Join the Club - Lani Lynn Vale Page 0,45

feel bad that he got hit by a car.” She paused. “I’m going tonight if you want to go.”

“I have Asa,” I said. “And what I’ve heard from Booth, the dog doesn’t do well with kids.”

Dillan sighed. “I don’t actually know that. But yeah, the guy that helps place the Military Working Dogs suggested he not be with kids or other animals.”

Moses bumped my hand because he wanted attention, and I gave it to him, rolling my hands over his ears in affection.

“I heard that you were selling another one,” she said as she took a few more steps toward the door.

I touched the Irish Setter’s head. “This one. He’ll be going to that little boy that I went to that wedding to talk to a few weeks ago. He’s coming to get him this weekend.”

“That’ll be fun.” Dillan frowned. “Is someone here?”

Thank God Bourne had parked at his sister’s place.

Before I could answer, Booth called, and she lit up like a Christmas tree, ignoring me completely as she walked inside.

I sure hoped that she didn’t wake Bourne, but he’d assured me that he was a heavy sleeper, and nothing short of waking him up by shouting in his ear would get him up.

I went back to working with the dogs, putting them all through their paces. Even Moses.

And wondered idly if Bourne would let me do this every day.

Because I could certainly get used to it.

Chapter 10

Ambitchous-the desire to become a better bitch.

-Text from Delanie to Bourne

Bourne

I squeezed Delanie’s hand as we walked together to the front door of her house.

I glanced at my watch as I did, wondering if we’d have time to get this over with before Asa got off the bus.

Probably not. But if the inevitable happened and he was here, I’d just text Priscilla to get him off and she would.

“I don’t want to do this,” Delanie said, then opened the door.

It was a surprise to see David standing there beyond the threshold. Not because I didn’t know he was coming, but because he looked like he was old. Very old. Way older than the last time I’d seen him—though, granted, that was five years ago now.

“Father,” Delanie said, voice bland.

David’s eyes immediately flicked to me, and I saw the anger there at having me standing in front of him.

“Booth?” he asked.

“Bourne,” I said. “The other twin.”

David’s lips tightened and he looked at Delanie. “I thought this was a private meeting.”

“This is,” she said. “With my man, Bourne.”

“Fiancé,” I corrected her, knowing that she was going to look at me in surprise. “It’s a new thing.”

Delanie’s eyes looked wide when she glanced at me, and I leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her nose. “Just go with it.”

She pulled away, but when she looked at her father, there was no surprise or choking involved when she introduced me again. This time as her fiancé.

David’s lips thinned. “My contacts didn’t know that you were engaged to be married.”

Delanie shrugged.

I was annoyed that he had ‘contacts’ that told him anything about Delanie.

What kind of father gathered data about his children from other people?

Certainly not the good ones, that was for sure.

If my parents wanted to know something about me, they’d call me and ask.

David’s first thought was to call a fucking ‘contact’ and ask them if they’d heard anything about his daughter.

Who the hell did that?

“Yep,” Delanie chirped, completely playing the game for all that she was worth. “Since Booth and Dillan are engaged and having a baby, and since I’m currently carrying our love child.” Delanie gestured to me. “We thought that it’d be best to go ahead and get married so as not to show any confusion on who was with who. Since, you know, we’re both twins.”

Oh, she was laying it on thick, but I’d play her game.

Well, my game.

Whatever.

“You’re… what?” David said, looking confused. “I’m so confused.”

Delanie laughed and swung the door open wide.

“We’re all going to move in together and raise our children together,” Delanie continued. “We’ve always hated that Asa has to go back and forth between our houses. Now that we’re all ‘together’ we’re going to go ahead and make it official.”

I snorted out a laugh.

“Y’all are… I can’t believe this.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Are y’all swingers?”

Had she said that?

Honestly, she’d put a lot out there about it, but I didn’t think that specifically had ever come out of her mouth.

“Oh, no.” Delanie shook her head. “No, not quite that far. But we’re going