Fetched

  Fetched

  Going to the Dogs, #5

  By Zoe Dawson

  Blue Moon Creative, LLC

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright by Karen Alarie. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, Fozzie

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your preferred vendor and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Author Note

  I make every effort to research thoroughly all subject matter, but I’m not infallible. If you find anything in my novels that I have incorrect, please feel free to let me know.

  ISBN: 978-0-9884188-5-1

  Find Zoe Dawson on the web!

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  Cover Design by Robin Ludwig Designs, Inc.

  http://www.gobookcoverdesign.com

  Acknowledgments

  I'd like to thank Sue Stewart for her constant support of all that I write. Thank you, also, to Faith Freewoman for her excellent advice and editing skills. A big thank you also to Robin Ludwig for her fabulous cover design.

  Dedication

  To all the readers who love my Going to the Dogs series. This one is for you.

  Chapter One

  Poe sat on the front porch of Jared’s pappy’s ranch, rocking back and forth as the sun peeked over the horizon. She sipped a cup of the coffee that Jared’s pap, Roy, had made before he went out to do his chores. The Terrible Two and Daisy had only raised their heads as she’d left the room. Lazy little rascals.

  She’d left the wonderful warmth of Jared’s body because she couldn’t sleep. Part excitement, part disbelief, and part anticipation had pushed her out of slumber.

  She was pregnant.

  Having a baby.

  With child.

  Knocked up.

  Oh, God.

  And!

  She was getting married.

  Hitched.

  Tying the knot.

  She rocked back and forth some more and told herself to shut the hell up.

  She wanted to marry Jared. She was ecstatic to be cradling their child inside her body, so why did she have this terrible feeling of disquiet, why did the feeling persist, constantly knotted between her shoulder blades?

  They would be leaving for Vegas early tomorrow morning. Jared’s pappy was going to drive with them, then fly back to Texas after the wedding. She grinned at the thought of getting married in Vegas, her insides bubbling with glee. She’d always wanted an unconventional Vegas wedding.

  Harper, Brooke, and Callie would meet them in Vegas, and Poe’s mother was flying in with her brother Wilder and her sister Austen. Jared’s brother Nate was scheduled to arrive about the same time. Then there would be a number of other friends attending, most of her St. Mark’s colleagues and staff, were coming as well, including Mr. Leonard. He and the cute cockapoo that he’d adopted, Binky, were doing really well together. They were also expecting several people from the shelter where she volunteered—all coming in spite of the short notice. She hadn’t even started her director’s job at the new clinic yet, and wouldn’t until she got back to the city.

  Another thing she had to think about. How much did she want to work after the baby was born? Drawing a deep, shaky breath, Poe closed her eyes and leaned back, her insides trembling. And there was that ugly dread again.

  She set her cup down with a snap and headed toward the barn. When she got there, she found Roy un-baling hay, getting it ready to spread around three freshly mucked stalls.

  “Ahhh, looks to me like you got the same kinda timin’ as my son.” He gave her a wink.

  Poe giggled. “I can help with spreading the hay.”

  “Well, that’s sumpin’, then.”

  She grabbed handfuls and started scattering it around the first stall.

  “You fretting?”

  “About what?”

  “You’re usually snuggled up to my son ‘bout this time of mornin’ You tell me, little gal.”

  “Kumquats are a group of small fruit-bearing trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, either forming the genus Fortunella, or placed within Citrus sensu lato.”

  Roy didn’t bat an eye. He was as used to her spouting off random nonsense as Jared was.

  “Sumpin’ tells me it ain’t kumquats that’s got your rope in a twist.”

  She managed a wry smile that didn’t have a whole lot of energy behind it. “No flies on you, Pappy.”

  “Life changes ain’t easy. ‘Specially when they’re unexpected and as serious as having a baby and pledgin’ yer life to someone, young lady. But I remember what it was like when my wife was pregnant with Jared,” he said, a soft, reminiscent smile tugging at his mouth. “It can be nerve-wracking, but you ain’t seen nuttin’ yet. The hard work is after they’re born. Then, before you know it, you got yerself two strappin’ boys and they’re making you prouder than a peacock.”

  “Well, this is something I don’t see every day. Poe out here doing chores when she could be sleeping. I’d rather she had been. I like waking up to my snugglebug.”

  Jared stood in the barn doorway resting one broad shoulder against the frame, his thumbs hooked in his pockets as he studied her, a glint of amusement in his wonderful moss-green eyes. Smelling freshly showered and shaved, his t-shirt stretched over his wide chest, his smooth throat and arms tanned from the sun, he drew the eye and the senses.

  From deep inside an upwelling of love hit her so hard she almost staggered. He regarded her with those compelling eyes. Then he stepped toward her as if his Pappy wasn’t standing there watching, and Poe waited for him, feeling as if the magic between them was as wonderful and new as the day he first laid eyes on her. When he reached her, his eyes crinkled up at the corners, and he bent his head and kissed her mouth.

  She pressed herself against him, suddenly feeling like weeping. Needing his strength, and at the same time overwhelmed by it.

  He lingered over her mouth, and when he pulled away, he said, “Good morning, beautiful.”

  She cupped his jaw and smiled. “Good morning. Where are The Two and Daisy?”

  “Chasing butterflies again and being a general nuisance to the livestock,” he said rolling his eyes.

  “I think they’re going to miss being here when we leave tomorrow.”

  He nodded, and suddenly his gaze sharpened. “You okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine,” she said, trying to dismiss that stupid, overbearing feeling. She was never morose. For her, Goth was a way of dressing, not a way of being. She smiled to alleviate his sudden tension.

  He gave his pap a sidelong glance, but Roy had turned away and was heading for the third and final stall.

  Jared bent down to grab a bale, his biceps bulging. He followed his pappy, flashing another grin over his shoulder. “I wanted to give you a proper wakeup call this morning,” he whispered.

  She smiled and giggled. “You’re so bad.”

  “No, darlin’. I’m good, and if you’d hung a
round this morning, you would have experienced all the goodness I had to offer.”

  Poe glanced over at Jared’s father. “Well…” she said softly. “I’m feeling a bit tired…you know, with the pregnancy and all.”

  He grinned from ear to ear.

  “Git along then, cute lit’l doggie and I’ll…um…finish helping my pap and be there before you can say Old McDonald.”

  She glanced down at his groin with an appreciative look on her face. “With the whole farm? I’m feeling the urge to moo right now.” Heat sizzled through her and she fanned herself. “I’m gittin’! And then I’ll be gettin’. Oooh, hurry up with the hay.”

  #

  The drive was crazy, with three dogs, her pappy-in-law-to-be, and her fabulous husband-to-be. It took a day and half, but finally they pulled up under the portico of Harper’s huge Sinclair Crowne Hotel. Naturally, Harper had insisted on comping all the rooms, and had pulled some strings so the reception would be held here as well. The woman was a blonde juggernaut. There was just no way to say no to Harper.

  Poe could hardly wait to see her friends, but they weren’t arriving until the afternoon. Jared’s father volunteered to babysit the dogs in his room so that Jared and Poe were free to relax and fully enjoy the fun. Roy was wise to the dogs’ antics, so Poe could enjoy her time without worrying about their canine mischief-makers.

  Harper had given Poe and Jared her rooms, since the honeymoon suite was already booked. When they entered, Poe had to catch her breath. The room was huge, with a living area, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms, the view a spectacular panorama of Las Vegas.

  After their bags were delivered, Poe suddenly realized that they really hadn’t talked about a honeymoon. Mrs. Craig had already instructed Poe to use the next two weeks to get herself settled before taking up the clinic directorship. So she was free from her job for a little bit longer. And since construction on the new clinic was in the final stages, the move-in couldn’t really happen for a few weeks anyway, so the timing was perfect.

  She stood at the window and couldn’t help that little frisson of worry that wormed its way into her happiness. She should just let everything go until she really had to worry about it all, but the unsettled feeling just wouldn’t go away.

  Jared came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “You hungry, darlin’?”

  “Is this a veiled request for sex?”

  “No, I was talking about food, but I noticed that one of those bathrooms has a Jacuzzi tub. Bubble bath, anyone?”

  She giggled and turned to hug him. “Really, bubble bath? That is too cute.”

  A glint of humor appeared in his eyes. “Yeah, we could play ‘what’s under the bubbles?’”

  “And here I thought you’d be more interested in seeing the scantily clad showgirls.”

  “I’ve got all the showgirl I can handle right here. The only one I’m interested in.”

  Poe’s cell rang and she slipped out of Jared’s arms. This was the beginning of a crazy week, and she couldn’t wait to revel in every single moment. “Hello.”

  “Poe, it’s Harper. We’re here at Teterboro airport. Me, Callie and Owen, Brooke and Drew, and Aiden. We’re getting ready to take off. Was everything ready for you?”

  “Yes, your manager Rick was amazing. The flowers are gorgeous, and the wonderful basket is great. Jared especially loves the bubble bath. And we laughed ourselves sick over the condoms.”

  Harper giggled and she heard Callie in the background. “I told you she’d laugh.”

  “Thank you for allowing The Terrible Two and Daisy to stay here, too.”

  “Of course. You can’t be parted from your sweeties.”

  Poe heard Harper cover the phone and have a muffled conversation. “Okay, Poe, we’re ready to take off. We should be there in six hours, so at about three. I’ve set up a buffet in one of our private rooms for three-thirty, so whoever has arrived by then can get something to eat. Just talk to the front desk, and they’ll direct you.”

  “I feel like we’re taking over your hotel.”

  “So what? It is my hotel, after all. What else would I— Okay, I’ve got to go. Love you!”

  Poe heard a collective shout of “We love you!” from everyone, and she smiled. Then a sudden ache constricted her throat, and she pressed her hand to her eyes. She would be happy to see her friends. She wasn’t sure she was going to mention anything about her uncharacteristic gloom, but knowing Brooke freaking Palmer, she would use her nurturing superpowers to X-ray vision right into Poe and see everything.

  She ended the call and Jared was picking through the welcome basket and held up a box of chocolate something when he saw her face. He dropped them and rushed over. “What’s wrong?”

  “Damn hormones.” Despite her attempt to hold back the tears, they tracked down her cheeks. Jared cupped her face and brushed them away with his thumbs. She swallowed hard. “It’s really nothing. I’m so blessed to have my friends. Can’t believe it’s been a year since I met Callie, Brooke, and Harper—and their doggie sidekicks. I almost didn’t go to that dog park because it was a block and a half further away, but it was also nicer than the one closer to my apartment. I’m so glad I did.”

  “I’m glad you did, too. And I’m thankful I met Aiden in the Marines and I was the one Harper trusted to watch over you. Even with the dog dancing, I’d do it all again.”

  Chapter Two

  Hours later, after they’d snacked on Harper’s delicious welcome basket, he’d gotten Poe into a bubble bath and had his wicked way with her, her soft, slick body sliding over his, her skin moist from the heat. He’d washed her hair and every inch of her, then explored every one of those inches in other ways. He loved seeing the way her belly was rounding and knowing that she carried their child.

  He was pretty sure babies were really small and delicate and wondered how he was going to carry one with his ham hands. And, if it was a girl and she looked anything like her mama? Shoot. He’d have to buy himself a shotgun just so he could chase off the inevitable teenaged poachers.

  He caught himself grinning like an idiot in the elevator. Poe looked up at his face and then nudged him. “Are you thinking about what you found under my bubbles? You letch.”

  “No. But, now that you mention it,” he chuckled and grabbed her against him.

  “They have cameras in here, Jared.”

  “So, we’re nearly legal.”

  As soon as they stepped off the elevator they heard a squeal from the lobby and three women rushed them, trailed by the guy crew, including Aiden. While Poe and her friends all talked at once, Jared scrutinized his friend. Aiden was dressed impeccably as usual. He was shaved, not a blond hair out of place, but Jared saw through his facade of perfection. He’d been with Aiden for eight of the most harrowing hours of their lives, and it was clear to him that Aiden wasn’t doing well.

  They shook hands and Aiden smiled easily, but Jared had every intention of getting him alone on the pretext of a beer. Aiden was his best man. He had felt obligated to ask his brother, but Nate had just looked at him and asked if he was only asking because he was his brother.

  Jared had certainly felt like Nate should be his first choice, so he told him the truth, that he wanted to ask Aiden. Nate wasn’t at all put out about it. For once, he seemed to totally understand.

  Poe had questioned his decision, but it was one of those things that was hard to explain to her. She was so close to her family—hell, she’d done all that dog dancing nonsense for her mother. But the bond that men forged in the military was…different. It was an intense kind of friendship. One tempered in fire, filled with the real possibility that the friendship wouldn’t last because of the dangers to America’s fighting force. The buddy you ate and slept in the same tent with could be gone in a heartbeat. Land mine, stray bullet, suicide bomber. Forging bonds with the men in his platoon was about survival and support. It was about watching each other’s backs. And it was damn difficult to explain to anyone who hadn’t
been there.

  Aiden moved on to hug Poe and give her his congratulations while Nate slapped Jared on the back. “Hey, brother,” he said and went to greet their pappy, who’d just stepped off the elevator.

  Shortly after that Poe’s family arrived, and it was organized chaos as Harper herded them toward the promised buffet. Jared thought again that she was quite the powerhouse. But it shouldn’t surprise him. He’d been on the receiving end of her sharp tongue and insistence that he help Poe. So he knew she could be tough. And focused.

  He couldn’t help noticing her notice Nate. His brother was ruggedly handsome, he knew that, and he was attending stag, since his second attempt to get back into Pru Chambers’ good graces had failed. His brother was hurting, and Jared could sympathize.

  The time he’d spent without Poe had been complete torture. But Harper and Nate. Hmmm. Jared wouldn’t want Harper to get hurt. Maybe he should say something to Poe.

  Finally everyone had cruised the buffet and settled down to eat. Harper and Aiden quickly took them aside before more people arrived.

  Harper said, “There’s one more thing my family would like to do for you and Jared, Poe. Especially after what I put you both through.”

  “You’ve already done enough, Harper. The rooms, the hospitality, your generosity is wonderful. There’s no need for more.” Poe said, hugging her around the waist.

  Aiden said, “Tough, you’re getting our present whether you like it or not.” He smiled at Poe. “We have a villa on Gozo, a small island in Malta. It’s beautiful and peaceful there.”

  Harper nodded. “We—including my father—would like you and Jared to go. Here are the tickets. My staff will take care of you,” Harper said.

  “Oh, you guys. That is too generous…I don’t know…”

  He exchanged looks with Harper over Poe’s head, her eyes soft with deep appreciation for him. He smiled at her and gave her a slight nod. “We accept,” Jared said, giving Harper a hug.