Haley's Hangdog Holiday Read online

  The room emptied like a fire alarm had gone off, and Gavin was left staring at the clock on the wall.

  Six minutes... that’s how long it took for me to make a complete and utter fool of myself.

  HE OBVIOUSLY DOESN’T trust me at all.

  Back in her cubicle, Haley debated whether she should go defend herself to Gavin.

  I know what he thought would happen if I interacted with Dax and Brent. Gavin must think I’ve changed—that I’m some kind of floozy who sleeps around with every guy I go out with. He probably thinks that’s the reason I broke up with him two years ago.

  Though it hurt to think he held such a low opinion of her, she knew the fault was her own. She’d left him abruptly with no explanation, forcing his imagination to fill in the blanks. When they were together, Gavin had always been the one to put on the brakes to keep their relationship from progressing past their physical boundaries, while she was the weak one, unable to resist temptation. Of course, when he saw her in the coffee shop with what he assumed was an engagement ring, he must have thought she’d been in a sexual relationship with someone.

  No telling what he thinks about me now, but I suppose that’s what I get for not being upfront with him. In her mind she heard her mother’s voice telling her she had to do what was best for Gavin. During her struggle with cancer, her mom seemed to be a different person—self-sacrificing and totally devoted to Haley. That’s why Haley agreed to follow her advice, rather than rebelling, as she’d been prone to do in the past.

  “Hey, Haley.”

  She recognized the dark-haired girl standing outside her cubicle as one of her team members, but couldn’t remember her name.

  “A bunch of us are going to grab lunch next door at the deli. Want to come?”

  “I’d love to,” Haley replied, automatically calculating how many miles would be required to burn the calories from a grilled chicken sandwich.

  She snatched her purse, following the girl to the elevator along with two others.

  “I’m JoAnn,” she said, before pointing to her friends. “And this is Theresa and Sheila.

  Haley filed the names away in her head.

  “Sorry Gavin was so weird in that meeting today,” said Theresa as the elevator door closed. “He’s not usually like that.”

  Anxious to change the subject, Haley tried to divert the conversation. “How long have all of you worked here?”

  JoAnn answered for all three. “I’ve been here the longest—six years. Theresa and Shelia have been here for two years.”

  “Of course, Gavin has only been here less than a year,” said Theresa.

  Haley nodded. “Well, he only graduated last December.”

  “I’m guessing maybe you knew him at UT?” Theresa narrowed her eyes. “Since you went to the same school and you know when he graduated?”

  “We had a few classes together,” Haley hastened to explain. “But that was a couple of years ago,”

  JoAnn leaned in close, lowering her voice even though they were the only four on the elevator. “I know he was engaged for a while, but he never talks about it.”

  “We were kind of hoping you knew more about him,” said Theresa, with a sly grin. “Like why they broke up?”

  “Oh, I have no idea what happened between him and his fiancée. Why? Is one of you interested in him?” Haley didn’t particularly care for the idea of spurring these girls on for Gavin.

  All three girls laughed as if she’d told a rip-roaring joke.

  “You’ve got the wrong idea,” said Joann. “We’re happily married.”

  “And I’ve got a baby on the way,” said Sheila, patting her tummy with a bright smile.

  “Then why are you so curious about Gavin?”

  “Because we’re busybodies,” said JoAnn with a chuckle.

  “And we love romance,” added Theresa.

  “And we thought you would be a perfect match for him,” said Sheila. “Right, ladies?”

  As the three girls nodded their heads, sporting eager smiles, Haley felt a fresh surge of nausea.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “What am I going to do with you?” Haley shook a stern finger at Bojangles, who ignored her completely while devouring his supper in a few gulps. “The doggy daycare said you bayed nonstop all day. They said they may not be able to keep you if you don’t quiet down.”

  Licking his bowl clean, Bo sat on his haunches, an act which barely changed his incline. He looked up expectantly at the bag of dog food in her hands.

  “No, that’s all you’re supposed to get. And don’t try to use those sad eyes on me—it won’t work. Tad told me you’ll get fat if you overeat and it’s bad for your health.”

  Bo barked and as always, Haley flinched at the piercing bellow.

  “How about if we start running together? I read that Basset Hounds need lots of exercise and you might bark less if you’re tired. We could run in the evening and again in the early morning before work.”

  Haley had purchased a few things at the pet store on the way home from Denver, including a new collar and a retractable leash like the one she’d used when running with Daisy at the shelter. It was all part of her plan to change her attitude about Bo.

  If I’m going to have a dog for an entire year, I’d better learn to like it.

  Discarding the old brown collar, she fastened the new one around his neck, pleased at the cheerful bright red color.

  “You look very handsome, Bo.”

  He stared with mournful eyes.

  “What’s wrong, you don’t like red?”

  The smell hit her like a cloud of tear gas.

  “Oh! Ewww!!!” Gagging, she darted to the window and threw it open.

  Better to freeze to death than die from flatulence!

  Attaching the leash, she headed out to the country road, happily anticipating a run. She planned to start by running a mile out and walking back, hoping to gradually work Bo’s fitness level up to the point he could run at least three miles with her. As the early setting sun meant they would be running in the dark, she clipped a yellow flashing light to Bo’s new collar and another to her water belt, with a headlamp to light the way.

  Bo sprinted down the sidewalk in front of her, pulling at the leash. But when he reached the mailbox, he put on the brakes as effectively as a Mack truck, stopping to sniff the area and lifting his leg to add a scent of his own.

  “Come on, Bo!” She yanked on his leash, but he ignored her. “Good grief! I’m going to have to carry you back inside—all fifty-five pounds of you.”

  Just as she bent to pick him up, he decided to cooperate, trotting down the road. She followed behind him, jogging at a fair pace until he dashed off the road into the ditch. Haley determined to keep running and force him to follow. But when the retractable leash reached its limit, her arm was almost jerked out of its socket. She went back to find Bo nosing around in a hole that might have been the entrance to a burrow.

  “Bo! Let’s go!” She pulled on the leash, but he pulled against her, ignoring the pressure on his neck. She managed to tug him a few inches toward the road.

  I’m stronger than a dog. Eventually, he’ll have to come with me.

  She continued to tug, moving inch by inch out of the ditch toward the pavement. All at once, Bo quit tugging.

  Victorious at last, she hit the button to retract the slack before Bo tangled in the leash. But the leash wound all the way to her hand, dangling a bright red collar with a yellow flashing light.

  Bo had disappeared.

  EXHAUSTED, GAVIN COLLAPSED onto the couch, propping up his feet by the fire. He opened up the cardboard box of Chinese takeout and wolfed it down with a spoon, not willing to take the time to use chopsticks, as was his custom.

  Why did I volunteer to take on another assignment at work, just to keep those two clowns away from Haley? What was I thinking? I don’t even have time to take care of the accounts I’m already handling.

  Clearing time in his full-to-the-brim sche
dule so that he could work with Haley meant working straight through lunch and the entire afternoon so he would have a few extra hours the next day. When he left work at seven, he stopped by his favorite fast food place, knowing he wouldn’t have the energy to cook. All he wanted to do was take a shower and fall into bed.

  Of course, Daisy kept a close eye on his dinner, always ready to pounce in case some tasty morsel tumbled to the floor, even though she’d already gulped down her own evening meal.

  “I’m sorry, Daisy. I’m too tired to go for a run tonight, but I’ll take you out for a jog in the morning.

  Woofing a bass note in excitement, Daisy pranced in a circle, probably having understood the words “go” and “out.”

  “No Daisy... not tonight.”

  Gavin’s cell phone rang—an unidentified caller. He answered, expecting it might be something work related.

  “Gavin Holiday speaking...”

  The speaker on the other end sobbed hysterically, babbling something unintelligible, but he recognized the voice. The intonation was burned into his memory like a brand on his soul. Adrenaline flooded his system and he sprang from his seat, wide awake.

  “Haley? What happened? What’s wrong?”

  More sobbing and garbled words, but he caught “Gammy” and “Bo” and “He’s gone.”

  “Calm down, Haley. I’ll be right there. I’m five minutes away.”

  He wasn’t certain exactly what had happened, but his best guess was that Bo had run off. Grabbing a package of hotdogs from the fridge and an extra leash, he hopped in the car with Daisy and raced to Gammy’s house, thankful he’d moved so close.

  When he arrived, Haley met him at the car, her eyes swollen and red. Without thinking, he jumped out and pulled her into his arms. She fell against him, weeping.

  “I lost B-Bo. I can’t f-find him anywhere.”

  “Shhhh. It’s okay. We’ll find him.”

  “I’m s-sorry to bother you. Tad t-told me to call y-you.”

  “What happened?”

  “He got out of his c-collar.” Haley hiccupped. “It’s my f-fault—I bought him a n-new one.”

  “We’ll find him. Don’t worry.”

  “I was mad at him, b-but I didn’t want him to get l-lost.”

  “Of course not.” He led her to the passenger door, though he would gladly have stood in the driveway for hours, holding her tight.

  When he opened the passenger door, Daisy must have recognized Haley, because she began to bark and whine, frenzied with excitement.

  “Is that Daisy?” Haley’s mouth went slack. “When did you adopt her?”

  “When I no longer had a girlfriend who didn’t like dogs,” he retorted. The stricken expression on her tear-streaked face made him wish he could take back his hasty words. “I’m sorry, Haley. This isn’t a good time to tease you.”

  “No, it’s the truth. I’ve never liked them before, but I promise, tonight I was really trying hard to like Bo. And then this happened. I can’t win for losing.”

  Gavin started the car before another flood of tears came, heading toward the spot Haley had last seen Bo. They drove with the windows down, calling out Bo’s name. Daisy did her part, howling out with a deafening bay.

  Haley shook her head, her lower lip trembling. “I looked here already. He’s gone. He could be anywhere.”

  Gavin stopped the car and they climbed out, with Daisy on a leash. “I’ve got two things Bo likes—food and Daisy. He’s got great ears and an even better nose. So you call every five or ten seconds, I’ll whistle, and Daisy will bark.”

  Gavin opened the hotdogs, and Daisy pranced in a circle with her eyes on the meat. “These aren’t for you, Daisy, but you can have one if you help us find Bo.”

  Gavin held a hotdog up high over Daisy’s head, and the hound went crazy with excitement, barking and baying. As Gavin sent out a shrill whistle, Haley called Bo’s name over and over again, until her voice turned hoarse.

  “It’s not working,” Haley croaked. “He’s gone.”

  “Give him time. This isn’t the first time Bo’s gone AWOL. He’ll find his way back if he has some motivation.”

  With two fingers in his mouth, Gavin whistled again.

  From a distance came a faint barking. Gavin swept his flashlight beam back and forth across the dark field. Daisy bayed an answer as Haley called out Bo’s name again.

  The barking grew louder until a flash of mottled brown and white appeared, and Bojangles lobbed into view, trotting over to where Haley squatted on the ground with her arms outstretched. Bo accepted her hugs as if he’d accomplished a great deed. Bo twisted away, jumping up on his hind legs to reach the hotdog Gavin offered him. Of course Daisy got a hotdog of her own.

  Before he had a chance to escape again, Gavin snatched the hefty Basset Hound from the ground and stowed him in the backseat. As he opened the door for Haley, he was startled when she threw her arms around him, sniffling again.

  “Thank you, Gavin. I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

  He gave her back an awkward pat, battling a swell of emotions. It felt so right to hold her again, as if she occupied an empty space in his arms that only she could fill. Embracing her made his pulse race, yet his chest had a hollow ache, knowing she had no feelings for him—that their relationship would never be more than a platonic friendship at best.

  She peeled away and climbed into the car. Within minutes, Bo was safe inside Gammy’s house with his new collar back in place, a couple of notches tighter than before.

  “It has to be snug,” Gavin explained to Haley. “See? Just enough room for two fingers. That’s all the slack you need.”

  Kneeling beside him, Haley reached to curl her fingers under the collar, brushing against Gavin’s hand in the process. She pulled away like she’d been burned by fire and Gavin winced, embarrassed that his touch made her recoil.

  I guess she could only tolerate me when she was too emotional to realize what she was doing.

  He stood abruptly, needing to escape. Touching Haley awakened something that was better left dead and buried. He’d been better off with a frozen heart. At least it was numb and painless. He had to get away before he developed the one thing that would send his well-ordered life into a tailspin... hope.

  HUMILIATED, HALEY CONTINUED to fuss with Bo while Gavin gathered his things to go—anything to avoid looking at him. She was such a fool, throwing herself into his arms, knowing how he detested her. Yet, ever the gentlemen, he hadn’t even objected, comforting her with the tender sensitivity of a brother.

  Calling Gavin had been her best chance of saving Bo, and she’d only done it at her brother’s insistence. Tad seemed to feel he couldn’t help her from his location in Chile.

  She excused her rash actions while Bo was missing—panic had clouded her thinking. However, back at the house the crisis had passed, and with it went any justification for acting like a besotted idiot. When she’d brushed her hand against Gavin’s, she’d been shocked at the sudden heat that shot through her arm and sent tingles up her neck. With a gasp, she pulled away, knowing Gavin must have felt it as well. But his expression held no warmth—only something akin to embarrassment. Once again, he played the gentleman, turning his head away, pretending not to notice her intense reaction to his touch. Of course, now he was making his escape as quickly as possible, probably regretting his heroic actions.

  She had to say something to relieve the awkwardness or he would dread having to spend time with her at work the next day. She had to let him know she didn’t expect him to take her back after all this time—that she didn’t expect him to forgive everything and start all over again.

  “Gavin?”

  “Yes?” He froze, his eyes trained on the doorknob, only his profile visible to Haley.

  “Thank you, again.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She saw a fleeting grimace on his face.

  “And Gavin, about tonight... since Tad is gone, you know... well... it’s
good to know I still have a brother.”

  “Good to know.” The muscles along his jaw flexed and bulged. “Really glad you let me know.”

  Haley didn’t regret her words, though it hurt to say them and hurt even more to see his gratitude in hearing them.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Thanksgiving was a sad affair. With the table set for two, Haley blessed the food consisting of a roast chicken she’d purchased from the grocery store deli, along with pint-sized containers of sweet potatoes and green beans.

  But even the meager amount of food on the table had Haley’s stomach turning somersaults. She picked at the food on her plate, moving things around to appear she’d eaten more than the tiny bite she was fighting to keep down.

  “Haley, you’re not eating.”

  Her mother’s comment on her eating habits was easy to ignore since Haley had been doing just that for almost as long as she could remember.

  “So tell me again, what exotic location is Dad in?”

  Always practicing perfect manners, her mom continued to chew, then swallowed her food and dabbed her mouth with her napkin before responding. “He’s in Russia at the moment, working on some kind of deal for oil in Siberia, I think. I get so anxious when he’s over there. I feel like he’s going to get himself killed by the KGB or something.”

  For once, Haley agreed with her mother’s worried assessment, but she kept that thought to herself. It took very little to send her mom off the deep end.

  “Mom, are you still taking your anxiety medicine?”

  She twisted her lips in distaste. “No, I quit taking that stuff years ago. It made me feel all loopy, and I didn’t really need it. Anyway, I think it’s a sign of weakness to take medicine for something like that when you can control it yourself, without drugs.”

  Haley thought of about a hundred different things she could say, but decided none of them would go over well, so she took a small bite of sweet potatoes instead. Determined to keep some food down today, she quickly followed her bite with copious amounts of water, hoping to dilute the food in her stomach. She must have lost two or three pounds since her first day of work at Holiday, Inc., and this time she wasn’t trying to do it. Worse some days than others, the nagging nausea seemed to always be present.