Page 11 of Embers of You (Amity #1)

Sutton

“Sutton, are you here?” Trish calls out while I’m bathing Duke, who keeps trying to give me kisses when I lean over to scrub his belly.

“Yeah,” I call back, and look over at the doorway to see her standing with an unfamiliar blonde girl who doesn’t look like she’s a day over twenty.

“I don’t think I got a chance to tell you about my niece, Lily. She helps me out around here at the salon during the summer while she’s home from college.”

“Hi, nice to meet you.” I go to stretch my hand out, but then see it’s covered in suds and send a wave in her direction instead.

“You, too.” Lily smiles.

“She helps out with bathing some dogs and nail trims but only comes around a couple times a week.” Trish gives Lily a pointed look like she’s supposed to help out a bit more.

“Hey, I just like to make sure there’s plenty of me to go around, I’m busy. Lots of people to see, things to do, I work when I can.” Lilly giggles. She seems bubbly and nice, though they clearly have a relationship that consists of teasing as a form of love language.

“We’ll let you get back to it, I just didn’t want you confused whenever Lily makes her appearance around here,” Trish tells me.

They walk away and I go back to rinsing Duke and learning that he’s sweet until the dryer turns on. Then, he attempts to eat the air that comes out of it.

“That’s really not helpful,” I try to tell him over the loud dryer, but he doesn’t listen and continues to chase the nozzle with his open mouth.

Eventually, I manage to get him dry, trim his nails, and brushed with a rubber brush since he barely has any fur.

“Guess I should call your dad,” I tell him while he smiles with his tongue out. “Jerry Lee, you better not say a damn word.”

The traitorous bird doesn’t make a noise, and I assume he’s sleeping, but something tells me he’ll make sure he’s awake to embarrass me once again when Jameson shows up. Since that seems to be his specialty.

I let Duke run around the empty salon as I call his dad, who picks up on the second ring.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Duke is all ready for you to come get him.”

“Perfect. Are you hungry?”

“Okay, I’ll see you-what?”

“Are you hungry?” he repeats.

“No?”

“Okay, it can be for later then. Do you like sandwiches? Or pizza?”

“What’re you talking about?”

“If you don’t pick, then I’m going to choose for you, and we can both hope I guess correctly.”

I open and close my mouth a couple of times unsure of what to say.

“Okay, my choice, then. Hope you like anchovies and pineapple.”

“You really don’t—” My phone beeps signaling that he hung up and I scowl at the screen. Looking over at Duke, I tell him, “Your dad may be a little crazy.”

A little while later the front door opens, and I’m assaulted with the smell of fresh pizza. Luckily, I detect no hint of fish or fruit and my stomach growls right on cue, making me realize just how hungry I really am.

Duke rushes over toward the smell and I’m not sure if it’s because he realizes it’s his dad or if he thinks he’s getting an extra treat.

“Hey, buddy, you look so clean,” Jameson greets his dog right before I turn the corner and see him holding a pizza box in one hand.

Folding my arms across my chest, I say, “I told you I’m not hungry.”

Right on cue my stomach growls again and Jameson gives me a pointed look, handing the pizza box to me. “Okay, then you can just eat that when you are.”

I take it from him with a sigh. “Thanks. This doesn’t count as payment, though.”

“I know. It’s because I know if I tried to ask you on a date you’d turn me down, so this was the closest option until I can convince you to say yes.”

“I told you; I’m not looking for anything.”

“That’s why I didn’t ask. Just figured you’d need to eat sometime.” He smiles and it’s so genuine, so sweet that I drop my shoulders, not realizing I had bunched them up near my ears.

“Thanks,” I say softly.

“You’re welcome. How much do I owe you for taking care of this vicious beast?”

I laugh lightly, looking down at the supposed vicious beast who’s smiling as he sits with his back legs spread and it makes him look more human than he should.

“Well, considering he didn’t bite me I guess I can give you a slight discount.”

“Glad that didn’t happen, I would feel pretty bad about the anchovy and pineapple pizza if he did.”

I open up the box to check and see if he’s serious, but breathe a sigh of relief when I realize it’s just pepperoni.

Jameson smiles widely at me when I narrow my eyes at him, closing the box and setting it down. I tell him the total and he pays in cash, adding a generous tip that I try to refuse and give him change instead.

“Have you thought more about grooming my horses?” he asks on his way out the door.

I hesitate. I’ve looked into it, and I know I can do it. The question that’s hindering me, is if it’s a good idea to spend more time with Jameson. He doesn’t seem to be letting up, and maybe I could just be friends with him. Maybe, it would be fine. He’s nice. Persistent, but nice.

“I can try,” I tell him.

“Great, now I have your number so we can set up a time for you to come to the ranch.”

I almost ask how he got my number, but then remember I called him to get his dog. Something I clearly didn’t think through all the way, but it’s okay. Since we’re going to be friends.

“Okay.” I nod.

Jameson smiles, and his perfectly aligned, white teeth make his blue eyes shine with pride even more. He’s clearly pleased he’s worn me down enough that I agreed.

He opens the door, walking out with Duke and I think I’m actually going to have a moment where Jerry Lee doesn’t try to completely ruin my life, but right before the door closes, he decides to announce, “Hot guy, Jameson.”

“That’s it, you’re going to learn to survive in the forest, Jerry Lee!”

I swear I hear the deep timbre of a laugh from outside and I think about the best way to take up residence in a cave where I never have to see or speak to anyone ever again.