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Vince gently placed Burt in his bed. The dog tried to raise his head, then sighed and closed his eyes.

“They really drugged him,” Reggie offered as she hugged Belle, hoping to reassure her. “His doctor said he would be out of it for the rest of the day.”

“Best thing for him,” her father murmured. He looked at Leigh. “We have to put up the ramps and make him use them. No more jumping.”

Her mother gave him a soft smile. “That’s a good idea. You’re right.”

“I’ll go get them from the basement.”

He went downstairs. Leigh looked at her dog, then shook her head. “I just aged ten years.”

“You still look good.”

“Thanks. It’s like having a kid all over again.”

“Only Burt won’t ever want to borrow the car.”

“There is that. I’m going to make some coffee. Or possibly a cocktail. Want one?”

It was only two in the afternoon, but Reggie found herself nodding. “That would be great. Thanks, Mom.”

Leigh retreated to the kitchen. Reggie watched Belle anxiously circle around Burt before settling down next to him, her big head on his bed, their noses almost touching. Burt stretched out just enough to lick her face, then closed his eyes and sighed again.

Reggie got out her phone, scrolled through her contacts until she found Jake’s number, then texted him an update on what had happened.

I feel like I should stay close tonight. We’re all kind of traumatized.

Three dots appeared. Seconds later, he answered.

No problem. I get it. Poor guy. I hope he’s feeling better. As for dinner, should I ask again or leave you alone?

An interesting question, she thought. Having Jake back in her life was nothing if not unexpected. But seeing him again? Going out with him? Fool me once and all that.

Only she didn’t think he’d fooled her. He’d been caught up in events and his past. He’d been wrong not to tell her what was going on, but other than that, he hadn’t been deliberately terrible. A year ago, she’d planned to spend the rest of her life with him.

She stared at her phone, then typed.

Ask again.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Toby’s plan to let Reggie walk away had seemed right at the time, but as days passed, he found himself missing her.

Maybe if he could spend some time away from her, he could get her off his mind, but four days a week he dutifully showed up at the community center to knit hats with his son’s third-grade class. He did his work, all the while listening to her talk with the kids, or make jokes with Micah, who now regularly showed up to entertain them as they knit.

At first he’d wondered if something was going on with the former rock star and Reggie, but he hadn’t seen any hint of attraction between them. She was friendly but not flirty, and Micah seemed to treat her like a sister. Which was good. Toby didn’t want to have to take him out back and beat him with a stick.

No, he told himself as soon as the thought formed. Reggie was just a friend. He’d been the one to tell her he wasn’t doing relationships anymore. He couldn’t take the chance. Based on that logic, he should be disappointed that Reggie and Micah weren’t together, only he wasn’t. He couldn’t be.

Even as his fingers worked the yarn, going carefully around the loom, his mind was a dark, swirling mess of wants, needs and shoulds. He needed to keep his son safe. He should focus on Harrison rather than himself. But he wanted to spend time with Reggie. He wanted to make her laugh and listen to her talk and just enjoy the contented feeling that came over him whenever he was around her.

When the day’s session ended, Reggie collected the completed hats. Harrison smiled at his dad.

“You remember I’m going over to Noah’s for dinner tonight.”

He grinned. “You’ve told me forty-seven times, kid.”

Harrison laughed. “Na-uh. I’ve told you forty-six times.”