Chapter 10

10

CHANCE

W hen Marigold called, I hadn't known what to expect, but when I'd heard the sheer fear in her voice, I was instantly on alert. My cop instincts took over, and I talked to her in a calm voice. I knew how to soothe someone in the midst of panic.

The only problem was that I was just as worried about Oakley. I'd become attached to him in the short amount of time I spent with him. He was just what Marigold needed. I wouldn't know what she'd do if something happened to him. Especially when it was an honest mistake. Dogs got into stuff, especially as you got to know them and their quirks.

Oakley stood and sniffed the yogurt concoction.

"How did he get into the chocolate?"

"He must have opened the cabinet, or maybe it was slightly ajar? These cabinets are old. I'll have to put the food up higher."

"I can take a look at the door tonight. Fix it if necessary."

Marigold shook her head. "Oh, you don't have to do that."

"Mari. I'm fixing this."

Her shoulders lowered. "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't answered."

"You would have been fine. You would have researched what to do, and you would have taken him to the vet."

"You knew the best one to take him too." She rung her hands.

"All the vets know what to do. They usually make you call that poison line anyway."

"She said it wasn't helpful if we didn't know how much he'd taken. Now we wait for him to puke?" Marigold asked.

"If he doesn't within twenty minutes, we can give him more peroxide. Or just take him to the vet."

"I think I want to take him to the vet to get him checked out. For my peace of mind."

"We can do whatever you're comfortable with. Oakley's your baby after all."

"I can't believe I failed him already. I'm the worst dog mom."

I chuckled despite the intensity of the situation and pulled her into my side. "Give yourself a break. This happens at one time or another to everyone. Even experienced dog owners. I knew one family where the kid kept leaving out chocolate. He loved the dog; he was just inattentive. He was ten. It happens."

There was a loud gurgling noise from the vicinity of Oakley's stomach, and then he retched.

"Oh, thank God." Marigold's fist was in front of her mouth.

I held Marigold tight to my chest. I'd never held her like this, but I wished it were under better circumstances.

When he was finished, I let go of her and checked out the remnants. "It's chocolate chips all right."

I took a quick picture in case the vet wanted to see what it looked like, and how much.

"Can we take him to the doctor now?" Marigold asked, her voice tentative.

"Are you ready to go?" For the first time, I noticed she only wore fuzzy socks on her feet. No shoes or jacket.

"Let me grab boots." Marigold disappeared inside.

I grabbed a couple of towels from the laundry room and wrapped Oakley in one of them to protect my seats.

In the truck, I told her to tell the vet we were on our way. Otherwise, the cab was silent other than Oakley's panting.

After she got off the phone, I said, "We're going to find out if Oakley likes vets."

"I can't believe I hadn't gotten him set up with a doctor. I was so busy with writing."

"It's a holiday. I'm sure the rescue would understand."

"I almost forgot it's Thanksgiving tomorrow."

I took the turn into the parking lot of the vet office a bit too fast. I pulled into a spot and threw the truck into Park. Apparently, I was going to be an overstressed and panicked father if I ever got to be one. I couldn't even handle a dog being sick.

I carried him inside, and Marigold checked in. She had to fill out a lot of forms since she was a new client.

When the vet tech came to take Oakley, I said, "Thanks for taking us in, especially with it being the night before a holiday and Marigold not being an existing client."

The vet tech nodded. "You can't go to an emergency place tonight. They'll be so busy. Especially tomorrow with all the turkey bones dogs will eat."

"I hadn't even thought of that." I was pleased that Marigold called me. She could have been stuck if she'd waited too long and this office was closed. I knew Dr. Sturgill would take care of her and Oakley.

Marigold finished the paperwork, taking it to the counter, then sat next to me. "You can go. I should be okay now."

Except her face was still too pale, and her fingers were tightly clenched.

I stretched my legs out in front of me. "I don't have anywhere to be."

"Still. I'm sure your family would like you to spend time with them."

"Tomorrow? Sure. But no one is expecting me tonight."

"If you're sure."

"Trust me, there's nowhere else I'd rather be. I have to know that Oakley's okay." I was concerned, but I was more worried about Marigold. I wasn't going to leave her to deal with this alone.

Why had she called me first? Maybe it was an instinctual thing. She knew I'd know what to do and take care of her in the process. It might not have been something she thought about. She'd just reacted. I liked that I was the first one she turned to.

I wanted to be there for her, and none of my usual excuses were coming to mind. All I could think about was what Mari needed. I put my arm over the back of her chair. "I'm here for the duration."

"Thank you." She rested her head against my arm for a brief second. Then the door to the back opened, and Dr. Sturgill walked out. Her gray hair was pulled back into a bun, and under her white jacket she wore an orange sweater and slacks.

"Are you Oakley's parents?"

Marigold jumped up. "I am. Chance is helping me. He came along for moral support, ya know?" Marigold's voice wavered slightly.

Dr. Sturgill's amused expression swung from her to me. "Come on back."

I guided Marigold with a hand on her lower back, knowing she needed the extra assurance. I was taking advantage of her being upset.

Inside the small exam room, a tech was holding Oakley.

"Do you know how much chocolate he ate?" Dr. Sturgill asked.

Marigold winced.

"I know you went over this on the phone, but I have to do it again for the exam."

"Of course," Marigold said as she ran through everything she'd already said over the phone.

Dr. Sturgill asked follow-up questions, then said, "I think he's going to be okay. You got him to puke, which is great. We'll run some blood work, but he's not exhibiting any concerning effects from the chocolate. We'd like to keep him for a few hours for evaluation. Is that okay?"

Marigold nodded. "Of course. Whatever you think is necessary."

"You can say your goodbyes, then see Lucy at the front. She'll have an estimate ready for you."

I shook her hand. "Thank you so much, doctor. When I heard Oakley was having a problem, I immediately recommended you."

"That's good to hear, and we'll take good care of Oakley." Dr. Sturgill walked out.

I waited a few seconds while Mari hugged and petted Oakley, tears shining in her eyes.

I hated that she was going through this. But it was the first time of many that Oakley would get into something.

I patted Oakley when she pulled away, leaving him in the capable hands of the vet tech.

At the front desk, I waited while Marigold reviewed the estimate for hospital care.

Marigold signed the bottom, and Lucy said they'd call with an update in a few hours.

I steered Marigold outside and to the truck. I waited for her to get in, then shut the door.

Inside the cab, I turned on the engine. I needed to distract her for the next few hours. Sitting at home and ruminating over all the things she should or could have done wouldn't help matters. "There's a new Thai restaurant downtown. You want to try it out?"

"I am hungry."

"Thai it is," I said as I threw the truck into Reverse.

Marigold's head reclined. "Do you like Thai?"

I shrugged. "It's fine."

"Did you suggest Thai because it's my favorite?" Marigold asked.

My lips twitched. "Maybe."

I couldn't help but think we made a good team. Marigold's heart was so big; she couldn't contain her feelings, and I was the calming force, at least in this situation.

"Thanks for being there for me. I'm sure I've probably said that already, but it was a big deal for me."

"I'm glad you called," and I meant it. She could have called Scarlett or even handled it on her own. I was a safe person for her. Someone she could depend on.

Marigold leaned closer, turning on a station that played holiday hits all day long. "I love this time of year."

"What are you doing for Thanksgiving?" I looked over at her, but she kept her face carefully averted.

"I'm writing a new play for Scarlett, so I'm having a quiet day at home."

"Why would you be alone when you can spend it with my family?" I asked, more than a little confused.

Marigold crossed her arms over her chest, then looked out the window. "I have work to do, and besides, I bought fixings for dinner. I'll be fine."

"You can work in the morning. Then I'm picking you up. You're spending the afternoon with my family."

Her head swung in my direction. "Chance. No. I can't let you do that."

"I don't want you to be alone on Thanksgiving."

Marigold huffed. "You know, you're incredibly frustrating sometimes."

"I'm told that I am all the time, actually." I grinned, knowing I'd convinced her to spend the afternoon with us.

"You should probably listen to those people and be less annoying."

I suspected she didn't love being home alone on the holidays. She was okay with it. But I wanted her to be happy. Especially since she was so worried about Oakley. "You can bring Oakley. Everyone will love him."

"That does sound nice," Marigold said.

Satisfied I'd convinced her to spend Thanksgiving with my family, I turned into the parking lot for the Thai restaurant. "Let's get food to go. I kind of want a night in."

"That sounds perfect."

We ordered a bunch of different entrees that sounded good, then drove to Marigold's house. I knew she was worried about Oakley and wouldn't relax until she knew he was okay. I set up our containers of food in front of the TV and put on a classic holiday film about a child left home alone at Christmas. It was exactly what she needed to unwind.

I managed not to check in with my deputies all night. They could handle the occasional drunk at the bar. I deserved a worry-free night.

When her phone rang around seven, Marigold dove for the phone. "Hello. Yes. Okay."

I moved closer to her, needing to be there to comfort her.

Her shoulders relaxed. "That's good news. Thank you so much. I can come by early in the morning and pick him up."

When she hung up, I asked, "They're keeping him overnight?"

"They want to make sure he was okay since we weren't sure how much chocolate he'd eaten. And he's my baby. I'm fine with being overly cautious."

I liked that she'd said we weren't' sure how much he'd eaten. It made me feel like I was part of this. That we were a couple. Which was ridiculous because we hadn't even kissed.

"What do you want to do now that you know Oakley is going to be fine?"

Marigold slumped on the couch. "Sleep for a million years. I hadn't realized how stressed out I was until she said he was going to be okay."

"Do you have the makings for hot chocolate? I can whip some up," I offered, getting up and heading toward the kitchen.

"That would be lovely." Marigold followed me into the kitchen, showing me where her mix was. I heated milk on the stove while she pulled out the whipped cream and marshmallows. "All we need is a little snow. I bet Oakley would love it."

"You're looking forward to all the little moments with him?" I asked, pleased that she had him in her life.

"I can't believe I waited so long to get a dog. I had this idea in my head that I had to be in a serious relationship before I could make that commitment. That I couldn't care for one myself. But your life expands when you add someone to it. Not the other way around."

Was that true? That sounded nice. I'd always assumed a relationship would encroach on my job, and I couldn't let that happen. But now, I wondered if I'd been thinking about it all wrong.

When the milk was heated, I poured it over the mix in mugs that had bookish sayings on them. One was a stack of books, and the saying, "I'd rather be reading."

We added whipped cream and marshmallows, taking our mugs into the living room where the movie was paused.

"Want to keep watching?" I'd offered to make hot chocolate because I was worried she'd tell me I could go. That she didn't need me to distract her anymore. There was no reason for me to be here. She was my sister's best friend. There was a barrier to that relationship, lines you didn't cross. Except I'd been stomping all over them.

I was playing a dangerous game, but I didn't want to back off. I was tired of doing what I should do or what I was expected to do. I liked spending time with Marigold, and I didn't want to leave. It was as simple as that.

At her nod, I clicked Play on the movie, and it continued to roll with me not absorbing the lines or the scenes. Marigold laughed more easily, her legs folded under her, and her body angled slightly toward me. Was that on purpose?

"This is so ridiculous and over the top." Her hand landed on my thigh, and my abs contracted in response. "I haven't watched this movie in years." Marigold glanced over at me, and she must have seen the tense expression on my face. "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Because you're touching my thigh, and your hand is only inches from my dick, who would love to get to know you better?

Marigold frowned. "You look tense. You don't have to worry about Oakley. They said he's going to be fine. A tech will check on him throughout the night. You can relax."

"It's not that." Then I winced. Why had I said that?

Her brow furrowed. "Then what is it?"

I didn't know I liked you. I never saw you as a woman I could persue. I'm losing my mind with want, and you're the only one who can help me. Instead, I touched the wrist of the hand that was still resting on my thigh, the heat searing through my jeans.

Marigold's gaze moved to our joined hands, and she attempted to move hers. "I'm so sorry. I hadn't realized."

Was she not affected when she touched me? Pain seared my chest at that thought.

But her pulse fluttered under my fingers. She was nervous. Instead of removing her hand, I kept it there, and Marigold turned slightly on the couch to face me. "Is everything okay?"

"I don't think it is." My voice was low. I wanted to pull her into my lap and show her what she did to me. But she wasn't ready for that. And I wasn't sure she'd want that.

Instead, my hand traveled up her arm; goose bumps followed my touch.

"Chance? What are you doing?"

"I don't know." Was this a colossal mistake? My heart was hammering, and I couldn't seem to form a complete thought. The only thing that ran through my head was how much I wanted to kiss her and feel her pressed against my body. I wanted everything, and I wanted it now.

Finally, I cupped her cheek. "I need to know how you feel."

Her eyes widened.

I leaned in closer, our breath mingling before my lips touched hers, tentatively at first. Then more firmly when she didn't push me away. Her hand clutched my thigh now as if she didn't want to let me go.

It was the sign I needed to deepen the kiss, sweeping my tongue into her mouth. Her other hand roamed across my chest as if she was seeking for something to ground her in this moment.

She tasted like chocolate and whipped cream, warm and cold, sweet and sugary.

When she moaned, the sound urged me to pull her into my lap. She settled over me, her hands roaming across my shoulders, my chest. It was like we'd given ourselves permission to let go. To just be.

I loved it.

With one hand on her hip, I kissed her jaw, her neck. Her head fell back to give me access. Marigold was beautiful when she let go. Her blond hair cascading down her back, her bare skin inviting me to suck.

Her fingers dove into my hair, twisting and pulling.

She was just as desperate as I was.

Then she stilled. "What are we doing?"

I wanted to keep going, to outlaw any talking, but this was bigger than a hookup. She deserved some kind of explanation. "I want you."

Her lips pursed. "But then what? You don't want a relationship."

My throat tightened. I wished she hadn't brought up the one thing that prevented anything from happening between us.

"Do we have to worry about that now?" My hands caressed her back, and I urged her to press herself more tightly to my body. My brain was saying one thing and my body another. I didn't want to stop or have a conversation about all the reasons why we couldn't work.

Marigold gave me a look. "What's going on, Chance? You've never done anything like this before."

It was really hard to get my brain on board with this conversation when her thighs were tight over mine. "I like you."

"You've never said anything before."

"Listen, I don't have a great explanation." My brain cells were in my dick at the moment. "I never really saw you as anything more than my sister's friend. Not until we started working together to get her to stay in town. Then we hung out more, and I realized that you're so much more than a family friend."

Her cheeks were flush, her eyes dark with desire.

"I'm hoping you feel the same way, and that I'm not overstepping here."

She pressed her pussy over my dick, and I nearly groaned. "Does it feel like you're overstepping?"

"You feel fucking fantastic."