Page 104 of To Belong Together
John opened his door but, instead of getting out, reached into the backseat.
Moments later, Camo hopped out and trotted to her, tongue already lolling. Soon, Trigger edged in for attention. To think these two had scared her so badly when she’d first encountered them.
At the sound of leashes jangling, all three of them looked to John. He clipped a pair of unusual leads around his waist like belts, then attached the ends to the dogs’ collars.
“Doesn’t seem like they really need those.”
“It’s the law. Besides, it makes other people feel better.”
“And what makes your car feel better?”
“About what?” He eyed it with concern.
“Muddy paws.”
“Oh.” He opened the door again and motioned her to look inside.
A cover blanketed the backseat, and two safety harnesses lay clipped to the seatbelts.
“Quite a set up.”
“I love the dogs, but …”
Love. She shouldn’t enjoy hearing him say the word. The fact that she did suggested this time together had been a dangerous idea. “But you love the car too.”
He locked the door and shot her an unreadable glance. “Something like that.”
“Good, because I couldn’t respect a guy who mistreated his ride.” She fell in step beside him as they headed for the mouth of the trail. “That was one of the first things I liked about you.”
He gave a look that seemed to question whether he should be flattered or concerned.
See? She wasn’t like normal girls.
She shrugged and studied the path ahead. The trail led through the forest and over a rise. She didn’t hear waves washing to shore, but some of these hikes cut through the woods for a mile or more before reaching the lakefront. Trigger seemed in a rush to get there because he edged in front of them.
“Trig.” John’s warning elicited a guilty look from the dog, who slowed and walked between her and John. “What was your appointment in Lakeshore?”
“Mom and I ordered the headstone, and I met with a real estate agent to list my house.”
For the look he gave her, she may as well have punched him and rebroken his nose.
Her gut plummeted. “What?”
“Are you moving away?”
“I’m moving in with Mom.” She swallowed the lump of guilt that told her she should reveal the truth about the foreclosure.
Mom had hardly even told Erin about it because she’d been embarrassed and hadn’t wanted Erin to chip in. Mom would probably prefer to keep the situation private. Besides, Mom had been right to assume that, as soon as Erin learned of the problem, she would immediately commit to chipping in.
John had no reason to be willing to do the same, yet he’d instantly pitched in with the search for Dad. If she mentioned the foreclosure to him, would he think she expected him to bail them out again?
So instead of offering up the financial reason for her decision, she revealed the emotional one. “We can both use the company.”
That was true too.
John rubbed his neck the way he seemed to each time he didn’t know what to say, but the alarm had washed from his expression. By all appearances, he cared—a lot—about her staying in the area.
Excitement sparkled through her core, and she bumped his shoulder with hers. “What made you think I’d move away?”
