Dance With Me (With Me in Seattle #12)(37)

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” she asks.

“Yeah, I woke up, and you were gone.” I pull her in for a hug. “Don’t do that to me. If you want to walk, just wake me up and say so.”

“You were sleeping,” she reminds me, frowning up at me. She sets off down the sidewalk, and I fall into step beside her. “I am a grown woman, and I’m allowed to walk whenever I want.”

“You have a stalker.” I take her hand in mine and hold on tight.

“I haven’t heard a peep out of them in more than a week. It was probably a random weirdo.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Please just humor me and let me walk with you.”

“Fine.” She sighs as if she’s picking her battles, and we walk in silence for several minutes. “It’s quiet down here this early. I haven’t seen a soul.”

Something in her voice sounds . . . sad.

“Are you okay?”

“Sure. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know, you just seem lost in thought.”

“Maybe I am.” She sighs again. “Today’s my mom’s birthday.”

“Oh? You should call and wish her a happy birthday.”

She shakes her head, looking out at the first ferry of the morning making its way across the Sound.

“I wouldn’t even know how to reach her. I don’t have her number.”

She glances up at me and then back out at the water.

“I could probably find it if you want.”

“Nope.” She leads us to a bench and sits, watching the ferry. “I don’t want it.”

“Why not?”

She glances at me again, her eyes searching my face.

“I haven’t spoken to her or anyone else in my family in more than fifteen years. I was never close to my mom, and it’s really okay. There are just moments, like on her birthday, that I wish it were different.”

“I wish it was different for you, too.” I lean over and kiss her temple. “I don’t know what I’d do without my family.”

“I have a family,” she insists. “I have Jax and Meredith. And my assistant, Rachel. There are people in my life that I love. Family doesn’t always come from blood.”

I love you.

I don’t say the words out loud. Instead, I smile at her.

“You’re right. I’ve learned that since our family has been absorbed by the Montgomerys. They’re a huge, close family, and not all of them are blood. In fact, I have a feeling Gail Montgomery would yank my ear off if I suggested otherwise.”

“Oh, she would,” Starla says with a laugh. “Gail is fiercely protective of her family. All of them. So, I have people in my life. I don’t need the ones I was born to.”

“I can see that.”

Just then, my phone rings in my pocket.

“It’s Joy.” I frown as I accept the call. “Hello.”

“Hey, favorite brother-in-law.”

“What do you want?” I ask with a chuckle.

“I need some help at the clinic. You’re handy. Jace is at work. Can you come help me?”

“Why don’t you call a professional?”

“Because I have a handy brother-in-law. Please?”

“Yeah, give me about an hour, and I’ll be there.”

“Great, thanks.”

She hangs up, and I look over at Starla. “Joy needs help.”

“I heard. I guess we should head back to the house.”

We stand, and I turn to the sidewalk just as Starla jumps onto my back.

“Carry me!”

“You said you wanted to take a walk.”

“My legs still hurt.”

“That was a week ago, sweetheart.”

“I don’t care. Just carry me.”

I laugh, hop a little to get her settled better on my back, and then set off to the house. It’s a good workout for me, and by the time we get there, I’m a sweaty, panting mess.

“Wow, I wasn’t going to make you carry me the whole way, but you were fast.”

“Good workout,” I reply as I set her down and take the steps three at a time, reaching the bedroom before her. “I wonder what Joy needs at the clinic?”

“I guess you’ll see soon enough.”

“We’ll both see. You’re coming with me.”

She smiles. “Yay! I love animals. Maybe she has puppies I can kiss on.”

“You can kiss on me.”

“You’re not a puppy. Take me to the puppies.”



“Hi, pretty lady.”

Starla glances around in surprise as we walk into Joy’s veterinary clinic. There’s no one else in the lobby.

I know who’s talking; it’s just fun to watch Starla try to figure it out.

Bill whistles a long catcall, making Starla laugh.

“What the heck?”

I point to the African grey parrot sitting on the file cabinet behind the desk.

“Hi, Bill,” I say.

“Fuck off,” Bill says but eyes Starla. “Pretty lady.”

“Well, hello, handsome bird,” Starla croons. “How are you?”

“Shitty day,” he says and shifts back and forth on his feet. “Shitty day.”