Page 31 of Falling for the Enemy

“Wow. A town festival and a dog, all in one day? Who are you?”

Unsure what he’d done to deserve such a jab, he frowned.

Jocelyn clicked off the walkie-talkie and holstered it back on her hip. “The rental company took the wrong exit. They should be here within the hour. I told them to unload at the back of Town Hall.”

Mayor Quimby sighed in relief. “Thanks, Jocelyn. I’ll let the others know.”

Soren was amazed at how the others deferred to her. She was as chaotic as a hurricane, yet somehow capable of organizing events for the townspeople without breaking a sweat. Crazy that they would even trust a woman like Jocelyn Collins with such responsibility, but here she was, getting it done.

When the mayor drifted off, Jocelyn scowled at Soren. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“What? I’m impressed.”

“Shut up.” She walked away, leaving him and King standing there.

They followed her toward the table where she was stationed. “I’m not used to seeing you that way.”

“What way?” she asked, not bothering to look back as she moved at a clipped pace.

“In charge. Organized.” Honestly, it was a sexy side of her he hadn’t realized existed.

She glared over her shoulder. “Go away.”

“I’m serious, Joce. It’s a different side of you. Usually, I only see you on your back, tits out and begging.”

“Oh my God, shut up,” she hissed, then quickly collected herself and returned to her normally cool façade. “More like begging you to leave me alone.”

He laughed. “We both know that’s a lie.”

“I have work to do.” She settled in behind her table. “And you have a stable to build for your new horse.”

Cordelia went ballistic the second she saw King, springing up from her little dog cart—correction, stroller—and erupting into a barking fit.

King jerked back, terrified of the tiny terrorist, and Jocelyn laughed.

Soren gave the leash a tug when King tried to bolt to safety. “Don’t be afraid of that little pest. It’s just a rat.”

But King wasn’t convinced. He pulled back, dragging Soren with him, as far away from the gremlin-toting stroller as he could get.

“Your rodent is upsetting my purebred.”

“It’s not my fault your dog’s a big baby.”

Cordelia leapt out of the stroller and charged King. The Unicorn hoodie made her look like a deranged marshmallow set to attack a loveseat on legs. King jerked the leash, and Soren had to lock his knees to prevent being dragged across the green.

“Jocelyn, your dog!”

“For the love of Odin. Cordelia, come!”

The scraggly chihuahua continued to bark as she marched back to her mother’s lap, where she landed with the regal authority of a peeved princess.

“Man, she really hates you.”

“Me? She’s an asshole. She hates everyone.”

“Not true.” Jocelyn’s smile bloomed as she looked over Soren’s shoulder. “Hey, guys, when did you get here?”

Soren turned to find Wren and Greyson staring at King.