Page 15 of Hold Me Instead (Elmwood Falls #1)

Charlie

Dappled light fell on the smiling face of the tan pit bull mix, tongue spilling from his mouth as he patiently obeyed the command to sit.

“Got it. Okay! Such a good boy, Humphrey,” Amber cooed over the sturdy dog as she held her camera, its thick strap across her body. The dog gleefully danced in circles.

Charlie grinned. “He’s a fan of yours.”

“Gah, he’s so cute.” Amber squatted and scratched the pup under his chin.

She laughed as he slowly sank to the ground—careful not to disrupt the affection—and exposed his belly for more scratches.

“You’re an awesome guy, aren’t you? I wish you could live in my apartment, but my landlord would flip. ”

“When’s your lease up?”

Amber rolled her eyes at Charlie. “You’re ridiculous.” She took a beat as she looked back at the dog, then said, “January.”

“Hmm.” Charlie watched the two as Humphrey tugged on a rope toy Amber dangled above him. Chances were high that Humphrey would still be available by then, but Charlie figured it best to keep the thought to herself.

“You have so much energy, I love it! You’d be a great running partner, wouldn’t you?” Amber rubbed her hands along Humphrey’s face and placed a kiss on his head. The dog scooted closer, nuzzling his body against hers, and Amber looked at Charlie and mouthed, “Oh my God.”

“So freaking sweet,” Charlie said.

“Can you imagine your mom meeting him?”

Charlie snorted, knowing full well her love for animals didn’t come from Penelope Harris. Not that her mom disliked them—it was more so a fear of them. Even a chipmunk in the yard would send her running inside the house.

“I bet you’d turn Auntie Penny around, Humph,” Amber said, laughing when he licked her face.

“God, that’s so wet.” She wiped her cheek as she stood, his panting gaze following her every move, until his mouth closed, head slightly tilted.

“Oh no, did I insult you? Charlie, did I insult him? I didn’t rub it off, bud, I rubbed it in ! ”

Charlie laughed at her cousin, who squatted and gave the dog more pets out of guilt, just as the owner of the rescue joined them outside.

“How’d our boy do?” Cory stopped next to Charlie, hands on hips, as he watched Amber practically roll around with Humphrey. “Maybe she’d be interested in doing a foster-to-adopt?” he murmured to Charlie.

“Maybe in a couple months,” she whispered back.

Amber reluctantly stood, grabbing her camera and sliding through the digital photos. “Think we have all we need, Cory.” She grinned, spinning the camera around to show Humphrey laying on his back, tongue dangling, as he stared at her hopefully.

“He’s a cutie,” Cory said. “Brian fell in love with him when we pulled him from the shelter, but we can’t add to the brood right now. The wedding’s a few months away.”

“Uh, not to mention your four other dogs,” Charlie said .

He shrugged. “You get it. How many animals have you fostered for us now?”

“Yeah, they’re addicting.” She sighed, feeling it like a smile that stretched to her toes. Nothing like a trip to her favorite rescue for a little mood boost.

“Cory, I’ll have these to you before the cookout,” Amber said.

“That’s awesome. And thanks for checking on our two seniors, Charlie. I wasn’t expecting you to still come our way with everything going on.”

“You’re so close by,” she said. And I needed to get out .

Stepping away for lunch was unusual for Charlie, but bumping into Zachary every half hour was throwing her off-kilter.

And they weren’t even through week one. “Besides, it’s rejuvenating to come here.

” She smiled at Humphrey, rolling in the dirt.

“Well, we’re looking forward to the event. Give our best to Daniel when you see him?”

“Definitely.”

“Thank you, both. Alright, Humphrey, you ready for a walk?”

The dog started his hopping twirls, and Amber followed Charlie to the parking lot.

“You’ve been oddly quiet,” Amber said.

Charlie tugged her fleece jacket tighter as she reached her blue sedan.

She faced her cousin, whose brown hair was pulled back into a stylish ponytail, her bangs framing her face.

Amber had that effortless way about her, whether working out or working.

Or wearing an apple in her face. In her high-waisted straight-leg jeans and a loose-fit mustard sweater, she looked like a model of a photographer in a fall setting, her appearance complementing the few autumn leaves still clinging to the branches.

“We were busy.”

“Sure, fine, whatever.” Amber crossed her arms, gaze quizzical. “How’s Daniel?”

“He’s doing well, all things considered. It’ll be a slow recovery.”

“Hm. And how are things with Zachary?”

Charlie bit the inside of her cheek. The steady flow of traffic was more appealing than her cousin’s prying gaze.

Zachary had seamlessly worked himself into the fold the day before, his first official day, well received by staff during their morning meeting.

She didn’t want it to feel so natural having him back, but she sensed it irritated him how smoothly it went too.

On the plus side, she was able to step out during her lunch and meet Amber at the rescue.

“Well, he’s going to be here at least through the cookout. ”

“Really?”

“Probably longer. He claims he can work with us until Daniel comes back.”

“No shit.”

“Yeah.” Charlie gripped her head. “I don’t think I can handle that, Amber.”

“Because of his hotness?” Amber nodded sagely.

She groaned out a laugh. “No! Because he’ll be watching everything I do, and after a couple weeks—maybe only one—he’ll squeeze in his way of doing things.

I just know it. He’s already wearing his white coat every day, even though Daniel loosened on that years ago.

” Though, the white coat mostly bothered her because he looked delicious in it.

“Then tell him to knock it off. ”

“I don’t have the ‘won’t take bullshit’ gene. You and Brooke got that.”

Amber snorted. “Brooke isn’t half as good at it as me.”

Charlie couldn’t help the chuckle that came out, but it turned into a small whine. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“I do. You’ve got the hots for him.”

“Amber…”

“It’s true. You always straighten out staff when there’s an issue, and you’ve had no problem voicing concerns to Daniel directly. I guess there’s a small chance it’s just a warm-up period. You know, to be comfortable around him again. But my money’s on the hotness.”

“I hate you.” Charlie unlocked her car door and opened it, tossing her tote bag inside.

“Oh, you wound me.” Amber laughed. “That’s a pitiful insult, even for you.”

“Shut up.”

“So when can I meet him?”

“You’re not helping.”

“Brooke knew him in high school. I bet she’s got some dirt on him.”

“That’s just playing into it all the more. I’m an adult woman now.” She settled into the driver’s seat. “I can handle this.”

“Sure. Yeah. That’s what this whole conversation proves.” Amber stepped back as Charlie closed her door, then tapped on the window.

Charlie hesitated but rolled it down. “What? I have to get back.”

Amber rested her hands on the open window frame, her trim, midnight-blue nails gripping the edge. “You’re going to be fine. It’ll probably be a smoother transition than you think. You’ll hardly run into each other with the schedules you keep, right? ”

Charlie released a breath through puffed cheeks until they deflated.

“I bet you won’t even notice he’s there.”

Charlie let out a short “Ha!”

“Hey.” Amber poked her. “Saturday. Drinks with everyone.”

“Everyone?”

“Yep.” Amber wiggled her eyebrows. “Even Brookie will be joining us. Thank God, because she won’t tell me what’s going on, but I know there’s something.”

“That sounds great, actually.”

Amber squealed. “Sweet. Whiskey Nights. Seven thirty on Saturday. We’ll get a table.” She leaned into the car and gave Charlie a peck on the cheek. “Love you, cuz!” She trotted away before Charlie could say a word.

Charlie took a minute, contemplating. An actual girls’ night out was long overdue and would be a welcome way to tune out everything else.

To forget about…people. The thought alone eased her return to the office.

Maybe they’d have a nice few days to wrap up a weird and stressful week, and she and Zachary could shake this awkward reunion.