Lucky in Love on Hound Island

by Karice Bolton

  “Because I didn’t cover you in the same mess as me.” I sat down and tried to wedge Lucky in between my lap and the armrest before returning my gaze to the form I needed to fill out.

  I was sure I was contaminating everything I touched, but I had no other choice. Lucky had to be seen immediately. It didn’t matter that my once white shirtsleeves were multi-colored and damp.

  As I began filling out the form, I felt more than one pair of eyes on me. I looked up to see Billy and his pom staring right at me, while poor Lucky gazed vacantly into the distance.

  “May I help you?” My brow arched.

  “Just making sure you don’t need our help.” He smiled and bounced his pom on his knee.

  It didn’t help that the way he was holding his little dog made me want to break into a fit of giggles. It wasn’t every day I saw a sexy guy tatted up holding a six-pound dog. Billy’s fingers alone looked like they could squish the life right out of his fuzz ball.

  “Nope. Don’t need a thing. Doing just fine over here.”

  “Okay. You know where to find us.”

  I dropped my gaze back to the clipboard, but I still felt the same amount of eyes on me, which for some reason made me extremely nervous. All of the nosiness and confidence I had yesterday went out the window.

  “So I heard you came sniffing around my restaurant yesterday looking for me.”

  My gaze flew to his. “As if.”

  “That wasn’t you then?” His green eyes brightened as they steadied on mine. “It was some other gorgeous brunette?”

  “I felt like a gourmet hot dog and so did Lucky. Don’t flatter yourself.”

  “You didn’t ask to see if I was in?”

  “Do you employ wait staff or CIA agents?” I asked.

  “My employees are very loyal.”

  “I see.” I nodded and returned my attention back to the form.

  “I also told them to let me know if a woman matching your description happens to stop by and ask for me.”

  I looked back up, but this time I saw Billy holding a tissue up to his nose and I started laughing.

  “Sorry…Lucky’s perfume made its way over here,” he muttered.

  I couldn’t see his lips, but I could tell he was smiling.

  “Which is exactly why I didn’t want you to touch anything. It’s ripe, and I’m the lucky girl who gets to ride home in it.”

  Billy removed the tissue from his face and his smile only widened. I hugged Lucky a little tighter and finished filling out my form.

  “I just hope it wasn’t the hot dog that did this to him,” I mumbled.

  “Nah. Dogs have way tougher stomachs than you or I do. If it was a bad hot dog, you’d be feeling the wrath, but thanks for that vote of confidence on my cooking.”

  “Well, we shall see what the vet says,” I teased.

  He smiled and shook his head, but not taking his gaze away from mine.

  The familiar warmth swam through my veins the longer I looked at him. There was something so kind resting behind his expression. My mind thought back to the woman who launched her tongue down his throat, and I immediately put my shield back up.

  “I heard you are going to be headed out on a cross-country adventure.”

  “Did you?” His brows pulled together. “Nothing is sacred on this island.”

  “And I think you secretly love that.”

  “You could be right.” He nodded. “And yeah the rumor is true. One lucky lady and I will be driving wherever the mood strikes.”

  “I thought you were single?” Lucky tried to adjust on my lap and the clipboard clapped to the ground, scaring Billy’s little Pomeranian all the way up to his shoulder.

  “I didn’t think it mattered,” he stated, looking completely bemused as he pulled the pom back down into his lap.

  The door to the exam rooms opened and a woman stepped into the waiting room. “We can see Lucky now.”

  “Perfect timing.” I stood, and she grabbed the clipboard from me as I carried Lucky across the waiting room. She was as polite as can be, not even letting on that with us came an odor no one should have to endure.

  “It was nice seeing you again,” I told Billy as I passed him with my head held high.

  “You too.” I swore he was trying not to laugh and I didn’t blame him.

  I’d done a horrible job of flirting. It was more like scolding. First I insulted his hot dogs and then I brought up his relationship status? My shoulders sank lower as I walked into the exam room.

  The vet tech took Lucky’s vitals and the vet came in soon after. He didn’t believe Lucky’s illness could be hot dog related, but he did want to get an x-ray of Lucky’s abdomen to make sure he hadn’t eaten a boulder or something while I wasn’t looking and do some blood work. They also fed him fluids right under his skin, which made Lucky look like a hunchback.

  By the time the results came back, Lucky was as perky as ever rolling around and begging for snacks. The vet thought it was nothing more than a passing virus, which made me feel a lot better about taking him home.

  Lucky and I made our way back to the lobby where Billy was still hanging out with his fluff ball.

  “You’re still here?” I asked, making my way to the counter to pay.

  “Good to see you too.” There was something so endearing about him, and it drove me nuts, especially since he was cruising off into the sunset with some lucky lady who wasn’t me.

  Not that I would go if he asked.

  I handed over my debit card to the receptionist without even looking at the bill.

  “So did the doc say whether it was the hot dog or…” He didn’t finish his sentence.

  I turned around to get a good, long look at Billy, which was most definitely a mistake. It was like every time I saw him he got even better looking than the last.

  And no, looks weren’t everything, but his were just surprisingly delicious.

  “It was a virus. Your cooking is off the hook.” I smiled and saw a dash of relief spread through his gaze, making me feel even worse for mentioning a connection. “Do you just like to hang out at vet offices all day or what?”

  “Well, since Lady and I will be traveling the world soon, I wanted to get all her vaccines up to date and see what else she might need depending on the states we visit. She’s a rescue so I don’t really know her past.” He held up the other woman and I kept in my chuckle.

  While it did make me feel better that the lucky lady was Lady, it didn’t explain the feeling Gina got that he was seeing someone, and after what I saw with the woman in red, I certainly didn’t want to get involved with a guy who liked to circulate from one woman to the next. That was just too much work.

  “I had no idea you were into dogs and especially not…” I bit my lip. “Not small, fluffy ones.”

  “What would you picture as my kind of dog?” His mouth curled up.

  “I’d say you’re an English Bulldog kind of guy or a Mastiff.” I glanced at Lady. “But I wouldn’t have expected this. Anyway, you didn’t answer my question.”

  “I thought I’d wait until you were done to make sure Lucky was okay and to ask you out to dinner.” His green eyes stayed on mine and he added. “Again.”

  After an awkward few seconds, he smiled. “I take that as a no.”

  “I kind of got the impression you were seeing someone,” I said.

  “Is that so?” He bit his bottom lip, and I couldn’t help but notice how soft it looked. “So you were asking about me?”

  “I wouldn’t say that, but you did happen to come up in conversation. It’s a small island, and I’ve only met a few people and they all seem to be connected to you. It’s actually like I can’t avoid you.”

  “But would you want to?”

  I laughed and let out a sigh. Billy had a point, but I wasn’t going to let him know that.

  “You’re good at avoiding certain topics,” I added.

  He took a step closer, and I took a step back when I remembered what I’d j
ust been through in the last three hours. “To answer your question. No, I’m not seeing anyone.”

  I glanced behind me at the receptionist who seemed more interested in what was going on in front of the desk than behind it.

  “How about we go outside and give Lucky and the rest of us some fresh air?” Billy asked.

  “I think that’s a great idea.” I gave a quick wave to the receptionist who just kept smiling as if she was absorbing every second.

  By the time we stepped into the cold brisk air, I was certain the receptionist had already phoned half the island to discuss what just transpired, which wasn’t much of anything.

  “You look a million times more relaxed now that the town crier isn’t listening in on our conversation.” Billy’s eyes glinted with mischief.

  I laughed and shook my head. “Possibly.”

  “So, how about dinner?”

  I drew a deep breath and glanced toward an empty field behind him. I felt bad making the guy work so hard, especially when there wouldn’t be anything in it for him, but he was leaving town so a quick dinner would be harmless.

  “Dinner sounds fun.”

  “Are you serious?” His brows shot up in complete surprise.

  “Yeah. I’m game for a good meal with good company as long as you don’t expect anything in return.”

  Billy let out a laugh and shook his head. “That’s usually my line, but it’s a deal.”

  “It’ll be your bon voyage dinner,” I added.

  “Yeah, I guess it will.” He smiled and squeezed Lady. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow around seven?”

  “I can just meet you somewhere.”

  “I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but I don’t think you’ll want to travel in that car of yours for a while.”

  I chuckled and felt the familiar tidal wave of emotion at the thought of seeing him again and he hadn’t even left.

  “How do you know where I live?” I crossed my arms.

  “Everyone knows where Lucky lives.”

  “So you already knew Lucky and pretended you didn’t?”

  “It’s not the first time he’s stolen a hot dog from me.” Billy laughed. “Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow. Take care, Tiffany Bailey.”

  Chapter Seven

  “I still feel awful about tonight,” I said over my shoulder to my sister. “I can totally cancel.”

  “Ha!” My sister laughed. “Not on my watch.”

  My butt was sticking out of the car as I ran the shampooer over the passenger seat for the fourth time.

  “No, seriously. Let me cancel. I can’t believe I forgot you were coming early when he asked me. It was like my mind went blank.”

  Stacy bent down and stuck her head across from me. “In all honestly, I’m so exhausted that nothing sounds better than crawling into bed early. Flights at four in the morning should be illegal to sell to the public. Trust me. You don’t want to stay home with your crabby sister.”

  I smiled at Stacy and shook my head as I switched off the shampooer. “I don’t even know why I’m going out with him. He’s headed out of town and—”

  “That’s exactly why you’re going out with him. He’s headed out of town and you know that nothing more can come of an innocent dinner out.”

  I scowled at my sister.

  “I’m right, aren’t I? You probably turned him down multiple times until you found out he was leaving.”

  “You’re so annoying.”

  “Because I’m right.”

  “Yes.” I turned the shampooer back on and sucked the remaining soapy water out of the seat.

  “If it makes you feel any better, I can’t smell puke any more.” My sister crawled out of the car. “But I’m still glad I’ve got this rental.”

  I glanced at her mid-size car and chuckled as I got the last little bit of liquid out of the cushion. It was so nice having my sister in town, even if this wasn’t the most exotic way to start her vacation.

  When I was certain the last squirt of water ran clear, I turned off the shampooer and hauled the machine out of the car.

  “Don’t you think that’s odd, though?” My sister folded her arms across her chest.

  “What’s odd?”

  “That he’s asked you out multiple times, and it wasn’t until you found out he was leaving town that you agreed?”

  “It’s not that odd.” I cleared my throat. “I mean it’s safer.”

  “Safer?”

  “Yeah, safer. I don’t have to have unrealistic expectations about what this is. I can just have a little fun and not worry about anything.”

  “If you say so.” Her arms dropped by her sides as a sly grin spread across her face. “At least my little sister will finally be going out on a date after how many years?”

  I shot a playful grin in her expression. “Says the woman who excels at avoiding relationships herself.”

  “But at least I go out on dates,” she challenged.

  “With men who are emotionally unavailable.”

  She laughed and leaned against her rental car. “It’s amazing mom and dad have been together for so many years, isn’t it?”

  “Forty years of marriage coming up at the end of November.” I let out a wistful sigh. “They set a high bar.”

  “You think that’s what it is?”

  I shrugged. “I guess. I don’t really know. I think things were different back then when it came to meeting people.”

  “True. Nowadays, if you find someone you really like and you’re under twenty-five everyone assumes it won’t last.”

  “And I’m not sure that’s true. The couples I know that seem to last have started young.”

  “Same.” I unplugged the machine. “Although, I didn’t actually meet anyone I liked enough before that age sooo…”

  My sister chuckled, following me back inside the house. “Neither did I. So tell me more about this hunk.”

  I held in a giggle. Just the thought of Billy got me excited. “He’s tall, lean, strong…” I let out another sigh. “He has the most beautiful green eyes. He’s got ink all over.” I blushed. “Or at least the parts I can see. He recently started licensing his business out to franchisees and it sounds like it’s going really well.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Oh, and he has a little black Pomeranian named Lady. She was a rescue and will be going on his cross-country adventure.”

  My sister sat on the couch and scratched Lucky’s ear. He didn’t even bother to wake up.

  “Sounds like you know an awful lot about him for not really being interested.”

  “It’s my duty. Besides, one of the gals I met just went on a blind date with him and happened to fill me in on everything.”

  “And she doesn’t care that now you are going out with him?”

  I laughed and sank into the recliner by the fire. “No, I called her last night to make sure she wouldn’t care and she promises she has absolutely no feelings for him.”

  “Do you believe her?”

  I nodded. “I do. She’d said there was no spark for either of them. I don’t think she’d lie about that, and she seemed genuinely happy for me to take him off her hands or maybe take Maddie off her hands.”

  “Who’s Maddie?”

  “The one who set them up.”

  “Now that makes sense.” My sister stretched out her legs and let out a happy sigh. “This house is incredible.”

  “It’s pretty sensational,” I agreed.

  “What do you think it’s like living on an island this small long-term?”

  “Ask me again in three months.” I grinned and glanced out the front window.

  The house wasn’t set back very far from the road, but so few people traveled on it the proximity didn’t matter.

  “I have to confess that so far I kind of like it. Everyone’s super sweet. They do seem to be pretty nosy, but I think that’s just because everyone knows everyone. It’s probably less nosy and more necessity.” I shrugged. “So far I kind of li
ke it.”

  “Nothing wrong with that.” She looked at Lucky. “Do you want me to stay with him while you’re on your date?”

  “It’s not exactly a date, but I thought you wanted to crawl into bed?”

  “I can always crawl onto your couch until you get home.”

  I smiled and shook my head. “I won’t do that to you. You need your beauty rest for our big day tomorrow.”

  “Is that so?” Her brow curled slightly.

  “Yup. I’ve got big plans.”

  “Now you’re starting to worry me.” She grinned and curled her legs underneath her. “So isn’t he going to be here in less than thirty minutes?”

  “Should be.”

  “And don’t you want to maybe… change your clothes?” She wiggled her brows and stared at my outfit of jeans and a grungy sweatshirt.

  I groaned into my hands and sat back. “Yeah. I probably should. Thanks for the reminder.”

  “Just glad I showed up in time.”

  I rolled my eyes but secretly had to agree. “There’s some chips on the counter and dip in the fridge if you need a snack.”

  “Sounds good.”

  I dashed up the stairs and grabbed my other maxi dress that he hadn’t seen me in and hurried into the bathroom where I quickly showered, brushed my teeth, and dabbed on some mascara.

  By the time I’d made it back downstairs, my sister was eating potato chips and dip and Lucky was begging her for just a taste. Right when I sat down in the recliner, Billy drove up to the house, and I suddenly felt like I was waiting for my prom date. My hands got clammy and my belly filled with butterflies.

  “What? Is he here?” My sister sounded far too giddy for her own good. She quickly got off the couch and spun around to look out the window.

  Billy got out of his car and started toward the front door. My pulse spiked as I watched him make his way toward the door.

  My sister immediately took notice and let out some sort of low chortle I’d never heard before.

  “He’s sex on a stick, Tiff.” She patted my shoulder. “You did good.”

  I hopped up from the chair and plopped my hands on my hips. “I didn’t do anything.”

  “You did something.” Her smile stretched from ear to ear. “Oh, you did something.”

  “Whatever.” I laughed.