Page 19 of Survive the Night
Looking completely unrepentant, Theo laid an arm over the back of Jules’s chair and picked up his coffee mug with his free hand. “I would’ve just told her later.”
“That’s true,” Jules said, leaning forward with the same gossip-loving expression as Hugh. “He knows better than to withhold juicy tidbits. It’ll be useful to have me in the loop, though. I can talk you up to her, arrange ‘coincidental’ meetings, let you know her date preferences, and all that.”
Otto groaned, tipping his head back and closing his eyes. Why had he even bothered getting out of bed that morning? He could be wallowing in embarrassment with puppies sleeping on him, rather than wallowing in embarrassment with a growing crowd of amused, overly helpful friends.
“I’ll find out today what she thinks about you.” Jules was still talking.
“Please don’t.”
Hugh was snickering. “Fair warning, buddy. I have to tell Grace, too.”
Opening his eyes, Otto turned his best glare—one that transformed even the surliest suspect into a compliant heap of goo—on his partner, but it only made Hugh grin wider.
“Sorry, but if she found out that she was the last to know, my life wouldn’t be worth living anymore. Grace would make sure of that.” Hugh made a mock-terrified face.
“I’m not interested in Sarah.” Otto held back a wince. It sounded like a lie, even to him.
It didn’t help when Jules and Hugh started laughing. Even Theo looked amused.
His only hope was to change the subject. “Jules, I need a favor.”
She bounced a little in her chair. “Do you want me to ask Sarah what her favorite flower is?”
“No. Can you take care of the puppies tonight during my shift?”
“Puppies?” Jules still looked excited, even though he’d shut down her matchmaking. “Of course. Dee is going to be out-of-her-mind thrilled.”
At the mention of the little girl, Otto managed a smile. “How’s the cat?”
“He’s great. Turtle is quickly becoming the king of the house.”
“Turtle?” Hugh repeated. “Interesting name for a cat.”
Jules shrugged. “It involved about eight hours of discussion over two days. Once everyone agreed on a name, I wasn’t about to argue.”
“Jules!” Megan, the diner owner, yelled from her spot by the window. “Break’s over. The Silver Fork Casino bus just pulled up.”
Making a face, Jules pressed a quick kiss to Theo’s cheek before standing. As she returned her chair to its rightful spot at the neighboring table, she said, “See y’all later.” She winked at Otto. “Drop the puppies off anytime this afternoon. I’ll make sure we’re all home.”
The emphasis reminded Otto that Sarah would be at Jules’s house, and he almost groaned. A part of him was eager to see her again, but facing her after his super-creep act the other day would be uncomfortable. He gave Jules a slight nod, hiding his apprehension, and then turned back to his partners.
When he saw their smirks, he braced himself. Breakfast was going to be rough.
Chapter 7
He was there, at her house, and he had puppies.
Sarah leaned against the wall outside the living room, frantically fanning her face. She needed to cool her hot cheeks, or he’d instantly know how much he affected her. Dee chattered about the puppies, and listening to her calmed Sarah down. Blowing out a silent breath, she squared her shoulders. Stop being silly and get in there.
Pivoting around the doorjamb, she ran straight into what felt like a wall. Bouncing off a hard body, she started to fall backward, but Otto caught her arms in an iron grip and held her upright. Sarah swallowed a groan. Of course she had to run into Otto. A dignified entrance was too much to ask.
“Sorry,” she said as he released his grip. Even after he moved his hands, she could still feel the ghost of his fingers warming her skin.
He dipped his chin, not saying a word. Sarah had run their encounter at the store through her brain a thousand times, until she worried that she’d just made the whole thing up, that the trauma of escaping her brother had forced her into some fantasy land where beautiful, dog-loving Viking lumberjacks thought she was pretty. Tearing her eyes from the way his tanned skin stretched over his cheekbones and jaw, where a hint of stubble marred the smooth texture, Sarah turned toward the puppies. She desperately needed a distraction from the man in front of her.
“Oh!” she exclaimed when she saw them, moving over to where Jules, Grace, and the kids sat on the floor. Each one of Jules’s siblings held a puppy, although Jules and Grace looked as if they wanted to steal one of their own. Sarah sat on the floor between Dee and Jules, reaching out a finger to stroke the puppy Dee was holding. “They’re like little furry sausages.”
