Callie held her hand up."I'm not asking you to come and stay with me," she said with a smile."You see, the thing is, the people I bought my cottage from — they used to have a camper.And since the cottage is small, they used to put their visitors up in it.So, there's hookups out the back.There's electric and water.There's even a sewer pipe."She made a face."I have no idea how that works.I didn't really pay attention when the realtor told me about it.I figured it'd never be an issue for me."She smiled."But we can figure it out between us, can't we?"
A glimmer of hope shone in Alara's eyes for the first time."Are you serious?"
"I am," Callie assured her."And do you want to know what's even better?Something I think you might like?"she added hurriedly."The spot for it — do they call it a pad or something?I don't really remember.But it's behind a line of trees.So even though you'll be right there at my place, you won't have to see me if you don't want to."She smiled at Zia."But I hope you will."
"We will," said Zia."But we won't be any trouble."
Callie's heart squeezed tight at that."You couldn't be if you tried," she told her."So, what do you say?Shall I figure out my insurance so that I can drive us up there?"
"No," Alara said firmly."How far is it?"
"About ten minutes at most," said Callie.
"Then I'll drive us there.I'm confident I can get that far.It's a bit different from a six-hundred-mile drive, isn't it?"
"It is.There's no rush, though.We can go whenever you're ready."
Alara smiled for the first time and looked at Zia."I think we want to go now, don't we?"
Zia punched the air."Yes!We want to go now.Very much."
Chapter Ten
Ollie threw the ball and watched the dogs take off after it, running at full speed down the avenue between the vines.He'd brought them out early this morning because he'd been awake for hours.Reaves was coming over later, and they'd said they'd take the dogs out then — but it wasn't as though the dogs would mind two good runs in one day.In fact, if the day shaped up to be as warm as promised, they could take them down for a swim again.
The dogs came racing back to him.Peanut had the ball in her mouth and Butter ran alongside her.In Ollie's mind, Butter was Peanut's bodyguard, but he doubted anyone else would see it that way.
He held his hand out, and she gave him the ball.He threw it again and watched them take off after it.He already knew that this time Butter would be the one to bring it back.
Dobermans were renowned for being intelligent dogs, but he felt that his two were a cut above even the rest of them.When it came to fetching the ball or any kind of game, they took it in turns.When it came to anything that required strength, Butter took over.And when stealth was needed, Peanut took the lead.
He checked his watch.He should think about getting them back up to the house.Reaves would be here soon.
He took his phone out and checked it again.Still nothing from Callie.
He shouldn't feel so disappointed; he hadn't texted her until later last night.Maybe she was already asleep by that time.He wished that he'd just gone ahead and called, though, without texting first.Even if he only got her voicemail, it would have been nice to hear her voice.
The dogs came bounding back to him, and Butter pushed the ball into his hand.
"Thanks, big guy.What do you say — want to head home?"
Peanut met his gaze for a moment before slipping away between the vines into the next row over.
"Hey, lady," he called after her sternly."You get back here.We're not playing that game again."
The two of them knew that when they came out to walk the vines, they stuck to the row they were on.That's why it had been such a surprise when he brought Callie out here that they'd snuck off the way they had.
He had to chuckle when Peanut stuck her head back between the vines and whined at him.
"No, come on," he told her.
Butter gave a gruff-sounding woof.
Peanut came back to them and hung her head.
"It's okay."He gave her ears a rub."We'll get to play again later.Reaves is coming."
At the mention of his name, two sets of ears pricked up, and they set off for the house ahead of him.
