“Really? Because from where I’m standing it sure looks like it.” Nolan tossed the apple core in the trash and wiped his hands on his jeans. “You spent the whole tour bickering, pushing each other’s buttons, acting like children.”
Clayton opened his mouth to speak but fell silent. She’d once been everywhere—by his side, trailing behind him, even in his direct path. Every moment had been an opportunity to bridge the distance between them. Now, with the looming possibility of her returning to LA, she was nowhere to be found.
Exhaling sharply, Clayton rubbed his face. “I don’t know what to do, man,” he admitted, the urgency in his voice unmistakable.
Nolan grinned. “That’s cute.”
“Shut it,” Clayton grunted.
“It’s cute watching you realize you’re completely screwed,” Nolan said, clapping him on the back. “Don’t worry, though. She’s probably sitting at Shorty’s right now telling herself she doesn’t miss you either.”
Clayton swallowed hard and glanced at the clock again. Each tick was a countdown, reminding him that time was running out—and with it his chance to win Jamie’s heart before she left Nashville.
CHAPTER 31
JAMIE
By the time Jamie dragged herself into Shorty’s penthouse she was dead on her feet—physically, emotionally, spiritually. All she wanted was to collapse into bed but Poppy had other plans. Or rather, Poppy’s smell did. The little dog reeked like she’d rolled around in something questionable and maybe made some bad life choices. With a defeated sigh Jamie hoisted her into the walk-in shower and scrubbed until every trace of Eau de Farm Dog disappeared.
She set her alarm for early the next morning, determined to study first thing. Typically sleep eluded her after a performance—the adrenaline still humming in her veins—but tonight exhaustion dragged at her limbs. She could have passed out on concrete.
She patted the bed and invited Poppy to jump up, but the dog remained seated, whimpering softly by the bed. Poppy wasn’t signaling she needed to go outside, yet her gentle cries persisted. Hoping the mattress would comfort her Jamie placed Poppy on the bed, but the dog continued circling and crying. Jamie cradled her and scratched her chest until sleep took over.
Sometime later Jamie woke as Poppy leaped off the bed. With only a few hours left before she had to get up she didn’t bother coaxing the dog back—if Poppy preferred another spot she’d let her be. However, the relentless whimpering soon became too much. Jamie pulled back the covers and sat at the edge of the bed.
“What’s wrong?” she asked softly. Poppy walked out of the room and Jamie followed. The dog sat by the front door and barked, prompting Jamie to shrug her robe over her pajamas and grab her leash. In the elevator she muttered curses as the floor numbers counted down to the lobby.
Outside Poppy took the smallest pee imaginable before stubbornly refusing to head back inside. The dog straightened her paws and dug her nails into the pavement, forcing Jamie to lift her once more. Back in the penthouse Jamie placed Poppy in her dog bed and shut the door to her bedroom. Though she felt guilty for locking her out, she needed to sleep a little longer.
The phone alarm jolted her from a deep sleep, its sound abrupt in the quiet of the early morning. It felt as if only minutes had passed since she’d drifted off—she wanted to hit snooze or switch off the alarm, but with her exams looming every minute counted.
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she stepped into the hall, expecting to find Poppy waiting. But the hallway was empty. Worried, she moved into the living room to discover the dog wasn’t in her usual spot. “Poppy!” she called out, her voice echoing through the penthouse. When there was no response, panic set in—had something happened to her beloved dog?
Frantically Jamie searched every room until she finally found Poppy sitting at the front door, panting heavily. Dropping to the floor shescooped up her dog, an unsettling feeling tightening in her chest.
At that moment she remembered she had a vet on speed dial—she called Nolan.
“Good morning,” he answered calmly.
“Hi, Nolan,” she said, still breathless. “There’s something wrong with Poppy.”
“She was fine last night,” Nolan replied.
“I know, but she keeps whimpering and won’t settle down. She slept by the door and now she’s panting.”
Nolan’s tone turned thoughtful. “I don’t think she’s sick. I think she misses her puppies—she’s probably having separation anxiety.”
A wave of guilt washed over Jamie. How had she not considered that? Poppy had been with her puppies since birth, and her abrupt decision to separate them now seemed heartless.
“What should I do?” she asked, desperate for a solution.
“She’ll eventually calm down, but it might take a day or two,” Nolan advised. “For now the only immediate solution is to bring her back to the ranch.”
Jamie sighed, the urgency of her exams still pressing on her mind. “Okay, I’ll call Clayton to pick her up—I don’t have time to drive her back.”
“Ruth and I can come get her,” Nolan offered.
“Thanks, but I know you need to get back to work and Clayton has some time on his hands.”
