He pushed his thumbs into his eyes to stay the tears. A deep, shuddering breath opened his chest a little so he could breathe.
Bess burst into the room, chattering away, but stopped when she saw him. She sank down on the bed and cupped his cheek. “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head.
“Can’t talk?”
He chuckled, removing his hand from his eyes to look at her. “I’m okay. Talked to Robbie.”
“Everything all right?”
“Better than I ever expected.”
“You’ve been through hell. You deserve the best, honey,” she said.
Whit stroked her hand and brushed his lips over hers. “I have the best. I have you.”
The next morning, Whit bounced into the station. He grabbed the papers on his desk and paced, reading the stories aloud for practice. Happiness flowing through his veins like adrenaline kept him moving. He strode from one end of the studio, to the other. He stopped to gaze out the big windows overlooking Columbus Avenue. When he turned, he trained an eye on Sam.
She sat in her office, typing, until the receptionist entered.
Whit stopped to listen in.
“Delivery for you. From West Side Liquors. What do you want me to do with it?”
“Have them roll it in here.”
“Do you know what it is?”
“Yeah. A case of Chivas Regal.” Sam’s gaze locked with Whit’s. She smiled, and he laughed.
Best bet I ever lost.
Epilogue
Ten blocks up on the Upper West Side, Miranda put down her book and picked up her cell.
“You’ve got to help me. They’re carrying my furniture out and dumping it on the sidewalk!”
“Brooke? Is that you?” Miranda stood up.
“It’s me. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Slow down.”
“I’m being evicted! The effing landlord is taking my stuff and putting it outside. I need help!”
“Oh my God! I’m calling the Club. We’ll be right there.”
Miranda dialed Bess.
“We’ve got to help Brooke. Damn landlord is throwing her stuff out on the sidewalk.”
“Holy Hell!”
“I told her not to ignore that sign on her door,” Miranda said.
“I didn’t think you could evict someone so fast,” Bess said.
“Brooke had thirty days.”
“We’ve got to help her.”
“Can you bring Rory, Hack, and Whit? I’ll rent a van and meet you at her place.”
“But where’s she going to go?” Bess asked.
“There’s only one place,” Miranda said.
“Oh, no.”
“She doesn’t have anywhere else to go.”
“I doubt it. Still, she’s a little old for this.”
“I’m hanging up. Get the troops. I’m walking toward the rental place now.”
As she turned the corner onto Broadway, Miranda phoned Brooke. “We’re on our way. I’m getting a van, and Bess is bringing Rory, Hack, and Whit.”
“I don’t have any place to go.”
“You do. You don’t want to, but you do.”
“I can’t. She’s…”
“Suck it up, Brooke. You can’t live on the sidewalk.”
There was a pause on the line.
“Thanks, Miranda.”
“You’re welcome. See you soon.”
She closed her phone and opened the door of the car rental office.
*The End*
About the Author
Jean Joachim is a best-selling romance fiction author, with books hitting the Amazon Top 100 list since 2012. She writes mostly contemporary romance, which includes sports romance and romantic suspense.
Dangerous Love, Lost & Found won First Place in the suspense category in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America International Digital Awards 2015 contest.
The Renovated Heart won Best Novel of the Year from Love Romances Café. Lovers & Liars was a RomCon finalist in 2013. And The Marriage List tied for third place as Best Contemporary Romance from the Gulf Coast RWA. To Love or Not to Love tied for second place in the 2014 New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America Reader’s Choice contest. She was chosen Author of the Year in 2012 by the New York City chapter of RWA.
Married and the mother of two sons, Jean lives in New York City. Early in the morning, you’ll find her at her computer, writing, with a cup of tea, her rescued pug, Homer, by her side and a secret stash of black licorice.
Jean has 30+ books, novellas and short stories published. Find them here: http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com
There are pug rescues run by volunteers all across the United States. Anything you can do to help, from making calls, to fostering, from transporting to helping with fund-raising would be appreciated. Donations, even small ones, are most welcome. The money pays for veterinary care for abused or neglected pugs.
The mission of these rescues is to find loving forever homes for pugs who have lost theirs. If you want to help, here is a listing of pug rescue websites by state. There’s sure to be one near you. Note: website addresses may change or rescues may fold and new ones be born, this list is up-to-date as of the date of publication of this book.
LIST OF PUG RESCUES
ALABAMA:
http://www.alabamapugrescue.org/
Semper Fi Rescue
http://semperfirescue.com/index.html
ALASKA:
Polar Pug Rescue & Friends
http://polarpug.org/
ARIZONA:
Arizona Pug Adoption Rescue Network
http://www.arizonapugrescue.com/
ARKANSAS:
MidSouth Pug Rescue
http://www.midsouthpugs.org/
Pug Rescue of North West Arkansas
http://pugrescuenwa.typepad.com/
Pugs and Kisses Rescue
http://www.pugsandkissesrescue.com/
CALIFORNIA:
Pug Rescue of Sacramento - Bay to Borders
http://www.pugpros.org/
Pugs N Pals of Southern California
http://www.pugdogrescue.com/
Pug Savers
http://www.pugsavers.com/
Northern CA, Northern NV
Central Coast Pug Rescue
http://www.centralcoastpugrescue.com/
Pug Rescue of San Diego County
http://www.pugbutts.com
Pugs N Roses
http://pugsnroses.com/home/
Pug Rescue Nation of Los Angeles
www.pugnationla.org
COLORADO:
Colorado Pug Rescue
http://copugrescue.org/
CONNECTICUT:
Pug Rescue of New England
http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/
Curly Tail Pug Rescue
http://www.curlytailpugrescue.org/
CT, NY, NJ, PA, MA
Green Mountain Pug Rescue
http://www.greenmtnpugrescue.com/
VT, CT, NH, ME, NY
FLORIDA:
http://pugrescueofflorida.org/
Compassionate Pug Rescue
http://www.compassionatepugrescue.com
Central Florida Pug Rescue
http://www.centralfloridapugrescue.org/
Southeast Pug Rescue & Adoption, Inc.
www.rescuepug.com
GEORGIA:
Southeast Pug Rescue & Adoption, Inc.
www.rescuepug.com
Semper Fi Rescue
http://semperfirescue.com/index.html
IDAHO:
Inland Northwest Pug Rescue
http://www.inwpr.net/
Southwest Idaho Pug Rescue
http://swiprescue.com/
Pug Pals, Inc.,
www.PugPals.org.
ID, UT, MT
ILLINOIS:
http://northernillinoispugrescue.org/
Pug Rescue Network
www.pugrescuenetwork.com
&nbs
p; IL, IN, MI, OH
INDIANA:
Kentuckiana Pug Rescue
http://www.kentuckianapugs.com/
IN, KY, WI
IOWA:
Midwest Pug Rescue
http://www.midwestpugrescue.com/
MO, NE, IA
KANSAS:
Wichita Pug Rescue, Inc.
website www.wichitapugrescue.com
Homeward Bound Pug Rescue
http://www.homewardboundpugs.com/
KENTUCKY:
See: IN
MAINE:
Pug Rescue of New England
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/
See CT - Green Mountain Pug Rescue
MARYLAND:
Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue
http://www.midatlanticpugrescue.org/index.html
Serving - (NC), (SC), (VA),(MD),(WV), and Eastern Tennessee(TN)
Mutts Matter Rescue
muttsmatterrescue.org
MD, DC, VA, SC
MICHIGAN:
Pug Rescue Network
www.pugrescuenetwork.com
IL, IN, MI, OH
Michigan Pug Rescue
http://www.michiganpugrescue.com/
MASSACHUSETTS:
Pug Rescue of New England
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/
See CT - Curly Tail Pug Rescue
MINNESOTA:
MNMidWest Pug Rescue
http://www.mnmidwestpugrescue.com/
MISSISSIPPI:
MidSouth Pug Rescue
http://www.midsouthpugs.org/
Northern MS, Eastern AR, West TN
MISSOURI:
http://www.midwestpugrescue.com/
MO, NE, IA
Southeast Pug Rescue & Adoption, Inc, MO Chapter
http://pugrescueofmo.com/
Southeast Pug Rescue & Adoption, Inc.
www.rescuepug.com
GA, FL, SC, TN, MO
IL-MO Pug & Boston Terrier Rescue
http://www.pugresq.net/
Wichita Pug Rescue, Inc.
website www.wichitapugrescue.com
MONTANA:
Pug Pals, Inc.,
www.PugPals.org.
ID, UT, MT
Inland Northwest Pug Rescue
http://www.inwpr.net/
Idaho Panhandle/Greater Spokane, Washington
NEBRASKA:
Pug Partners of Nebraska
http://www.pugpartners.com/
Midwest Pug Rescue
http://www.midwestpugrescue.com/
MO, NE, IA
NEVADA:
Southern Nevada Pug Rescue
http://www.rescuepugs.com/index.htm
Pug Savers
Northern CA, Northern NV
http://www.pugsavers.com/
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
See CT: Green Mountain Pug Rescue
Pug Rescue of New England
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/
NEW JERSEY:
Love For Pugs Rescue
http://www.loveforpugsrescue.org
See CT: Curly Tail Pug Rescue
NEW MEXICO:
Colorado Pug Rescue
http://copugrescue.org/
CO, WY, UT, NM
NEW YORK:
Curly Tail Pug Rescue
http://www.curlytailpugrescue.org/
CT, NY, NJ, PA, MA
Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue
http://www.buffalopugs.org/
Western NY, Western PA, Eastern OH, Ontario, Canada
NORTH CAROLINA:
Pug Rescue of North Carolina
Serving NC & VA
www.apugrescue.com OR www.pugrescuenc.org
Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue
http://www.midatlanticpugrescue.org/index.html
Serving - (NC), (SC), (VA),(MD),(WV), and Eastern Tennessee(TN)
OHIO:
Ohio Pug Rescue
http://www.ohiopugrescue.com/index.php
OKLAHOMA:
See KS: Homeward Bound Pug Rescue
Wichita Pug Rescue, Inc.
website www.wichitapugrescue.com
KS, Northern OK, Western MO
OREGON:
http://www.pacificpugrescue.org/
Seattle Pug Rescue
http://www.seattlepugs.com/
PENNSYLVANIA:
Home At Last Dog Rescue
http://www.homeatlastdogrescue.com/
Guardian Angels Pug Rescue
http://www.guardianangelspugrescue.org/Home.html
Southwestern PA, Special needs
Southwest PA Pugs with Special Needs
http://www.swpapug.org/
Pet Helpers, Inc
http://www.pethelpersinc.org
WV, Southwestern PA
RHODE ISLAND:
Pug Rescue of New England
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/
TENNESSEE:
MidSouth Pug Rescue
http://www.midsouthpugs.org/
Northern MS, Eastern AR, West TN
TEXAS:
Pug Rescue of Austin
http://www.austinpugrescue.com/
DFW Pug Rescue Club
http://www.dfwpugs.com/
PugHearts of Houston
http://www.pughearts.com/
UTAH:
Colorado Pug Rescue
http://copugrescue.org/
CO, WY, UT, NM
SEE: ID: Pug Pals, Inc.,
VERMONT:
Green Mountain Pug Rescue
http://www.greenmtnpugrescue.com/
VT, CT, NH, ME, NY
Pug Rescue of New England
http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/
VIRGINIA:
Pugs U Gotta Save P.U.G.S
http://pugsugottasave.org/
VA
Pug Rescue of North Carolina
Serving NC & VA
Pug Rescue of North Carolina, Inc.
www.apugrescue.com OR www.pugrescuenc.org
WASHINGTON STATE:
Seattle Pug Rescue
http://www.seattlepugs.com/
Inland Northwest Pug Rescue
http://www.inwpr.net/
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Mutts Matter Rescue
muttsmatterrescue.org
MD, DC, VA, SC
WEST VIRGINIA:
Pet Helpers, Inc
http://www.pethelpersinc.org
WV, Southwestern PA
WISCONSIN:
Kentuckiana Pug Rescue
http://www.kentuckianapugs.com/
IN, KY, WI
Pug Hugs Pug Rescue Inc.
WEBSITE: http://www.pughugs.org/
WYOMING:
Colorado Pug Rescue
http://copugrescue.org/
CO, WY, UT, NM
CANADA:
Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue
http://www.buffalopugs.org/
Western NY, Western PA, Eastern OH, Ontario, Canada