Kiss Me in the Summer - Barbara Dunlop Page 0,53

was a quick squirt, a small squirt, but his aim was good and he caught me square in the nose.

I squealed and ducked, but there was no more water coming my way.

He went back to rinsing Butch.

“That was mean,” I said.

“You started it.”

“Not on purpose.”

Josh carefully rinsed around Butch’s face.

“I think I missed a spot on this side,” I said, motioning for him to hand me the nozzle.

Josh narrowed his eyes at me.

“No, really.”

“Sure you did.” He came around the tub to look. “Where?”

“There.” I pointed to an imaginary spot of soap.

“You’re busted,” he said.

“Can’t you see it?” But I was busted, and we both knew it.

Josh twisted off the tap. “I’ll let you do something safer instead.”

“Was this dangerous?” It hadn’t seemed dangerous to me.

A week ago, a day ago, even an hour ago, I couldn’t have pictured myself bathing a dog. But now it seemed easy.

Then suddenly Josh grasped my arm.

“What?” I stumbled as he pulled me backward.

He quickly wrapped an arm around my waist to steady me but kept me moving back.

“Here it comes,” he called out.

Butch gave a mighty shake. It didn’t matter that we’d backed off. We both got hit with the flying spray.

“That didn’t seem safer,” I sputtered.

Butch gave another smaller shake of his hindquarters.

“I meant we were going to blow-dry him.”

“So, this is a full-service salon?”

“The very finest in town.” Josh let me go and returned to the tub.

While he moved Butch to a table across the room, I savored the linger effects of his hug. It was practical, not romantic. Still, his arms had felt so good around me. They’d felt solid and protective.

I wished it had lasted a little longer. I’d have liked to lean into him, if only for a minute, just to briefly revel in the delicious feeling of his solid frame.

“Gear up,” he called out to me, holding out a blow-dryer.

There were two, and we each took one of Butch’s sides.

Seconds in, I felt a puff of warm air on my face.

I looked up to see Josh grinning. “You look damp.”

I pointed my dryer at his face in return. “So do you.”

“You need a change of clothes.”

“I wish I’d known there’d be so much water in my evening. I’d have come prepared.”

“Victoria will have clean coveralls.”

Victoria appeared in the doorway. “Did I hear my name?”

“Laila needs a change of clothes.”

Victoria took in my outfit. “First timers,” she said with a laugh.

“Hey, he sprayed me.”

“She started it.”

“It was an accident,” I told Victoria.

“I’ll get you each a set,” she said, shaking her head as she left.

I dried, then changed, then dried some more.

Josh did the same, and half an hour later, Butch looked fluffy and magnificent while Josh and I looked like a pair of plumbers in shapeless tan coveralls.

They were one-size-fits-all, so I’d rolled up the sleeves and the pant legs and cinched the belt up to its tightest setting. I’d finger-combed my hair into a high ponytail before the bath, and I was honestly afraid to look in a mirror now.

“Josh!” Victoria’s call from the main room didn’t sound panicked, but she did sound concerned.

Josh gave me a glance, and we both moved in her direction.

Butch hopped down from the table and stuck with me.

Ben was standing just inside the front door, damp from the rain.

“Becky?” was the first question out of Josh’s mouth.

“Becky’s fine,” Ben quickly said. “It’s Madeline.”

Concern rushed up inside me. “What happened?”

“She’s not hurt or anything,” Ben said. “But she did go driving.”

Josh groaned.

“In the Challenger?” I asked, thinking about how slick the roads must be in this rainstorm.

“Of course it was in the Challenger,” Josh said with an air of inevitability. “There’s zero chance she’d take the minivan. Anyone know where she went?”

“Gerry saw her head out the highway,” Ben said. “He’s been watching for her to come back, but it’s been a couple of hours now.”

Josh touched the screen of his phone and put it to his ear. “Straight to voice mail.”

“Becky already tried a few times,” Ben said.

“I’d better get out there and look.”

“You want some help?” Ben asked.

Josh thought for a second. “It’d be good to have someone to drive my vehicle back. I’ll be commandeering the Challenger.”

“No problem,” Ben said.

“I can go,” I offered, thinking about Becky. To Ben I said, “You should be with Becky on a night like this.”

Ben looked tempted by my offer.

“That’ll work,” Josh said. He lightly touched my shoulder. “Thanks.”

“Sure.”

Josh scooped up his keys from a small table, and we headed for the