Page 36 of Pugs & Kisses

T hey could not have asked for a more perfect day for a carnival if they had ordered it from a catalog. The sun was shining but not oppressive, and the slight breeze felt like heaven on Evie’s skin as she carried a laundry basket filled with purple, yellow, and green plastic balls from her car.

Too bad her stomach was twisted into knots. Despite the pep talk she’d given herself this morning, she couldn’t help but feel this was all for nothing.

It’s not. You and Bryson will figure something out.

Those knots twisted even tighter at the thought of Bryson. An awareness of how quickly things were moving with him sat in the back of her mind, nudging at her whenever she felt herself getting too comfortable with the thought of jumping headfirst into a legitimate relationship.

Well, except for every night this week, when she found herself more than just comfortable in his new bed with his thousand-thread-count sheets that felt even better than her green ones.

Focus, Evie!

There was too much to be done today. She would not let the memories from last night derail what could be The Sanctuary’s best chance of surviving.

She took the walking path that led to the backyard of Barkingham Palace’s new location. Her mouth fell open the moment she entered the gate. The outside play area had been transformed into a Mardi Gras–themed wonderland for dogs.

“Evie! Bring those here!”

Evie carried the basket over to where Ashanti stood, stringing balloons onto a balloon arch.

“Kara went back home to get the blow-up pool,” Ashanti said. “That’s where those will go.” She gestured to the yard. “It’s looking pretty good out here, huh?”

When Ashanti first suggested the canine carnival, Evie had imagined a few games, maybe a doggy photo booth, and possibly a silly Mardi Gras–themed costume contest. She had not expected a full-blown extravaganza, complete with a doggy Ferris wheel and carousel.

The grounds were peppered with over a dozen kiosks and booths offering everything from spa treatments to dog-friendly cupcakes.

“This is a lot more than I anticipated,” Evie said.

“You want to raise money, don’t you? You have to give people something to spend money on. Now, the food trucks with be here at—”

Evie whipped around. “Food trucks?”

“Of course,” Ashanti said. “I have three coming. And each have pledged fifteen percent of their sales to The Sanctuary.” She clipped on the last balloon, then held up one end of the arch and handed it to Evie. “Help me bring this over to the photo area. Just wait until you see it!”

The photo area had been designed to look like the dogs were riding on a Mardi Gras float.

“You know that you were only supposed to help with this, and I was supposed to do the heavy lifting, right?” Evie asked.

“And I told you that you would only get in the way. Kara and Kendra are using this as their volunteer hours.” She pulled out her phone and tapped something out on the screen.

“I just sent you the list of work assignments. Several of the twins’ classmates who also need volunteer hours will help run the agility-course apparatuses and operate the booths. ”

“Is there anything for me to do?” Evie asked jokingly.

Ashanti’s forehead crinkled as her mouth dipped with a confused frown. “Um, not really.”

“Shanti!” Evie hollered.

“Just messing with you,” she said. “Turn the paper over. There’s a whole list just for you.”

Evie had just finished setting up the Guess the Number of Dog Treats in the Jar booth when she turned and spotted Bryson entering from the side entrance. Her entire body flushed cold and hot at the same time.

He’d spent the past week working fourteen-hour shifts. Two of the surgeons at the hospital came down with stomach bugs, so the others were picking up the slack. Evie had surprised him with lunch on Wednesday, but he’d been called into an emergency surgery after one bite of his shrimp po’boy.

“Hey,” he said as he approached her, a fatigued yet alluring smile curving up the corners of his mouth.

“Hey,” Evie answered. She wanted to kiss him, but there were way too many eyes around.

She was most concerned with one set of eyes that belonged to her best friend.

She knew she couldn’t keep this relationship she wasn’t ready to call a relationship from Ashanti and Ridley for much longer, but she wasn’t ready to discuss it right this minute.

She needed to get through this carnival first.

Bryson looked around. “This is… something.”

“Welcome to Ashanti Wright’s world. We’re just participants in the production.”

“Based on the line of people with their pets waiting to get in, she knows what she’s doing.”

Evie looked down at her watch. “But the carnival doesn’t start for another half hour.”

He shrugged. “They’re ready.” Bryson leaned over until his lips brushed her ear. “By the way, you left your underwear on the floor in my living room. The cleaner put it with my laundry.”

Her face turned into an instant campfire. All it would take was a single look from Ashanti, and Evie wouldn’t have to tell her anything about her relationship with Bryson.

“Dammit, Evie Williams,” Bryson said in a teasing voice. “Why are you so damn cute when you blush?”

She took a step back from him and held up a finger. “Stay back. You go over there somewhere. Today is too important and I will not have anything distracting me, including you.”

He lifted both hands in surrender. “You don’t even see me. Actually, you won’t see me for very long. I have to get back to the hospital in about an hour, but Derrick Coleman will be here to help out.”

She wasn’t surprised Bryson couldn’t stay, but she was still hurt that he would miss so much of the event.

However, once the carnival officially started, Evie didn’t have time to think about Bryson or anyone else.

Barkingham Palace went from being a doggy daycare to a madhouse.

Evie never anticipated having to turn people away, but they reached capacity within twenty minutes of opening the gates.

Ashanti instituted an on-the-spot time limit for each booth and agility apparatus so they would be able to get as many people to come through as possible.

It took another hour for things to calm down enough for Evie to take a bathroom break. When she returned to the Guess the Number of Dog Treats booth, Ashanti and Kendra were waiting for her.

“Ken is going to take over this booth for a few while we chat,” Ashanti said. She grabbed the hem of Evie’s shirt and dragged her behind the ticket booth. “Okay, are you going to tell me what’s going on between you and Bryson, or do I have to bring you to my torture chamber?”

“You don’t own a torture chamber,” Evie said.

“I will create one for the sole purpose of forcing you to tell me what’s going on.”

“What makes you think something is going on?” Evie asked.

“That man could not keep his eyes off you the entire time he was here. It was even worse than it was back when we were at LSU.”

Oh, goodness. Really, Bryson?

“You’ve got it all wrong,” Evie tried. She didn’t sound at all convincing. She was never good at lying.

Ashanti plopped her hands on her hips. “Evelina Williams, how long have I known you? You can’t hide anything from me, woman.”

Evie blew out a breath. She shouldn’t have even tried.

She leaned over and whispered, “What do you think is going on?”

Ashanti gasped. “I knew it!” She batted Evie’s arm like she was trying to kill a mosquito. “I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! This is phenomenal. This is exactly what should have happened eight years ago. Is he good in bed? What am I even asking, of course he’s good. I’m so happy for you!”

“Shanti!” Evie grabbed her by the wrist. She dragged her to the narrow alleyway between the house and the fence.

“Really?” Evie said. “You’re happy for me? You are supposed to talk sense into me!”

“No, I should have talked sense into you back when we were in school and it was obvious that Bryson was so much better for you than Cameron. I had only known you for a couple of years back then and didn’t feel comfortable putting my nose in your business, but here it is,” Ashanti said, pointing to her nose.

“I’ve known you long enough to get all up into your business now, and I’m telling you that this is a good thing. ”

“But what if it isn’t?” Evie asked.

“Wait? So the sex isn’t good?”

“No!” Evie yelled. She looked around, even though she doubted anyone could hear her above the pandemonium happening around the carnival. “The sex is amazing,” she said. “Like the most amazing I’ve ever had.”

Ashanti closed her eyes, a blissful smile breaking out across her face. “I knew it,” she said. “You can tell just by looking at him.”

“Shanti, would you be serious for even one second? I need advice here.”

“About what?”

“About what?” Evie’s brows shot up. “About this! About what I’m doing with Bryson.”

“Well, Thad and I haven’t been together that long, but I can give you some pointers.”

Evie groaned up at the sky. “Can you please be serious?”

“I would if I thought you were being serious. What kind of advice are you looking for me to provide?”

“You can tell me if I’m in over my head,” Evie said. “Or if I’m moving too quickly. What if this is just a rebound? I can’t possibly be ready to jump into a real relationship so soon after ending such a long one with Cameron, can I?”

“Wait, we’re talking relationship? It’s not just sex?” Ashanti shook her head. “No, of course it’s not just sex. The two of you have always had too much chemistry to do the random hookup thing.”

“What do you even know about our chemistry?”

“Um, because I was there, Ev. That summer you were with Bryson was the happiest I’ve ever seen you.” Ashanti’s eyes narrowed. “Is there more going on?”

Evie knew she’d made a mistake when she looked away. A quick glance, but that’s all it took.

Ashanti pounced. “There is! What are you not telling me?”

“Nothing,” Evie said. “And even if there was more, I am not discussing it in the middle of a doggy carnival.”