See you around.

The words stuck in Sloane’s craw for days.

That had been Rick’s goodnight to her? See you around.

See you the fuck around.

She sprayed a beagle down with warm water, massing shampoo into his haunches. The dogs were the only thing keeping her sane because she wanted to go shove “see you around” up Rick’s tight ass.

She had stripped naked and posed on his motorcycle and he was going to see her around? He’d seen every damn inch of her. Fucking Little Dickie.

She shifted the sprayer too far and water bounced off of Harley’s shoulder and ricocheted into her eye. “Damn!” She swiped at her eye. “At least I got myself instead of you, buddy.” She bent down and massaged his ears, giving him a kiss on the top of his head. He watched her with trusting brown eyes. “You are very, very cute.”

The bell rung over the front door and she glanced over, realizing she’d been hoping it was Rick. It wasn’t. It had been three days, including her Wednesday day off, and she had not seen him. It was River coming through the door. Sloane wondered why River spent her days in and out of the garage and the groomers. Didn’t she have any friends? Wasn’t there a camp she could go to? Day care? It seemed boring to her. But then again, River was always reading or watching a movie on an iPad. She didn’t seem very outdoorsy or athletic.

As kids she and Sullivan had been outside all summer long, riding bikes and roller blading and playing hockey. She hadn’t sat down to watch TV at all. There had been tumbling classes and cheer camp and bonfires with her friends over.

“Hi, River, what’s up?”

“Interest rates.” She shook her iPad. “And the DOW is down.”

Nope. River was not at all like Sloane had been as a child. Not even close. She admired Rick even more for raising her because Sloane honestly wouldn’t have a clue what to do with her. “Interesting. I hope you don’t lose your shirt in the stock market.”

“Nope. Sold at the right time.” River reached out and rubbed Harley’s head.

“Are you being serious. You own stock?” Sloane finished rinsing Harley and moved the dryer over him.

“Yep. Not a lot, but Rick usually gives me fifty bucks on my birthday and I invest it.”

“Good for you. But dang, I’m clearly failing at adulthood.”

“Are you divorced?” River asked.

“Yes.”

She nodded. Didn’t say anything, just nodded. Like she agreed Sloane was failing at life.

Great. A nine-year-old thought she was a loser. “So what brings you by?”

“My brother wants to know if you and Winnie want to go to lunch. He said he is dying for a burger. I refuse to participate in murder so he needs someone to go with.”

So Rick wanted to go to lunch with her and Winnie. She was not feeling it. But there was no way to say no if Winnie wanted to go. Her boss heard from the other wash station and said, “Burgers? I’m in. I’m so in.”

“You can go then and I can stay here.”

“No, we can both go.”

“Who is going to stay with River and the dogs?” she asked Winnie. “No, you go. I’ll stay. I’m not even hungry.”

She wasn’t. What she wanted apparently wasn’t on the menu.

River eyed her, like she understood something was off about Sloane’s reaction. “Don’t feel bad,” she said. “He keeps girls he likes in the Friend Zone.”

She wasn’t sure how she felt about River. The kid was on the edge of unnerving. “What are you talking about?”

“If he likes you as a person, he Friend Zones you. Girls he doesn’t care about are the ones he dates.”

“I have no idea what you’re even talking about,” she said flatly, tempted to stick her head under the dryer with Harley.

“I think you do.” The miniature sage gave a knowing nod.

“I really don’t. I don’t think I’m as smart as you, River.” What she thought River was saying was that Rick liked her as a person so he wasn’t going to have sex with her. Which meant, since he had had sex with her, that he did not see her as a friend. But another notch on his bedpost. That wasn’t surprising, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.

In fact, it made her really damn cranky.

She could admit, having Little Dickie crush on her had been ego-boosting.

Have adult Rick attracted to her was equally satisfying.

But if she was just the flavor of the week she wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

Which was one hundred percent insane because she had assured him that all she wanted was a fling. That it wouldn’t be weird or awkward.

And now she was hurt because he hadn’t reached out to her in three days.

Stupid.

She was just stupid.

“Oh, here’s my brother.” River put her finger to her lips. “Shh.”

Rick strolled in through the front door, hands in his front pockets. It was really unfair how good-looking he was. His presence filled the waiting room. It wasn’t just his big body. It was his confidence and cocky swagger. That charming grin.

Sloane studiously ignored him, checking Harley’s coat, then drying her hands on a towel.

“Hey, ladies,” he said, moving past the desk into the salon. “Ready for lunch?”

“Hi,” Sloane said, determined to sound normal. “I’m going to stay here with River and the dogs. Winnie will go with you.”

He just nodded easily. “Okay, then.”

He didn’t look disappointed.

And she was disappointed that he was disappointed.

Oh, my God, she’d become that girl.

The one who swore she could have a hookup then get pissed off when that’s all it was.

Her phone rang in her pocket while Rick was strolling around petting the three dogs they currently had in the salon. She pulled it out to see who was calling and was surprised to see it was her former neighbor, Maribeth. She had been a bright spot in her life in Minneapolis. A dozen years older than Sloane, she had always been up for a glass of wine and some gossip. She was probably just calling to see how Sloane was doing.

“Hello?”

“Sweetie, I’m so glad you answered.” Maribeth sounded agitated.

“Is everything okay?” Sloane asked. “How’s Patrick?”

Patrick was Maribeth’s husband. “Oh, that asshole is fine. He’s golfing today, thank God. Listen, I’m calling because I’m really upset and I don’t know how to tell you this.”

Her gut clenched. “Tell me what?” Was Tom living with Javier? Had they gotten married in Vegas? If it was that, she honestly didn’t care. There was no point in holding on to bitterness over her ex’s infidelity.

“It’s Kate.”

Sloane’s knees buckled. “What about her?” She couldn’t handle it if something had happened to Kate. Tears welled up in her eyes even before she knew what was wrong.

“That dick you were married to has her chained up in the yard. She’s been there day and night for over a week. I went over the first few days and made sure she had food and water and played with her, but now Tom has locked the gate and I can’t get in. Her water dish was empty both days I got in there.”

Sloane was horrified. “What?” Kate was her baby. The thought of her suffering in any way made her knees buckle. She wanted nothing more than to hop in her car and drive to Tom’s and hug Kate close to her and reassure her. “Oh, my God, why the hell would he do that? It’s probably eighty degrees outside in Minneapolis!” She started pacing back and forth, unsure what to do.

“Should I call the APL? I can’t even get water to her now with the gate locked.”

“If you call the APL will they put her down?” Sloane couldn’t handle the thought of that. “I should be able to contact my attorney and have an investigation opened, right? I mean, he won Kate in the divorce but this is neglect and abuse.”

“In theory, yes. But how long will that take? I’m going to call Tom and try to reason with him. Me calling is different than you calling him.”

“Thank you,” she said, voice trembling. “And thank you for letting me know.” The words got caught in her throat. “If something happens to her, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“Let’s touch base later today or tomorrow. Don’t worry, sweetie, I’ll cut the fence with wire cutters before I let anything happen to your baby.”

“Thanks, Maribeth. I can’t thank you enough.”

She ended the call and realized Rick was watching her, concerned.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

Sloane burst into tears.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay.” Rick reached out and pulled her into his arms.

She let him, though she didn’t wrap her arms around him. She just held her hands in an x over her chest, mind racing. “It’s my dog. That was my old neighbor. She said my ex has had my dog outside for over a week solid, and doesn’t appear to be feeding her or giving her water on a regular basis. It’s hot outside right now and there isn’t much shade to speak of. And the bastard has her chained up, which is not something I ever did. The yard is fenced! Why chain her up?”

That miserable fucker. That absolutely horrible son of a bitch. He hadn’t wanted the dog. He had just wanted to hurt her, which made no sense. She had been a decent wife to him. She hadn’t bitched about his hours as a doctor. She hadn’t overspent his money. She hadn’t cheated. What the hell had she ever done to him that she deserved this? Yes, she’d blown up at him when she’d found out he was cheating, which seemed to astonish him. She wasn’t known for sharing her feelings and it seemed like Tom had thought she’d just quietly accept it. Which she had, after one explosion. She’d told him the one good thing she’d gotten out of their marriage was Kate.

Somehow Kate had wound up the pawn because of those words, which made her feel sick and sorry she’d spoken up at all, even in impulsive anger.

Poor Kate. She was a helpless victim and Tom was a stranger to her. She didn’t know this side of him. But then again, maybe he hadn’t just been hiding his sexuality from her.

Rick rubbed her back. “That is a real dick move. Is the neighbor going to call somebody?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m afraid they’ll take her and put her down. She’s seven. I’m going to call my lawyer and see if there’s anything I can do to get her back, and Maribeth said she’s going to go over and talk to Tom and see if he’ll be reasonable.”

“That all sounds like a good plan.” He pulled back and wiped the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

Sloane sniffed, trying to get her emotions in check. She had to call her lawyer. “Thanks, Rick. I appreciate it.” She turned to her boss, stepping away from Rick. “Winnie, is it okay if I call my lawyer? I can still watch the salon while you’re at lunch.”

“Oh, my gosh, sweetie, of course. Rick and I can take a raincheck on lunch anyway. Rick?”

“Agreed. I just had something come up anyway.” He had pulled his phone out of his pocket and seemed to be texting someone.

“Okay, thanks so much. I’ll go in the break room.” She rushed to the back and called her lawyer but he was at lunch. She left a message and came back out, chewing on her fingernail as she fretted.

Rick and River were gone.

Winnie gave her a look of concern. “What did the lawyer say?”

“Nothing. I had to leave a message.”

“Do you want to take the rest of the day off?”

Sloane was super grateful she worked with someone who loved animals as much as she did. “Thanks so much, Winnie, but honestly, I’d rather stay busy.”

“Whatever you need. I have tequila in the back room too if that helps.” Winnie gave her a wink.

Sloane laughed nervously. “Give me an hour and I might take you up on that.”

---

Rick walked back into the garage and told his intern, Blake, he was taking the rest of the day off. “You can handle being here alone, right?”

Blake was twenty, a bright kid, with an eye for detail. He was also fast. He could break down and rebuild a cylinder in record time. Rick felt confident leaving him alone for a few hours.

“Sure, no problem. Everything okay?”

“Yep, just need to take care of something.” He couldn’t stand to see Sloane cry. And he couldn’t stand to see bullies get their way. It was a hot button for him.

River gave him a long look. “You’re going to go get that dog, aren’t you?”

The kid was scary perceptive. There wasn’t even any point in denying it. “Yes.”

“That’s illegal, you know.” River leaned on the countertop where his computer was and rested her head in the palm of her hand. “I can’t bail you out if you get arrested.”

“No one is getting arrested.” He ruffled her hair, wondering when the age would arrive where she would care enough to brush it. “Besides, you have plenty of cash. You probably could bail me out.”

“Haha.” She chewed her lip. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you, okay?” She looked like she might cry.

Rick was touched. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I’m just going to make sure that gate gets opened and if the dog happens to walk out and down the street and jump in my car, then that’s not a crime. I am just picking up a stray.”

“She said the dog is chained up.” River stood up. “You haven’t even thought this through!”

“Right.” Details. He wasn’t so much into them as River was. “I’ll figure it out.” One thing he had learned in life was if you just brazened and shouldered your way through life, it usually worked out.

“Can I go with you?”

“No.”

“I’m a good cover. No one will think you’re breaking and entering with a kid with you.”

She was good. He was constantly amazed at what a little manipulator River was. Some day she was going to destroy a lineup of men. They would topple like bowling pins under her machinations.

“We should take your bike,” he said. “You can’t ride it so we’ll look like a father teaching his daughter to ride a bike.”

“I like it.” She stuck her hand up and out for a high-five. “I’ll put on my T-shirt with the dog on the front. For good luck.”

Rick slapped her small hand with a high five. “Let’s do this.” This was most likely the world’s worst parenting ever but wasn’t he teaching her compassion? “You do understand I’m doing this because I’m afraid if we wait for the bureaucrats to do their thing, Sloane’s dog could die from dehydration, right? I don’t normally advocate just driving around setting dogs free.”

“I get it. Besides, you like Sloane.”

“Of course I like Sloane. She’s Sullivan’s sister. We grew up together.”

“Whatever.” River rolled her eyes. “Because you want to be a hero to just a random girl you grew up with?”

Rick couldn’t help but laugh. “River Anne Ryder. You are one in a million. Love you, kid.”

“I love you, too. Now get your tools.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted her and went to grab a bolt cutter.

Then he called Liam and explained what was going on. “I just need the address and I don’t want to ask either Sullivan or Sloane.” Sullivan would have an attitude and Sloane would fret about him.

“I should tell you this is a dumb ass idea and not to go.”

“But?” Rick would do it no matter what but he’d prefer not to have Liam pissed at him.

“But I’m not going to do that. Sloane loves that dog and you know I love dogs. Anyone who would do that to an animal is an asshole and I’ve half a mind to go with you.”

Rick grinned. “You are more than welcome.”

“The problem is Tom knows what I look like, obviously. I’m going to have to sit this one out.”

“Good point.”

“I’ll send you a picture of the dog. She’s a beautiful Golden Retriever.”

“Awesome, thanks.”

River came back into the shop as he was ending the call. She had a bag packed. “What’s in there?” he asked.

“Snacks. For us and for the dog.”

“Cool. We need to stop and buy a dog leash.”

Twenty minutes later they were on the road and Rick felt a rush of adrenaline. He wasn’t going to question too closely why he was driving three hours to steal a dog for Sloane. He was going to insist to himself it was because they were friends and first and foremost he couldn’t stand the idea of a dog suffering.

But it was also because he couldn’t stand to see Sloane so upset.

It had skewered him.

He cranked up classic rock on the radio as he drove, despite River wrinkling her nose at it. He had started to take his truck but then realized he might have better luck getting the dog in his Mustang. Nice and low to the street. It might not entirely fit into the neighborhood. He had the impression it was kind of a ritzy house, but rich people had hobbies too. Surely someone with money liked a good classic muscle car.

River was right. She was an excellent cover.

The kid might be a genius but she had the eye-hand coordination of a newborn.

He wasn’t even sure what the hell she was doing wrong, but she could not stay on that bike to save her life. “Lean forward,” he said, as he walked along beside her. They were approaching the house Sloane had lived in with her ex.

“You just told me to lean back!”

“You overcompensated. Find neutral.”

“What does that mean?” She straightened herself on the seat, the handlebar twisted and she would have fallen if she hadn’t put her foot on the ground.

The bike had been a birthday present from him the year before and honestly, biggest waste of sixty bucks ever. River had briefly admired the shiny pink seat and ran her fingers over the glittery handlebars. He had spent a hellish few hours trying to teach her how to ride it before she had declared it stupid and pointless and that was that.

“It means neutral,” he said. “Where your body is naturally at ease.”

“My body is at ease on the couch,” she said, biting her lip in concentration.

Rick laughed. “Don’t be a wimp. It’s for the dog, remember?”

“I know. I’ll stick it out, but don’t you think I should be wearing a helmet?”

She might have a point but he wasn’t about to admit that. “How are you ever going to be going fast enough that you’ll need a helmet? Relax.”

Rick discreetly checked out the neighborhood. It was a quiet street. Given it was a Thursday at three in the afternoon he had to assume most of the residents were at work. But there were no kids playing outside at all. Which meant no witnesses. Yet at the same time he and River did stand out like a sore thumb. If anyone asked he would have to give a vague story about living on the next block.

It didn’t seem like they were going to see a soul though. The houses were big and stately, built in the last decade or so. It didn’t make Rick jealous of Sloane’s ex. He didn’t give a damn about money other than that he wanted it to be comfortable. He had a pretty hefty bank account in his own right and he didn’t aspire to a big house. Too easy to accumulate stuff. And he wasn’t big on stuff.

When he was a kid, he had imagined growing up and living in a mansion but never all that seriously. Mostly, he’d just wanted a house that wasn’t littered in animal hair, molding food, and piles and piles of newspapers. Sloane’s house was a red brick colonial, like the other houses on the street. He supposed he could picture her living there. Yet at the same time he struggled to envision her as a housewife, filling her days with volunteering and cleaning the house. It must have been a lonely marriage, for damn sure.

River righted her bike and attempted to pedal yet again. “I think I should start walking it,” she said. “We’re never going to get there.”

He’d parked his car down the block, right around the corner out of view. Their plan was a little shaky to say the least, but he didn’t think it was going to be a big deal because there was no one around. He could easily say the dog was loose and who could question it?

Which was what he told himself as he hauled his six foot four frame over a fucking wooden fence that could have protected the damn Alamo. Who the fuck needed a fence this high when they lived in the suburbs with neighbors two house lengths away and a shit ton of trees? The guy probably never even used the backyard. Rick decided he hated Tom as he ripped his favorite jeans on the drop down.

He was wearing a ball cap low over his face on the off chance their was surveillance cameras. Liam had said there wasn’t but you never knew. The guy might have gotten paranoid in the last few months.

The second he turned he spotted the dog. She was hugging the house, curled in a ball, trying to keep her body in the shade. She was panting and looked exhausted and miserable. “Fucking unbelievable.” Rick wanted to find Tom and chain him up. Leave his ass in the yard.

“Hi Kate,” he said, approaching her cautiously, down low, hand out.

She waved her tail and stood up. The chain made a clanking sound that grated on his nerves. He petted her behind the ears and looked around. The yard was overgrown and neglected. There were flower pots on a stone patio but the flowers were dead. He spotted the hose laying carelessly in a bed of bushes and he went over and turned it on. He was planning to cup his hands and fill them but Kate started drinking straight from the stream of water.

“Poor little girl, thirsty, huh?” He let her go for thirty seconds or so then turned it back off. He removed the collar around her neck that held her to the chain. She shook her head, clearly delighted.

Yellow fur flew up in his face. Rick laughed. “Better, huh?”

She came in and licked his face.

“Now we just need to go out the gate and we’re good.”

Kate readily followed him to the gate by the side of the house and wagged her tail. He was torn between looping the leash around her neck or not. It would make any sort of story about finding her loose look like bullshit but he decided he didn’t care. He’d rather she were safe, in his grip, and in his car without incident.

So he put the leash around her neck and tied it up.

The gate was locked on the inside so he just undid the lock and opened it.

Only to find a woman standing on the other side swinging a baseball bat at him. “What the hell?” he asked, dodging her wild swing.

“What are you doing with that dog?” she demanded.

“I know the owner. Who are you?” he asked.

“Hah. Nice try. I live next door and I saw you climb over the fence like a no-good dog thief.”

Praying this was the same neighbor who had called Sloane he said, “Maribeth? I’m Sloane’s friend. I came to rescue Kate.”

She eased up on the baseball bat. “You know Sloane?”

“Yes. I was there when you called her today.”

Maribeth had wild curly hair and a sassy stance. “I’m going to need to verify your story.”

“Sure. No problem.” Rick kept a firm grip on Kate and his distance from Maribeth’s bat. He couldn’t see River and that was starting to concern him. River didn’t like him doing anything risky. Hell, she didn’t even like him going fishing because she was convinced he was going to drown or catch a flesh-eating disease. She was forever afraid a car would crush him. He did not need her to see a suburban vigilante swinging a bat at him.

Nor did he want to be forced to restrain Maribeth.

“Sloane? Listen there is a guy here springing Kate. He says he was with you when you got the call from me earlier. He’s very tall, has a five o’clock shadow, and biceps that make me wish I was single.”

“I can hear you,” he told her. Though he did appreciate the compliment.

She waved him off and told him, “I need to see some ID.”

Really? He pulled out his wallet and flashed her his driver’s license.

“That picture doesn’t do you justice,” she said. “You’re much better looking in person.”

“Thanks.” He gave her a slow, sensual smile that might move this process along a little faster. “So I’m free to go?”

“Yes. Sloane says you’re on the up and up.”

“Good, because standing on Tom’s property probably isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done, and my little sister is up on the sidewalk and I need to get back to her.”

“That little girl trying to ride her bike belongs to you? Saddest thing I’ve ever seen. She has zero coordination.”

Rick led Kate out of the backyard and past Maribeth, who only moved slightly. “It’s okay. Her intelligence makes up for her lack of agility.”

“Sloane wants to talk to you.” She held the phone out to him.

“Hey, beautiful, what’s up?”

“Are you nuts?” she screamed in his ear. “You drove to Minneapolis to steal my dog? Are you insane?”

“Something like that.”

She exhaled in his ear. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. Just exhausted and hot and a little scared.”

“Thank you,” she said, her voice breaking. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

His chest felt tight. “You’re welcome.”

“Are you sure she’s okay? You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

“She’s fine, I swear. I wouldn’t lie to you about that.”

“Oh, my God, this is such a relief.”

“I’ll have her back to you in a couple of hours.”

“Thanks, again, seriously. I owe you something extra special,” she said, her voice growing husky. “Anything you want. And I mean that.”

If she was offering sex, he was taking it. He’d spent three days tortured by the memory of Sloane on his bike and he felt like he’d slipped backward in time. He was jerking himself off in the shower to thoughts of her. She was still the hottest girl in Beaver Bend.

But he’d started to freak himself out that he was feeling too much.

This was different though, right? If she wanted to show her special appreciation who was he to say no?

“We can discuss that when I get back. I just have one question—do you still have your cheerleading uniform?”

If he was getting offered fantasy sex on a platter he was going with his oldest fantasy. Sloane in her tight cheerleading top and short ass skirt.

She gasped. “Oh, you are a dirty son of a bitch, Rick. I like it.”

He cleared his throat. “I’m handing the phone back now before we get in real trouble.” Trouble that had nothing to do with trespassing and everything to do with phone sex with a witness.

She laughed softly. “Kiss Kate for me and I’ll see you soon. Thanks, Rick. You are the best.”

That made him ridiculously proud. He expanded like a puffer fish.

But while he was busy patting himself on the back Maribeth was swearing under her breath. “Take the leash off of Kate and let her loose. The asshole is home!”

“Oh, shit.” Rick slipped the leash off of Kate and took off running, assuming she would follow him.

She did. Like it was a game. He cut up through what he hoped was Maribeth’s yard and took off for River, who was walking her bike and looking scared. The dog was keeping pace with him.

He could hear Maribeth talking to presumably Tom, who then called for the dog. “Kate!”

Rick tried to make it look like he was trying to capture Kate. He wasn’t sure how successful he was being. Then River screamed, like she was afraid of dogs, and dropped her bike. She cut across the street, cutting right through the yard that led to his car. Kate, clearly gleeful to be free, ran straight after her.

Damn. Kid was brilliant as usual.

Rick grabbed her bike and followed.

When he popped on the next street, River was sitting in his car with Kate, her snack bag open.

He threw the bike in the trunk and jumped in. He started the engine and got the hell out of there. “We’re out of here.”

“Thanks. Want a pretzel?” River asked.

“You talking to me or the dog?”

“Either of you.”

“I’m good.” He glanced over at her as they left the housing development. “We did it. If you ever tell Dad about this I will deny it, just so you know.”

River scoffed as she fed a pretzel to a very eager Kate. “I can keep a secret. Like, for example, I know you are goo-goo-gah-gah for Sloane and I haven’t said a single word about it.”

“Goo goo gah gah? What the hell is that?” He was keeping an eye on his rearview mirror to make sure they weren’t being chased. “Isn’t that what babies do?”

“Well, maybe. But I mean you look at her and you’re all ‘ooh, Sloane, beautiful.’ You’re squishy and weird.”

“I’m squishy and weird? We’re friends, River. That’s all.”

“You’re in love with her.” She popped a pretzel in her mouth and spoke around it, pretzel bits flying out of her mouth. “I know des tings.”

“Don’t talk with food in your mouth,” he said automatically.

River may be smart but what the hell did she know about adult love? Nothing. Her mother had followed the example of Rachel’s mother and his mother and rolled on out on her kid. There were no examples of healthy marriages in River’s life, so he was going to assume for whatever reason she had it in her head that this could be a thing.

She was wrong.

Because sure, he liked Sloane. He’d been lusting after her for years. He thought she was smart and compassionate and generous. That wasn’t love.

Or was it?

Fuck.

“Give me a pretzel.”