Grounds For Change (Welcome To Redemption) by Netzel Stacey Joy

Author:Netzel, Stacey Joy [Netzel, Stacey Joy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-06-29T06:00:00+00:00

***

Dana stepped out onto Allie’s patio the next day with two grande cups of iced caramel macchiato and gave one to Allie.

“Mm, thanks.”

“Thank Charlie. He still owed me from the ones Sugar spilled.”

“You said you weren’t seeing him until Saturday,” Allie accused around the straw in her mouth.

“I didn’t see him.”

Dana sat in a neighboring lounge chair. The dogs her cousin watched were laying in various areas of sunlight in the yard, except Bennie the Bassett hound, who lumbered up to nudge Dana’s hand. Patting his head, she looked up to see Allie’s doubtful expression.

“I didn’t.”

Allie set her cup down on the patio table. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

“Change of subject please.”

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Allie lifted her macchiato. “I heard Carrie took on a partner.”

Relieved, Dana nodded. “I met him the other day—Matt, I think. Does that ring a bell?”

“Oh, yeah.” Allie’s sigh contained an unmistakable sigh of pure feminine longing. “The librarian. I really should get in there to check out more books. I never thought a library could be sexy until Matt Jacobs showed up.”

Dana laughed. “I’ve noticed that about this town. It’s got a fair share of eye candy.”

“Redemption may be small, but it redeems itself with its men.”

Allie grinned and Dana cast her a sly look. “Speaking of eye candy, what’s the story with your resident veterinarian, Rick Wilde?”

“What do you mean?” Allie’s casual question was undermined by her sudden focused carving of some design in her cup with her fingernail.

“He seems really nice.”

Allie made a face, avoiding direct eye contact. “Yeah, he’s good at that.”

“Hmm…no resentment there.” When she remained silent, Dana gave another push. “The longer you’re quiet, the more convinced I am there’s something you’re not telling me.”

“He used to pick on me in school, no big deal. I’m sure he’s very nice now.”

“He asked about you in my interview—more than once,” Dana said.

Twin spots of red appeared on Allie’s cheeks. “So?”

Dana wasn’t fooled for a second but before she could pursue the subject more, the phone rang, and Allie jumped to her feet to rush into the house. She came back out a moment later and handed Dana the phone.

“Speak of the devil.”

Dana’s stomach flipped over. Was he calling to offer her the job or let her down easy? She hoped it was the former. Redemption was a town she wanted to hang around for a good long while.

“This is Dana.”

“Did you miss me last night?”

Charlie’s deep, suggestive question sent her pulse racing faster than when she thought the caller was Rick Wilde. “Don’t be egotistical,” she told Charlie with a soft laugh. The thing was, she had thought of him much too often. And yes, she’d missed him.

“I’m optimistic. So did you and Allie have fun?”

“I think so. I have a vague recollection of drinking too much, which led to a very embarrassing round of karaoke.”

“See, now that’s not fair. I’d have paid to see that.”

“And I’d have paid to make sure you didn’t,” she shot back with a laugh.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.