That’s what she’d heard, too. They hadn’t seen much of each other in the two weeks since Sheridan’s famous rescue. With Sheridan recovered and back to his old self, there’d been no need for her to stay at the cabin any longer—fortuitous, considering how awkward things had been after they’d slept together. In the commotion of getting the Tyler boy to safety, she’d quietly peeled off and gotten a ride back to the cabin, packed her things and left Mike a brief, breezy note. Since that day, he and Sheridan had been swept up in the media coverage Rachel and the U.S. Army had arranged while Sheridan completed his refresher course at the training center. In addition to the joyous outcome for the Tyler family, Lacey was happy for Mike that Sheridan had recovered, and for all the attention the coverage of the search would bring to SAR dog programs.
Rachel angled her head. “I heard through the grapevine that the two of you were…close.”
Lacey managed a nonchalant expression. “His dog was having some behavioral issues. He hired me to work with Sheridan.”
The couple of times she’d bumped into Mike at the diner, she’d been cheerful and offhand, but left with her stomach churning and her heart bruised. She only had herself to blame, though—Mike Nichols hadn’t made her any promises. She’d known he was only passing through when she’d laid her heart open.
“He’s really cute,” Rachel offered, arching a perfect eyebrow.
“Yes,” Lacey said, then smiled. “Sheridan is a beautiful dog.”
Her entire life, she’d promised herself she wouldn’t fall for a guy who would leave her, and she’d done exactly that. Shame on me.
Rachel pouted. “Well, I can see I’m going to get no details out of you. But I don’t mind saying I’m glad you didn’t fall in love with an outsider and leave Sweetness. I have big plans for this town, you know.”
Lacey nodded. “Thanks again for your business.” She leaned over to rub the sweet-faced pug. “Bye, Nigel.”
“Have a great day,” Rachel said, then walked out on impossibly high heels.
“I will,” Lacey murmured to herself, somewhat unconvincingly. She tried to tell herself her life was no better and no worse than it had been before she met Mike Nichols—she had good friends, she loved this town and her business was thriving. And thanks to Mike, she now had those two new hydraulic grooming tables she’d coveted.
But she was still beset with a sense of loss that felt like a stone in her chest and weighed her down as she moved through her day. Scarily, she realized she was acting the same way her mother had behaved when her father had left, and she didn’t want to be near that place.
So that was why she was glad he was leaving today. It would be easier to put him out of her mind when she knew he was far away.
The bell on the door chimed. When she looked up, the man who had consumed her thoughts the past couple of weeks was standing there, with Sheridan. The black Lab held the pink stuffed bone in his mouth, but otherwise looked like a very different dog, with his head and tail high, his eyes shining and alert.
“Hi,” Mike offered, his expression unreadable. He was imposing, dressed in Army fatigues stuffed down into boots, and a faded T-shirt that hugged his powerful arms.
Arms that had held her so adeptly.
“Hello,” she managed to push through her constricted throat, and conjured up a smile.
“We came to say goodbye.”
Her heart pinged…the word sounded so final. “I’m glad you did,” she said brightly, then came around the counter to greet Sheridan.
“Sheridan, drop it,” Mike said.
The dog opened its mouth and dropped the pink stuffed bone into her hand.
“Will you return it to its rightful owner?” Mike asked.
Lacey nodded and swallowed past the lump in her throat, then scratched Sheridan’s neck. “How was his training?”
“He was top of the class,” Mike said proudly.
“That’s wonderful,” she said, and meant it.
“Thank you for everything.” Mike shifted. “Because of you, Sheridan and I can both return to service.”
A cruel irony. “I think you’re giving me too much credit. But you’re welcome. I’ll be watching for you both in the news.”
He put his hand in his pocket and looked as if he wanted to say something, then shook his head, as if he’d changed his mind. “Good luck to you, Lacey.”
“Thank you,” she said politely, when inside she was falling apart. Just go…get in your SUV and leave Sweetness. There’s obviously nothing to hold you here.
As if he’d read her mind, he turned and unceremoniously walked out of the store. Lacey watched him and Sheridan until they were out of sight.
Then she couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.
*
Mike’s booted feet grew heavier with each step he took away from Lacey. Since the night of the search when he’d realized she was gone, he’d told himself it was for the best, that these feelings for her hitting his heart like shrapnel would pass when he was no longer confronted each day by her sunny smile and tantalizing body.
They hadn’t…at least not while he knew she was just across town and he might run into her at the diner or during any of the other pathetic excuses he’d made to be in town in between Sheridan’s training classes at the center.
Leaving was the right thing to do. He’d fill out his reenlistment orders when he returned to Fort Benning, and he and Sheridan would go on like before.
Together…alone.
He looked down at his dog, who kept stopping to glance back over his shoulder.
“Get over it,” Mike said. “We’re not the settling-down types, you and I. Besides, she said herself she was a loner—you heard that, right?”
Sheridan barked his agreement.
Mike put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the handkerchief he’d found under Lacey’s pillow after he’d returned to the cabin alone. The dainty square of paper-thin cotton still caused his stomach to clench, knowing he’d driven the woman to tears. He’d gone to the shop to give it back to her, but at the last minute, he’d decided doing so might embarrass her.
And, he conceded deep down, he didn’t mind having a reminder of her…for a while.
The next thing he knew, Sheridan had grabbed the handkerchief from his hand and was bounding back toward the grooming shop. Mike was so startled he lost his grip on the leash.
“Sheridan, stop!” he called, but either the dog didn’t hear him, or was choosing to ignore him. Mike had no choice but to go after him, and by the time he caught up to him, Sheridan was pawing at the door of Here Comes the Groom.
While his mind raced for something clever to say to Lacey, she opened the door and he was surprised to see she’d been crying. Alarm barbed through his chest…then hope trickled in.
Was it possible she didn’t want him to go?
“I, uh, forgot to give you your handkerchief,” he said, gesturing to Sheridan’s mouth.
“Perfect timing,” she said, dabbing at her eyes. “Darned allergies.”
Allergies…or tears? He realized he’d never know unless he put it all on the line. “I don’t want to leave,” he blurted.
Her luminous green eyes widened. “What?”
“I don’t want to leave…you,” he amended.
Her mouth opened and in the next few seconds of silence, he died a thousand deaths.
“I don’t want you to leave either,” she whispered.
He reached for her and she came to him in a great collision of a kiss. He claimed her mouth, her breath, and felt the same fierce happiness in her embrace that he was suffering from. His heart turned over in his chest. This was the woman to build his life with.
“Hold on tight,” Mike whispered in Lacey’s ear. “Because we’re here to stay.”
Sheridan barked his enthusiastic agreement, then lay down at their feet.
*
Fall in love with the town—and men—of Sweetness, Georgia, in Stephanie Bond’s Southern Roads se
ries. Other titles available wherever ebooks are sold!
Baby, I’m Yours
Baby, Drive South
Baby, Come Home
Baby, Don’t Go
…plus many more titles by Stephanie Bond
available in ebook format!
*
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ISBN: 978-14268-4766-0
Baby, Hold On
Copyright © 2012 by Stephanie Bond, Inc.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Baby, Hold On Page 8
