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Her muscles relaxed, and her eyes drifted shut.
Gravel crunched behind Jax. He turned to see the ambulance pulling onto the berm. Two EMTs jogged from the vehicle, a portable stretcher under one of their arms. After explaining what had happened, Jax helped them get her to the ambulance.
He ground his teeth, watching the tail lights of the ambulance get further away until it eventually disappeared.
The fields surrounding him showed no sign of a dog anywhere.
A promise was a promise, though.
Whether from sheer determination or military tracking skills, Jax located the terrified husky in only fifteen minutes. After luring it to him with some leftover beef jerky from the truck, he lassoed it with a rope from the truck’s bed. Once the creature calmed down, it acted pretty tame, lounging on the seat with one cheek smooshed against his leg while he drove to the sanctuary.
When he got there, he explained the situation to Jessa and left the dog with her, then rushed to the hospital. Again.
/////
Seyla eased herself out of the lounge chair in Sam Harrison’s family room, her side aching. She winced. Time for more naproxen.
“I can help carry the glasses out.”
Ellen’s forehead creased, her mouth pursing. “Nonsense. You sit and rest, or you’ll end up right back in the hospital.”
Seyla sank back into the cocoon of built-in cushions on the chair. “No, thank you. Twenty-four hours were enough.”
Ellen placed the glasses on a tray and carried them to the kitchen.
“Your turn,” Jax murmured.
There was no denying that his low, rumbling voice affected her. Seyla riveted her eyes on the grid in front of her, smiled, and plunked a red checker into the middle column of the game set. “And...I win.”
“What? How?”
His overblown indignation made her laugh out loud. “Maybe you should concentrate more on the game.”
“Maybe I should.” The corners of his mouth tipped up in amusement. His hazel eyes met hers, warming her like hot cocoa on a frosty day.
No. Chocolate ganache. His voice, that smile, his eyes...they made her feel like she’d taken a generous bite of a cake slice smothered with chocolate ganache. Like she could lean on his shoulder and sigh, simply enjoying his company.
Sam chuckled, knocking her free of the ridiculous thoughts. “Looks like your reign is over, Jax.” He counted the four red checkers in a diagonal. “That’s the third time she beat you. I think you’ve met your match.” Sam winked at them and left the room, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
Seyla’s mouth popped open. She locked eyes with Jax, who mirrored her alarm. What should have been an awkward silence, though, erupted into laughter.
Ellen returned to the room. “The sunset is beautiful this evening. Why don’t you two go sit in the rocking chairs on the porch to enjoy it? I’ll bring you some tea.”
Seyla scooted forward to get up, and immediately Jax’s hand warmed the sensitive skin on the underbelly of her arm, supporting her. His touch unsettled her but in a good way, like another mouthful of ganache melting on her tongue.
“Thanks,” she mumbled.
“Anytime.” He paused, his warm gaze connecting with hers, and said, “You go on out. I’ll bring you some tea. Earl Grey or peach herbal?”
“Peach, please.”
“Any sugar or honey?”
Seyla pressed her lips together and bit them. She slanted her gaze up at him to gauge his reaction to her response. “Two.”
“Two what?”
“Teaspoons. Two teaspoons of sugar.”
