!

That had him smiling for a moment, but then he realized he’d forgotten about the mass of scars on his left leg…something that never happened before. Caitlin Mulcahy messed with his mind like no other woman. Had she seen? Had Joe? Did it really matter?

By the time he was dressed, he could hear playful growls coming from the kitchen. When he walked in, Joe had one end of Jamie’s rope toy and the puppy had the other, tugging and growling with abandon.

“Thanks for distracting him. He’ll live to see another day.”

Cait walked over and poked him in the middle of his chest, a worried look on her face. “That’s nothing to joke about,” she told him. “If not for us, he might not be here right now.”

“True,” Jack said. “I was just joking. If you’ve never raised a puppy, you might not understand.”

Joe grinned. “There was this coonhound that we had when I was really little, my dad always swore that dog was one beating away from that big hunting ground in the sky.”

Too late, Jack noticed that the worry on Cait’s face morphed into fear. She really didn’t understand. “Your dad’s joking.”

“Oh.” She glanced at her dad, who nodded to reassure her. “OK.”

Jack looked down at Jamie, who was as low as he could go in order to brace himself and pull against Joe, and then up at Cait’s dad, who had a shit-eating grin on his face. It hit him then that Joe needed a dog as badly as Cait did. Too bad Grace was allergic to dogs. With Joe being retired, Jamie could keep him company and ride shotgun all around town in Joe’s truck. Because he could see it, he almost asked, but then something held him back.

Jamie must have just noticed that Jack had come back in the room. He gave a happy bark and jumped up, trying to lick Jack’s face. “Kiss up,” he said, ruffling the dog’s fur. “Down, boy.”

“We’re working on manners,” Cait told her dad.

“You’ve got a ways to go,” Joe told them. “But he’s young yet.”

“Yeah, but he’s a great dog…despite the fact that he has these bad habits of tackling people and tearing apart my laundry.”

Cait’s laugh had him staring at her. When their gazes met, he couldn’t help but wonder if she was as distracted as he was remembering their last kiss and the power of the lure between them. If her father wasn’t here, he would have taken her in his arms and feasted on that tempting mouth of hers. He sighed. He’d have to be patient.

Joe said, “I’ve got to head on home or Gracie will be on my case. She’s cooking dinner tonight.”

“Oh.” Cait’s smile faltered and she said to Jack, “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Jack tried not to let his disappointment show, but it was work.

“Tell you what,” her dad said, looking from Cait to Jack and back again. “Why don’t you stay here since you two obviously want to spend more time…with the puppy.”

Jack gave the man extra points for saying that with a straight face. “Thanks.”

“Are you sure?” Cait asked.

“See you later.” He opened the back door. “I’m sure Jack won’t mind giving you a ride home. Will you, Jack?”

Jack caught the look that seemed to be both a warning and a blessing. “Not at all.”

Her dad pet Jamie and was gone.

Once they heard the truck start up, he told her, “Your dad’s a great guy.”

“He really likes you, Jack.”