“You got her to eat.”
“It just took one little kiss.” She pushed up and, instantly, Lola stopped eating. Jessie stroked her head. “Come on, now. Don’t stop. Show your master what you can do.”
“I don’t think I’m her master. You are.”#p#分页标题#e#
Jessie held his gaze for a few heartbeats, until it became awkward, looking back at Lola, who was settling back on the floor. “No, no, Lola. You have to eat.” She crouched down and kissed her head again, and she started eating.
“I don’t think I’d have ever thought of that,” Garrett admitted.
She shrugged, keeping her eyes on Lola to avoid the power of his. “Some girls respond to kisses.”
“In dog kennels.”
She looked at him then, feeling a soft rush of blood. “So you remember that?”
For the first time since she mentioned she was a journalist, the hint of a smile played at the corners of his lips. “It was a hell of a game of Manhunt.”
“Look, I’m sorry,” she said under her breath, taking a step forward. “I handled this poorly, and I really apologize for messing up your morning.”
She reached the gate, but he didn’t step aside or open it for her, just looked hard at her. “It’s really your big break?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Eavesdropping is only one step higher on the ladder of bad ethics than what I did.”
“You were totally wrapped up in the dog.”
Somehow, she knew that was a compliment, and it warmed her, though it probably shouldn’t have. “You might have coughed or something.”
He tipped his head. “You might have been honest or something.”
She didn’t want to fight about it anymore. “Can you move, please?”
For a long time, way too long, he didn’t budge. Finally, he looked behind her at the dog. “You can leave Lola like that?”
“You know her secret now.” She pressed on the gate and pushed it open. “You just kiss her in the dog kennels, and she’ll do anything you want.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she put her finger over his lips, trying not to react to how soft they were and how sexy the light intake of his breath felt. “Including,” she whispered, “leave.”
Without a word, she stepped by him, held her head high, and walked out to the sunshine.
She moved briskly, forcing herself to watch the dogs scamper in the pen, picking a particularly happy brown one as her focus. If she looked there and didn’t turn toward the house, didn’t wallow in the memories, didn’t let herself remember the last time she walked down that huge Waterford driveway…
Tears stung her eyes as images she’d long ago tucked away flashed in her brain.
Mom and Stephanie in the car together—always together—impatient as she said goodbye to Molly.
Hurry up, Jessie. Our flight to New York leaves in two hours.
Their flight, their life, their companionship, their…family. And her flight? Left four hours later for Duluth, Minnesota.
It’s best for you, Jessie. You can’t stay here in Bitter Bark. You have nowhere to live. No family.
And whose fault is that, Mom?
The tears spilled as she sprinted to her car, determined to get the hell out before the first sob. She should never have come back here. Waterford Farm represented everything she’d never had. Stability. Family. Love.
She tried to drown out the thoughts in her head by listening to the constant music of barking in the air. One in particular, over and over, louder and louder, closer and closer.
She almost stumbled when the dog darted in front of her, making her reach for her car for balance.
It was Lola, barking and barking. Three sharp barks, then she’d stare. Three loud barks, and that sad, sad look.
“What are you trying to tell me, girl?” Jessie dropped to her knees, emotions whirling as she smashed her teary face against the head of the insistent dog.#p#分页标题#e#
“She’s trying to tell you to stay.”
At the sound of Garrett’s voice behind her, Jessie pressed her face harder into Lola’s neck.
“She wants you to stay.”
Jessie looked down at the worn boot and jeans inches from her. She didn’t dare speak or lift her head and give him the satisfaction of thinking he’d made her this emotional.
“And so do I.”
She had to look up then, and he flinched a little at the sight of her tears.
“I can’t,” she said. “I have to do an interview with someone. It’s really critical for my career, which is…” All I have. “Important to me.”
Lola licked Jessie’s face.