Need You for Keeps (Heroes of St. Helena, #1)(63)

“Well, it’s sure a win for you. Either you walk away with a stack of money or you walk away as the new dog lady.”

And suddenly, everything made sense. She had been so busy trying to figure out why Estella didn’t think Shay measured up. When in reality, Estella was lonely and scared and she relied on her animals for the same reasons Shay did, to feel love and belonging.

Shay coming in with her blog and calendar threatened the only outlet Estella had to the town as president of the Companion Brigade. It took away her usefulness. And people who had no purpose had no way to connect with others.

“I never meant to make you feel unappreciated for all of your efforts on behalf of dogs in this community,” Shay said. “You are one of the leading dog experts around, and I can see now how not asking you to be on my blog or a part of the fund-raiser could have hurt your feelings. That wasn’t my intent.”

Shay dug into her bag and pulled out her judges’ packet. “But intent doesn’t matter if feelings get overlooked.” She handed the papers to Estella.

“What’s this? A signup sheet for the walk-a-thon? Because Foxy and I are not interested.”

Of course they were. Estella wouldn’t be able to pass up the chance to parade her champion down Main Street.

“No, it’s the judges’ packet for the Prance for Paws Charity Pet Walk.” Harper had put together a list of criteria and guidelines so judges would be on the same page. “This walk is about celebrating pets and their owners, and I can’t imagine a better celebrity judge than the president of the Companion Brigade and her seven-time blue-ribbon champion.”

“You just want to make sure Foxy doesn’t enter because she’d win that crown,” Estella said, her eyes glued to the envelope.

“I imagine that she would, but I thought you weren’t entering?”

“I’m not. Already told you that.”

“Perfect. That means you will be free to judge.” Shay extended the packet again.

Estella took it and glanced down at the first page. Her eyes sparkled with excitement that she quickly masked before offering the packet back. “Judging this doesn’t mean I will retract that article or that I will lift the ban for Bark in the Park.”

“I didn’t imagine it would,” Shay admitted, although she’d been secretly wishing it would be so easy. “Just like that article won’t stop this walk from happening, and it won’t stop me from opening my rescue.”

And that was the truth.

“I didn’t imagine it would,” Estella said, then closed the door, but she had the judges’ packet and that was all that mattered.



Wednesday morning a loud pinging yanked Jonah from an amazing dream starring Shay, in nothing but skin and cuffs, screaming his name.

He looked at the nightstand to find his phone blinking, then gave himself a second to let his eyes adjust and to take stock. It was eight o’clock and the warm body curled into his chest was not a woman.

It was an annoyed cat, who, grumpy over the disturbance in his world, stalked off to find a new sleeping spot, sure to use his nails in the process. Settling on Jonah’s pillow, he gave a big stretch, then curled up, one eye peeled in disgust.

Right, don’t disturb the sleep-disturber’s sleep. Got it.

Jonah grabbed his cell off the nightstand, sitting up when he recognized Sheriff Bryant’s home number. Given the fact that Jonah had ended his shift two hours ago and it was his day off, his best guess was it had to be some kind of emergency.

“Please tell me Giles isn’t missing again, because if so, you have my permission to arrest him.”

“Giles is at home.” The sheriff paused. “As far as I know.”

Relieved, Jonah lay back down, propping the phone against his shoulder. “Then what can I do for you?”

“Sorry about the hour. I considered waiting to call, but the longer this goes on the worse it might get.” Well, that sounded very doom and gloom. “Are you officially heading up the team for the dog walk?”

“Pet walk, and yeah, I got a few guys from the fire station.”

“You might want to reconsider and pull out.”

“Why?” Jonah felt every protective instinct he owned man up.

Shay had busted her pretty butt these last few weeks to make this event possible. If he pulled his team, she wouldn’t be in compliance with the permit and the event would be canceled.

“According to the morning paper, the woman heading it was arrested for theft a few years back in Monterey County,” Sheriff Bryant explained through a yawn.

“Theft?” Shay has a file?

Jonah sat back up and turned on the light. The cat quickly flicked his tail around and burrowed his face beneath it. “What does the article say?”

With Shay, theft could have been as simple as liberating animals from a puppy mill or dog-fighting ring. Theft, yes, but enough to cancel the charity walk?

Jonah stopped. When had he become the guy who quantified just how illegal something was? Illegal was illegal, no matter how sexy the perpetrator was.

“I don’t know the whole story, to be honest—I’m still in my trunks—but according to the paper, she stole money from one of her customers’ bank accounts,” the sheriff went on, and Jonah let him because he was too busy trying to wrap his head around the situation to speak. “And yes, I asked. The reporter clarified the facts with someone from our department.”