Dare to Stay (Puppy Love Romances Book 3)

by Georgia Beers

  “Did you two…you know…?” The idea of it didn’t sit well with Jessica, if the look on her face was any indication.

  “No,” Sydney said adamantly. “I swear to you. No. I haven’t even kissed her since…”

  “Since that first time in the bar?”

  “Since only that time in the bar, before I knew she had anything whatsoever to do with Junebug Farms. Yes.” Being honest felt good and Sydney took a step toward Jessica. “I am really sorry about this,” she said quietly, reaching out to toy with the ends of Jessica’s hair. “I knew she had a thing for me and I should’ve been really clear that I didn’t feel the same way.”

  “Yeah, well, now I have a thing for you. Have for a while now.”

  “Yeah? Good, because I’ve got a thing for you, too.”

  “Thank God. You’re a little slow, you know.”

  Sydney laughed outright. “Really? Because it’s not like your signals are glaringly obvious. You don’t like me. Remember? For one totally lame reason.”

  “Oh, I remember. That hasn’t changed much.”

  Sydney stepped in closer. “No?”

  Jessica shook her head. “No.”

  Sydney grasped her waist, tugged her closer, so their lips were scant inches apart. “How about now?”

  “It may have changed slightly. May have. Slightly.”

  “Yeah? How about now?” There was no hesitant schoolgirl kissing this time. No chaste pecking. This was serious making out. Lips, tongues, teeth. When hands started to wander, though, Jessica pulled back. Just enough to be able to speak, but not enough to step out of Sydney’s grasp.

  “We need to stop,” she said, and she was breathless, which made Sydney grin.

  “I know.” She was right. Connor was waiting. Anna may have been all over the Internet by now voicing her betrayal. And there was a telethon to run. “Can we…do you have some time later?” Sydney’s voice was small and hopeful and she hated that.

  “Absolutely,” Jessica said. “Meet me at Bucky’s?” Sydney tamped down her disappointment but Jessica must have seen it first. “I think we need some neutral territory to talk. You know?”

  Sydney nodded. Jessica was right. Again. “Okay. I’ll meet you there at…when?”

  “I’ll be here until at least seven. Meet me at eight?”

  “You got it.” There was a moment when they simply looked at each other, held eye contact, and the connection between them was like a power line, warm and charged and sexy, and Sydney groaned, which made Jessica grin. “What is happening here?” Sydney asked, bewildered. “I don’t understand it.”

  “I don’t know,” Jessica said, but the grin remained. “We’ll talk about it tonight, okay?”

  Sydney nodded, blew out a breath.

  Jessica gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Now go.”

  Sydney did as she was told, but at the doorway, couldn’t stop herself from glancing back over her shoulder. The fact that Jessica was still looking at her with darkened, hooded eyes made everything south of her waist constrict deliciously. It was hard to keep going, but she managed.

  Out in the lobby, Connor was all business. As soon as he saw Sydney, he punched up the schedule on his tablet and went over it with her. “I think this, this, and this are tight,” he said, pointing to three different segments. “Edits are just about done on these two pieces,” he informed her about a couple video interviews. Then he looked up and pointed at the phone bank. “Lines are good to go. Volunteers are all lined up and know what shifts they have. Everything seems to be running smoothly.” There was an edge to his voice. Sydney simply looked at him and waited. He sighed, kept his eyes riveted to a far corner of the lobby and said quietly through clenched teeth, “Except my host is apparently banging my shelter CEO.”

  Sydney waited a beat, let the angry wave rush through her and out before she spoke. She kept her voice even and low, despite how insulted and embarrassed she felt. “First of all, who I’m banging is none of your business. Second, I’m not banging her. And really? Banging? Are you fourteen? How about a little respect, for God’s sake?”

  Connor inhaled, let it go very slowly. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just…a snag I wasn’t planning on.”

  Sydney snorted. “That makes two of us, dude.”

  They stood next to each other, gazing at the sets, at the people milling around—both visitors of the shelter and employees of Channel Six—and were quiet for a beat. Anna was nowhere to be seen, and for that, Sydney was grateful. She’d really stepped in it there and was going to have to fix it, but right now, her mind was so full, so overwhelmed, she didn’t think she’d be able to form actual words for Anna, let alone have them make sense. She’d wait until she had time to think.

  “Back to the station?” Connor asked. “We can go over some final details, make sure we’ve got all our bases covered?”

  Sydney glanced at her watch. It was 2:46 in the afternoon. She had a good three and a half hours before she needed to think about getting ready for tonight. And just the thought of it made her heart skip in her chest, her stomach flutter.

  She had a date.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  I think I have a date.

  That simple thought brought such a huge smile to Jessica’s face she actually looked around to make sure nobody saw her, lest they wonder what was making her look like a giant weirdo, walking around with a massive grin. It was close to seven and there was no way Jessica was staying past then. No way.

  She glanced out the window at the parking lot for what seemed like the fiftieth time since Anna’s blowup at her, but still didn’t see her car. Apparently, she’d left right after that, and nobody had seen her since. Not that Jessica could blame her.

  A rap on her door had her glancing up while praying it was something simple. Catherine stood there.

  “Hey, have you seen Anna? I need to run something by her for tomorrow.”

  Jessica bit her bottom lip. “I haven’t.”

  Catherine squinted at her and there was a beat of silence from her while Jessica tried not to squirm in her chair. “Okay. What’s going on?”

  “Damn you. How do you do that?” Jessica sat back in her chair, indicated for Catherine to sit across from her. When she was settled, Jessica told her the story. All of it, from she and Sydney addressing last night to her bold assertiveness to Anna walking in on them.

  “Oh, shit,” Catherine said, summing it all up nicely.

  “Yeah.”

  “And she left when?”

  “Like, three hours ago. She’s not answering her cell?”

  “Straight to voice-mail,” Catherine said with a shake of her head.

  “Son of a bitch.” Jessica felt irritated and awful at the same time. Awful because she’d caused this. Irritated because Anna had a job to do, damn it, and she needed to do it regardless of how pissed off she was or at whom.

  “What happens now?” Catherine asked.

  “I don’t know,” Jessica said honestly. “I guess I wait her out. I mean, if she doesn’t want to answer, she’s not going to answer. There’s not much I can do about that.”

  “I meant with Sydney,” Catherine said, one eyebrow arched in amusement.

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah.”

  Jessica was annoyed to feel her face heat up. Apparently, Sydney was right about the blushing. “I’m not totally sure, but…we have a date tonight.”

  “You do?” Catherine sat forward in her chair with renewed interest. “Jess, that’s great.”

  “I mean…I think it’s a date.”

  Catherine gave her a look. “Explain.”

  Jessica took a deep breath and then did, ending with, “So, she asked if I had some time later and I suggested Bucky’s.”

  “That certainly sounds like a date.”

  “Right?”

  “Picking a public place was a good idea. There’s no pressure that way. What will you talk about?”

  “I have no idea what I’ll say.” Jessi
ca blew out a breath. “This is all so weird, Cat. I mean, it started in such a different place from where it is now.”

  “I know. I totally get it. Same thing happened with me and Emily.”

  Jessica remembered the beginning of Catherine and Emily. How they hadn’t really gotten along. How Catherine had judged Emily for her money. How Emily had worked like an obsessed person to win Catherine over. How others had nearly ripped them apart, herself included. How happy they were together now. “So. I guess we’ll just see what happens.”

  “Can I offer a piece of advice?” Catherine asked, and her expression was so full of friendship that Jessica’s eyes welled a bit.

  “I’d love it if you did.”

  “Be honest.”

  “I can do that. I really have no idea what’s happening.” Jessica chuckled. “I’m attracted to her. Have been since the beginning. But I have no idea if it’s anything beyond that.”

  “So find out.”

  Jessica gave a nod.

  “In the meantime, what do we do about Anna?”

  With a frustrated sigh, Jessica said, “I guess we figure out what she’s taking care of tomorrow, just in case, and make sure somebody else can cover if necessary.”

  Catherine’s eyes widened in surprise. “You think she won’t show?”

  “You know her better than I do. Do you?”

  Catherine thought about it. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t.”

  “I don’t either,” Jessica said, and suddenly felt so weary, she was pretty sure if she put her head down on her desk, she’d fall immediately asleep. “I do know she was hurt and angry. I’d also like to think she’s responsible enough not to completely shirk her duties, but…” She looked out the window as if Anna’s car may have magically appeared since the last time. “I feel terrible.”

  “Yeah, I know, and not to sound callous, but you have a telethon to worry about. Not to mention a date in…when?”

  Jessica glanced at her watch. “Oh, my God, in forty-five minutes! I have to change!” She sprang out of her chair like somebody had pushed the ejector button, gathered up her things, Catherine watching her the whole time.

  “Well, this is going to be fun.”

  “Stop it,” Jessica said, but grinned.

  “No way,” Catherine said with a chuckle, as she stood to get out of the way of the Got a Date whirlwind. “You made things tough for me with Emily at first. I’m going to enjoy watching you figure this out.” Her wink took away any sting the words may have carried.

  “This is not a you and Emily thing. Sydney’s not even planning to stay here,” Jessica said as she shook her head, gathering her things. Instantly, her stomach soured. Right. What was she doing? Sydney didn’t even plan to stay— No. She wasn’t going to dwell on the future, damn it, except so far as making it to Bucky’s on time. “It’ll work itself out,” she mumbled.

  “Hey,” Catherine said.

  Jessica glanced at her.

  “You said it yourself,” Catherine said softly. “It’ll work itself out.” She laid her palm on Jessica’s forearm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Let it.”

  Jessica nodded, then they hurried out to the parking lot together. When they parted ways to go to their respective cars, Catherine’s voice stopped her one more time.

  “Jessica Barstow.”

  When Jessica looked up from her keys, Catherine smiled at her.

  “Just. Breathe.”

  “Okay.” Jessica gave a wave and dropped into the driver’s seat of her car. Just breathe. How could such a simple directive seem so impossibly hard right now? She concentrated on her lungs, on taking in a slow, full breath, on letting it out very slowly.

  Why was she so nervous? It’s just Sydney.

  *

  It’s just Jessica.

  Sydney kept saying those three words in her head over and over again as she sat at the bar in Bucky’s and sipped one of the best Cosmopolitans she’d ever had in her life. It’s just Jessica. And Jessica is a client of the station. She’s a cohost. She’s a subject. Nothing more.

  Then she laughed. Out loud. Causing Henry to give her the side-eye. Not for the first time.

  She’d arrived early, as was her habit. You were never, ever late for an interview because somebody else could scoop up your subject, just like that. You arrive early, you have things ready to go, you make them feel important. The icy martini next to her, extra dirty, was proof of this philosophy. She’d told Henry it was for Jessica…that’s when the first side-eye had come. He’d made no comment. Just gave her a look and made the drink to perfection. So much so that Sydney had a hard time not picking up the glass to take a sip, it looked that good. Saving a stool on a Saturday night was no easy feat, but she’d managed, and at exactly 8:02, Jessica came through the door. And Sydney’s heart stopped for a beat.

  She’d gone home to change. Gone was the casual, denim-based shelter uniform she usually sported. Instead, she wore a casual, lightweight black dress with capped sleeves and tiny flowers printed all over it. Sydney had to pretend not to notice the neckline, which plunged more than she trusted her eyes to observe, leaving so much skin visible she had to take a large gulp of her Cosmo to swallow down a surge of desire. On her feet were wedges, and Sydney thought about how much taller than her Jessica would most likely be. Also a massive turn-on. From the shoes, Sydney’s eyes wandered back up—too much bare leg to think about—until they locked with Jessica’s. Her smile was smoldering and Sydney was suddenly at such a complete loss, she had no idea where things would go from here. That was disconcerting. Sydney always had a schedule. A plan. But not now. Not tonight. It was as if, over the past twenty-four hours, Jessica Barstow had walked in, taken Sydney’s precious schedule in her hand, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it over her shoulder with a laugh.

  I am so out of my league…

  “Jessie!” Henry’s voice boomed across the bar, yanking Sydney from her trance-like state. She blinked rapidly and watched Jessica’s gaze move away from her and to the bartender as she crossed to Sydney and took the stool next to her.

  “Look at that,” she said, picking up the martini. “You remembered my drink and had it all ready for me. Impressive.”

  “Well, I did remember your drink, but the truth is, Henry beat me to it.”

  “And honesty as well.” Jessica held her glass toward Sydney, who picked up her own. They clinked. “Hi there.”

  “Hey,” Sydney said. They sipped, each watching the other over the rims. After a moment, she added, “You got out when you said you would.”

  Jessica grinned. “Yeah, consider yourself lucky. I’m actually very bad at that.”

  “I believe it. And I do consider myself lucky.”

  Jessica made herself comfortable, hanging her purse on the hook under the bar and resting her forearms on the mahogany top. “So. How was the rest of your day? Is my telethon going to run smoothly tomorrow?”

  “Smoothly? Smoothly? Oh, no. Your telethon is going to rock.”

  Jessica lowered her chin, but raised her eyebrows. “Those are big words, Ms. Taylor. Big promises.”

  “I never make promises I can’t keep, Ms. Barstow.”

  “I see.” Jessica’s gaze moved so she was looking over Sydney’s shoulder just before a voice registered behind her.

  “Aren’t you on the news?”

  Sydney turned to face the young man. He had sandy hair cut in a fade and a very neatly trimmed beard to match. His blue eyes held intelligence. His hand held a frosty mug of beer. “I am. Sydney Taylor. Hi.”

  “I thought you looked familiar. Channel Six, right?”

  “You are correct.” She held out her hand, which he shook. His hand was warm, his grip firm but not crushing.

  “Mitchell Crane.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mitchell.” Without missing a beat, she turned so Jessica was included in the discussion. “And this is my date, Jessica Barstow.”

  Jessica covered her surprise nicely and shook Mitch
ell’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You, too.” He turned back to Sydney. “Your date?”

  Sydney nodded. “Mm hmm.” She sipped her drink.

  “As in date-date?”

  “As in date-date, yes.”

  “So…” He cocked his head to the side. “I don’t really stand a chance here, then, do I?” His grin was hangdog and Sydney found him kind of adorable.

  “I’m afraid not, big guy. Sorry.”

  “Ah, well. Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he said, lifting one shoulder in a half-shrug. Then he gestured to Henry. “I’d like to buy these lovely ladies a drink, please.” Henry gave a nod and placed two shot glasses upside down near each of them.

  “You’re a good guy, Mitchell Crane,” Sydney said as Jessica held up her glass in thanks.

  He blushed, the pink weaving its way under his beard to his high cheekbones. “Take care,” he said, and left them alone.

  “That happen often?” Jessica asked after a moment.

  “More often than you’d think,” Sydney said with a sheepish grin.

  “Well, I would think it happens all the time.”

  “Okay, maybe a bit less often than you’d think.”

  Jessica laughed and Sydney couldn’t help but smile. It was that kind of laugh, full of joy and warmth. “I’m your date, am I?”

  “As far as I’m concerned, you are. That a problem?” Sydney surprised herself with the bold confidence coloring her voice.

  “Not for me, no.” Jessica held her gaze and Sydney suddenly understood what it meant to have an electric charge run between two people. She felt it in the pit of her stomach—and someplace much lower. “So,” Jessica said, cleanly changing the subject, thank God. “Tell me about you. Siblings? No, wait—you said you were an only child.”