Obsession Falls

The coffee machine wouldn’t turn on, despite being plugged in, and I didn’t have time to figure out why. I took Max outside to do his business, then came in and discovered I was out of dry shampoo. No time for a shower and no way to make my hair presentable meant it was a do-my-best bun sort of hair day.

My shirt had a stain I hadn’t noticed and my favorite pair of slacks were dirty, so it took a couple of harried tries to put together an outfit. Finally, I succeeded. No caffeine or breakfast, my clothes may or may not have matched, and I hoped it wouldn’t be obvious my hair needed washing. But I was ready to head out the door with two minutes to spare.

“Let’s go, Max. Time to go to work.”

The sound of my phone ringing startled me and I almost dropped my purse. I thought about ignoring it, but it was odd to get a phone call this early in the morning. That meant it might be important.

It was the number for Happy Paws.

“Hello? This is Audrey.”

“Hi, Audrey, this is Missy at Happy Paws.” Her voice sounded hoarse and she paused to cough. “Sorry. I woke up sick and I can’t be there today. I tried to find someone to fill in at doggie daycare for me, but we all seem to have gotten the same thing. I’m sorry, I know this is really last minute.”

I let out a breath and my shoulders slumped. It was that kind of morning. “That’s okay, Missy. I hope you feel better.”

“Thanks. Hopefully we’ll have coverage for tomorrow, but I’ll keep you posted.”

“Sounds good, I appreciate that. Get some rest.”

“I will. Thanks, Audrey.”

I ended the call and looked down at Max. “Well, now what are we going to do?”

Technically, he could stay home by himself. He’d mostly sleep all day. I’d just need to take him for a good, long walk when I got home to ensure he got enough exercise, otherwise he’d be crazy by bedtime. But he’d do better if someone could at least come check on him and take him out to pee once or twice.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it home during the day today, bud.” I had an assignment that was going to have me out of the office for a large part of the day. I couldn’t be sure I’d have time to come home and let him out.

I didn’t really have friends I could ask for this kind of favor. Sandra had to work, too, although she might be willing to drive over here to let him out on her lunch break. I didn’t trust Ledger. He’d probably be so busy scrolling on his phone, Max would run up the hill again and recreate his world’s stinkiest dog stunt from the other day. And I definitely didn’t know Marigold well enough, although I had a feeling she was the type of person who’d help without hesitation. Still, asking her would feel weird.

I glanced out the window. Josiah’s truck was already in the driveway next door. He always got to work early over there.

Not that I was watching for him every morning.

Actually, yes I was.

I kind of hated to ask, especially after he’d done so much to help me the other day when Max had gone missing. No one should have been subjected to that smell, and he’d stuck it out, even helping me give Max a hose bath in the backyard. Not to mention the way he’d carried me down the hill.

Oh my swoon.

But was it really that much to ask? He’d be right next door all day. He could pop by and let Max out to go potty once or twice and that would be plenty.

A swirl of butterflies took flight at the thought of going over there. Why was I being so silly? It was just Josiah. We were basically friends now.

Except I knew exactly what it was. That hug.

I’d fallen asleep to the memory of Josiah’s thick arms around me every night since I’d hugged him. I couldn’t get the way he’d felt out of my head. He’d smelled good too, like pine and fresh air and man. Big, burly, grumpy man.

Apparently I liked that smell because I’d been craving it ever since.

“Okay, Audrey. Time to toughen up. Yes, he’s kind of intimidating and he gives you squishy tummy feelings, but that doesn’t mean you can’t talk to him without turning red.”

Max just looked up at me, wagging his tail.

“Right. Let’s do this. Except not you. You stay here.” I pointed to his bed in front of the couch. “Go lie down.”

His ears drooped a little but he obeyed.

“You’ll be fine. I’ll be right back.”

I went next door and found the garage door open. Josiah was inside, cutting long boards on a big saw.

Instead of his usual flannel, he wore a t-shirt that showed off the size of his arms. His jeans had a big spot of sawdust on the back pockets and no, I did not notice that because I was looking at his butt.

Fine, yes I was.

I waited until he stopped cutting and the whir of the saw died down.

“Hey.”

He looked over his shoulder and the way he furrowed his brow made my stomach flip. Why was that so sexy? I didn’t understand it.

Then his features softened and the corner of his mouth twitched. On anyone else, it wouldn’t have been a smile. But on Josiah Haven, it was as bright as the sun.

He put the board down and turned to face me. “Hey. What’s up?”

Breathe, Audrey. He’s not that good-looking.

Liar.

“I hate to do this, but I need a favor.”

He raised his eyebrows, which I’d figured out was Josiah speak for keep talking.

“Missy at Happy Paws is sick and I guess everyone at Happy Paws is also sick, so there’s no one to do doggie daycare today. Max can be at home alone for a while, but it would be best if someone could let him out once or twice to go potty. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it back today, although I could try, but if—”

“Sure.”

His single word of assent stopped my babbling. “Oh. Awesome. Thank you. That’s a huge help.”

He nodded. “Not a problem.”

What I wouldn’t give for another hug—to have those thick arms around me again. But I couldn’t think of a reason to move closer without making it weird.

“He should be fine until around lunchtime. I’ll put the leash by the door so you don’t have to worry about him running off again.”

He nodded again.

“Thank you. I think I said that already but I really appreciate it. It’s been such a hectic morning and Missy’s call was the icing on the cake, you know? And I’m new in town and I don’t know that many people.”

“Audrey.”

“Yeah?”

“Go to work. I’ve got it.”

My cheeks flushed. I’d almost made it through this without blushing, but then I had to go and run my mouth like a nerd. “Sorry. Yeah, work. Thanks. I’ll see you tonight.”

There was that almost smile again and his eyes glimmered with amusement.

Clamping my mouth shut so I wouldn’t keep talking, I turned around and went back to my house.

I was such a dork. The mayor of dorksville.

After making sure Max had plenty of water and setting his leash out where Josiah could find it, I left for work. I felt a pang of guilt driving away with Max looking longingly out the window, no doubt wondering why he didn’t get to go too. But he’d be fine. I knew from experience he’d get bored in about a minute, go curl up on his bed—or maybe mine—and take a nap. By the time he woke up, Josiah would be coming over to take him outside.

He’d be fine.

My morning flew by. I had to finish two articles, so that kept me busy. Ledger had finished a project for once, so I gave his work a good proofread before passing it on to Sandra. Lou was characteristically gruff, although he did give me a nod and a mumbled good job when he saw the half-completed layout for the next edition.

That was practically a gold star, coming from him.

I had just enough time to grab a quick lunch before I was off to visit the Annual Quilting Show to take pictures. It wasn’t exactly hard-hitting journalism, but I didn’t mind. I liked the quaintness and slow pace of Tilikum life. Maybe there weren’t huge corporate scandals, or crime rings, or massive social unrest, but that was part of the appeal. Reporting on the longest running quilting show in the central Cascades was just so dang wholesome. I liked it.