Read Online Soul Scars (Dog Haven Sanctuary Romance) by Tasman Gibb - Free Book Online Page B

village.” He was staying in one of the cabins at the new accommodation they’d built there.
    “It’s no problem. I can pick you up on the way to town. You’re out on the Old Mill Road, aren’t you?”
    Well, yes I am, clever dude, but how did you know that? “Yeah, ah—”
    Mike laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m not stalking you. I recall your address from that info packet I sent to you. The road I live on is Old Mill Road, too. You tend not to forget stuff like that.”
    Lulah laughed, too. “Huh, coincidence. Do you recall the number, too?”
    “No, I’m not that good.”
    She told him the number, wanting to add that she’d wait at the gate, but that would probably seem weird. She spoke to the others in the room. “Any of you guys need a lift?” A couple of hands shot up. Perfect.
    LULAH WAS ALMOST at the gate when Mike arrived to collect her. Two others were in the SUV with him, and he wasn’t the least bothered by the extra company. I am totally reading this situation wrong . Big Andy sat in the back, running through the pizzeria menu which he managed to have learned, either by rote or regular acquaintance. The others offered their opinions on each menu choice, debating whether a pizza required anything beyond the classic Margherita topping.
    A hundred yards from the main road intersection Lulah saw Vince’s pickup turn onto their road. Every emotion she’d experienced in the last three days merged and created a cocktail so potent it made her dizzy. She barely managed to prevent herself from asking Mike to stop. As the two vehicles passed, Vince’s troubled gaze locked into hers.
    “Wasn’t that Vince?” Mike said.
    “Didn’t see,” Lulah replied. Oh, lying now, Lulah. Charming.
    “I’m sure it was. Does he live down here, too?”
    “No,” Lulah replied. Well, that was honest. He might spend a lot of time at the barn, but he didn’t actually live there.
    Mike flicked a quick glance her way and returned to the discussion, which turned into a worst pizza ever competition.
    Dinner in town was fun, and they’d managed to get through it quickly and grab a nine p.m. showing of a movie some of them wanted to see. The late showing meant it was nearly midnight when Mike dropped her back home. He had been perfectly mannered during the dinner and movie, and she felt stupid for thinking he was attracted to her. Maybe she should complete her degree before she put any more effort into reading body language, because either his body spoke Martian or she was doing it completely wrong.
    She said goodnight to them all once they reached the cabin, and her spirit sank a little when she noticed Vince’s pickup wasn’t there. But Calliope still was, and on the table sat a new note.
    I’m back. I’m good. Thank you for taking care of Calliope. I’m not certain whether I’m supposed to have her while she’s being trained, but I took her and Joker for a walk and returned them. Can we speak tomorrow? V.
    Sure, Vince, we can speak tomorrow and thanks for the entirely normal note. She really hoped his words reflected some sort of contentment he’d found out there, no matter how temporary it might be.
    The following morning at eight, she phoned Vince, hoping it wouldn’t be too early. He sounded well and promised to come right over and meet her at home. When he climbed out of his pickup twenty minutes later, she noticed how thin he seemed to be.
    “Did you forget your rations out there?”
    He grinned. “Nice, Lulah, have you ever tried that stuff?” Calliope and Joker launched themselves from the porch and were bouncing around Vince who wrestled with them until he spied a tug-rope on the ground. He dangled it in the air, the two dogs leaping for it in vain. Finally, he hurled it across the yard. “Go play,” he ordered, and the dogs hurtled off.
    “Nope. My mouth would rebel if I tried to put rubbish like that in it. I have coffee, muesli, eggs, toast. Come in and eat something.”
    He took her porch steps