“That part came out wrong.Truly, I’m not suicidal.I just… For the past year, he’s given me a reason to wake up in the mornings, and my new life will be flat and grey without him in it.”
Shana raised the phone again.“Can you transfer Shiro to us?I know you’re full, right?… Uh-huh, uh-huh.But he isn’t the owner, and Jane is also an attorney, so if he gives us any trouble, we’ll deal with it.”
She hung up, and I managed to suck in a breath.That sounded awful and positive at the same time.Ridge was at Saving Paws?So much for the Benadryl.No thank-you note from me.
“Is he still there?”
“They’re both there—your dog and your husband, and your husband’s being real rude and talking down to everyone.Carol’s gonna sneak the dog out the back door and have someone drive him here.”
“Ridge won’t be happy about that.”
“Doesn’t seem as if he’s happy about a lot of things.We have a volunteer who’s a trial attorney, and she’ll wipe the floor with him if he tries to sue.Like, he’ll be a smear of doo-doo on the tile.We have surrender forms for a reason.We also have adoption forms, and really, I need to get an address from you, but I’ll take an IOU if you give me a contact number.”
“I had to put my phone into airplane mode.”
“Right.Did you turn off the location services?”
“The what?”
Shana held out a hand.“Give it here.”
Half an hour later, I wept in relief as Shiro licked my face nonstop, and who cared when he knocked me onto my ass?Shana had to hold him back by the collar so I could get back to my feet.
“Well, he’s definitely your boy.”
“Thank you so much for helping us.”
“Don’t forget to let me know how you’re doing.”
“I won’t, I promise.”
She’d accepted an email address in lieu of a regular address, and also loaded a bag of kibble into the Lexus’s trunk alongside the blankets and pillow I’d hastily stuffed in there.Meanwhile, I’d paced in the parking lot, terrified that Ridge would see Shiro leaving the other shelter and follow him to this one.But Ridge was apparently too busy calling the sheriff’s department, determined to get someone,anyone, arrested.
“Well, good luck,” Shana said as I opened the car’s back door and let Shiro jump inside.He hesitated, probably because Ridge pitched a fit if he even breathed in the vicinity of the Lexus, muttering about claws and scratches and hair on the upholstery.I’d had to take an Uber to training classes, which was where I’d met Saylor.“Will you still make your cooking show?”
“At the moment, I’m not sure.”
“My sister will be real disappointed if you quit.Although she preferred the original episodes—you know, the ‘Dear Saylor’ ones.”
At first, when my blog had just been my silly way of keeping in touch with a bestie who’d moved a million miles away, I’d started every video with “Dear Saylor, today we’re gonna make…” and it was only after Ridge had gotten involved that the show grew more polished.Proper lighting, set design, product placement.I’d gone along with it because he left me little choice, but secretly, I preferred the early days when I’d made each recipe with love for an audience of one.
“She did?Those were my favourites too.When I get settled, maybe I’ll be able to start cooking again.”
Although I’d have to be so, so careful about keeping my location under wraps.For the first time, and with help, I’d outsmarted Ridge, and I knew he’d never give me a second chance if he caught up with me.
Shana waved as I set off with Shiro, onto the highway and into the unknown.But one thing was certain—never again would I get entangled with a man.We were on our own now.
CHAPTER4
JESSALYN
“Three thousand bucks for a diamond engagement ring?That’s all?But it cost ten times that much.”
“Yeah?You got a receipt?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Three thousand bucks for the pair.Nobody wants princess-cut diamonds at the moment.”He tapped the glass counter in front of him.“Got six here I can’t sell.You could try Herb at the Trading Post, but he’ll tell you the same as me.We’re businessmen, not charities.”
