by Ronica Black
“Mel,” she said, turning to stroke Cooper. “What is it?” Mel had been out approving the last family to adopt. Jayden trusted her completely.
“I just got a call from a hysterical woman. Her home was broken into and the dog got out. Little terrier mix. She can’t find her, and apparently the dog is a rescue and still afraid of strangers.”
Jayden leaned forward, alert. “She near the desert?” She immediately thought of coyotes.
“Mainly homes and a large golf course. We haven’t had any calls about a lost white terrier, have we?”
Jayden looked up at the intake board. Only one new one brought in so far today. A German shepherd mix.
“No, we haven’t.”
“I really feel for this lady. Can you keep your ears to the ground for me?”
“Sure. Make sure she calls other rescues as well.”
Jayden ended the call and looked to Cooper. She wished she could help the woman and every dog who needed it, but she could only do so much. It pained her to acknowledge that, and she still had a hard time living by that rule. Working long into the night and going on early morning calls was her mantra. But from time to time she had to slow down and rest. Mel and the others insisted on it, sometimes hiding her car keys so she’d have to stay at home rather than go out on call after call.
“Hey, Allie. Keep your eyes open for a little white terrier mix. She’s lost and someone may call about her.”
“She microchipped?”
“I don’t know. But Mel knows the lady. I guess her home was broken into today and the dog got out.”
Allie looked crestfallen. “That’s terrible.”
Jayden nodded. “Yes, it is.” She couldn’t imagine coming home to find her dogs gone and her place ransacked. How awful.
Jayden took a moment to thank her lucky stars for all she had. She had her shelter, her rescues, her own adopted dogs, her home, which sat on the same property as her kennel, and her friends. Life was good. But as she knew from dealing with rescues, it wasn’t always good for others.
Allie’s phone rang and Jayden’s ears piqued. It was a rescue call. Her heart rate kicked up just as it always did when they got a call. She never knew what she was going to find or who was involved. Allie hung up and crossed the room to Jayden. The look on her face was stoic, and Jayden always hated that she couldn’t read her. But Allie was strong and always remained calm. It’s what helped keep the place going.
“Is it bad?” Jayden asked.
“Brad wasn’t able to go into too much detail. He just said there’s a dog stuck in a drainage pipe out near Sun City. He’s waiting on you before he calls the fire department. You better hurry.”
Jayden stood and grabbed her keys. She slid on her cell phone and grabbed two bottles of water from the mini fridge behind her desk.
“Did Brad say if the dog was hurt?”
“He can’t tell.” Brad was a good friend from the Emergency Animal Rescue. He sometimes gave Jayden the heads-up on dogs needing help. Allie handed her the paper with the address.
“Will you take Cooper?” Jayden gave her his leash. “And if the news lady calls back, tell her we’re interested. I’ll get back to her as soon as I can.”
Jayden hurried across the office to the double doors. She pushed out into the waning sun and headed for her truck.
Another dog was in trouble.
It was time to go to work.
Chapter Three
“Here, have some wine, sweetie.”
Kassandra took the wineglass from her friend Wendy with a trembling hand. She sipped it cautiously at first but then took a few good swallows. She was at Wendy and Katelynn’s house, having packed up a few of her things from her home to stay a few nights. She was a wreck, and her two dear friends were trying their best to comfort her.
“We’ll put up more flyers first thing in the morning,” Katelynn said, sliding over the hummus and veggies on the coffee table.
Kassandra eyed the food with distaste. She couldn’t eat a bite. Her mind kept going to Lula. Where was she? What was happening to her? It was torturous.
“I just can’t stop thinking about her.”
Wendy scooted closer to her on the couch and took her hand. “I know, I know. You’ve had a very traumatic day. I think you’re in a bit of shock, to be honest.” Her blue eyes shined and Katelynn joined them, hugging Wendy from behind. They were an adorable couple and Kassandra’s closest friends. The only ones who could get her out of the house.
“Someone will find her, Kassie. Someone good.”
Kassandra dabbed her eyes. “Her tag, the phone number looks worn. I bet they can’t read it.”
“I’m sure it’s fine, honey.” Wendy patted her hand. “Try to think positively.”
“I know what you need,” Katelynn said. “Some more wine and a good movie. How about your favorite?”
Kassandra couldn’t. Not even Love Actually could cheer her up tonight. “I think I’m just going to go to bed.”
Wendy looked at the clock. Kassandra knew it was early. But she just needed to lie down and breathe.
“Don’t you want to wait up to see if anyone calls?” Wendy asked.
Kassandra thumbed the screen on her phone. Nothing. Her stomach sank. She couldn’t bear to see the bare screen anymore. It was driving her mad.
She slid it over to Wendy. “Wake me if someone calls.”
“You know you’re welcome here for as long as you need,” Katelynn said softly. “So don’t worry about that.”
Kassandra nodded. She rose and crossed to the hallway. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light and she entered the bedroom in the near darkness. She sat on the bed and removed her shoes. She thought of her home and how it had looked like a hurricane had gone through it. The burglar had taken her laptop, her stereo, and some jewelry. He’d also made off with some priceless family heirlooms.
She sighed and ran her hands through her hair. She glanced back at the bed and wished that she had someone in her life. She thought of how nice it would be to curl up in someone’s arms right then and drift off to sleep. More than anything, she just needed someone to tell her it was going to be okay.
Wendy and Katelynn had that. They had a wonderful marriage. Fourteen years strong. They were always trying to get her to date, but she just didn’t want to let anyone in. People made promises they couldn’t keep. Said things they didn’t mean. She’d been through all that before with her father, and she just wasn’t strong enough to go through any more of it.
She lay back and stared at the ceiling. She didn’t need people. Not when she had Lula.
She closed her eyes as tears ran down her cheeks. She’d had such a range of emotions surge through her the past few hours that now her body was limp with fatigue and her mind cloudy with fog. She calmed her breathing and allowed her troubled mind to shut down. It didn’t take long before she was fast asleep.
*****
“Kassie, Kassie, wake up.”
Kassandra opened her eyes to find Wendy leaning over her, hand on her shoulder. Kassandra’s eyes drifted closed again and the events of the day before seeped into her mind. She bolted upright.
“What is it? Did someone call? Is she okay?”
Wendy sat next to her on the bed. She took her hand and spoke softly. “A cop called. The one investigating your break-in. He wants you to call him back. And a shelter called. They think they have Lula.”
“Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” She palmed her chest and stood, so grateful she thought she might faint. Lula. She was found.
Wendy held fast to her hand. “Kassie, that’s not all.”
“What do you mean?” Just as soon as her heart had soared to the ceiling, it now plummeted to the floor with fear. “She’s okay, isn’t she?”
Wendy nodded. “She is, but she’s been through a lot.”
“What does that mean?”
“She was found in a drainage pipe. They don’t know how long she was in there. It took a while to get her out.”
>
“Please, just tell me she’s okay.” She wiped angrily at a tear.
“They took her to an emergency clinic where she spent the night. She’s unharmed, but she was very weak and dehydrated.”
Kassandra began searching for her clothes. “I have to go. I have to go get her.”
Wendy stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Kassie, they said she’s okay. A shelter took her in because they had your contact information. She’s resting comfortably there. Why don’t you at least take a shower and have some breakfast? You didn’t eat last night and—”
Kassandra lifted her suitcase onto the bed. Her heart still fluttered even though she knew Lula was okay and safe. “She must be so afraid.”
“Kassie, please listen. We’re a little worried about you.” Wendy squeezed her hand.
Kassandra looked at her and stopped pulling out clothes. She let out a long, shaky breath. “I’ll take a shower, maybe have some toast.”
Wendy smiled. “Thank you. I’ll get breakfast ready and then I’ll get ready to go with you.”
“I can go alone,” Kassandra said. Wendy and Katelynn had already done so much for her. And besides, she knew she’d probably lose it when she saw Lula. She wanted to do that alone.
“Are you sure?”
Kassandra nodded. “I am. I’m used to, you know, being alone.”
Wendy was silent for a moment. “You know, you’re not alone, Kassie. Katelynn and I, we’re here for you. We can be with you today too. Just say the word.”
“I know, and I can’t thank you enough. I just—I need to do this alone. And I need to take Lula home and get things in order.”
Wendy offered another soft smile. “Okay. But I’m at least going to make you breakfast.”
She walked through the doorway, leaving Kassandra alone to shower and get ready. Kassandra took her clothes and toiletries to the bathroom, where she quickly showered and dressed. Then she zipped up her suitcase and headed for the living room.
“I made you toast and eggs,” Wendy said, setting a plate on the table in the cozy kitchen nook. Katelynn swept into the room, satin bathrobe swaying behind her as she moved.
“Good morning, loves,” she said, giving Kassandra a gentle squeeze and Wendy a lingering kiss. “Did you get the good news, Kassie?” She smiled broadly and came to sit across from her.
“I did,” Kassandra bit into her toast.
“Thank God, right?” She reached for her hand and patted it with excitement. Her brown eyes were deep and soulful and her thick auburn hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail. “I told you good people would find her.” She sipped her coffee. “So when can we go get her?”
“Actually,” Wendy said as she brought two more plates to join them, “Kassie wants to go alone.”
Katelynn looked a little surprised. “Oh, okay. But you’re bringing her back here, right?”
Kassandra finished chewing. Wendy was silently eating, but Katelynn was looking at her with concern.
“I think I should take her home, to where she’s familiar. I have to start putting things back together sometime.”
“Well, we can come help. We’ll have it done in no time. Good as new. And I’ve got that number for you, you know, the guy with the security company?”
Kassandra took a drink of her juice. She felt bad, knowing her friends just wanted to help. But she had to pull back now. Back into herself. It was the way she survived.
“Thank you, Katelynn, for offering, but I need to do it alone. Now that I know Lula is okay, I just need to go home and regroup. Get things settled.”
Katelynn lowered her eyes and then looked to Wendy. “We understand.”
“We just worry, Kassie. You won’t let anyone in—”
“I let you guys in. All the time.” She did; she loved them, trusted them.
“Only so far,” Katelynn said. “Then you pull back again. Like now.”
“You don’t have to be alone, sweetie,” Wendy said. “We mean that.”
“I know, but—”
“Why won’t you date?” Katelynn asked. “Remember that guy Brian? He’s really nice and cute and—”
“I’m just not interested.”
“Why?”
“Because—” She stopped. What was her reason? Did she have one?
Katelynn and Wendy were watching her, their hands entwined.
“Because I just don’t want to.” That should be reason enough.
“Will you at least give him a chance?” Katelynn asked. “Meet us for happy hour? It won’t be a date, just a group of friends meeting for drinks.”
“I don’t know.” She pushed away her food and wiped her mouth. “I really should get going.”
Katelynn and Wendy stood. Katelynn came around the table and hugged her. “Aw, shit, honey, I didn’t mean to scare you away. I just want so badly for you to let someone in. If not us, someone else. Someone who you’ll let love you. Because you deserve love so much.”
Wendy embraced her too, a double dose of hugging. “We love you,” Wendy said.
“I love you, too.” Kassandra pulled away and tried to smile. But on the inside she felt panic, like they were trying to trap her. She didn’t want to date Brian or anyone else. She didn’t want to let anyone in. Her reasons were her own.
She crossed to the living room, suitcase in hand. “I’ll call you,” she said. “And thank you. For yesterday.”
“You better call us,” Wendy said, handing over the information on the shelter and another name and number. “Let us know how the two of you are doing.” She wrapped an arm around Katelynn’s waist. “And don’t forget to call that policeman. Officer Paul Jensen. He needs to ask you some more questions.”
“I will.” She gave them another smile and turned to walk out the door.
Chapter Four
“I’m telling you, Beaumont, you shouldn’t have blown her off. She was really into you,” Mel said as they both carried in large bags of dog food. Jayden set hers on the storage shelves in the back of the warehouse. She wiped her brow and knelt to organize the cans of food next to the dry food.
“I didn’t blow her off. I just—”
“Did absolutely nothing.”
Jayden laughed. “Well, to be honest, I kind of forgot she was there.” Despite the AC being on next door in the kennels, the air was stifling in the warehouse. “I hate how hot it gets in here. We need circulation or something.” Cooling the kennel in the Arizona summer heat was costly, so they kept the inside kennel temp between seventy-eight and eighty degrees with floor fans added for extra circulation. People from out of town often thought it was too hot until they walked indoors from a hundred and seventeen degrees. Then eighty degrees felt nice. Really nice with the fans. But to cool the warehouse would cost a small fortune. “What about some large floor fans for in here?”
“Don’t change the subject.” Mel unloaded the last bag and pulled down the door to the truck. She pounded on the side, letting the driver know he could leave. “Besides, it always gets hot when we open the big doors.”
Mel knelt alongside her and grabbed cans to place on the shelves. “Seriously, why did you blow her off? I put weeks in trying to get this woman for you.”
“That’s just it, Mel, I don’t need you to get a woman for me. I do fine on my own.” She looked her in the eye, but she knew she wasn’t buying it.
“Yeah, you do fine all right. You can have anyone you want, yet lately there doesn’t seem to be anybody good enough.”
“Oh, ouch,” Jayden said. “Now you’re making me out to be a snob.”
“Hey, if the shoe fits.”
“I happen to want something serious this time around. Someone with substance. Someone who hasn’t slept with more than half the lesbians in town.”
“Since when?”
Jayden finished and stood, running her hands through her thick, short hair. “Since now.”
“So there’s no chance you’ll go out with her again?”
“Wit
h who? Her? No. And I don’t need you fixing me up anymore.”
Mel stood alongside her and they walked through the doors to the front office. “Uh, yeah, about that. It might be a little too late.”
Jayden turned as she entered. “What do you mean?”
Mel’s face drained of color as if she’d been caught cheating on a test.
“Jayden?” Allie called from the front counter.
“Yes?” Jayden crossed the room to stand next to her.
“Jayden, this is Kassandra Haden.”
Jayden followed Allie’s gaze, eager to see what was going on. The office was busy with more than a handful of people talking with her staff members. A blond woman stepped into her line of sight in the bright sunlight, and Jayden felt her breath catch. Their eyes locked and Jayden forgot to speak, too taken with her quiet beauty.
“Jayden?” Allie nudged her.
“Sorry?” Jayden couldn’t look away. She was being drawn into her, inescapably so.
“She’s here about—”
And suddenly Jayden knew. She tore her eyes away to look back at Mel, who had somehow disappeared.
“I think I know what this is about.” The woman was too beautiful, too perfect. Boy, Mel had really gone out of her way this time.
“I’m Kassandra,” the woman said, outstretching her hand.
Jayden gave her a crooked smile and took her hand softly. It was soft, warm. Yet the woman had a nice firm grip. Jayden studied her stylish short haircut, her lovely rose-colored lips, and her skin…so smooth and supple looking. Olive in tone with a bit of a shimmer like she’d just applied a creamy lotion.
