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“Hey, Jared!” The owner, Kelly, never batted an eye when Snowy Springs patrons brought their dogs inside as long as they were well behaved. Just another benefit of living in a small town. “The usual for Rip?”
Jared faced Kelly with a grin. “Yeah, thanks, Kel. And I’ll take a large white mocha.” He held out a twenty, but she shook her head.
“It’s been covered.”
“It has?”
“Yep.” Anna Beth came up alongside him and Kelly winked. “Glad to have you back, Anna Beth. Be just a minute.”
Anna Beth leaned on the counter next to him, her vanilla scent swirling around him pleasantly. “What did you get?”
“Large white mocha for me and a pup-cup for Rip. You didn’t have to pay for my order.”
“I know. But that’s what friends do, right? Buy each other coffee?”
“Yeah, but I could have bought yours.”
“Next time, if I don’t beat you to it.”
Jared shook his head. “Did you order something yet?”
“Not yet. I was just getting situated. I’m kind of a freak when I work. Everything has to be just so.” Without warning, Anna Beth knelt down and her voice went up two octaves. “You must be Rip. You are gorgeous. Has anyone ever told you that?”
Rip loved everyone he’d ever met, but only a select few got the lap treatment. Rip knocked Anna Beth backward, onto her butt, and Rip curled up in her lap, nuzzling her cheek. She laughed, wrapping her arms around the dog.
“What a love bug. I may have to claim you. How do you feel about cats, though?”
Rip sniffed the front of her shirt in response and then rubbed his cheek against it with a whimper.
“I hate to break it to you, but this fur ball and I are an inseparable pair. If you want him, you get me too.” Jared wanted to kick himself as soon as the words tumbled out but, to his surprise, she laughed.
“I could live with that.”
Her words were a gut-punch. He knew it was only good-natured razzing, but he wanted it to be more. After all these years, he was still carrying a torch for Anna Beth Howard.
Son of a bitch.
Twelve
Anna Beth stroked the top of Rip’s head, nestled in her lap. The dog hadn’t left her side since Jared sat down and, when Rip leaned against her, Anna Beth melted. She grinned at Jared from across the coffee shop table.
/> “Pretty sure I’m his new favorite person,” Anna Beth said.
Jared cocked a brow and took a drink of his coffee, his brown eyes filled with amusement. He set his cup down on the table with a gentle tap. “You’re still not taking my dog.”
Anna Beth sighed dramatically. “Fine, I’ll let you keep him.” She shot him a sly smile. “For now.”
Jared chuckled, a deep rumbling in his chest, and she shivered. Had his voice always been so low and sexy?
Snap out of it. There will be none of that! Friends, remember?
“Why did you name him Rip, anyway?” she asked.
“My favorite character on Yellowstone.”
“I haven’t seen it.”
“What? We'll have to remedy that. Maybe we can schedule a marathon while you’re here.”
