Need You for Keeps (21 page)

“Jonah doesn’t need frills or cute gimmicks to win. He’s already sheriff. He just doesn’t have the title yet.”

“I like you,” Jonah’s sister, Frankie, said, shoving Warren aside. She was tall, toned, and looked like she could do some serious damage if she chose to. Thankfully, she pulled out two buttons from the box and pinned one on herself, the other on Warren, then smiled, daring him to take it off.

“Whatever,” Warren said, storming off and, Shay noticed with amusement, not tossing the button in the garbage can until he was safely across the street.

“Good to see you too, Deputy Asshat.” Frankie waved good-bye to Warren—with her middle finger—then turned back to Shay. “I want to register my alpacas.”

Fingers between her lips, Frankie let out an ear-bleeding whistle that had Socks up, off Shay’s lap, and hiding in the bottom of her purse before the three alpacas clopped their way across Main Street.

When they arrived they head butted their mama and started humming. Frankie snapped her fingers and, with a sigh that Shay had heard other big brothers give, Jonah produced another application and check.

“He’s paying for my admission. Part of Blanket’s birthday present.” She rubbed the smallest alpaca’s head and delivered a kiss right to his nose. Then she eyed Jonah and smiled, a bit smug. “He’s a good uncle. Always knows just what to pick out for his nephew.”

Shay focused on processing Frankie’s paperwork, because really, the man had just done the sweetest thing ever, and laughing at him over his sister handing him his ass in one look wasn’t nice. She handed Frankie a participant bib for each of her alpacas. Frankie ripped off the sticky paper, slapped the number two on Blanket’s chest, then turned around and said, “Who’s next?”

Once Jonah’s family had cleared out, Shay handed him Kitty Fantastic’s participant bib, number one for the leader of the parade. Their fingers brushed and her breath caught. Her heart . . . well that was doing some pretty serious pounding. Shay found that she couldn’t look away, no matter how hard she tried. She was drawn to him. Mesmerized by the mystery of a man who was so private and serious yet scared of his sister and carried a kitten around in his holster.

“I really want to kiss you right now,” she whispered because people were starting to line up by the masses.

“Trouble,” he said and, even though she couldn’t see through the mirrored lenses, she knew the look he was giving her. Her cheeks heated. “I traded in my gun for a cat named Kitty Fantastic and I am about to walk down the middle of town and pronounce I am a cat lover. We’re going to be doing a whole lot more than kissing tonight.”

Shay could deal with that. Her eyes fell to his cuffs, which hadn’t come into play because Jonah had been more interested in a different position, and she licked her lips.

“Damn straight,” he said, then grinned. And man, when he showed those teeth he was devastatingly handsome. “Oh, and Shay, there is something for you and Socks at Paws and Claws.”

He turned to walk away, to let the next person register, and she grabbed his hand. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Anytime,” was all he said, but somehow it sounded a lot like forever.

Forty minutes and over three hundred entries later, Shay hustled down to the end of Main Street. The turnout was larger than she had expected, and even when she ran out of participant bibs, the people kept coming. Harper stationed two of her best art students at the table to hand-make numbers for the rest so Shay could take her place at the judges’ table.

The walk was about to begin and Estella was still a no-show, which meant Shay needed to be in her seat to judge the contestants. Peggy had volunteered to walk Jabba and Socks—not that they could win the crown, but she still wanted them to participate to get the exposure. That was if Peggy could convince Socks to leave the safety of the spa’s front desk, where the poor thing had taken cover the second Shay had walked into Paws and Claws.

Shay hadn’t even had the chance to see what Jonah had left them. Harper had frantically come in, telling Shay she needed to get to the judges’ table immediately, that they couldn’t start without her there, and that the entrants were getting restless—and loud.

Shay had left her pups to the care of Peggy and was about to take her seat.

“I can’t believe how many people came,” Harper said, ushering her toward the stage. “I mean, even the St. Helena’s Mommy Club is here with their strollers and toddlers glammed out. I explained that the winner must be an animal, and a few said they could make their case in the event they were chosen. And look over there”—she pointed—“the Stable Swingers.”

Sure enough, at the back of the pack was a handful of gray-haired cowboys, swinging their lassos from atop their beautiful horses.

Still ushering, Harper went on to list every person she’d ever met who had turned out, and nearly every St. Helenian was there. Then she went on to point out the nonlocal animal groups that had come to St. Helena just to celebrate the day. It was overwhelming.

“Okay, now be sure to thank everyone for coming, then give a special thanks to all the stores and people who helped,” Harper explained, handing Shay a list. “To make it easier.”

“What? I have to talk?” Shay stopped and looked down at the list and felt her palms sweat. She didn’t even recognize half the names there. Not to mention the sidewalks were overflowing with spectators and behind the starting line was a small army of entrants and their owners all expecting a good time.

It looked like Noah’s ark had capsized in the middle of town and now the animals were waiting for Noah to lead the way.

How Shay had become Noah, she had no clue.

“Usually the mayor officiates the event, but since he is a no-show and Jonah is at the other end walking, it’s all you, girl.” Harper gave her a hug, then pushed her toward the mic. Hard.

Shay took a hesitant step, then tapped the mic. It echoed through town, silencing the crowd.

And there she was again, standing in the front of her new homeroom, introducing herself to a sea of strangers who, at the end of the day, may or may not accept her. “Hi. I’m Shay Michaels, and I wanted to thank you all for coming to the first annual Prance for Paws Charity Pet Walk.”

A round of applause erupted and Shay even heard a few whistles. She looked down at the front row and found Harper giving her a thumbs-up and a bright smile. Clovis stood beside her, holding a
YOU
’
VE GOT TAIL
sign. And behind them, in a Hello Kitty T-shirt was Goldilocks, looking at Shay as though Shay were a true saint.

And despite all of her nerves, all of her fears that she wouldn’t fit in, Shay felt a genuine smile form on her lips. This wasn’t one in a long line of new classes she’d have to confront. This was St. Helena. A place she was going to spend the rest of her life getting to know. And it seemed as though they were willing to get to know her back. Some people would tolerate her, some people would like her, and if she was really lucky, some people might even grow to love her, like she had grown to love this town.

Liar
, her heart whispered, because there was a whole lot more here that she loved.

“So without further delay—”

“We’d like to introduce the official for the afternoon,” Estella cut in, knocking Shay aside with one swish of her meaty hip. “Please welcome one of the most influential and respected men in this county as well as a staunch supporter of animal rights, my husband, the honorable Judge Pricket.

“Well, move, dear,” Estella snapped, swatting her hands at Shay. “Escort me to my seat and let the man officiate.”

When Shay still didn’t move, Estella took her by the arm with a tut and led her back to the judges’ table, where Foxy Cleopatra, dressed in Dior and surrounded by all nine blue ribbons, was already holding court.

“You came,” Shay said as Judge Pricket told a few jokes and got the crowd going.

“You couldn’t have an event this close to Bark in the Park and expect Foxy and me not to show. That would be,”—the woman grimaced—“unnatural. Now, pull out my chair and make a big deal of welcoming me to the panel.”

“To show how united we are?” Shay pulled back the chair.

“No, child, to show everyone that I am the official dog lady of St. Helena.” Estella stopped, looked at the chair being pulled out, placed a humble hand to her chest, waved Shay off with the other, then turned to the crowd and gave a big welcoming wave.

Shay rolled her eyes but played along. She didn’t care about perception, she just cared that Estella was taking the olive branch and—Shay paused to take in the sight—maybe even extending one of her own. Because walking down the street to join the others behind the start line was the entire Companion Brigade. Dressed in their dog show best, they positioned themselves, not in front of the pack as Shay expected, but interspersing themselves among the other entrants as equals.

“That’s just for today, child. Come Bark in the Park, we will resume our standing,” Estella said loud enough that only Shay could hear, then handed Shay an envelope. “That is the registration and payment for the entire brigade and some additional pledges we raised.”

Shay felt her eyes burn. It wasn’t just some additional pledges, there was over three thousand dollars in the envelope. Three thousand dollars that, because of Estella, meant Shay would meet her goal.

“Oh my God.” St. Paws Rescue would be an actualized shelter. She wouldn’t have to give up her pets and she wouldn’t have to move. More importantly, she would be able to call St. Helena her home and really mean it.

“Thank you,” Shay whispered, pressing the money to her chest.

Estella clicked her tongue. “Don’t get sappy. This is because I can’t stand another day of the incessant yapping and morning poops on my lawn.” She patted Shay’s hand and then smiled—at the crowd. “Now pay attention, here comes that man of yours.”

Shay looked up, surprised to find that the walk had started. And at the front of the group, looking bigger than life and sexy as ever, was Jonah. The sun gleamed off his badge and his smile went straight through to Shay’s heart.

She loved him. The most uptight, irritating, and adorable man in all the land, and she loved him with everything that she was.

“Who’s that, the snow princess?” Estella asked, pointing to—
no way
—Socks leading the pack. Shay had to blink. This must have been Jonah’s surprise. He wasn’t just walking Kitty Fantastic—he also had Jabba, who looked sporty in his Saints baseball uniform, head high, holding that red plastic baseball bat in his mouth like it was prey that he’d hunted, captured, and was bringing home, and Socks. Little, shy Socks, who was a snow princess indeed in ice-blue booties, a matching scarf, and miniature earmuffs with snowflakes sticking up from the headband like an ice crown. She looked adorable, noble—and like a loveable, confident companion.

Her little feet picked up and down in the perfect prance, her head not moving an inch as she strutted up Main Street as though this was hers to win.

Shay found it difficult to speak through the emotion clogging her throat. “That’s Socks. She’s a teacup Maltipoo.”

“She is a contender,” Estella said, and if Shay didn’t know any better she’d think the older woman sounded impressed.

Shay opened her mouth to say that Socks wasn’t eligible for the prize, then closed it. She wasn’t a judge, so there was no reason her dogs had to be excluded in the running.

“I don’t know,” Dr. Huntington said, leaning over. “The Scottish fold in the deputy’s holster looks to have caught the eyes of the crowd.”

Shay would have to take the vet’s word for it, because it was someone else entirely who had caught her eye. As he got closer he took off his glasses, and the look he sent her said that he wanted to be caught.

By her.

A
n hour later, Kitty Fantastic was back in his cage and Jonah was officially a deputy again, which meant he was supposed to be covering the corner of Main and Adams Street, not standing behind the stage watching the judges tally their scores. But he needed to speak with Shay. It was urgent. So he’d agreed to wear his new Deputy Pussycat hat to the next fire-police softball game if Adam would stand in for him.

“Excuse me, Miss Michaels,” Jonah said in his most deputy-like tone. “We have a situation that needs your attention.”

“Is it Jabba? Did he steal someone’s baton again?” Shay asked, her eyes wide.

Her lips, however, were glossy and lush and he wondered what would happen if he leaned down, right there in front of the town, and kissed her. Then he wondered if the rumors on Nora’s Facebook page were true that Shay was wearing something from the Boulder Holder, and if so what color it was. And what it covered—if anything.

Then he realized it was poor form to walk around with a hard-on in uniform and said, “No, ma’am. But if you could just come with me.”

“I’ll be right back,” Shay said to the judges, but Estella waved her off as though she had everything handled.

“Is everything okay?” she asked once they had cleared the stage area.

“Just come with me,” he said, then rested his hand on her lower back in the most deputy-like way possible.

He wove them through the sea of people, past the blockade, and into the alley next to the soon-to-be St. Paws. Once they were out of sight, he took her hand and led her around the corner. Without another word he pressed her up against the wall and took her mouth.

Shay was surprised at first, which he took advantage of, then she fisted her hands into his shirt and yanked him close. And God she tasted good. She felt even better rubbing up against him like a cat with an itch. And he wanted to scratch it, he really did, but she had a prince and princess to crown and he had to get back to his post pronto.

But he’d spent all afternoon watching her flit around town, charming the locals and tourists alike, determined to make her dream a reality, and he wanted to take a moment to tell her how proud of her he was.

He also wanted her all to himself before the winners were announced and she went back to being the rescue lady of St. Helena. He needed some serious rescuing too, and she was the only person who could help.

She pulled back enough to look up at him, her face flushed and her eyes blazing. “That is a pretty big problem you have there, Sheriff.”

“It’s been pressing all afternoon.” To show her, he flattened her against the wall with his body and dropped his head to nip at her neck.

“Seems to be growing by the minute.” With mock concern, she took his hand and placed it on her bare thigh, slowly sliding it up her silky skin, under that dress he’d been thinking about and—
look at that
—a tiny scrap of lace barely covering her. “How is it looking now?”

He ran a finger around the lace edging at the bottom. “I can’t see.”

“Oh.” She shifted her leg, giving him better access. “Well, they match your eyes.”

“Blue?” He took that access and upped the ante by sliding his finger around the back to find that there wasn’t much more than a string back there.

“Lethal,” she whispered.

He was toast. One touch and he could feel the dampness beneath the silk, the need pouring off of her. He ran his thumb up the center, loving it when she released a sexy little purr. So he did it again, and she pressed against his hand as though she’d been fantasizing about him touching her as much as he had her. And he’d fantasized all right.

All. Damn. Day.

“So, what do you think?” she asked.

That even though he hadn’t seen them yet, he’d found his new favorite color.

“Definitely lethal,” he murmured against her mouth.

Everything about her was lethal. Shay was sexy and driven and so damn beautiful it hurt to look at her. But it was this playful side, the one that made him smile and forget about all the drama, that reached out and pulled him in. All the way in.

No one had ever gotten to him like this. The truth was, no one had ever gotten him like she did.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we, the judges, have narrowed down our decision to five outstanding critters,” Estella’s voice boomed down the alley.

“They are about to announce the finalists,” Shay said, pushing him a step back and smoothing down her dress.

It didn’t help. Not one bit. The fabric was bunched and wrinkled, her lips were wet, and her eyes were heated. She looked thoroughly turned on.

She took a step forward, but Jonah didn’t budge. Shay’s breath caught—he could see it in the base of her neck. Pulsing. Her eyes fell to his hands, which were back on her hips.

“You have to let me go,” she whispered.

It was as though he heard the words but his body refused to listen. He told his hands to let go, but they didn’t. In fact, they gripped her hips tighter, pulling her closer because anything else felt wrong.

She must have felt the same because her hands were gripping the front of his pants. With a smile she gave him a quick kiss and said, “I have a charity event to host and you are supposed to be tending to the crowd and handling sheriffy business.”

He wanted to be handling something else entirely but knew she was right. With a reluctant groan, he let go. “Tonight, when I get home, I expect to find you in my bed so we can finish up this issue.”

“Unlawful entry isn’t my thing,” she teased.

“Which is why I am giving you this.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his key ring. Taking the house key off, he placed it in her hand, then brought her fingers to his mouth to kiss them. “And Shay, be waiting in nothing but the panties.”

“Thank you, everyone, for coming out and supporting St. Paws,” Shay said into the mic, but her eyes were squarely on Jonah, who was standing to her side with Kitty Fantastic, looking decidedly fine.

Her mind, however, was still back in that alley, contemplating the key in her pocket. The key to his house. Which he gave her.

Dear God
, if she hadn’t been all-in before, she was now.

Shay had never been given a key to someone else’s house before. Even when she’d been in foster care she’d been forced to knock on the front door if it had been locked when she’d gotten home from school. So she couldn’t help but wonder if this key was Jonah’s way of inviting her into his house. Or into his life.

“Because of each and every one of you,” Harper said from beside Shay. She was holding the Coat Crusader chart and it was all the way filled in, even spilling over the top. “We have raised enough money to open St. Paws Rescue and create a fund to spay and neuter over a hundred strays next year.”

A loud applause filled the streets along with barking. Lots of barking.

Shay let that settle—the
we
and the money—and gave her friend a hug. “As a token of how much this means to us at St. Paws, we’d like to invite all of you to the shelter’s grand opening next Thursday. We will have wine and appetizers, pet friendly of course.”

“And the Cuties with Booties,” Ida hollered from the front row. “Don’t forget to tell them about the cuties.”

“There will also be some of your favorite men and dogs from the Cuties with Booties blog on hand for a meet and greet.”

At that, a slew of hoots went up.

“And now, if you will all get on your feet and give another round of applause for today’s Prance Court, we will crown the winners and ask them to make their final prance down Main Street.” Shay took the mic off the stand and handed it to Judge Pricket, then went to the podium to get the ribbons ready.

“The winner of the very first Prance Princess”—Judge Pricket looked down at the winner sheet—“comes straight from St. Paws rescue herself, and is available for adoption. Ladies and gents, let’s hear it for Socks!”

Shay’s eyes misted over a little at the announcement. She knew she was supposed to be impartial to who won, that it was all done in fun and support of all the animals, but her Socks had won.

She couldn’t believe it. A pair of booties and custom earmuffs and the skittish Maltipoo had become a phoenix, rising above her fears to steal the show. Shay had already received over a dozen inquiries about adoption applications since they’d first announced the finalists twenty minutes ago. She was sure to have another dozen by the end of the event now that Socks was the crowned princess. But best of all, Socks was going to go to a nice family.

“Did you hear that?” Peggy squealed and set Socks on the ground.

Since Jonah was standing behind her holding Kitty Fantastic, who had also finaled, Peggy led Socks to the winner’s circle, where Shay got down to pin a ribbon to Socks’s scarf and kiss her nose. Socks let out a big
yip
, then took the steps two at a time to prance the red carpet like she owned it.

“And the Prance Prince,” the judge went on, “is another local-grown pet who spends his days eating everything in sight. Congratulations, Blanket.”

“Damn straight,” Frankie shouted, shooting a single fist in the air. She made some kind of victory circle around Jonah and Kitty Fantastic, thrusting her hips and looking as if she’d just spiked a ball, then led her alpaca down the red carpet—Blanket humming the entire way.

“And for our three runners-up, who all receive a two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar gift card, let’s hear it for Shasta, Awesome Bob, and Kitty Fantastic.”

One by one they came to the winner’s circle to collect their ribbons, but Jonah waited until last.

“I’m sorry your sister beat you,” Shay said, taking her time to secure the button on the holster, not feeling guilty that her fingers kept slipping. Kitty Fantastic was fast asleep.

“The alternate is I win and she never forgives me.” He smiled. “Trust me, this is better for everyone involved. Wait, why do I get two ribbons?”

“This one,” she touched his holster, “is for Kitty Fantastic. And this one,” she touched the back side of his utility belt, “is a first-place ribbon for best tail in wine country. I have finished my investigation, Sheriff, and have decided that yours is definitely worth perusing.”

He grinned in a way that had her heart singing.

“Stop smiling,” she scolded and he smiled bigger. “You’re distracting me from my job. Go walk the carpet.”

“As long as I get to distract you later.” And with a wink he strode away, Shay watching him as he went. And yes, definitely best tail in all of wine country. Maybe even the whole planet.

And it was hers. She had the key to prove it.

“When you’re done checking out my brother’s ass,” Adam said from behind her, “we need to talk.”

Shay turned and froze.

Oh boy
, Adam did not look happy. He didn’t look mad either. He looked concerned, which didn’t seem right for a man who had two speeds: easygoing and balls-to-the-wall.

“Tell me again where you got the kittens,” Adam said and Shay’s pulse skidded to a stop.

“I never told you where I got them.” It wasn’t a lie. Besides Peggy, she hadn’t told anyone of their origin. In fact, she really didn’t know much beyond they came to her in a box. She hadn’t wanted to figure it out. She’d posted a small Found ad in the back of the paper, between the obituaries and June Whitney’s ad for seasonal oven mitts, when all she had to do was ask Goldilocks. But asking Goldie would mean knowing, and knowing would mean having to go through the proper channels, and she knew that those kittens wouldn’t make it.

“Good, then let’s start there,” Adam said, taking her by the arm and leading her offstage. “How did you happen to come across this particular litter of kittens? More importantly, how did one end up at my brother’s place?”

“The owner was unable to care for them so I promised to find owners who could. I asked Jonah if he could watch—”

“Cut the shit, Shay. You’re BS-ing a guy who knows how to sweet-talk his way out of any situation, including sleeping with my ex’s sister, calling a woman by the wrong name, and being caught with my pants down by my battalion chief . . . when I was with his goddaughter. So get to the truth and get there quick, because I am trying to figure out if you are just too stupid for your own good or if you’re trying to fuck with my brother’s life.”