Page 1 of Redeem My Heart

chapter

one

Shelby

“Kidnapping is a felony, you know,” I say, keeping my tone light even though I’m only half joking.

“Bah,” Lily says. “It doesn’t count if I’m your boss.”

I laugh. “I don’t think that’s true.”

“It doesn't count if your boss is taking you to a party. That is definitely not kidnapping,” Lily chirps.

“So what is this party?” I ask.

I suppose, technically, it’s not kidnapping if your boss lures you into her truck with the promise of post-work drinks and snacks, and just happens to not mention that these drinks and snacks will mean talking to other people. Maybe this is on me. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so eager, but it was a long day. I’m a vet tech for Lily’s large animal mobile veterinary business. By definition, ‘long days’ involve animal poop. And piss. And sometimes other animal liquids I like to think about even less.

Have I earned a post-work drink, compliments of my boss?

Yes. Yes, I have.

Do I want to meet strangers when there’s even the slightest chance I still have cow jizz on my shoes?

No. No, I do not.

Lily and I live in, and both grew up in, the small town of Saddle Creek. So it’s not like there are that many people I don’t know or at least know of. But she’s a few years older than I am, so most of her friends were far enough ahead of me in school that I don’t know them well.

Lily maneuvers her truck onto a county road. “It's just a little get together where the women will watch a movie and the men are playing poker.”

I stare at my boss. “So it's like a couples gathering? I'm not part of a couple.”

She waves one hand dismissively. “No, it's not about that. Besides Forest is out of town so my person won't even be there. We’ll stick together.”

“But you have a person. I don't even have a pet.” As much as I love animals, my work hours would keep me away from the house too long. Even the pothos ivy I bought a year ago died of neglect. I stare out the window and watch the scrubby cedar trees and prickly pear cacti pass by. “Maybe I should get a cactus.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Just talking out loud. Where even is this party?” I finally ask because I realize we're heading out of Saddle Creek.

“It's at one of the Whitmores’ house,” Lily says.

My heart thunders in my chest. I lick my suddenly dry lips.

The Whitmores are a ranching family from the area with a bunch of siblings and cousins and roots deep in Saddle Creek. I went to school with Daphne, and we were friends when we were little. But then sorta drifted apart as we grew up. But she’s not the Whitmore I'm worried about.

The one I’m worried about is Dane. Stunningly hot, achingly broody Dane. Dane, the object of my life-long secret crush. The guy so far out of my league we aren’t even playing the same sport.

“Which Whitmore?” I mean it’s very unlikely out of all the Whitmores, he would be the one hosting a party. But stranger things have happened.

“Uh,” Lily says. “Grady.”

Shit. I’m not sure that’s much better. Though for very different reasons. “As in, Grady the one married to the pop sensation, Jess Munoz?”

“That’s the one.”

“So we’re going to a party at Jess Munoz’s house?” I look down at my blue jeans and simple graphic t-shirt. The one that has a pirate skull and the words, ‘Goonies never say die.’ My black low-top Chucks round out my super casual look and my dark blond hair is piled on top of my head the messiest of all messy buns. I glance over at Lily to find she’s not dressed much differently.

My boss, the large animal vet in town, is already married though. And she’s never seemed to care much about what other people think. I wish I could do that. Instead, I have a constant replay of my mother’s voice in my head.