LikeTheresNoTomorrow by Caitlyn Willows Read Free Book Online

he
fumbled for the device in his back pocket.
    Julia!
    His body was on high alert, heartbeat so loud it almost
drowned out everything around him.
    “You have my number,” he said in rush of breath.
    “I do indeed. Snagged it off your phone this morning while
you lay sleeping.”
    Jim could see her smile, that glint of mischief in her eyes.
The images were imprinted on his brain. “I see you left me a little present.”
    “Oh…really?” Feigned innocence. He loved it. “I’m going to
need those back.”
    “Nope, finders keepers.”
    “Oh dear. I lose more panties that way.”
    “I’ll bet.” Jim cleared his throat. “It’s a little difficult
to meet you at your place without the address.”
    “You had me so excited I couldn’t think straight. Pen and
paper ready?”
    Jim scrambled to find some. Hell, he’d memorize it. “Go.”
    She lived out a bit, her directions detailed and meticulous.
“And the girls would love to meet you.” Her voice dropped a few decibels,
setting off tremors inside him. “They’re very intrigued. I was thoroughly
sniffed by each of them when I picked them up.”
    “I can’t wait to meet them. Should I bring steak or chicken
to win their approval? Toys?” She could take that any way she wanted.
    “Suck up.”
    “On my way.”
    “All tails here are a-wag with anticipation over your
arrival.”
    Jim laughed. “I look forward to that. I’m on my way, baby.”
If he could have crawled through the phone to reach her, he would have. “And
when I get there, boy am I going to sniff you all over.”
    “And I look forward to that ,” she replied in
the whiskey-rough voice that promised a little sniffing of her own.

Chapter Four
     
    This might be the biggest mistake of her life,
involving her girls, pretending her world wasn’t going to turn topsy-turvy. But
it sure as hell didn’t feel like it.
    Jim offered normalcy, joy and life. The hot sex was the
icing on the cake. Julia realized that more than ever having retrieved her
girls from her brothers’ homes. Of course, each one of her pups greeted her with
unbridled enthusiasm, then sat at the door waiting to leave. The humans all
wore that poor-Julia look. Doom and gloom. Despair and anguish. She’d bet they
had her funeral planned. No wonder she hadn’t been able to shake off her fears.
Her “loved” ones kept feeding them. But Jim…
    “Whew.” Julia didn’t know what she was getting into with
him, but she was going to enjoy every second of it.
    She sat on her patio, watching the long road leading to her
place while the girls explored their domain within the fenced portion of the
property. A person could see a long way in the desert. Thank God. Traffic on this road had increased over the last two years. Julia’s heart raced
every time she spied a dust trail. Spirits deflated when it wasn’t Jim. Then
she saw the white Jeep make the turn from the main road a mile away.
    Instinct pulled Julia to her feet. She pressed the remote to
open the gate and waited. Her smile grew with every second. Jim was here. When
he made the final turn into her driveway, she saw his smile was as big. He
lifted a wave Julia returned and drove through the gates.
    The girls were on him in a heartbeat. Barking and jumping as
if he were a long-lost friend. They kept their distance until the Jeep stopped,
then rushed the door when it opened. Yips, some serious tail wagging, more
hopping about as he stepped out. He’d changed into cargo shorts, his legs now
targets for dog kisses. Jim laughed and indulged them.
    “Well…they love you,” Julia said. “You carrying treats in
your shorts?”
    He glanced up with a grin. “I am, but not for them.”
    Julia heated from head to toe. “Come on, you guys. I’m
starving.”
    Jim stood and clapped his hands. “You heard her. Let’s eat.”
    The four were at the door like a shot, leaving Jim to trail
behind with the groceries. Julia enjoyed the view. She might question her own
judgment at the