“Gunther? The dog’s name is Gunther?” I bend down, letting the husky mix sniff me. Riley barks from inside the house and I quickly go up the porch stairs, unlocking the front door so I can let the golden retriever out to greet his buddy. The dogs excitedly jump at each other, tails wagging so hard their whole bodies wiggle.
“You know this dog?” I ask Jacob. “He showed up a few days ago and I have no idea where he came from, or where he went when he left. I didn’t think he was a stray because he looks too well-kept to be one, but he’s not wearing a collar.”
“Technically, he’s not a stray,” Jacob tells me. “He’s owned by my neighbors.” He makes a face, letting me know that his neighbors don’t do the best job of taking care of their dogs. “Don’t worry, I’ve made sure he’s up-to-date on his shots.”
“Wow,” I say bending back down to pet both dogs this time. “You’ve come a long way buddy.”
“I think he cuts through the woods. If you walked all the way through the woods, you would actually end up in my backyard.”
“Oh,” I say, surprised. I knew Aunt Kim had owned a lot of land, with most of it being woods. Maybe it’s the city girl in me, but I have a hard time visualizing acreage. Plus, with the way the roads curve all around the lake in this town, it’s hard to tell where you could go if you could just make a beeline.
“I can take him back with me,” Jacob offers, “Though, I can't promise he won't show right back up.”
“I don't mind if he stays. Would they notice that their dog was gone overnight?”
“I can promise you they don't even realize he's gone right now.”
“Talk about having the worst neighbors when you're a vet, right?”
“Hah. Right.” He steps closer, loose stones crunching under his feet. I tip my head up, breath hitching in my chest like a stupid schoolgirl who came face-to-face with her crush.
Yes, I saw a different side of Jacob tonight than I have before, but that doesn’t mean my opinion of him has changed—or that he suddenly thinks I'm capable of running the rescue now that we spent a somewhat enjoyable evening together.
“Thank you again,” I tell him. “For taking me home.”
“It’s no problem, I have to drive this way anyway to get back to my place.”
The wind picks up again, blowing my hair in my face. Before I can push it back, Jacob reaches forward, calloused fingers brushing against my cheek as he moves my hair back, tucking it behind my ear. His eyes are on mine, and we stand like that, frozen in the moment for a few seconds before he quickly drops his hand and takes a few steps away.
“Have a good night, Josie.” He tips his head down at me, giving me a curt nod.
“You too,” I say back, longing to have his hands on me again. I clear my throat and look at the dogs, watching them wrestle and play.
“Riley seems back to his old self,” Jacob notes, shuffling back another few paces.
“Yes, for the most part. I still find him looking in Kim’s room as if he’s wondering if she’s going to wake up and come out. But making sure we include him with everything definitely helped him bounce back.”
“I’m glad. He’s a good patient.” Jacob smiles, and my pulse picks up once again. I swallow hard and wonder if Jacob is feeling anything remotely the same as I am right now. I told him I don’t know who he is as a person and, at the moment, I’m really wanting to find out everything about him.
Particularly, what he looks like naked and how he is in bed.
“Well,” he starts again, running his fingers through his hair. “I have an early morning and a long weekend ahead of me so I really should go home.”
“Right,” I say, coming to my senses. I blink several times and gather my hair in my hand to keep it from blowing in the wind. “I do as well, though, I doubt my weekend will be as hectic as yours.”
“Let’s hope not for your sake,” Jacob says with a smirk. “Have a good night, Josie.”
“You too,” I say, and this time, I force myself to turn around and go inside. The dogs have run off, and I decide to leave them out for a while longer as I get ready for bed. I’d rather them run around and wrestle out of the house than in.
I close the front door, shooting the deadbolt into place. I step to the side and watch Jacob walk to his truck through the window. My heart still feels all fluttery, and my mind is on Jacob as I walk into the kitchen to get a glass of water. I bring it with me into the living room, taking a drink before I set it down on the coffee table. I turn on the TV, grab a blanket, and curl up on the couch.