Holidays with the Walker Brothers (Alluring Indulgence #4)(16)
Author: Nicole Edwards

“Kennedy,” he acknowledged her, keeping his tone light. After all, he damn sure wouldn’t let her see his fear.

Not that he was scared.

Glancing back down at the dog who seemed to be fixated on him, Sawyer took an awkward step backward. Funny how those big round eyes seemed to follow him, even beneath all that fur.

“So nice of you to help out today,” Kennedy said sweetly. “The shelter can always use more volunteers. I think you’ll like this particular job. It’s certainly a good one for a newbie.”

Sawyer wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he just stood there, staring down at Hercules who was aptly named based on his size.

Adrianne stood to her full height once more, handed Sawyer the leash and then turned to leave again.

“Hey, wait,” he found himself saying, but quickly clamped his mouth shut.

“Sorry, I’ve got to help Doc Endsley,” Adrianne explained. “She’s just got a couple of vaccinations to take care of before she heads out.”

Heads out? She just got there.

“See you in a bit,” Adrianne chirped as she snuck out the door.

Sawyer was pretty damned sure she was laughing at him as she went.

♀♂

Kennedy

“Thanks for warning me that he’d be here,” Kennedy told Adrianne as they walked down the narrow hallway back to the front of the building.

“No problem. Don’t get me wrong, I think Sawyer’s a decent guy and all, but have you ever seen him volunteer before?”

Kennedy chuckled. “Not when it comes to animals, no.”

She knew that when he was younger, because his parents always pitched in at the church, the Walker brothers were known to do their part, – even occasionally now – but, unless it meant doing the heavy lifting, or something that would show off how masculine they were, they didn’t tend to offer their assistance.

Especially not bathing stray dogs.

So, needless to say, when Adrianne had called to let her know that Sawyer was looking for something to do at the shelter, she had offered suggestions. The two women had laughed over their options, but in the end, they decided a few hours with some ornery, wet dogs would probably do the guy some good.

“Well, I’ve got to run an errand, but I’ll be back shortly,” Adrianne called out as she headed for the front door.

“No problem, I’ll be here for about an hour, and your volunteer will likely be here for about three. Maybe more.”

Adrianne laughed. “When he’s done with Hercules, just give him whoever looks like they’d enjoy some bonding time with him.”

“You don’t have any others who need to be bathed?”

“Nope, not today. But he doesn’t need to know that.”

Kennedy broke out laughing, staring after Adrianne as she disappeared out the door.

If she hadn’t spent the better part of the last few years trying to stay as far away from Sawyer Walker as possible, she might just get a kick out of this.

Oh, who was she kidding? She would get a kick out of this.

Chapter Seven

♂♀♂

Brendon

“What’s for dinner?” Braydon asked when he walked into the kitchen, not paying the slightest bit of attention to where he was going as he ran a towel over his wet hair.

“Whatever you find to eat,” Brendon said snidely. He damn sure wasn’t the chef in the house.

“Where’s Jessie?”

What the hell was this? Twenty questions?

Brendon took a deep breath, realizing he had to calm down. There was no need to take out his frustrations on his brother.

“No idea,” he answered honestly, taking a deep breath and trying to settle his frazzled nerves. He’d already called her several times, but she wasn’t answering her phone.

“I talked to her earlier,” Braydon stated smoothly, causing Brendon to stop mid-step and stare at his brother.

“When?”

“Right before I got home. She said she had to run an errand, but then she’d stop by. I hope she’s got something for dinner.”

Brendon stared at his twin. Had Braydon been abducted by aliens while he was in the shower? Since when did Braydon talk to Jessie without Brendon around? Shaking off the thought, he turned and exited the kitchen. He needed to keep himself busy, or he’d be overthinking this whole mess he seemed to have found himself in.

“I’m gonna take a shower,” Brendon called out as an afterthought before retreating to his own room and slamming the door behind him.

What the hell was wrong with him?

Here he was, completely frustrated with the situation he found himself in, yet he was getting jealous that his twin brother had talked to Jessie? That was supposed to be a good thing, right?