Man's Best Friend (The Dogmothers #5) - Roxanne St. Claire Page 0,2
I were each allowed to bring a friend.”
“I remember that. I was so honored to be the friend you picked. And your dad brought those big inner tubes, and your sister was practically still a toddler, making your mom so nervous every time she got near the water.”
“Smella Mahoney. Making mothers crazy since 1988.”
Evie closed her eyes and remembered how fun it had been as an only child to be with that big family. “You think we’ll come back in the future, Dec?”
“Sure.” The total lack of hesitation made her smile.
“Like when I’m finally a vet and you’re the fire captain?”
“Of course.”
“How about when we’re really old?” she asked. “When I’m wrinkled like my Grandmama Penelope?”
“And I’m gray and fat enough to play Santa at the fire station.” He patted his stomach, which was anything but fat. She fought the temptation to reach over and explore the muscles he’d developed while hauling hoses and lifting ladders at BBFD.
He held her gaze, his smile fading, his eyes intense.
“What?” she asked with a half-smile.
“You ready to play?” he asked.
Heat curled through her. “Is that what you call it?”
He laughed and poked her in the side, making her giggle. “The Birthday Game. What did you think I meant?”
“Umm…the We’re Not Just Friends Anymore Game?” She added a flirtatious smile.
“That’s not a game, E. That’s serious business.”
Her whole body grew heavy at the husky tone in his voice. “Okay.” She rolled onto her side and propped her head up. “Birthday Game, then. You go first.”
He slid down next to her, matching her position so they were face-to-face. “Best movie this year.”
“Hmm. Tie between Erin Brockovich and Dinosaur.”
“The kids’ movie, Dinosaur? You saw that?” he asked.
“Twice. It got me through finals last semester. Also a few long calls with a certain firefighter when things were slow at the Bitter Bark station.”
That made him smile. “Well, you’re nothing if not eclectic. I’m going with Gladiator.”
“You’re nothing if not predictable. Biggest personal victory?”
“Probie graduation.” He tapped her nose. “Thanks again for coming back for it.”
“Wouldn’t dream of missing your big day. My biggest victory was getting the job at your uncle’s vet office this summer. I can’t believe how much I’m learning. Dr. Kilcannon is a brilliant vet, and your cousin Molly? She’s young, but I love working with her. On our lunch breaks, we plan the vet practice we’re going to open together someday.”
“They love having you there. Okay. Let’s get the bad one over with. Worst day of the past year?”
“I hate this one,” she said, making a face. “This past year? I guess when I took that B-minus in microbiology. Gah, that hurt.”
“The brain trust takes a B.”
“Minus.”
He grinned at her. “Unheard of.”
“It should be. What was your worst day of the past year, Dec?”
“That fire out on Red Oak Road,” he answered without a second’s hesitation. “First real big one for me, and man, if my dad hadn’t been leading me into that warehouse and watching out for me every step of the way, I’m not sure I’d have made it out.”
She put a hand on his arm, and this time it wasn’t just a sly way of touching him. “You be careful in that job, Dec.”
“I am,” he promised her. “What’s next? Happiest moment of the year?”
“I think…” She narrowed her eyes at him. “When I finished the semester, drove like a maniac from Raleigh to Bitter Bark, and you were in your truck in my driveway, waiting for me.”
He gave her one of those slow, crazy-cute Mahoney smiles that made her stomach flutter and her knees weak. “I couldn’t wait for you to call, E. I was counting the damn minutes until you got back home.”
Yes. Everything was different this summer. “So now what was your very best moment of the year?” she asked. “The big one, the highlight, the moment that made the year worth living.”
He didn’t answer for a long time, but never took his eyes from hers. She could feel the heat, the sparks, the magnetic pull between his body and hers as he leaned over her. “Hasn’t happened…yet.”
For a few seconds, she couldn’t breathe. He had to hear her heart hammering. Or maybe that was his. They were close and getting closer. It was hard to separate him from her. And she didn’t want to.
“But we could make the best moment of this year…” He closed the space between them, his lips almost, but not quite, touching hers. “Right now.”