Page 63 of Boneyard HEA

I eye them for a moment or two longer as Lucy trundles back, tongue lolling, with happiness in every rollicking element of her chubby body. I’m sure she would benefit from a diet or more exercise. Maybe I can arrange that?

Happiness is good, no matter what.

Happiness is a happy, bonkers dog by your side.

I’m beginning to see how this odd relationship of ours could blossom. I’m beginning to really trust them to do what they promised. What I asked for was not this, but it seems perfect. Impossibly so. Are they really as happy as the dog? Cause if they aren’t, if any of this becomes less interesting to them, this will fall apart.

Or if this dark conspiracy Mr. Loxland mused over is real? What then?

I must stop questioning everything. Live life, day by day.

Lucy looks up at me and barks.

“I know. You’re right. I’m a sad fool who wants it all. My enemies’ heads on a pike and love.” Love…girl you are hopeless indeed.

I go to one knee to get the ball where she’s dropped it then throw it again, sending her running. Sand spurts into the air as her paws dig in. Seconds later, she’s a distant dog, a splotch that’s snatched up the ball and is curving back to me.

“Go, Lucy!”

The men sprint up the beach toward me, and I’m grinning until the last few yards when they haven’t slowed. They sweep me up squealing as Lucy also arrives and jumps about barking. There’s nothing I can do except accept my fate as I’m carried to the water, then a few yards out, and dumped.

The sea water surges up around me, and I sink, flounder about then leap up, spitting water.

“You!” Where are the men? Both are at the water’s edge, having retreated a little. They throw the ball in after me, and the dog joins me.

With her bouncing about looking for the ball as the waves wash it to and fro, I give in and frolic about with her.

“Come on in!” I yell to the men.

“Coming?” Mr. Loxland asks Tomás.

“First in gets a kiss?” he yells back at me.

“Absolutely!”

Seconds later, they’ve stripped off their T-shirts and joined me.

I’m not sure I don’t kiss the dog at least once in the mayhem of being thrown back into the water and kissed by both men.

I’ve sand in and on every part of me, and I’m dripping wet, hair soaked, and laughing, by the time we leave the water. The dog is worse.

We shower under the nearest public showers then set off back to the hotel, where Lucy must be given back to Margaret. The poor dog has been fed leftover ice creams as well as dog snacks. I hope she behaves on the ferry home.

Home…

From the hotel balcony, I watch Margaret leading her across to the jetty as the ferry revs its engines and positions itself for anchoring and taking on passengers.

Should we have given in and done the same? Fuck. I’m putting my men in danger by asking them to help me. Why has it taken me this long to see that?

Because they weren’t important to me before.

Someone has arrived at the hotel-room door. I’ve heard voices, and the tinkle of glass.

Mr. Loxland is leaning on the balcony rail beside me, also watching Lucy leaving us. He looks as contemplative as I feel. At a sound, I turn to see Tomás standing in the wide, double doorway that leads back into the room.

“Drinks have arrived. Just beers, snacks, and a cocktail for Juniper.”

“Guys, can we talk about stuff?”