Not happening, she reminded herself—and of the reasons why.
When she was dried and dressed, she repacked everything and climbed in the back of the Bronco and onto the mattress. The dog jumped in beside her.
“I don’t think so, bud, you’re way too big and dirty.” Lani tried to move the dog, but it wouldn’t budge. “I don’t want flea bites, so you need to move.” It didn’t. Just sat there staring at her with those big sad eyes. After several more attempts, she gave up and found an old towel.
“That is where you sleep.” She patted it, and the dog reluctantly crawled onto it. For now she was tired and wanted to rest up before her workday started tomorrow. Tomorrow was soon enough to deal with the dog.
“I’m excited about work, bud, and I can’t remember the last time that happened.” The dog edged closer and poked its nose under her hand. “Excited to be here in Lake Howling and working at Cribbins Cakery, aka the Howlery, and maybe I’m just a bit scared too.”
She patted the dog, and its eyes closed as hers did, and for the first time in years, she fell asleep with a smile on her face and, feeling safe.
Chapter Eight
Lani and Buddy—after calling him bud twice more, she decided to extend it to Buddy until she found his owner—headed into town. She’d opened the driver door, and in he’d jumped. She’d tried to get him out, but he wouldn’t budge so she’d given up.
He wasn’t hers but it couldn’t hurt for him to ride with her into town, and maybe his owners were there looking for him.
Lani had passed on making her own coffee this morning. She was celebrating her new job, and that included spending some of her precious money. She hoped that little cafe she’d seen, the Hoot, another weird name, was open.
“I’m thinking a muffin and coffee, Buddy.” The dog replied with a little sound that she’d termed “wuffling,” because she and her friend had made up the word back in grade school. It was important to find his people soon, or she’d make the mistake of getting attached, and there was no room for that in her life.
Last night she’d dreamed of the life she’d once lived, and the terror of what had happened before she’d run from it. Having Buddy beside her had been nice when she’d woken in a terrified sweat. The dog had laid his head on her chest and she’d stroked his soft body until she calmed.
But he’s not yours.
Parking minutes later, she got out, and Buddy followed.
“Right, now you go on and find your mom and dad, Buddy, and I’ll see you around.” He sat on his haunches and looked up at her.
“I’m going for coffee.” He wuffled, which to her mind indicated a muffin or savory item wouldn’t go amiss with him.
Opening the cafe door, she entered and inhaled the aroma of coffee and freshly baked food. Moving closer to the counter she tried to step around a couple who seemed to be having a heated discussion about food.
“I want a double chocolate muffin with caramel filling.”
“You told me to tell you no if you asked for it.”
“I didn’t mean it.”
“Sure you did, honey.”
The woman was heavily pregnant, but looked lovely in a long blue dress. She was a stunning, actually, with blonde hair that was long and silky, high cheekbones, and soft, unblemished skin. Lani had never managed to control her hair when it was long, as it curled. She’d tried with a variety of products to no effect. The straightening iron had been her best friend before she’d chopped it all off.
“You begged me to stop you, actually. Going as far as saying your thighs were spreading.”
The man was hot; no other term for him. Dark hair and strong features. He wore jeans and a button-down shirt. To Lani’s eye, they could have stepped right out of some glossy magazine.
“I told you that in a weak moment.”
“No, you didn’t. I’m just thinking of you, sweetheart. You said you didn’t want to put on too much weight during the pregnancy.”
Lani winced at that. Even she knew that wasn’t the way to talk to a heavily pregnant woman. The man clearly had a death wish, even if he had said the words in a bone-melting Texan drawl.
“What!”
“Ah, excuse me, can I—” Before Lani could finish her sentence, the woman turned to face her.
“Did you hear what this idiot just said to me?”
