Jamie’s internal rooster was crowing for her morning run, but her body was arguing that the soft cotton sheets, the pleasant hum of central air, and the warm body at her back was too comfortable a nest to leave just yet. Then light kisses along her neck and fingers lightly stroking her lower belly were persuading her libido that waking up, and rolling onto her back would be an excellent compromise. She smiled. She could compromise. She rolled over and looked up into summer sky eyes.
“Hi,” Trip said softly.
“Good morning.”
Propped on her elbow, Trip dipped her head to place a soft kiss on Jamie’s lips. Her smile widened when she moved back again. “You don’t snore anymore.”
Jamie barked a laugh and stretched her arms over her head. “The army fixed my deviated septum.”
Trip cocked her head. “I sort of miss it.”
Jamie snorted. “Only you. Suz—” Trip’s hand covered her mouth.
“I don’t want to hear that woman’s name ever again. Nod if you agree.” Trip removed her hand when Jamie nodded.
Jamie cleared her throat and searched for something different to say. “Stick around. I’m sure I’ll start snoring again by the time I turn sixty. You’ll be snoring, too.” Did she just say that? Insinuated that she’d still be around, that when they were old, they’d…no, no, no. She was not a U-Haul kind of lesbian. One night in bed didn’t mean…Trip hadn’t said, Jamie wasn’t sure—
“Relax, Jamie. We have all the time in the world to figure this out.” Trip must have realized her panic. Her hand stroking Jamie’s side was likely meant to sooth, but inflamed instead.
Jamie pushed Trip onto her back and began a little stroking of her own. “How much time do we have?”
Trip’s chest flushed an attractive pink that traveled upward to color her cheeks. Her eyes glinted in the morning sun. “Not much. You turned off, uh, turned off your alarm…oh, yeah.” Trip opened her legs wider to give Jamie easy access and moved her hands along Jamie’s back, unconsciously conveying the pace she desired from Jamie’s hand. “…because we didn’t go to sleep until three.”
Jamie groaned when Trip’s fingers found and slipped over her dripping sex. She struggled to form coherent words. “I set my clock for…God, that feels so good.” They each thrust against the other’s fingers, driving themselves to the point of release.
“Jamie, I can’t hold on.” Trip massaged Jamie’s clit firmer, faster.
Jamie could feel the pressure gathering in her belly with each stroke…almost, almost. “Yes, come with me. Come with me now.”
Trip’s body bowed a split second before hers, and Jamie collapsed on top of Trip when the orgasm released its grip. They both panted while their hearts slowed.
Jamie rested her head between Trip’s breasts. “Better than a morning run,” she told the erect nipple that filled her vision.
“That’s good. Because we don’t have time for one,” the nipple’s owner answered lazily.
Oh, yeah. They’d been talking about time when they got sidetracked. “What time is it?”
“Seven. If we’re not downstairs in thirty minutes, Essie will be up here dragging us out of bed whether we’re naked or dressed.”
Jamie pushed up from where she’d been listening to the steady thump of Trip’s heart. “You didn’t lock the door?”
“Wouldn’t matter if I did. She has keys to every room in the house.” Trip sat up, planted a quick kiss on Jamie’s lips, and scooted to the edge of the bed. “Come on. Shower with me. I promise to be good. You don’t want to miss the Essie show this morning.”
* * *
Trip couldn’t resist helping Jamie wash her hair and soap that gorgeous body, but she kept to her promise, and her touches were as chaste as was humanly possible. Even though it did sorely test her resolve. In the end, it was worth her restraint. Essie was in rare form.
Trip settled in her usual chair at the end of the kitchen table with her back to the patio door and indicated for Jamie to sit on her left so she’d have full view of Essie’s performance. Amani, the niece who managed the house now, was cracking eggs into a blender while keeping an eye on sausage links and bacon sizzling in a cast iron skillet.
“What are you doing here on a Sunday?” Trip grabbed the Sunday newspaper that was still folded on the table and began sorting the sections.
“Girl, Jerome called me first thing this morning to tell me Aunt Essie was up at daybreak, buzzing around like a bee and talking nonstop to some little dog that was following her around.” Amani flashed a huge smile of perfect white teeth, but kept her voice low.
Trip kept the comics for herself and handed Jamie the news and sports sections. “Put that news section in your chair and sit on it. We don’t let Essie see the front page before church unless you want a sermon with your breakfast.”
Amani shook her head to confirm nobody would want the aforementioned sermon, then continued. “Jerome said, ‘Amani, she won’t let me in the house. You need to come on over and get a front row seat.’ He’s promised to hang my new porch swing if I report back.”
Jamie flinched, but Trip grinned at the sudden repeated slamming of cabinet and appliance doors in the adjoining laundry room.
“I swear, you’d think a band of gypsies camped in our yard last night. Clothes everywhere. I pick up one thing and I see another,” Essie fussed into the kitchen without acknowledging Trip or Jamie. “A pair of shorts here, a shoe there.” She checked the skillet.
“I just turned those,” Amani said. “I’m about to pour the omelets.” She added egg whites from a carton into the blender.
“If you don’t know how to separate fresh egg whites—”
Amani pushed a button on the blender, drowning out the rest of her aunt’s complaint. “I’m not going to throw away good yolks, Aunt Essie,” Amani said when she switched the blender off. She looked over her shoulder and winked at Trip and Jamie. “Besides, the gypsies can’t tell the difference.”
Essie threw her hands up. “You’re right about that. Act like they was raised in a barnyard. Clothes flung from here to Atlanta.” She finally looked their way, glaring at Trip. “Don’t think I didn’t recognize those unmentionables hanging from the diving board. I had to call Jerome over from the barn to crawl out and retrieve ’em. Just cause they call them bloomers doesn’t mean a lady should plant them outside for everybody to see.”
“Trip wouldn’t let me—”
Trip cut Jamie off. “I’d like one of your pecan waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.”
Essie picked up the remaining sections of the newspaper and slapped Trip on the head. “You want a short-order cook, you go on down to the diner and sit at Bud’s counter. In my kitchen, you eat what I cook for you.”
Jamie frowned at Trip. “I’m sure whatever—”
“But I told Jamie that nobody cooks waffles like you. And I had Toby pick some strawberries especially for you. I put them in the fridge yesterday.”
Essie considered this, then went to the huge refrigerator and took out a bowl of huge red strawberries. She bit into one and nodded, then placed the bowl on the counter. “Get my flour down, Amani.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Amani flashed another smile at Trip and began pulling ingredients from the cabinets for her slight, stooped-back aunt.
Essie walked back to the table and reached across to pat Jamie’s hand. “Don’t mind me, honey. If I didn’t fuss at that wild child sitting next to you, she’d think I didn’t love her anymore.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m Jamie.”
Essie smiled. “I know who you are, honey. You and your cute little dog are always welcome.”
“Uh, where is P exactly? We have to be at work by ten.”
“She’s in the barn with my grandson, Jerome.” Essie turned back to the kitchen counter and began measuring out ingredients when Amani slid two plates laden with neat omelets, sausage, and bacon in front of Trip and Jamie. “You’ve got time to enjoy your breakfast. He’ll be back with her soon, so I guess I’d better make a waffle for him, too.”
Jerome did appear as if conjured at the very moment they finished their omelets. Petunia was at his heels but ran to plant her feet against Jamie’s leg, her tongue lolling from her mouth and tail wagging. “Hey, P. Have you been having fun?”
Petunia replied with a sharp yip. Happy was written all over her little doggy face.
“She caught a mouse in the feed room,” Jerome said.
“She didn’t eat it, did she?” Jamie asked. “Because she’s on a very strict special diet.”
“Funny about that,” Jerome said. “I know a lot of horse people who keep terriers because they’re better than cats at catching mice. Cats are lazy and only hunt when they feel like it. Most terriers gobble down what they catch, but Petunia brought it to me after she killed it.”
“Special diet?” Essie asked. “Is that because she’s a police dog?”
“No,” Trip said. “Petunia has some stomach issues.” She put down her fork and folded her fingers around Jamie’s hand that rested on the table. “She had surgery a couple of weeks ago to fix it, but some of her symptoms seem to be returning.”
Essie nodded. “Trip will fix her up. She might be my wild child, but she’s a right smart one.”
Amani placed beautifully arranged Belgian waffles, piled with plump strawberries and whipped cream, in front of Trip and Jamie. Essie brought two more for her and Jerome, then Amani returned with one for herself. The waffles were gone so fast, there was little time for small talk, and Essie rose to put her dish in the sink.
“I’ll slip on my dress and get my hat, then Jerome and I can go so he’ll have time to get dressed. Amani?”
“My dress is in your room. I brought it so I’d have time to clean up and go to services from here.”
Essie nodded and toddled off toward her suite of rooms. She barely rounded the corner when Jerome and Amani scooted down to huddle at Trip and Jamie’s end of the table.
“Damn, girl. I haven’t seen Granny that happy since the day I announced her first great-grandchild was on the way,” Jerome said, poking Trip’s shoulder. “She could have preached today’s sermon when she spied your drawers hanging from the diving board.”
Trip grinned and glanced at Jamie, who wasn’t smiling. She was silently staring down at the table. She realized Jamie hadn’t said much throughout the meal. Stupid, stupid. She’d screwed up again. She’d talked about Jamie so much, she already felt like part of the family here. Only she’d forgotten that Jamie never had a real family and didn’t know how to interpret Essie’s fussing, and Jerome and Amani barging in on their morning-after. What an idiot. She should have planned a private morning for them.
Trip glanced at the clock. She’d run out of time. “I guess you and P better get going if you’re going to have time to get changed and make it to the station by ten.” She wished Jamie didn’t have to leave, that she could have the rest of the day to make up for this blunder.
Jerome was still laughing, but Amani was studying Jamie. She laid a hand on Jerome’s arm to silence him. “You’ve been very quiet, Jamie, and I’m afraid we’ve offended you by barging in on your private time.”
Jamie didn’t look up. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to having people…this is kind of different for me.” She glared at Trip. “I don’t leave my clothes for someone else to pick up and launder.” She ducked her head and stared at her plate again. “Breakfast was delicious, but I’m not used to having someone come in and cook for me. I take care of myself.”
This was worse than Trip thought. Jamie’s impression was completely wrong. “Jamie, no. It’s not like that.”
“Would you even be able to manage if you didn’t have money to hire people to take care of you?”
Jerome shook his head. “Nope. If it doesn’t go on the grill, she can’t cook it. The woman can’t even pop popcorn.”
“I only burned that one bag.”
Amani shot Trip a “for real?” look. “He’s right. Her cabinets would be empty and laundry stacked clear to the ceiling.”
“Quit, you guys. This is serious.” She grabbed Jamie’s hand again. “They’re ribbing me because they’re being bad, nosy siblings this morning.”
Amani closed her hand over Jamie’s other hand. “She’s telling the truth, Jamie. We should apologize. Here’s the truth. Trip was overwhelmed when her grandfather died and left her this place. She left a good position in Atlanta and came home to start a practice here, mostly because this is the only house Aunt Essie has ever lived in since she was twelve years old and her mama came to work for the Beaumonts.”
Jerome nodded. “It was clear right off that she couldn’t manage the farm and her practice, so we worked out a deal. I negotiated a really good contract to manage the farm for my best childhood friend.”
Trip bumped fists with Jerome. “And Amani isn’t my housekeeper. Essie thinks she is, but Amani owns several companies that provide a range of cleaning, rental management, and maintenance services for businesses and households.”
“I mostly do just enough around here to keep an eye on Aunt Essie and stop her from doing too much, but several of my employees do most of the real work.” She gave Jamie’s hand a shake. “Trip wouldn’t let you pick up those clothes because picking up after Trip and swatting her with the newspaper is what keeps that old woman’s heart chugging along. When she saw those clothes strewn across the lawn, she was like a kid at Christmas.”
Jerome nodded and laughed again, then glanced at the doorway to make sure Essie wasn’t standing there. “I wish I’d had my phone so I could’ve made a video.”
A door closed in another part of the house, and Amani began to gather the rest of the plates. “I hope we haven’t scared you off. Please, accept our apology.”
Jamie shook her head and smiled. “No, you haven’t. Thank you again for breakfast, but I really have to go.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Trip stood. “I’ll come back and help with the dishes.”
“You better,” Amani said. “I don’t want to be late to church.”
Trip walked Jamie to her truck parked by the barn. She was relieved that Jerome was parked by the front door, so he’d take Essie out that way and she could have a moment alone with Jamie.
Jamie hoisted Petunia into the truck and climbed in, but lowered the window.
“I just can’t seem to stop screwing things up with you,” Trip said, bracing her forearms against Jamie’s door so their faces are close together. “I should have gone downstairs and brought something up for a private breakfast on the balcony outside my room. Something romantic.”
“It’s okay,” Jamie said. “I need to learn to stop being so prickly.” She looked into Trip’s eyes. “This is hard for me, too. I’ve always been on my own, and you’re surrounded by people who love you.”
“That’s true, but there’s still a missing piece in my life. A big one, and I think that piece might be you.”
“What if it’s not?”
“I want to find out. I’ll try to do a better job of showing you that we’re the right fit.”
“Then I’ll try to be less prickly…as long as I can get a rain check on that balcony deal.”
“Absolutely.” Trip cupped Jamie’s face and kissed her with every ounce of hope in her heart.
* * *
Trip bit into her thick burger and hummed her satisfaction while she chewed. After Amani left for church, Trip had tried to update some files for the clinic, but her thoughts kept straying back to the night before—Jamie hovering over her, Jamie under her, Jamie curled around her. So, she was contemplating saddling her favorite gelding for a long ride to fill the hours until Jamie finished her work shift when Grace called with an invitation to grill burgers at her place. The B and B was exactly where Jamie would go to change when she got off shift, and Trip would be waiting for her. Everything felt perfect until Dani showed up and introduced a nervous tension into their casual cookout.
“Sorry I haven’t been around the last couple of days. Hope I didn’t leave you in trouble at the clinic, Trip.” Dani toyed with her fork. “I had business back in Baltimore.”
Trip put down her hamburger. She glanced at Grace, who was staring at her food, her smile gone. No sense dancing around the issue.
“Job interviews?”
Dani nodded as her face reddened. “They made me an offer I couldn’t turn down.” She reached for Grace’s hand. “I apologize for my delivery.”
Grace pulled away. “Your delivery? Just to be clear, you’re not apologizing for keeping this from people who were depending on you? Not for leaving your employer in a lurch for two days? To say nothing of practically jumping from my bed and into your car without a word.” Grace rose from the table, plate in hand, but stopped beside Dani. “You really are something, Dani Wingate.”
“Grace, can we talk about this later, please?” Dani glanced toward Clay and Trip.
Trip felt Clay tense beside her. Grace, however, seemed to consider it, studying Dani for several long seconds. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I heard you perfectly the first time. Congratulations on finally getting what you wanted. I’m happy for you.”
Trip suddenly lost her appetite. This felt too much like when Jamie left her in college without even a note of explanation. No, she and Dani were colleagues. She wasn’t crushing on Dani. But her stomach didn’t seem to know the difference. She grabbed her plate, still heaped with food, and tossed it in the garbage. “I took a chance on you, Dani, and you pull this crap.” Her head knew Dani was not likely to stay, but her heart had become convinced that Dani would stay. Like Jamie would stay. She knew there was no reasonable connection, but what she and Jamie had started last night still felt very fragile. Would Jamie leave, too, if she and Petunia got a better job offer…maybe from the state or federal government?
“I can work a notice, if you need me,” Dani said.
“Probably best for Grace if you leave right now, but it will take me two weeks to restructure the schedule so I can handle the clinic and the farm calls again. Right now, you can handle calls and treatments today since I worked in your place yesterday. Clay and I need to take care of Grace.” Without another word, Trip followed Grace into the house.
* * *
Cruising her usual route through town, Jamie alternately hummed and quietly sang the ’90s tunes that played in her head, along with the good memories of her college days with Trip—fooling around at basketball practice, the team singing in the locker room shower together, Sunday afternoon challenges to see who could run the most steps in the football stadium or hit the most fast balls in the baseball team’s batting cage. She didn’t want to think about being with Trip last night or she’d end up with a giant wet spot in the crotch of her uniform pants. Acknowledging that, of course, sent her traitorous mind in that exact direction. Thankfully, her daydream was interrupted by the chiming of her cell phone.
“Jamie Grant.”
“Ms. Grant. This is Victor Helms. I’m calling you on behalf of the Strange Foundation.”
Jamie held out her phone and stared at the number calling her. She recognized the Albany, New York, area code. “What can I help you with, Mr. Helms?” She pulled the cruiser into the Piggly Wiggly shopping center and parked so she could concentrate on the phone call.
“The Strange Foundation is interested in developing and supporting a program I believe you helped pilot—the Shelter to Working Dog program.”
“There were others in that pilot program. My dog and I dropped out.”
“We are aware there was a health issue that disqualified your dog. That’s exactly why you’re the person we want to persuade to help us get this program off the blocks and moving. We need someone with your determination to overcome any obstacle. We want to talk to you about our plans and discuss a consulting contract or full-time employment with the program.”
“I’m not job hunting, Mr. Helms. But I might consider a consulting contract if I can work it out with my current job.”
“Good. As long as you keep an open mind. That’s all I’m asking. Could you possibly meet our southeast director Tuesday? She’ll be in Savannah on other business and could meet you around four.”
Jamie calculated the time she’d need to drive to Savannah after her shift. “Four thirty would be better.”
“I’m sure that will be fine.”
Jamie wrote down the address he recited and thanked him before disconnecting. A nationwide program like this could mean a second chance for so many dogs. They could start with detection animals—drugs, explosives, cadavers, trackers—and branch into service dogs for the disabled and veterans with PTSD. Jamie smiled. She couldn’t wait to give Trip her news.
* * *
The day turned out long with a major pileup on the interstate. Pine Cone was called to assist by setting up a detour route while highway patrol troopers worked to clear the wreckage and get traffic moving.
When she and Petunia finally made it back to the B and B, even the dog was tired and grumpy. She refused to eat and only drank a little water before climbing into her crate and closing her eyes. Jamie called Trip’s phone again. It’d been going straight to voice mail, but Jamie figured she might be on a call and had left it in her truck while she was working with a patient.
“Jamie?”
Jamie’s brain stuttered. “Uh, yes?” This sounded like Essie answering Trip’s phone.
Oh, no. Her brain jumped to a hundred conclusions, all bad.
“This is Essie. I was just about to call you.”
“Is everything okay? Has there been an accident? Is Trip okay? I’ve been trying to call her.”
“The bonehead left her phone here in my kitchen. Must’a put it down when she was rootin’ around in the liquor cabinet a few minutes ago. She’s in a mood, sittin’ out by the pool and sipping that fire stuff right out of the bottle. I think it’d help if you came over. Otherwise, Jerome is likely to find her sprawled out there on the grass when he comes to feed horses in the morning.”
“I’m on my way over.”
“You let that little pup in the house when you get here. I like her company.”
“Yes, ma’am. Miss Essie?” Petunia’s ears went up at mention of Essie’s name.
“Yes, honey?”
“Does Trip drink a lot?”
“She works too much, but I can’t say that she’s that much of a drinker. She’s just hit a muddy place in life’s road. She’s been hauling her wagon and everybody else’s. Now, her wheels are mired in the mud, and she needs a reason to keep faith in her ability to get free of it.”
A nose pushed against Jamie’s leg. Petunia wagged her tail when Jamie looked down. “Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.” Jamie put Essie on speaker so she could throw some things in an overnight bag, then grabbed her keys. “We should be there in about fifteen minutes.”
“Oh, and, Jamie?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“I don’t want to find clothes all over my yard in the morning.”
Jamie felt her face heat. “N-No, ma’am. No clothes in the yard.”
Essie’s cackle rang out over the phone’s speaker before she disconnected.
* * *
Jamie parked in front of the house and shook her head when she found the front door unlocked. Convenient for her, but the police officer in her wasn’t happy. People in small towns were so trusting. Essie waved from her doorway down the left hallway, and Jamie released Petunia to go to her.
“She’s still out back,” Essie said before taking Petunia into her rooms and closing the door.
Jamie paused by the patio doors. Trip sat with her feet in the water, silhouetted against the pool’s underwater lights. She shed her shoes in the kitchen and closed the door with a soft click to pad across the grass. Trip spoke when Jamie neared.
“Trying to sneak up on me?”
“As if. You need to oil the hinges on that door.”
“Then I wouldn’t know when Essie was headed out here to swat me with her newspaper.” Trip didn’t turn, but held up her hand for Jamie to join her.
Instead, Jamie straddled Trip and wrapped her arms around her from behind. The sudden change in their relationship still felt a little weird, but in a good way. A really good way. “Tell me what has you out here sipping whiskey?”
Trip held it up. “Fireball. Tastes like that hot candy we used to eat when we were kids.”
Jamie sniffed it, then tasted. “It does.” She coughed when the burn hit her throat. “Except for the afterburn.” She set the bottle to the side, kissed Trip’s neck, then began a gentle massage of her tense shoulders. “Now answer my question.”
Trip heaved a huge sigh. “Dani’s back. Her sudden need to take care of something was actually a job interview.” Trip’s barked laugh echoed across the pool. “Stupid, trusting me. I didn’t even ask for details. I was sure it was some family issue since she asked at the last minute. But she had to know about the appointment days, at least a week in advance.”
Jamie had gotten a call today for a meeting day after tomorrow. “You don’t know that, Trip. Lots of things could have caused them to call her at the last minute. So, did she take the job?”
“Yeah.”
“That sucks.” Jamie stopped her massage and rested her cheek against Trip’s when Trip sank backward into her embrace. After a long moment, she kissed Trip’s temple and tightened her arms. “So, make a plan. You ran the clinic alone before Dani. You can do it again until you find another suitable hire. What about your second choice when you interviewed Dani?”
“He already had another offer and was holding them off while I made my decision. I’m sure he took that offer when I chose Dani because of her zoo experience. When I called to let him know I’d decided on another candidate, he said he was disappointed, but his wife and kids weren’t excited about moving to the South and had been pressuring him to take the other offer anyway.”
“Third candidate?”
“Nobody else I interviewed even made my short list.”
Jamie couldn’t believe Trip was this defeated. The woman she knew in college was a problem solver. In fact, she loved to solve problems. “You can make a new list after Brenda rearranges your schedule. Now tell me what’s really bothering you.”
Trip twisted out of Jamie’s arms and jumped to her feet. “Grace has fallen in love with Dani.” She began to pace the concrete poolside.
“I didn’t know they were dating.” Now that she thought back, there were some looks she’d noticed passing between Grace and Dani that made sense now, and some nights when she didn’t hear Dani moving about in the room next door. Had she been in Grace’s cottage?
Trip snorted. “I don’t think they have dated.” She stopped her pacing and held up a finger. “Oh, unless you want to count that lunch at the diner when Dani said the only seat open was the one at the counter next to Grace.” She started to pace again. “So, Dani wastes my time settling her into my practice, beds one of my best friends, and then breaks her heart to run off after the first job offer that comes along.” Trip stopped again and dropped her chin to rub her eyes with the heels of her hands. “Grace is crushed.”
Jamie stood and tugged Trip’s hands away from her face. “Grace will hurt, that’s for sure. But she’s a strong woman. She’ll survive. Dani obviously wasn’t the one for her.”
Trip didn’t meet Jamie’s eyes. “We haven’t really dated.”
Finally, the heart of the problem.
Jamie smiled and let go of Trip’s hands to cup her face and capture her eyes. “Sweetie, we slept within a few feet of each other for two years, ate most of our meals together, spent every afternoon together at practice, and showered in front of each other. That’s got to be some kind of lesbian record.”
Trip laughed and the spark Jamie loved returned to Trip’s eyes. “I love it when you’re right.” She tugged Jamie close, then Jamie laughed when Trip lifted her off her feet to twirl her around. The world spun even faster when Trip claimed her with a kiss that warmed Jamie’s mouth and heated everything else farther south. Maybe it was the remnants of Fireball on Trip’s tongue. Nah. Jamie knew better.
* * *
Jamie had insisted that no clothes come off until they crossed the threshold into Trip’s bedroom, so shoes, shorts and T-shirts began to fly before the door clicked shut. They laughed as, naked, they playfully wrestled for dominance until Jamie yielded and Trip claimed victory with a long, hot dance of soft lips and probing tongue. Jamie had never wanted a woman so much…so much that her head was buzzing.
Trip cursed and drew back.
“What?” Jamie blinked. Did she do something wrong?
Trip grabbed her phone from the bedside table, and the buzzing stopped. “Beaumont.”
A muffled voice sounded on the other end.
“No. I have the number in my contacts. I’ll call them.” Trip ended the call and glanced at Jamie. “Sorry. Essie must have brought my phone up here. That was my answering service.” She put the phone to her ear again. “Hey, Will, it’s Trip. What’s up?”
More muffled words and Trip began to search around for her clothes, tossing items into a nearby chair.
“You have some of those pre-loaded doses of Banamine on hand? …Good. Give him one now, like I showed you. I’m on my way.”
Trip tossed the phone onto the bed and flopped down next to Jamie. She brushed her fingers along Jamie’s cheek. “I am so sorry, but I have an emergency colic. This client paid a ton of money for this horse. I might be all night.”
Jamie kissed her. “It’s okay. I understand. P and I can go home.” She rose from the bed and looked to see where her clothes might have landed.
Trip pulled the bedcovers back and guided Jamie back to the bed, pushing her down and covering her. “Please stay. I’m sure Essie and Petunia are already tucked in bed, and I like thinking of you snuggled in my bed while I’m out sweating in a dusty barn.”
Jamie shivered when Trip snuck her hand under the sheet and cupped her breast. “No fair. You’re leaving me in a bad way as it is.”
Trip smiled. “Hold that thought. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Trip glanced at the clock and Jamie admonished herself for delaying Trip this long.
“Go. If I’m not here when you get back, it’s only because it’s after seven and I had to leave for work.”
* * *
It was close to five thirty when Jamie woke to Trip crawling under the covers. She was very naked, but the tired lines of Trip’s face stopped Jamie from doing more than rolling over to cuddle against Trip’s back. Within seconds, Trip’s breathing evened out and she was limp in Jamie’s arms.
Jamie stared up at the ceiling. She hadn’t told Trip about the call from the Strange Foundation. They’d gotten caught up in the Dani-clinic problem and then the Dani-Grace problem and she just forgot to tell Trip. No. That wasn’t true. We haven’t really dated.
Trip hadn’t actually yet said the three no-going-back words—“I love you”—but she expressed it in a hundred other ways. Jamie hadn’t ever come close to admitting how she felt. Not in words.
Was she afraid? Yes. She was afraid that when she told Trip about her meeting with the foundation, Trip would jump to the conclusion that she was going to follow Dani’s example and chose a dream job over Trip.
Would she? Not even she could say for sure. One thing was certain—she would not sneak out of town like Dani did and come back to announce she was leaving. But she had only one day, and she needed a plan.