Page 64 of Dead Pretty

“First part?”

“Yep. First, we’ll take a walk with a couple of really cool dogs. And then, afterward, I’ll feed you.”

A dog-walking date.

It’s different. Unconventional.

And I absolutely love it.

I am so totally and undeniably screwed.

Jack holds his hand out to me.

I hesitate here for a second. Staring down at his hand. Strong and gentle, waiting for me.

I feel like this is a now-or-never moment.

Why now, I don’t know.

But I feel that if I take his hand and go forward with this date, then there is no turning back for me.

I pull in a breath on a long blink. Then, I tug my glove off and put my hand in Jack’s.

Smiling, he curls his fingers around mine. I lift my eyes to his.

He gives my hand a light squeeze. “Let’s go in.”

I let Jack lead me inside.

We walk into the reception area. The woman standing behind the desk—who I would guess is in her fifties with her graying light-brown hair tied back in a ponytail and surprisingly tanned skin for where we live—smiles widely when she sees Jack.

I know, lady. He has that effect on all of us.

“Hey, Jack,” she says.

“Afternoon, Shelly,” he greets her. “How are you today?”

“I’m good. So, you’ve brought us another victim,” she says chirpily.

I flinch internally at her word choice—victim.

It’s stupid that I can still be affected by a single word related to my past, but I am.

Thankfully, I’m a lot better at hiding my emotions than I once was.

“Another victim?” I question quietly at his side.

He glances down at me, a smile touching his lips. “You’re my first, I swear.”

His attention turns back to Shelly. “Yep. I got you another walker. This is Audrey,” he tells her. “Audrey, meet Shelly.”

“Hi,” I say.

“You walked rescue dogs before?” she asks me.

“Nope. Total newbie.”

“No worries at all,” she says kindly. “It’s just the same as walking any regular dogs—with just a few rules.”