Page 37 of Gross Misconduct

“Not at all. And I’d love to meet some other dogs, if that’s okay.”

“I want to meet the other dogs too,” I said in a whinier voice than I’d ever heard myself use.

“We’ll take turns,” Jeremy said with a laugh. “You bond with Chloe, and then we’ll switch spots. Sound good?”

“You bet.”

I followed Amanda, the attendant, outside with Chloe. Chloe trotted alongside me like the pretty girl she was. Once outside, we played fetch and she barked in delight. I asked Amanda questions, and she answered them to the best of her ability. I had no idea how much time had passed when Jeremy and I switched places. Wanda took me through the kennels, and I wanted to take all the dogs home. She explained they were a no-kill shelter that relied on donations. She thanked me for the donation Jeremy and I had made. I nodded along like I knew what she was talking about.

When it came to filling out the adoption papers, I used my address. While I was doing that, Jeremy was taking more pictures and then it was time for Chloe to take her picture with us. Jeremy held her while I beamed next to her. Wanda and Amanda took a few photos, and then it was time to go. Or so I thought.

“Just one more thing,” Jeremy said, setting Chloe down on the ground. “Wanda, do you mind taking Chloe for a second?”

“Not at all,” the older woman said.

He nodded at Amanda, and I was totally confused. Was he trying to score a date with her? But instead, Amanda whipped out her phone and took more pictures. What was going on?

“I’ve only known Jill for a few months, but she’s changed my life. I’m not sure what life would be like without her. Shemakes me laugh and love, and now we have little Chloe to make up our new, little family.”

He fumbled around in his pocket, and I was totally confused. Why was he going off script? I turned to Wanda and Amanda, looking for some answers, but they had silly smiles on their faces. When I faced Jeremy again, he was getting down on one knee. What was he doing?!

“Jill, I knew from the second I met you that you were the one. I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”

Chapter Nineteen

Jeremy

Maybe I should have told her what I’d had planned. Based on the expression on her face, she was even more shocked than I’d anticipated. I thought the element of surprise would make it more authentic, but I was getting worried she was either going to keel over or beat the shit out of me. I smiled at her, hoping to coax her for an answer. If she said no, this whole thing would be for nothing.

“I know, I know, it’s soon, but we make a great team. I want us to be partners in life forever. Just say yes,” I urged.

She blinked several times and squeaked out a yes. Well, I’d take that. Hopefully Amanda was good at taking videos and caught the whole thing. I figured we’d post it on social media to get the word out when we were ready.

I slipped the ring I’d bought that morning on her finger, and it fit, although it was a little loose. We could go back, and she could pick whatever she wanted. I then pulled her into my arms for a kiss. Chloe gave a happy bark for good measure. It all had to be picturesque.

“Congratulations,” Wanda said with a clap. “I’ve never been part of a proposal before!”

“Neither have I,” Jill said with a forced smile.

I grabbed my phone from Amanda and thanked her for taking the video. I took a quick look at it, and she’d done a great job and managed not to get Jill’s fully shocked face and just the profile instead. While I was reviewing the video, I could feel Jill’s gaze on me, and when I looked up, I could see that she wanted to kill me. It was time to grab Jill, Chloe, and get the hell out of there before she blew our cover.

She didn’t yell at me until we were in the car, and even then, she was mindful of Chloe sitting in the back seat with the equivalent of a doggie smile.

“What just happened in there?” she said through gritted teeth. I wondered if steam was going to start coming out of her ears.

“I didn’t tell you in advance because I knew you wouldn’t go for it. But you gave me the idea.”

She looked at me with a death glare. “I gave you no such idea.”

“True,” I said lightly. I needed to elevate the situation before she clobbered me. “You said it was Tangi’s idea. And I thought about it. What better cover?”

“I think I’m going to kill you.”

“What’s the big deal? We pretend to be engaged until the end of the season. In the meantime, it shows our commitment. Maybe people will stop talking about Lex. We get ‘unengaged’ during the summer.”

Jill glanced back at Chloe and her happy face, then turned her attention back to me. “I have the feeling you haven’t thought this through at all. Not even for a second, have you?”

“What do you mean?” I said with a shrug.