Under Her Wing

by Ronica Black

  “Why don’t you follow me?” Jayden swung open the waist-high gate. Kassandra entered and followed her across the room and back to the doors that led to the kennels, the medical room, and the warehouse. Jayden pushed through into the area that led to the medical room. She took Kassandra’s hand to walk her farther inside. When she was sure they were alone and out of sight, Jayden pulled her close.

  “I’ve got to tell you I was against this, but now—I mean seeing you—you’re breathtaking, and the whole quiet, humble thing, Jesus, you’re right on. You’re single, right?”

  Kassandra was searching her eyes and she seemed to hesitate. “Yes, I am, but—”

  Jayden grew alarmed. “Are you sure? Because I don’t do married or taken. I’m not into that.”

  “I understand, but—”

  “So you’re single?”

  Kassandra looked frustrated. “Yes, but I really don’t see—”

  “Great. And you’re an animal lover, right?”

  “Yes, but really—”

  “I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited to be moved by someone. That instant chemistry you always hear about. I was beginning to think it didn’t exist. And Mel, she really did it. How did she find you? Where did she find you? Dear God, I want to know so I can go there all the time.” She leaned in and inhaled the scent from her neck. “God, you smell good.” She felt Kassandra shudder and take in a shaky breath.

  The intensity between them was palpable. Kassandra was flushed, and Jayden could see the pulse jumping in her neck. She kept trying to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Jayden was nearly speechless herself.

  “Where have you been hiding?” Jayden said into her ear. She placed her hands on her hips and looked into her eyes. “Who are you, Kassandra? I want to know everything. Every last detail. I want to read the book of your life, from page one to infinity.” She wanted so badly to kiss her, but she wanted to take it slow, despite her immediate attraction. She took a deep breath and stepped back. First things first.

  “Dinner,” she said. “Can you meet me for dinner? I can get free after six.”

  “I—” Kassandra said. “I think there’s been some sort of mistake.”

  “No, not this time. No trouble, no drama. Not with you. Please.”

  “I’m pretty drama free,” she said, giving a sarcastic laugh.

  “Good, great.” Jayden smiled. She took her hand. “Because I would really love to get to know you.”

  Kassandra blinked quickly and gently retrieved her hand. She looked away. Jayden downshifted once again, panicked.

  “What is it?”

  “I’m a little—unsure what is happening,” Kassandra said.

  Jayden realized the problem. “It’s me. You’re not into me.” She rubbed her forehead in embarrassment. “Damn. I’m so sorry. I came on way too strong—”

  Kassandra crossed her arms over her chest and rubbed them as if she were cold. She looked equally embarrassed. “I-I’m not here for you.” She met her eyes briefly and looked away.

  “Sorry?” Was she here for Mel? Allie? What was going on?

  “I’m here for my dog.”

  “Your dog?” Jayden couldn’t think fast enough. It was like she had missed out on the last five minutes altogether. She couldn’t put the pieces where they belonged.

  “Her name is Lula. She was stuck in a drainage pipe.”

  Jayden felt as if she’d been slapped. She stepped back and willed her clenched heart to beat. “Oh, no.” She covered her mouth. “Oh God. I thought—”

  “Can I see her now, please?”

  Jayden kept staring. She heard the words, but she didn’t seem to understand them. “Sorry?”

  “My dog,” she said, her flush becoming more prominent. “I’d really like to see her.”

  Jayden heated. Her mind spun and she still couldn’t quite grasp what was real and what wasn’t. “Mel didn’t send you?”

  “I spoke to a Mel yesterday, but no, I’m not here for…you.”

  Jayden felt about two inches tall. She wanted to run, and yet she wanted to faint dead away. Anything to get out of this moment. She swallowed hard and cleared her throat.

  “Of course.” She headed toward the kennels, then halted and went for the medical room door. She was mixed up, confused, and where the hell was Mel? She wanted to pummel her. When they entered the quiet room, Jayden went straight for the little white terrier. She opened her kennel door and lifted her gently. The dog had been sleeping and she trembled a little in Jayden’s arms.

  “It’s okay,” Jayden said softly. She turned and offered her to Kassandra. “She’s been resting.”

  Kassandra gasped and took her and hugged her close. The dog perked up and wagged her tail. She assaulted Kassandra with kisses.

  Jayden smiled, her heart warmed at the reunion. She still felt awkward and ashamed. “She’s very sweet,” she said, knowing she couldn’t say anything to make her forget what had happened.

  Kassandra spoke softly to her dog, kissing her and stroking her short fur. Tears streamed down her face. “Thank you,” she finally said.

  “It was our pleasure.” Jayden nearly hit herself. Could she sound any sleazier? Should she say anything at all or would it all sound like she was coming on to her? Where was Mel? She was going to kill her. Always asking eligible women to stop by the shelter to flirt with her. It had gone too far, and now she’d made a complete ass out of herself.

  “Is she okay?” Kassandra asked, doing her best to look her over.

  Jayden nodded. “She was scared and dehydrated, but that was the extent of it.” Jayden didn’t tell her that she was the one who had crawled in the pipe to get her. She didn’t tell her that she’d spent hours with her at the medical clinic soothing her, making sure she was okay. She didn’t tell her that she’d bathed her and then let her sleep with her in her own bed to help ease her fear. None of that mattered now. All that mattered was that Lula was okay and back in the loving arms of her owner.

  Kassandra hugged Lula closely and looked back to Jayden. “What do I owe you?”

  Jayden was surprised at the question. She’d rescued many dogs, and unfortunately, she didn’t see many get reunited with their loving owners. Seeing that alone was priceless. “Not a thing. We’re good.”

  “Well, I insist on making a donation to your shelter. Will you take a personal check?”

  Jayden saw the look in her eyes. She wasn’t going to take a polite no for an answer. And Jayden wasn’t about to argue with her.

  “That’s really nice of you. And very much appreciated.”

  “It’s the least I can do. You have no idea what she means to me.”

  Jayden understood all too well. “I’m just glad we could help.”

  Kassandra looked at her briefly, as if searching her for authenticity. She glanced away before Jayden could tell if she thought she’d found it.

  Voices came from beyond the med room door, and when it opened, two teen staff members entered all smiles.

  “Ms. H.!” Gus said, throwing out his arms for an embrace.

  “I knew it was you,” Billy said as he joined in on the hug. “I saw you in the parking lot and I said that looks just like Ms. Haden.”

  “He did,” said Gus. “He came running up to me in the kennels like, yo, Ms. H. is here. And I was like, what? And he was like, yeah, man, I’m serious. So I had to come see for myself.”

  Kassandra appeared to be overwhelmed. She smiled broadly and looked from boy to boy, wiping a tear from her eye.

  “This is such a crazy day,” she said, laughing softly.

  Jayden once again felt ashamed at her behavior. But she swallowed back her embarrassment and watched the interaction.

  “You guys got so tall,” Kassandra said, wiping away another tear.

  Jayden’s curiosity was piqued. Was Kassandra a teacher? She must be a good one to have impressed her boys. They were hard in ways other kids weren’t. They’d had tough lives, and many had the emotional and physica
l scars to prove it.

  “You all know each other?” Jayden asked, her curiosity getting the best of her. Just who was Kassandra Haden?

  The boys turned and Gus spoke. “She’s only like the best teacher ever.”

  “We had her in middle school,” Billy said. “Man, I hated that school. You were the only reason I kept going.”

  Kassandra’s blush reached her cheeks, and she reached out and squeezed his arm. “You two are certainly missed,” she said. “Please tell me you’re still going to school.”

  “They are,” Jayden said. “They can’t work here unless they are enrolled and keep at least a C average.”

  Gus waved her off. “Those are Beaumont’s rules. Worse than the school.”

  “What was that, Gus?” Jayden said playfully.

  “Beaumont keeps us out of trouble,” Billy said. “And out of juvie.”

  “Oh,” Kassandra said. “So you work here for her?”

  “Yeah,” Gus said. “She cool most of the time.”

  Jayden laughed. “Keep talking, Gus, and you’ll be back on dog detail.”

  “See what I mean? She threatening me with dog shit now. Anytime I get out of line, she makes me clean up dog shit.”

  Kassandra laughed a little. “Does it work?”

  Jayden slapped him on the back. “It absolutely works.” She pushed open the door and allowed Kassandra to exit first. Then they crossed to the front office. The boys followed, talking eagerly to their former teacher. Jayden had to admit she was impressed. Kassandra obviously had had an impact on the boys. But mostly, she was still reeling from the impact Kassandra had had on her. No one else had ever moved her like Kassandra. And she’d even made a complete fool of herself over her. Just who was she? And more importantly, how could she make things better and get to know her?

  Chapter Five

  Kassandra listened to the boys chatter about their lives, about school, and about the shelter. She was a little overwhelmed at all the attention, but she was extremely happy to see them again. She sat in the chair Jayden Beaumont offered her across from her desk. Kassandra smiled politely at her, but she averted her eyes quickly, too afraid she would see the fire in her that she’d seen earlier. Too afraid that fire would ignite something in her.

  The things Jayden had said, the way she had leaned into her, breathed on her, and whispered in her ear. It had stirred things in her. Things she didn’t know she had, much less that needed stirring. Gooseflesh broke out on her arms again and she hugged Lula close, hoping no one would notice. Could Jayden really be interested in her? Or was it some sort of game she was playing with Mel? Kassandra didn’t know, but one thing was for certain. She didn’t want to be the pawn in anyone’s game, no matter how much their presence had stirred her.

  “Ms. H, Brandon works here, too,” Billy said.

  “Really?” She hadn’t seen him in years either. “That’s great. How’s he doing?”

  Billy shrugged. “He’s okay. Got busted for B&E a while back, but Beaumont saved his ass.”

  Jayden cleared her throat. “Language.”

  “Sorry,” Billy said. “I still cuss. Can’t help it.”

  “Billy, why don’t you get Ms. Haden the information on microchipping?”

  Kassandra straightened. “Yes, please do. Lula needs it.”

  Jayden leaned forward to type on her computer. “It’s twenty-five if we do it here. The vet will charge you more.”

  “Okay, let’s go ahead and do it.”

  Jayden handed over a leash for Lula and a clipboard with a form for her to fill out.

  Kassandra clipped on the leash, placed Lula on the floor, and filled out the form. Billy returned with a folder full of information on the microchipping. Kassandra read it over as Jayden entered her info into the computer.

  “You’ve really made an impression on these boys,” Jayden said as she typed.

  Kassandra met her gaze but only briefly. “They mean a lot to me.”

  “And you to them. Are you a teacher?”

  Kassandra pressed her lips together. Jayden was making a gentle attempt to get to know her. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. “I’m a librarian.”

  “Oh.” Jayden looked at her. “That sounds like a nice, peaceful job.”

  “Sometimes. Honestly, sometimes it’s a little too quiet.”

  “I can’t imagine these guys being quiet.”

  “They weren’t. They kept me company, though.”

  Jayden looked thoughtful. “I can remember middle school. I was a complete hellion at that age.” She smiled and then refocused on the computer.

  Kassandra sat quietly, scratching behind Lula’s ears. She thought again of Jayden in the warehouse. The things she’d said and the way she’d said them. No one had ever spoken to her like that before. Not even her ex-husband. And he certainly hadn’t stirred her like that. Like a flamethrower had gone off just beneath her skin and even beneath her center. She still felt it now, like some sort of throbbing.

  She cleared her throat, worried that Jayden could somehow read her thoughts.

  She crossed her legs, but it only made the throbbing worse. Jayden pushed an errant strand of dark hair from her piercing gray eyes, and Kassandra reacted to it involuntarily. Her breath caught, and she found herself staring at her long, lean fingers. They were tanned from outdoor work, and she wondered what they felt like when they lightly caressed skin.

  “Ms. Haden?”

  Kassandra blinked and then warmed. Jayden had been speaking to her. “Yes?”

  “Billy’s going to take her back now. For the microchip.”

  “Oh, right.” She handed Billy the leash and watched as he knelt and scooped her up gently.

  “It won’t take long.”

  Kassandra dug in her small purse for her checkbook. “Do you have a pen?”

  Jayden handed her one. Kassandra filled out the check, tore it off, and slid it across the desk. Jayden eyed it and looked at her. “This is really nice of you.”

  Kassandra held up a hand. “Just please take it. You took care of my dog, and for that I can’t thank you enough.”

  “She freaking rescued her, Ms. H.,” Gus said, sitting down next to her. “Beaumont is a badass.” He looked to Jayden, who gave him a look. “Sorry. But she like really crawled in and rescued her. I was there with Mel, and even I wouldn’t go in that pipe.”

  Kassandra looked from Gus to Jayden. “Is that true?” Had Jayden been the one to save Lula?

  “Hell yes, it’s true,” Gus said. “Your dog’s like stuck in this pipe, right? The sun is setting and we can’t see. And we can’t figure out why she isn’t coming out on her own. So Beaumont, who doesn’t wait for the fire department to cut the pipe, says she’ll go in. She takes a flashlight and crawls in this tiny space. And it’s like muddy and gross and stuff, and she gets in there and she can just barely reach her, right? But she sees that your dog’s tag is stuck in this little hole, so she can’t move. So Beaumont takes off her collar and backs out with your dog. All like superwoman and shit.”

  Kassandra stared at him, astonished. She could feel the pulse jump in her neck. She knew she had to look at Jayden, but she didn’t want to. She was afraid every emotion she was having would be written all over her face.

  “He exaggerates,” Jayden said, breaking the silence.

  “Like hell I do.” Gus looked at Kassandra. “She saved your dog, Ms. H. She saves dogs all the time.”

  Kassandra looked at Jayden and tried to say thank you. But her voice caved and she had to clear her throat. “Thank you,” she finally managed to say.

  Jayden’s gaze seemed to penetrate right through her. “You’re welcome.”

  Kassandra looked away. Her heart raced and she tried to clear her mind of Jayden’s full lips and how she could recall that they’d been inches from her own.

  “You know what, Ms. H.?” Gus said. “You should totally volunteer here.”

  Kassandra jerked her head up. “What?”

&n
bsp; “You should. I mean, you love dogs and we love dogs, and Beaumont always needs good volunteers. That way I can see you.”

  Kassandra rubbed her sweaty palms on her shorts. “I don’t know, Gus.” It was difficult enough being around Jayden after what had happened, but now that she knew she’d single-handedly saved her dog, she wondered how much more intense her feelings could get.

  “It’s true,” Jayden said. “I could use another good volunteer. Not just with the dogs, but to help with the teens too.”

  Kassandra shook her head. She couldn’t. No way. Not with Jayden and the way she was feeling. It was too intense and too confusing. What the hell did it mean? Why was it happening?

  “I don’t know.”

  Gus placed a hand on her shoulder. “Please? Billy and me, we’ll be the best teen staff here. And we’ll show you the ropes and help you out.”

  Kassandra didn’t say anything; she just squeezed his hand.

  “Well, promise us you will at least think about it,” Jayden said.

  Billy returned with Lula, and Kassandra held her close. She inhaled the shampoo smell of her fur and closed her eyes for a moment. Right now, she just needed to get out of there. She needed to go home with Lula and put things back together. Then and only then would she tackle Jayden Beaumont.

  “I’ll think about it,” she said, rising to leave. She gave the boys both hugs good-bye and she politely waved to Jayden. She thanked her again and headed for the door. When she stepped through, she took a deep breath and tried to relax. But the heat did little to relax her. She climbed in her car, cranked the air, and sat for a moment. She looked to Lula, who was in the back. Soon the laughter turned to tears, and she found that funny, so she laughed some more. She was having a complete emotional breakdown in her car.

  “I’m going crazy, Lula. I’m going insane.”

  She wiped her eyes and put her car in reverse. And as she pulled out of the parking lot, she heard Jayden’s Beaumont’s voice in her mind.

  I want to read the book of your life. From page one to infinity.

  Chapter Six

  “So tell me again what happened? Somehow I screwed you?” Mel asked, taking a sip of her beer.