High Heat (Hotshots 2)

“Yeah, it is. But you’re still allowed to have feelings.”

“I know.” Garrick rolled ahead a little way before sighing and slowing back down. “Sorry. I’m being ridiculous. It’s a good job with pay I need, and I’ve pretty much known all afternoon what I’d choose. I just wanted... Hell, I’m not even sure.”

“To be validated. You wanted some validation. And that’s normal, and I’m totally happy to be that friend for you.” Rain gave him another of those tentative smiles that went right to Garrick’s gut, as surely as his sexier, more confident grins did too.

“You’re a good friend to have,” Garrick said gruffly.

“Anytime.” Rain’s voice was all happy now. Garrick liked how he didn’t hide his emotions—it was generally easy to tell what he was thinking, and that was refreshing. Maybe it was the communal upbringing, but he didn’t have the same reserved nature as most of the people Garrick had grown up with. Despite all the tourist dollars flowing into the region, this was still a rural community with good, solid country folk who didn’t talk about things like validation and grief over having to take a job he’d rather not. But Rain did. And that was nice.

Dangerous too, how much Garrick was coming to like him. Crushing on a much younger person who wasn’t sticking around when Garrick had no idea what he could bring to the table romantically was a bad idea. And yet when Rain and Cookie jogged ahead of him, he still totally tried to guess what Rain had on under his shorts. Yep. He was screwed.

* * *

“We’ve got a problem.” Rain had walked over to Garrick’s rather than text him because he was agitated enough to not want to type and needed to move. The late Friday afternoon air had a chill to it, like spring had fallen down on the job.

“Oh?” Garrick rubbed his face, and Rain realized belatedly that he might have been napping. His shirt was rumpled and he was leaning heavily on his crutches. Crap. Rain should have texted after all. Garrick was probably worn out with another PT appointment that day after his morning exercise with Rain. The guy really did work hard, and he did not need the headache Rain was about to dump on him.

“I hate to bother you, but the shelter in Bend called me. I gave them my number when I sent in the new pics. Anyway, apparently they’ve got a family from east of Bend who says they lost a rottie two weeks ago near here. They say, and I quote, ‘She looks too dainty and girlie, but maybe...’ Whatever. They want to see her in person.”

“Where are they going to meet her?” Garrick looked rather grim at the news. Not angry or even sad, more just resigned. Which Rain hated. He didn’t like being the bearer of more disappointment in a season filled with far too many of them for Garrick. It meant something that he’d come to Rain on Tuesday to talk out the job offer. Being needed like that, truly needed, was the best kind of compliment, and one he could get used to.

“Yeah. The shelter asked if I could take her into Bend today—they don’t like sending strangers to private addresses for liability reasons, and apparently the family is dealing with some car trouble as well. That’s why they were stopped near Painter’s Ridge anyway. I was hoping I could talk you into coming along? I figure if there’s a chance I’m going to be sad on the drive back, at least I could have some company for my misery.”

Garrick gave a slow smile and nod. “At least you know what you need. I admire that in a person. Directness and self-awareness. And you’re an extrovert like me. When I was younger, if I got in a brooding mood, I’d head to the sports bar so at least I would be around other people.”

“Sub coffeehouse for bar, and that’s totally me. And so you’ll come?”

“Yeah.” Garrick looked off into the mountains before turning to go into the house, leaving Rain to follow him.

“I don’t want to bring her things.” Rain was being stubborn. And petty.

“Rain...” Garrick’s tone had more sympathy than censure. He transferred to the wheelchair before collecting his wallet and phone from the table. “If they’re her family, she’s going to have to go back.”

“And if they’re not?”

Drawing a long breath, Garrick took a moment before answering. “I’m not sure.”

“We’re not leaving her at the shelter!”

“No, we’re not.” His tone was calming now, the same one he used with Cookie, and Rain tried to let go of his rattled nerves. “We’ve established that I’ll foster her, but isn’t this what we want? Her to have a permanent family?”

The way Rain saw it, Cookie already had a forever home. Garrick simply hadn’t woken up to that fact yet. “Come on. Admit it. You’ll miss her.”