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She’s not allergic to dogs. She’s allergic to commitment.
“I understand if you can’t handle the dare,” I goad her.
“Fine. You’re on.” She holds out her hand. “What do I win when you flee town before the six months are up?”
She has no idea what she’s signed up for. Six months in this town is nothing.
“I’ll pay for those business classes you’ve been researching.”
She narrows her eyes on me. She thinks I don’t know how worried she is about acquiringElectric Vibes.How she doesn’t think she can handle it. This woman can handle whatever the world throws at her. But it’s cute how she thinks she can hide from me.
I bop her nose. “I told you. I know you.”
“Fine.” We shake hands.
Her green eyes sparkle. She thinks she’s already won. She has no idea. This dare is the perfect opportunity. It gives me six months to work on convincing her how great we are as a couple.
Chapter 9
Diva – a self-important person who’s hard to please or a three-legged dog
Juniper laughs at my car when I pick her up at the wildlife refuge outside of Winter Falls. Juniper is the sister of my soon-to-be sister-in-law Lilac. She’s also the world’s biggest animal lover, which is why I asked her to join me on today’s adventure.
“Why are you laughing?”
There’s nothing funny about my car. Unless you think an electric car is ridiculous. But it’s not like I have a choice since my brother is the CEO of an environmental engineering company.
“You’re picking up a puppy in this car?”
I growl at the reminder of the stupid dare I made with Archer. No, not Archer. Cedar. I can’t believe he lied to me about who he is. If I had known he was Rowan’s brother, I would have never spent as many nights in bed with him as I did.
What am I saying? I should have stuck to my one-night-only rule period. This is what happens when I break my rules. I end up adopting a dog and having feelings for a man. A man who can’t be trusted.
“I never said I was getting a puppy,” I tell her as I drive toward the animal shelter in White Bridge.
“Don’t you want a cute little bundle of fur to cuddle?”
I roll my eyes. “Animal freak.”
“Ashlyn is super jealous I’m accompanying you today by the way.” She rubs her hands together. “I love making my baby sister jealous.”
I thought I had it tough growing up with three sisters, but Juniper has four. The oldest is Aspen and then there’s Ellery, Lilac, Juniper, and Ashlyn. Ashlyn is married to Rowan, Cedar’s brother. Dang it. Why does my every thought end with Cedar? I push him and his deceit out of my mind.
“You don’t exactly have to work hard at making Ashlyn jealous. You’re engaged to a movie star.”
“And she’s married to the man of her dreams who also happens to be a former NFL star.”
I feign gagging. “You can keep your love and marriage and babies. I know fairytales aren’t real.”
“Really? I heard you and a certain someone have a thing going on.”
“Had. It’s over.” My stomach clenches in protest, but I ignore it. I’m not built for relationships.
“Maybe if we weren’t on the way to the shelter to adopt a dog because you and Cedar made some weird dare/bet thing, I’d believe you.”
“I don’t know what you’re referring to.” I can act prim and proper when the situation demands it.
“Ha!” She barks out a laugh. “You’re hilarious, but I’ll drop the subject.”
