Early the next morning, Joe, as usual, was the first to show up at the town square for their morning run. Piper may be a baker, but it was obvious the early mornings didn’t come natural to her. She was forever running a few minutes behind. He hoped she wore her usual baggy sweat shorts and not something that hugged her rounded backside like those jeans she’d had on at the bakery yesterday.
He thought for sure she was going to catch him ogling her as she’d bent over to clean the display case. Damn. He ran a hand over the tightened muscles in his neck. He felt like some hormonal high schooler again. Gawking at Piper like he’d never seen a beautiful woman before. But he’d never seen her dress like that, in clothes that enhanced her body.
Those new dark jeans had fit her like a second skin. He’d thought his eyes were going to pop out, and it was all he could do to keep from drooling. She usually wore lose, nondescript things that didn’t provoke his very active imagination.
He’d already made the mistake of kissing her. He couldn’t repeat that mistake. Or worse, admit that he couldn’t think about anything but pulling her into his arms and letting his lips do the talking.
When Holden had made his surprise appearance, it’d been like divine intervention. Joe hadn’t cared at that moment what Holden needed. Joe would have volunteered for just about anything in order to keep himself from doing or saying something to embarrass himself. And the wide-open range and fresh air had been the prescription he’d needed to screw his head on straight. He was in control now.
Thankfully, when Piper finally exited the bakery, she was wearing nothing fancy or clingy. Still, the image of her in those snug jeans and fitted top was tattooed upon his mind.
She rushed across the street to join him in the town square. “Good morning. Sorry I’m a little late. I was helping Hannah with a special order.”
“You were working?”
Her fine brows scrunched together. “Yes. Just like every morning before we go running. You surely didn’t think I just rolled out of bed, did you?”
Um, yes. He’d never really given it much thought. Now he felt a bit foolish. “No. Of course not. Do you need to stay and help her?”
“We got most of today’s orders done before I left. She should be good until I get back.”
“Boy, you really do work long hours, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Twelve hours a day. Six days a week. But I won’t be the only one working from sunup till sundown. Once your shop is open, you’ll be pulling down long hours, too.”
He nodded. At least he would in the beginning, until he could afford to hire additional help. “We better get started. Sounds like you have a big day ahead of you.”
As she moved through her warm-up routine, he’d occasionally catch glimpses of how her T-shirt strained across her chest. His heart rate accelerated, and it had absolutely nothing to do with exercising. This was all her fault. He’d never had problems like this until she’d strutted around the bakery all done up like she was going on a date.
“Ready?” she asked, just like it was any other morning—like she hadn’t taunted him yesterday.
He cleared his throat. “Sure.”
And they set off. Joe needed the release that jogging provided him. His feet pounded the pavement. Faster. Faster. He welcomed the exertion, wanting to clear the tormenting thoughts of Piper from his mind. After all, he had to continue to work with her. He couldn’t just walk away and dump the festival in her lap. She was counting on his help.
He assured himself that his reaction to her was a purely physical response after too many long, lonely nights. Only, Piper wasn’t the type of woman to scratch his itch and walk away. She’d want more. And he didn’t do relationships—not anymore.
They were about halfway around town when he realized that in his efforts to outrun these unwanted feelings for Piper, he’d totally left her in the dust. He felt awful. After all, he was the one who’d come up with the idea of running together to get her in shape for the 5K Fun Run.
He stopped to give her a chance to catch up. While standing there, he noticed a beautiful chocolate Lab nosing his way up the other side of the road. Joe glanced around but he didn’t see the owner anywhere in sight.
When he focused back on the dog, it stopped and turned to him, as if he sensed he was being watched. Joe’s throat constricted. In that instant, the years were peeled away and he was a kid again. He stood motionless on the side of the deserted street. He continued to stare, and the dog mirrored him.
This couldn’t be right. The rational part of his mind said this couldn’t be Fudge, no matter how much the dog resembled his beloved dog. Fudge was long gone, except for the loving memories he’d left in Joe’s heart.
Neither of them moved. Joe hadn’t allowed himself to delve into those heart-wrenching memories in a very long time. Some things were best left untouched. But now a distinct reminder of his unwanted past was standing there looking at him as if the pup were in need of help.
Joe wanted to turn around and leave, pretend he’d never seen the dog. This was just too much to ask of him. The wounds ran much too deep. But the dog didn’t move. And with no owner in sight, he needed help.
“Hey, what’s up with you?” Piper panted. “You ran like the devil was on your heels.”
He continued to stare at the dog. Anguished memories and tormenting thoughts collided. He rubbed his throbbing temples.
“You okay?” she asked, drawing him back to the present.
“I’m fine. That dog—he seems lost. Do you recognize him?”
Piper raised a hand to shield her eyes and glanced across the street. “Nope. Can’t say as I’ve ever seen him before.”
“He must belong around here somewhere.”
“I’m sure he’ll find his way home. Whistle Stop isn’t that big. Come on. Let’s keep going.”
His feet felt like they’d been planted in cement. “We can’t just leave him. He looks like he needs help.”
Piper turned back to the unmoving dog. “He looks healthy to me. No ribs sticking out. And look, there’s a collar on him.” She pulled on Joe’s arm. “Let’s go before I start to cool down. You know, I’m down a couple of pounds this week. I’d like to see if I can eke out one more.”
“Hey, boy,” Joe called out, checking both ways before crossing the road. “Come here.”
The dog took a hesitant step forward, but then paused. He didn’t blame the dog. You couldn’t be too safe these days. But if he was going to help the dog, he would have to be willing. If he started to run, Joe knew he’d never be able to catch up, especially with the lengthy gap between them.
“Come on, boy. It’s okay.”
The dog stood at the curb and cocked his head, as though trying to decide if Joe was telling him the truth. An independent thinker, so much like his faithful friend Fudge had been. The thought made Joe’s heart clench with a crush of memories.
“He obviously isn’t interested in your help.” Piper jogged in place. “We really need to keep going.”
“Go ahead if you want. I’m staying here.”
She stopped moving. “What’s the deal with the dog?”
He couldn’t tell her. He’d never told anyone. Not even his ex-wife. He didn’t think he could ever form the words. They’d clog up in his throat and choke him.
Not going there. Just concentrate on the dog.
“Come on, Fudge...”
“How do you know the dog’s name?”
He didn’t. “I...I guessed.”
He could feel Piper’s puzzled stare boring into his skull. He’d have to be careful what he said, or he’d end up starting a conversation he never intended to have with her, or anyone.
The dog took a hesitant step toward him. A wave of relief washed over Joe. He didn’t like the thought of this dog roaming the streets, even if this road was a quiet one.
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” Piper asked. “You’re not going to move until the dog is taken care of. Who’d have ever guessed you’re a dog person? What else don’t I know about you?”
Plenty. But nothing worth mentioning.
He didn’t bother to answer her as the dog lumbered across the street. The animal’s movements were slow and cautious. When the dog reached him, Joe held out his fist and let the dog take in his scent. Within seconds, the dog licked his hand.
Joe’s vision blurred, causing him to blink repeatedly. He remembered how Fudge used to look at him with a slight tilt of his head just like this dog. He couldn’t resist running his hand over the dog’s smooth head. Piper was right. This dog wasn’t a stray. In fact, someone took great care of him...until today when he got loose.
“Hey, boy. Let’s see where you belong.” Joe didn’t make any fast motions, not wanting to startle the dog.
The red collar had all of the appropriate tags, including one with his name.
“Well?” Piper prompted. “What did you learn?”
“His name is Java.”
“Really? That’s so interesting. Almost like your paths were supposed to cross.”
No, that couldn’t be. Even fate couldn’t be twisted enough to throw his painful past in his face. Not after he’d worked so damn hard to move past the nightmares that had haunted him for years.
Joe ran his hand down the dog’s back. “Don’t worry, boy. We’ll get you home.”
“And how are we going to do that?” Piper asked, kneeling down to pet the very lovable dog. “Is there an address or phone number?”
“No. But, like you said, this is a small town. Surely someone will know something.” Joe tucked his fingers around the collar and said, “Come on, boy. We’ll get you home.”
“Wait. Where are you going?”
What didn’t she understand? The dog was lost, and Joe was going to find his home. A dog needed to be taken care of, because there were people out there who weren’t so nice. People who were callous and cruel. People who would hurt a dog like this—and worse.
He turned to Piper to explain, but when he opened his mouth, the words wouldn’t come. The words lodged in the back of his throat as he recalled Fudge and how much he wished someone had been there to save him.
Her eyes opened wide with concern. “Joe, what’s the matter? Your hand is shaking, and you’re pale as a ghost.”
He truly felt as though he had seen a ghost. He glanced down at his hand that was clutching the dog’s red collar. There indeed was a noticeable tremble. And he was powerless to stop it.
“Come. Sit down for a moment.” Piper’s fingers wrapped snuggly around his forearm before she gave him a solid tug.
He glanced around. With it being so early in the morning, not many people were up and about yet. He let her guide him over to a tree along a sidewalk in front of the elementary school. The dog willingly followed.
It was like they were one big happy family. Nothing could be further from the truth. At best, Piper was his friend without benefits. And Java... Well, as much as he’d love to take the pup home, the dog already had one. They just had to figure out where he belonged.
“What are we doing?” he asked. “I need to get this guy home.”
“First, you can’t just run off. You don’t even know where this fellow lives. And, secondly, you look like...well, like a ghost crossed your path.”
He wished she’d quit talking about ghosts. It was very unnerving, especially with the close resemblance between Java and Fudge. Joe scrubbed a hand over his face.
“What is it about this dog that has you so unnerved?” Piper stared at him expectantly.
Was he that easy to read? And here he’d thought he’d mastered the art of keeping his feelings locked deep inside, hidden away from prying eyes. He never wanted to let on that he could be wounded and bleed like everyone else. It was a protective mechanism he’d learned as a kid.
“You can talk to me.” Piper sank down on the grass and patted a spot next to her. “Because we’re not going anywhere until I know what’s up with you.”
He didn’t like where this was leading. Even though they were in the wide open, this moment felt too cozy for his comfort. He should take the dog and keep walking. That’s what the logical, self-preserving side of his brain told him to do.
But there was this other part of him that was dying to lay open his dark secrets. For so long, he’d been lugging around the nightmares and guilt. Over the years, the load had become heavy and cumbersome.
And though he’d shoved the memories into the dark recesses of his mind, they were still there and popped up at the most inopportune times. Like now. He just wanted to let them go. But they clung to him like leeches draining away his happiness.
And yet he found himself sitting down next to her. Then Java lay down between them. Joe couldn’t resist running his hand over the dog’s head.
“We shouldn’t be sitting here doing nothing,” Joe grumbled, resisting the urge to tell her about Fudge. Just thinking his name made Joe’s insides churn with a familiar raw pain.
He glanced down at the ghost dog. All of those buried nightmares were threatening to break through his carefully laid defenses. And that couldn’t happen. He started to get to his feet.
Piper placed a calming hand on his arm. “Slow down. Did you ever think that the owner is hunting for Java? And that if we stay still, they’ll catch up to us?”
Couldn’t she sense how much he wanted to leave, to avoid rehashing the past? She continued staring at him with an expectant look. He wasn’t going to open up. He glanced away.
He’d thought when he left Whistle Stop all of those years ago that he could at last put his past behind him. But what he’d learned since then had proved him wrong. The past wasn’t just a series of events to be relished, or in his case, forgotten. The past was like fibers woven into the fabric of his life.
For better or worse, the past had made him the man he was today.