Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)

“They should be here any second,” she told him. She scooped Caramel into her arms and cuddled the little dog. Caramel settled in close and gave her a reassuring puppy kiss on the nose.

“How do you know Montana?” he asked, pulling a beer out of refrigerator and opening it.

“I’ve worked with her and the therapy dogs. Max, her boss, sometimes gets in several puppies at once and socializing them takes a lot of work.” She leaned against the counter. “I’ll admit, it’s one of my favorite temp jobs. I get to spend the day playing with puppies and taking them into town so they get used to different situations.”

“Like when we took one to the high school football game last year?” he asked.

“Exactly.” She petted Caramel. “I’m going to miss you, baby girl.”

“Me, too,” Ryan admitted, scratching the dog’s chest. “She’s been great. We should talk about getting a dog. After we’re married.”

Fayrene held her breath. Was it now? Was he going to ask her now?

The doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Ryan said.

Fayrene sighed. She told herself that at least the arrival of their guests for dinner meant the appetizer wouldn’t be ruined, but it was cold comfort.

She walked into the living room and greeted Montana and Simon. The other woman was huge and moved awkwardly. Fayrene’s back gave a twinge in sympathy.

“How are you?” Fayrene asked. “Feeling okay? Should you be out?”

Montana, a pretty blonde with brown eyes, laughed. “Out is so much better than home. It distracts me. Plus Simon is less likely to hover so much in person.”

Dr. Simon Bradley shrugged. “I worry about you. Live with it.”

As he spoke, his gaze lingered on her, as if there was no one else he would rather see. Simon was an interesting guy. A gifted surgeon who specialized in helping burned children achieve normal again. He knew what they suffered. One side of his face was so handsome as to seem unreal, while the other side was a twisted wreck of savage burns.

He’d come to Fool’s Gold temporarily, but had fallen in love with both Montana and the town and had decided to stay. Fayrene remembered the triplets’ wedding, with Montana and her two sisters marrying the men of their dreams. Fayrene was hoping a little of that marriage magic would wear off on Ryan.

“Why don’t we go outside,” Fayrene said. “The evening is so lovely.”

The heat of summer had started to fade and nights had grown cool. But in this hour, the temperature was perfect.

She and Ryan got their guests seated. Montana insisted on holding Caramel, who immediately flopped onto her back for a tummy rub and a snooze. While Ryan offered drinks, Fayrene pulled out her dip and slid the accompanying pita crisps onto a serving plate. She joined her guests outdoors.

Ryan handed Simon a beer, Fayrene a glass of wine and Montana a glass of lemonade. He took a beer for himself and settled next to Fayrene.

“This is so nice,” Montana said with a smile. “Quiet. I adore my daughter, but once she learned to talk, she never stopped.”

Simon’s smile was full of pride. “She’s a smart girl.”

“Which means she takes after you.”

“You’re smart.”

“Uh-huh. I think we all know who has the brains in the family. That’s fine. I’ll take being the heart.”

“You have mine,” Simon told her.

Fayrene felt the need to look away. Being around Simon and Montana was like watching something so intimate as to be private. Their love was a tangible presence in the room.

Montana nuzzled Caramel. “And then there’s this little girl. What a sweetie.”

“I’ve enjoyed looking after her.”

Montana stroked the dog’s cheek. “I’ll bet you have. When do you return her?”

“When Mayor Marsha is back.”

Montana looked at her. “She’s back already. I’ve seen her around town.”

“I didn’t know that.” Fayrene frowned. “I’ll give her a call in the morning.” Not that she wanted to give up the sweet girl, but still. Caramel wasn’t her dog. How strange that the mayor hadn’t been in touch with her when she arrived home.

“We could get a puppy,” Montana told her husband.

Simon shook his head. “We’re going to have a new baby. We already have Skye and our other pets. Isn’t that enough?”

“I guess. But puppies are fun.”

“There are other ways to have fun.”

Simon’s voice wasn’t all that suggestive, but Fayrene had a feeling he wasn’t talking about playing board games. She glanced at Ryan to see if he was picking on the passion and caring radiating from this couple. She smiled, thinking this had been a very good idea. When dinner was over and their company left, she was going to guide the conversation back to—

“Oh, no!”

Montana spoke loudly, then groaned. She started to stand up. At the same moment a huge gush of fluid soaked through her chair and dripped to the ground.