“Logan, can I talk to you for a minute? It’s important.”
His lips drew into a line. “Sure. Charlotte is going to meet up with the girls for a drink.” He turned to his wife and kissed her. “I’ll meet you there.” Charlotte nodded and disappeared into the crowd.
Logan and I walked away from the commotion. “That’s the best I’ve seen you play, Tinsel.” He stopped in front of the Sugar Peaks Café. “Come on, have a seat.” He patted the bench next to him. A plaque on the back of the bench readsharon’s spot. I was about to ask who she was when I remembered why we were there.
“Thanks, Logan.” I took the envelope out of my pocket and handed it to him. “I have something to tell you.”
TWENTY-FIVE
EVIE
A vibrant redsquare of original carpet was the only hint that the sofa bed had been there. Without it, my room felt bigger, but emptier. I’d laid down a towel on the floor for Rocky, but he’d spent the night in my bed. I didn’t know what I was going to do with him, but I wasn’t going to let Nick have him.
GJ wouldn’t be happy about my canine roommate. I heard her come home late, but I couldn’t bring myself to face her. She’d interrogate me about missing the parade. I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to keep the real reason Nick was in town a secret. I didn’t know what to do—if there was anyone who should know the truth, it was Logan, the team’s owner. Should I tell him?
I groaned as I crawled out of bed. Work on the farm had been grueling, but I loved it. On top of the long days, I’d stayed up late making love…I shivered with the thought. I couldn’t believe that I’d shared a bed with a liar. He was just as bad as Brad. No, scratch that, Nick was worse. He hadn’t cheated on me with another woman, but he had lied to every single person in this town—including my GJ.
When GJ found out that I had entered into the skijoringcontest, she’d offered to work my breakfast shift, but then had the idea to turn breakfast into brunch, giving us both the morning off. I’d gladly accepted. I wanted GJ watching the race, not working breakfast, and she’d asked to include all of Eugene’s holiday specials on the brunch menu. It was going to be an amazing spread.
Rocky watched as I got dressed and put on my coveralls. I still didn’t have a fancy western outfit, so I was going to have to make do with the work clothes. “You pervert.” I laughed and patted his head. “Don’t get used to it here. We’re going to have to find you a new home.” He cocked his head and continued staring at me.
I peered through the crack in the door, making sure there wasn’t anyone in the hallway. When I confirmed that the coast was clear, Rocky and I sneaked down the hall and out the back door. We walked down to the river where he did his business. I sat and watched the water rush by. I didn’t cry. I felt empty inside. I’d gone from a single waitress slash housekeeper to a horse trainer with a sexy boyfriend and the cutest dog ever, back to single. At least I still had the job at the ranch.
Rocky stared at the river, his ear hair fluttering in the breeze, but unlike me, he seemed content. “At least I won’t have to run into him every day, now that he’s leaving.” Rocky’s tail beat in a rhythmic pattern against the metal legs of the park bench. “Oh, Rocky. I dropped to the ground and wrapped my arms around his neck. If I could afford my own place, I could keep you.” He leaned into me.
“Are you losing your mind?” I whispered to myself. “You’re talking to a dog.”
I stood and stretched. “Come on, Rocky.” The twenty-thousand-dollar purse split between me and Clementine would be enough for me to get a place on my own. “I’m going to win this contest for you.” He tilted his head and his stomach let out a loud growl. “You need some breakfast.”
We headed into town to buy some dog food, but the pet food store wasn’t open yet. I ran into the variety store that was attached to the G-Spot and picked up a bag of kibble.
“Where are you going with that?” Muriel yelled from behind the saloon doors that separated the diner from the gas station variety store.
Shit. Word was going to get back to GJ that I had a dog before we even got back to the inn. “I found a dog.”
“You can’t feed him that garbage.” Muriel shook her head. “Wait there.”
She returned with a Styrofoam take-out container. “There’s some meat in there, and some pumpkin; it’s good for their digestive system.” She rubbed the front of her apron in a circular motion. “You can mix some of that kibble in there if you want.”
“Thanks, Muriel.” I accepted the container and paid for the kibble.
“Good luck today,” she said. “I heard that you and Clementine are the team to beat.”
I laughed. It was a nervous reaction. There were going to be some bona fide cowboys competing, as well as young skiers who hadn’t had both hips replaced yet. “We’ll do our best.”
Rockyand I slipped into the inn and were halfway across the lobby before we were spotted.
“Evie Newton, please tell me you’re not trekking a mutt through the lobby of my inn.” I froze. Rocky sat and looked up at me. He knew we were in trouble and was looking to me for direction.
“It’s just for today. Nick and I rescued him and we’re still looking for his family.” That last part was a lie. We’d put in agood effort to find Rocky’s family but had given up as soon as we both started falling in love with him.
“Why can’t Nick keep him at the ranch?” GJ crossed her arms.
I took a breath and the emptiness I’d felt at the river filled in with sadness. A guttural sob escaped through my lips. It scared me, I’d never heard my body make a noise quite like that one. My knees buckled and I crumpled to the hardwood of the lobby floor.
“Oh dear.” GJ hauled me up from the ground and took the dog’s leash from my hand. “Come on.” My grandmother helped me up the stairs and into my room. The springs creaked as she sat next to me on the bed after plucking a tissue from the box on my nightstand. Rocky hopped up and lay down next to me.
GJ handed me the tissue and I blew my nose. I knew that she’d let me sit there in silence as long as I needed, but I didn’t want her to worry about me. “Nick is leaving. He didn’t plan on staying after the Christmas Classic.”
