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She grinned as she peeked under the table at him. “Are you pouting?”
The dog turned his head, his teeth flashing in a smile.
Anna Beth sat back up, chuckling. Animals really were funny creatures and seemed to be the best part of any good movie.
Her eyes closed once more and the first scene popped into her head like a tiny projector display. Concentrating, she opened her eyes and typed. Words flew onto the computer screen with ease, something she hadn’t experienced with her family drama screenplay, even from the beginning.
The screenplay opened with a woman back in her hometown, suddenly knocked over by a large chocolate lab. She lands on her back in the snow and the cold, white stuff slips into every crevice. She’s ready to give the owner a piece of her mind, but when she looks up, she’s faced with a very hot guy. Someone she used to know.
Before she knew it, Anna Beth hit return on page five and didn’t even look up when Jared dropped into the chair beside her.
“Wow, you’re in the zone, huh?”
Anna Beth finished typing the last sentence in the scene and met his gaze with a grin. “Actually, yeah. I have to admit, my writing has been a little slow lately, but today, I feel inspired.”
“It’s the magic of Snowy Springs, I’m telling you. It’s amazing what this place can do for your soul.”
“Is that why you never left?” she asked.
“That, and my family is here. We might not be bonded by blood, but Karen and Mike mean a lot to me. Besides, I get enough alone time at my place. I live off the beaten path and I enjoy the quiet.”
Anna Beth pushed her laptop aside and leaned on the table, lost in her train of thought. “Being around your family makes me miss my parents. Although things with Sarah are better than they were, I still remember how exciting it was, waking up on Christmas morning and finding Mom and Dad on the couch. The fire would be roaring and so many presents under the tree. Mom wrapped them al
l in different paper, too. She always had the biggest smile when I opened that one gift from Santa. And, after dinner, Dad would bite the leg off a gingerbread man and chase me with it, just to make Mom laugh. I found that happiness again with Ian, but now…”
Jared reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “You’ve lost so much, A.B., but I know you’ll find that kind of happiness again. You deserve it.”
The intensity in Jared’s eyes set her skin tingling where their hands met. “I hope so.”
“I know so. Now, I am going to take my obnoxiously needy dog and get out of your hair. Tomorrow at ten?”
“I can’t wait,” she said, meaning it.
“Alright.” He leaned over and picked up Rip’s leash. “Come on, you’ll see her tomorrow.”
Rip kept looking back at her with dark, soulful eyes and she laughed. As she watched Jared load Rip into the truck, she kept smiling. No matter how confusing her feelings for Jared were, being around him was good for her writing.
Or, maybe he’s just good for you?
When she turned back to her screenplay, Anna Beth realized that could be true.
Thirteen
Jared pulled up in front of Sarah’s house on Monday morning with two coffees from Foam Capped Java in his cup holder and Rip in the back seat of his truck. Rip eyed the brown bag next to Jared, licking his lips. Jared moved the bag away from his dog and scowled.
“These sandwiches are for humans, not dogs.”
Rip let out a series of high-pitched barks and bit the back of the seat.
“Hey! Knock that off and stop arguing. Lately, your attitude sucks. If you were human, I’d call you Casey.”
Rip cocked his head with a whine.
“Fine, you’re not that bad, but I’m taking these with me in case you get any ideas.” Jared picked the bag back up and climbed out. He headed up the walkway, nearly slipping in the fresh layer of powder on the cement. Luckily, they’d only gotten another few inches last night and not the five inches the weather app predicted.
Jared stood on the porch, taking deep, calming breaths. As much as he wanted to play it cool, he’d spent all night at work thinking about today. He knew it was just one old friend helping out another, but catching up with Anna Beth proved to be an addicting pastime for him.
He knocked on the front door with three sharp raps. It opened slowly, revealing Sarah in a lavender dress, looking ready to head out.
