He glanced down at the dog still sitting patiently beside him. Time to get her to the shelter. Pushing Jess from his mind, he hiked back through the woods toward Off-the-Grid. His SUV was the only car left in the lot, which suited him fine.
He and Ryan had to be back here later tonight anyway to man the haunted zip-line. Good thing Ethan would be back from his honeymoon in a few days. They’d been stretched awfully thin here without him. Mark enjoyed the extra work, although he’d never understood why people went out of their way to get scared on purpose. What the hell was the point? There were enough truly terrifying things in the world that you ought to enjoy a little peace and quiet when you could find it, as far as he was concerned.
He opened the back door of the SUV and looked down at the dog. She hopped in obediently. Which meant she was definitely someone’s pet. He was doing the right thing taking her to the shelter so that her family could find her.
He started the engine and headed out of town toward the Pearcy County Animal Shelter. The dog settled down on the backseat, head on her front paws, watching him. Quiet thing, except for when he was kissing Jess. What was that about anyway?
The road unfurled ahead of him as he drove, twisting and curling through the mountainside. It was a rush, hugging the curves. It sometimes tempted him to drive too fast. Not today though. Not with a dog on the backseat watching him out of big, trusting brown eyes.
He realized his mistake as soon as he pulled up in front of the animal shelter. The lot was empty. The sign on the front door said they closed at five. It was six thirty. He glanced over his shoulder. “Looks like you’re spending the night with me.”
The dog watched him out of those soulful eyes, her tail thumping against the leather upholstery.
Right then. He was going to need some food for her. Then he’d have to figure out what to do with her while he worked tonight. Maybe she could come along and hang out in the office. At least there would be people in and out. Who knew what trouble she might get into if he left her all alone in his condo?
He debated stopping in the supermart for some proper dog food, but he needed to be back at Off-the-Grid in half an hour and he still had to change so he pulled through the McDonald’s drive-through and ordered three Big Macs—two for him, one for her—because he was starving, dammit, and she probably was too.
Indeed, she sat up once the perky drive-through operator handed him his bag and the car filled with the greasy scent of meat and French fries. The dog leaned forward so that her chin rested on the seat behind his shoulder and stayed that way all the way home.
A few minutes later, he pulled up in front of his building. It was a three-story brick building that had once housed the town’s newspaper offices. Recently, it had been converted into three spacious condos, which he, Ethan, and Ryan had bought, intending to turn the place into their bachelor pad. Ethan had since moved in with Gabby, renting his space out to Ryan’s younger brother, Trent. Emma had moved in downstairs with Ryan after their wedding. So instead of a bachelor pad, the building now housed Mark on the top floor, a teenager below him, and an expectant married couple on the ground floor.
Awfully fucking domesticated.
“Whose dog?” Trent asked, poking his head out as Mark walked up the steps with the dog at his heels.
He shrugged. “Found her in the woods today. Shelter was already closed.”
“Cool.” Trent bent to pet her, swiping a shock of black hair out of his eyes. The teen couldn’t be any more different than his brother. Where Ryan was boisterous and adventurous, Trent was more shy and reserved. Ryan got his kicks rock climbing while Trent DJ’ed at the local club one night a week. He also helped them out at Off-the-Grid.
“You working tonight?” Mark asked him.
Trent nodded. “Mind if I hitch a ride? My car’s acting funny.”
“Sure thing. And I’ll take a look at your car tomorrow.” Mark knew his way around under the hood. He’d worked part time in a repair shop back in high school and again last year before Off-the-Grid started paying his bills.
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” Trent gave the dog another rub and went back inside.
Mark continued up the steps and let himself into his condo. The dog followed at his heel, bubbles of drool forming at the corners of her mouth as she eyed the McDonald’s bag in his hands.
He pulled out a Big Mac, unwrapped it, and set it on the linoleum in front of her. She dove in with unbridled enthusiasm, scarfing down the burger without hardly pausing to chew. Mark ripped open another and began to eat in similar fashion. He’d missed lunch today and given most of his jerky to the dog earlier.
After they’d both stuffed their bellies, he filled a bowl with water, set it down for her, and then popped open a Coke for himself. He sat at the kitchen table and closed his eyes to rest for a moment before he headed back to work. Immediately, his mind filled with memories of kissing Jess. The feel of her in his arms. The taste of her in his mouth. The desperate need to lose himself inside her right before he’d pushed her away.
Fuck.He was so screwed.
