My glass is empty again. Have I eaten anything since the PB&J that I brought for lunch. I don’t think so. The wine bottle’s empty, too. I’m about to ask her why she didn’t bring one for each of us when the door opens.
Uh-oh. I probably shouldn’t have any customers right now. I imagine what a doggy haircut given in my current condition would look like and can’t hold back the giggle.
Well, that’s not professional.
Then I realize it’s Hayden and feel all hot and melty inside. He’s so freakin’ hot—even hotter than when we were in high school.
And I’m going to be his wife.
Mel makes an exaggerated gagging sound I find hilarious. “I should have locked the door.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Hayden
I look at the two women sitting on the floor of the shop with their backs against the wall. There’s an empty bottle of wine lying on its side, and Mel still has a little in her glass, but Cara’s is empty. They’re probably going to be sorry tomorrow—especially if Cara didn’t eat anything after work.
She probably didn’t, based on the way she keeps looking at me and giggling. And Mel looks like she just realized she sat in a pile of shit left by a four-legged customer.
At least Cara looks happy to see me.
“I was driving past and saw the lights on.” I say, shoving my hands in my pockets and feeling awkward. It’s not something I’m used to. “It’s late, so I—well, I was afraid maybe you were staying here because Gin threw you out or something.”
Mel laughs, holding up her glass. “That’s actually sweet, even though you’re still an asshole. But Gin can’t throw Cara out. She’d starve.”
It’s been a long time since somebody other than my brother has called me an asshole to my face, but I let it go. Mel was Cara’s best friend in high school, so I would expect her to hate me even more than the Gamble family does. Holding grudges is in the best friend job description.
“She wouldn’t starve,” Cara says, frowning. “But she’d probably freeze during the winter.”
I’m not sure what Cara has told Mel, but I’m guessing since the two of them have knocked down a giant bottle of wine sitting on the floor of a dog salon, our upcoming wedding’s probably not a secret. I hope she’s sober enough to remember everybody in our lives has to be told the whirlwind reunion lie. No exceptions. And not only because Gin has to believe it.
I didn’t really stress the legal aspect to Cara, but if Gin decides to come after me for taking her house by fraudulent methods after the divorce and buyout, I need for everybody from my brother to Cara’s best friend to be able to swear under oath we married for love. I’m going to take Marcus Gamble’s house, and I don’t want his widow to have any grounds for taking it back.
“My car’s out front. Let me drive you both home so I don’t have to worry about you.”
Cara sits up straighter, her face lighting up. My ego swells, enjoying her reaction to the idea of spending even a few minutes with me. Sure, we’ll also have Mel with us, but I’ll take what I can get.
“Is Penny in the car?” she asks, and my ego deflates like a popped balloon.
“She’s at my mom’s. I asked her if she wanted to go for a ride, but she’d found a comfy spot in her bed and didn’t want to leave it.”
Mel nods. “The doggy equivalent of dammit, I just took my bra off.”
“Yes.” Cara looks at her friend as if she’s said something incredibly wise. “Penny had put her comfy jammies on and wanted to be left alone.”
“Men never understand.”
I hold up my hands. “I just asked her if she wanted to go for a ride. She usually likes going in the car with me.”
“Read the room,” Mel snaps. “She just took her bra off, Hayden.”
Cara giggles and tries to take a sip of wine from her empty glass.
They’re well past the point of me leaving them here to walk home. Sumac Falls is a small town and they’ve lived here their entire lives, so I don’t think they’ll get lost. But I also grew up here, so I know if they hurt themselves or decide to do something rash, they’ll be the talk of the town for who knows how long.
“The wine’s gone, so let me take you home, sweetheart.” The endearment makes her eyes widen, but I’m hoping it’ll remind her that, as far as everybody else is concerned, we’re wildly in love. “We’re going to town hall for the marriage license in the morning, remember?”
“Tomorrow?” Mel looks at Cara, holding up her hand in a sloppy what the hell gesture. “You just got engaged.”
