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A slow grin spread along Hazel Jacobs’s, face and she winked.
“I was talking about the dog I’m adopting.” She paused and lowered her voice. “But you’re right, Nathan. Molly Malone is beautiful. I’m just surprised you’ve never noticed before.”
Chapter Thr
ee
“What are you doing here?” The question that sounded more like an accusation fell from Molly before she could snatch it back, and it took everything she had to stop from rolling her eyes and hitting herself on the forehead. What the hell? Hadn’t the pep talk she’d given herself this morning done anything?
Apparently not, considering her voice sounded like she’d pulled it through the eye of a needle. Seriously, she’d give Minnie Mouse a run for her money.
Luckily, Nate didn’t get a chance to answer because Kyle walked forward with his hand out like he was the head greeter at the local Walmart. She stood back and watched as they did that thing guys do—hearty handshake followed by slap on a shoulder, said shoulder squared and puffed up like a peacock, and a couple of fist bumps to finish it off.
Men. They never change. She ignored the both of them and sailed past to where Hazel stood with Samuel Jacobs, a man who’d been a second father to her. He enveloped Molly in a bear hug and then nodded at the small puppy in her arms.
“So, this is the pup Mom was telling me about.” Samuel Jacobs took the dog from her arms and held him aloft. She was an eight-week-old lab cross, chubby and furry and squiggly as could be. He turned the puppy to the right and then the left, doing his best to avoid its excited attempts to lick his face. He looked at his mother.
“What are you naming this little guy?”
“It’s a girl, and I don’t know,” Hazel said, taking the puppy into her arms. Unlike her son, she had no qualms about puppy kisses, and the dog’s tail wagged crazily as she yipped and squeaked in her effort to touch every inch of Hazel’s face with a soft tongue and a wet nose. The sight just about melted Molly’s heart. This was what made volunteering at the shelter so worthwhile.
She glanced over her shoulder and frowned. Kyle and Nate stood inches from each other, shoulders squared, legs spread wide. This time, she didn’t bother to hide her eye roll. Their male posturing was almost as entertaining as watching two peacocks trying to outdo each other.
“You volunteer at the shelter?” Nate asked Kyle, not bothering to hide his surprise. Molly knew what Nate was thinking—the guy was a player, always had been, and this right here didn’t jive with the Kyle that Nate knew.
And he’d be right. No doubt about it, Kyle wasn’t the type to spend Sundays volunteering at the animal shelter, and she knew it. Just like she knew what his ulterior motive was. But truthfully, she’d take anyone’s volunteer hours for whatever reason if it meant helping an animal in need. She could more than handle Kyle. And sure the guy was a total man-whore, but he was also fun, charming, definitely easy on the eyes, and she enjoyed his sense of humor.
“Kyle’s just helping me out because everyone else I know was at Stu’s last night,” Molly said.
“She’s right. I’m allergic to just about every animal with fur. Took me a triple dose of antihistamine just to get the job done.”
“Job?” Nate prodded.
“The only way I could get Molly to agree to go out with me was to drive six hours yesterday to some place out in the boonies and grab a litter of pups and their mama from a kill shelter.”
“I didn’t know you guys were dating.” The question was directed at her, but Kyle answered—which pissed her off. She hated anyone speaking for her, especially a man.
“Molly doesn’t date,” Kyle said dryly. “She drives the guys around here crazy until they’re willing do to stuff like drive cross-country just for a chance to get her alone.”
“Does she now,” Nate replied, his eyes narrowing as they settled on her.
“I’m standing right here,” she said brusquely.
“What?” Kyle chuckled. “It’s not like it’s not the truth.” He cracked a smile and winked. “You just make sure you’re ready Friday morning, and we’re good.”
“I’ll be ready,” she replied lightly.
Kyle said his goodbyes and then disappeared around the corner of the house. “What’s happening on Friday?” Nate asked.
Molly looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “It’s the Friday before Labor Day weekend.”
“And?”
“What have we been doing that same exact weekend since we were twelve?” Had he really forgotten? Was he so far removed from Crystal Lake that their traditions and things held sacred didn’t matter? Had New York City scrambled his brains?
Nate looked confused for all of five seconds and then his eyes flattened, and his lips thinned. “You’re floating down the river with Kyle?” He sounded as if it was the most unbelievable thing on the planet.
“I am,” she replied flippantly. Screw Nate.
