Jill Shalvis - Animal Attraction

When she didn’t return it, his slowly faded. “You okay?”

“Of course,” she said. “Just tired from the drive.”

“How tired? Because your mother’s expecting you for dinner.”

“I know. I’ll go get that over with and then come back here and crash, I think. Catch up on some sleep. Three solid days of driving is pretty exhausting.”

“Is that all it is?” Sam asked quietly, still holding on to her. “Trip exhaustion?”

Pulling free, she moved around, running a finger on some of the pictures on the walls, pictures of her and her family over the years.

Friends.

Old friends that had easily vanished from her life when she’d left here. There’d been a few token efforts to keep up, from both sides, but that had petered out with shocking ease.

Now she looked at the pictures and realized her real friends were seventeen hundred miles away in Sunshine, Idaho.

And possibly her heart.

“Jade?”

Throat burning, she turned to face Sam, forcing a smile that totally crumpled when he just looked at her and said her name.

“I’m just really tired,” she whispered, and swiped angrily at the sole tear that escaped. “That’s all.”

And utterly belying these words, she burst into tears.

His face softened and he gathered her in, stroking her hair. “Oh, Jade. It’s going to be okay.”

She nodded and tried not to snot on his shirt, hoping he was right. That somehow it was going to be okay.

Sam drove to Jade’s parents’ house, which worked for Jade. She was too nervous. Unsettled.

Heartsick.

She stirred when Sam got off the freeway two exits early.

“What are you doing?” Jade asked.

“Need to go by the center and pick up some files to read tonight.”

Panic slithered through Jade. “No.”

Sam slid a look at her, then did a double take, his easy smile fading into worry. “Jade.”

“I’m not doing this now.”

“They’re expecting you tomorrow, you know that, right? I thought it’d be easier for you if we went there now, tonight. When there’s no one there. You can walk through, get your bearings.”

Her pulse was up to stroke level and her palms were sweating. “I’m not going back for the first time at night.”

Again Sam sent her a questing, concerned look but he didn’t press. He simply executed a U-turn and got back on the freeway without another word.

“Thanks,” she said quietly.

“I just got you back.” He reached for her hand to give it a gentle squeeze. “I’m sure as hell not risking chasing you out of here.”

Ten minutes later, they pulled up to her family home, which was a large Colonial with a circular driveway lined with oak trees and strategically placed flowerpots to give a sedate but elegant glow of color.

Growing up, she’d run across the grass, picked flowers for the neighbors, and climbed the trees. Despite the place’s sophistication, it had been a warm, family home.

There were cars in the driveway, too many, which made her stomach jangle uncomfortably. Never in her life had a crowd bothered her, certainly not a crowd of what was sure to be people she knew and knew well, but as they got out of Sam’s car, she held on to the door a little too long.

Sam came around for her and took her hand. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” But at the front door she hesitated again. It hadn’t been that long, she’d flown home for a long weekend for her father’s birthday. And then over Memorial Day for another quick trip when her cousin had had a baby.

“Jade,” Sam said softly.

“Give me a minute.” Or another year and a half.

But then the matter was taken out of her hands when the door whipped open and her mother stood there.

“Well goodness, darling. You’re standing out there like a delivery person waiting for a tip.” Lucinda Bennett had given up practicing medicine five years ago now to dedicate her time to Jade’s father, but she hadn’t given up a single concession to looking good. She was in a black Prada cocktail dress, her carefully maintained red hair twisted up out of her face. She was as beautiful as ever as she gestured for Sam to come in, giving him a hug that she had to reach up for since Sam was a foot taller than her.

Sam dutifully bent and kissed his aunt on the cheek, gently squeezed Jade’s shoulder, and moved into the house out of sight.

Lucinda took Jade’s hands into her own and held tight. “So you don’t escape.”

“Mom.”

“What, you ran off once. I am not risking it again.” She looked Jade over. “Your hair’s getting long.”

“Yes.” Jade resisted patting at it self-consciously. “Mom, I-”

“And you haven’t been wearing sunscreen religiously like I taught you-you have a tan. Darling, your skin is your age meter.”

Jade let out a low laugh. “I know, Mom.”

“And what is that you’re wearing… jeans?”

“Yes.”

Her mother’s eyes lifted to Jade’s and filled. “And the cashmere sweater I sent you for your birthday.” She tightened her grip on Jade’s hands. “Oh, baby. Are you really here?”

“Yeah, I’m really here.”

Lucinda pulled her in for a warm hug, then stepped back, searching her pockets for a tissue, which she used to dab precisely at her eyes. There was never an excuse for running mascara.

“Where’s Dad?” Jade asked.

“Right here, pumpkin.” William Bennett rolled into the foyer. Even in his motorized wheelchair, he still cut an imposing figure. He had straight shoulders and thick gray hair that gave an impression of great knowledge and power. He held out his arms and Jade crouched at his side and hugged him.

“Thought I was going to have to come get you myself,” he said with affection in his voice.

“I promised, didn’t I?” Jade said, some of her joy at seeing him diminished by the feel of him in her arms. Thinner. He’d lost weight.

A line appeared between his brows. “Honey, I don’t give a fig about a promise. I thought you were back because you wanted to be.”

“Of course she wants to be,” Lucinda said. “Chicago’s her home, we’re her family.”

William cupped Jade’s face and looked into her eyes. “You’re really okay?”

“I’m okay.” When he didn’t relax, just kept looking at her, into her, she sighed. “Do you want me to promise?”

“No more promises,” he said softly, for her ears alone. “Family isn’t solely about obligation.”

Jade didn’t have words for that, so she hugged him again.

“Stop making me cry,” Lucinda said behind them. “I don’t want to be blotchy for pictures.”

Jade’s stomach shifted. “Pictures?”

“We’re having a welcome-home party.”

“Now?”

“Well, when else?” Her mom pulled Jade through the foyer toward the grand living room. “I sent Sam for you to make sure you showed up.”

Oh, for the love of-

“Surprise!” yelled a bunch of voices as people popped up from the furniture and out of the woodwork-friends and family she hadn’t seen in far too long.

Jade’s gaze sought out a guilty-looking Sam’s.

Sorry, he mouthed. But before she could do anything-and killing him seemed to top her personal wish list-she was surrounded.

Dell was as good at denial as the next guy, but even he was going to need some good distractions to get through Jade’s being gone.

Turned out, he got plenty of distractions.

He was called into Belle Haven at five A.M. A fivemonth-old golden retriever had consumed a kitchen towel and gotten deathly ill.

Dell met them at the center and confirmed his suspicions-the dog’s intestines were blocked by towel shreds. He operated and was back in his office by seven, leaning back in his chair studying the ceiling.