Page 9 of Only Be Mine

Chapter 4

Cate

November 1 - Twelve years ago

The breath whooshed out of me as my back smacked the sidewalk. A blur of fur and enthusiasm hovered over me, panting hot dog-breath directly into my face.

“Oh my… gah… stop…” I threw my hands over my cheeks as the dog enthusiastically licked my eyeball like it was doing me a favor.

And then, suddenly, the licking stopped.

“Are you al…”

The voice froze me.

I peeled my arm away from my face.

“Cate?”

John.

Of course it was John.

A shiver ran straight down my spine - and not from the cold. His grin took over his entire face, those damned dimples making a reappearance as he pulled the dog back with one hand and offered me his other.

“Cate, right?” he said. “With a C?”

I let him pull me up, ignoring the spark that shot up my arm at the contact. “John, right?” I tried to sound unimpressed.

It came out breathless.

His grin widened like I’d just confirmed something. “You’ve been thinking about me.”

Had I?

Probably. Definitely. But he didn’t need that kind of ego boost.

“John’s a pretty common name,” I said, lifting my chin.

That dimpled smile said he wasn’t buying a second of it.

I needed safer ground. “You might consider a leash,” I said, brushing dirt from my jeans. “It’s the law.”

“Yeah, I know. Sorry about that.” He ruffled the dog’s fur. “Baby usually listens.”

Baby’s tail wagged like she took that as a personal challenge.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

For the second time in twenty-four hours, a perfect stranger was having to haul me upright. I sighed. “I’m fine.”

I took a step to leave and nearly went down again as my heel folded sideways, hanging by a literal thread.

Perfect.

I tried to hobble away with dignity.

Unfortunately, I had none left.