Ride Wild (Raven Riders 3)

Haven turned toward her. “No, I mean, what is going on with you and Slider?”

Cora could’ve smacked herself in the head, because she’d walked right into that one. “Weelll . . .”

On a gasp, Haven smacked her arm. “Shut up!”

That made Cora laugh. “I didn’t even say anything.”

“You didn’t have to. But now you totally have to,” Haven said, grabbing her hand and dragging her back into the room she’d originally stepped out of—Dare’s bedroom, by the masculine look of it. Though Haven’s things were all over it now, too. And actually seeing Haven at home in such a nice place—a place that was hers, now—was almost enough to make Cora a little misty. “Turnabout is fair play, missy. You made me spill all my secrets about Dare when we first got together, and now it’s your turn.”

They plopped down on the corner of the bed. “It’s complicated.”

“Story of our lives,” Haven said with an eye roll.

Wasn’t that the truth. “Okay, well . . . I like him, and I think he likes me. And wesortahadsex but we can’t do it again because I work for him and neither of us are really in the best place for a relationship.”

Haven’s eyebrows were up at her hairline. “You had sex with Slider?”

“Twice. Well, twice in one morning.” Downstairs, the front door opened, and voices and footsteps filtered in.

“I can’t believe you had sex with Slider!” Haven said excitedly.

“Ssh!” Cora said, and then she dropped her face into her hands. “It was so good, Haven. Like, so so good. I can’t freaking stop thinking about it. And he sleeps across the hall from me now. It’s so distracting.”

“How good was it?” Haven whispered, sending them both into a fit of giggles.

“So good. Like, super good. Extra amazingly good.”

Haven put her arm around Cora’s shoulders. “He invited you on his bike and took you for a ride. And he’s doing better since you moved into his house. I mean, hell, Cora, from what Dare said, Slider hadn’t touched his bike since before Kim died. All that with what you told me, I’d say just give it time and let whatever is going to happen between you happen naturally.”

Cora blew out a breath. “How’d you get so good at giving advice?”

She bumped their shoulders. “I learned from the best.”

“Speaking of the best, my extraordinary baker friend, any more word on when you’ll start at Dutch’s?”

“I met with him yesterday and showed him my new menu. He thinks he can have everything ready for the changeover in two weeks, three tops.”

“Oh, Haven, that’s so awesome. I can’t wait to come sit at the counter and order up all your goodies.”

Haven laughed. “You don’t have to do that, silly. You can get them any old time.”

“Ready when you are, Cora,” Slider called.

They went downstairs and exchanged some small talk, along with a promise to get together for dinner that put that surprised expression on Dare’s face again, and then they were back on Slider’s bike and heading home.

Only this time, Slider kept his hand pressed against hers over his heart.

The gesture made Cora feel like her heart might just beat right out of her chest. Because this like she felt for Slider Evans was getting stronger every day.

Chapter 13

It was the first time that Cora got to handle one of the dogs that her new job at the animal shelter became real. Well, not job job, but even though it wasn’t paid, it still felt important to her. Because it was a step toward figuring out her future, and at almost twenty-four, that wasn’t something she’d had the chance to do nearly enough.

Her first furry friend at the shelter was an eight-year-old basset hound named Bosco, a beautiful red-coated old man who’d been left behind by his family when they moved across the country. “How could someone do that to you?” she asked as she stroked his long, silky ears. “You’re so handsome and so sweet.”

He leaned into her pets with a satisfied grunt.

Bosco was the first of the dog walks she got to go on, and it was no hardship at all walking dogs outside in the early October sunshine, a breeze blowing through her hair, and a grateful companion at her side. She enjoyed herself so much that she already worried how she’d wait till Thursday to return. And her five-hour shift was nearing its end way too soon.

“Good first day?” the shelter’s director of operations, Maria Colter, asked when Cora came back inside. In her mid-fifties, Maria had shoulder-length salt-and-pepper hair and a smile that had immediately put Cora at ease during her volunteer interview.

“It really was,” Cora said. “How do you avoid falling in love with them all?”

Maria winked. “You don’t. At least, I don’t.”

“I don’t think I will, either,” Cora said.

“Probably means you’re in the right place. I’m glad you’ve joined us, Cora. Many of our volunteers are retired ladies looking for something to do once a month or high school kids needing a few community service hours, and both are very welcomed, of course. We need every single pair of hands. But it’s exciting having someone here because they’re exploring working with animals as their career.”