LITMIR.BIZ

      CHAPTER ONE

      BRETT PALMER LEANED against the door of his vehicle. Visiting had seemed like a great idea before he’d left home, but now he was here...turning up unannounced wasn’t so easy. Perhaps if he’d planned what he was going to say, had a good reason for not touching base with her before now, but he’d just jumped in the car and decided to chance it.

      He sucked back a big breath and forced himself to walk forward. He’d known Jamie Mattheson for years, so it wasn’t like she’d get a shock to see him, but still. It wasn’t as if he’d ever spent time with her on her own, either.

      Brett swallowed the memories, refusing to go back in time, and jogged the last few steps to the front door. He knocked. No one answered. There wasn’t even so much as a shuffle from inside. Brett knocked again.

      He could either get in his car and leave, or head around back to see if she was there. The sun was already out in full force, typical of Sydney at this time of year, and he had more than a hunch that she could be out in the garden.

      Brett stepped back down and walked around the side of the house. It was looking nice, but then he knew Sam had painted the weatherboards before he’d left for their last tour, had made sure he’d done all the maintenance so Jamie had nothing to worry about while he was gone. He’d put money on it that she’d prefer the house to be falling down around her if it meant she could go back in time and have her husband back.

      Brett pushed the side gate open and looked around the corner. There she was. Standing with her hands on her hips, like something was really frustrating her. Then he saw the something, sitting in front of her, alert, nose pointed in the air.

      Bear. She had Sam’s dog. How the hell had she ended up with Bear so soon?

      “Jamie,” he called out, not wanting to startle her but not wanting to be caught staring at her, either.

      The dog had given up sitting patiently and was now barking and thundering toward him. He’d been his best mate’s dog, but right now he was protecting his new owner, and Brett wasn’t exactly game to take the massive canine on.

      “Bear, it’s me,” he called out, as the black dog hurtled toward him. “Bear! It’s okay, boy.”

      The dog slowed, still looking protective, but Brett was comfortable that he was no longer about to be attacked.

      “Brett? What are you doing here?”

      Jamie was suddenly rushing across the lawn to him, arms outstretched.

      “Hey, sweetheart.” He held his own arms out, one eye on the dog, until she threw herself against him.

      Brett held her tight, holding on to her like his life depended upon it. He’d been best man at their wedding, vacationed with them, had dinner at their house...and now he was comforting a widow.

      “It’s so good to see you.” Jamie stepped back, but she held on to his hands, firmly, like she’d never let go.

      Brett looked into her eyes, saw tears there that she was bravely holding in check. This woman had been his best friend’s wife, and he’d never, ever wanted to be in this position. He was just grateful that he hadn’t been the one to tell her the news when it had happened.

      “You’ve got Bear.” He knew he was stating the obvious but he still couldn’t believe it.

      He turned half his attention back to the dog, who was keeping a close eye on them.

      “And I have no idea what to do with him,” she admitted, stepping back and letting go of Brett. Jamie had her hands back on her hips as she stared at the dog. “I’m doing my best, but he’s, I don’t know, smarter than me, I guess. We’re not communicating that well.”

      Brett dropped to his haunches, eye level with the canine. “Hey, Bear. Remember me, bud?” The dog let out a low whine, looking up at Jamie then back to him again. “I know you do. Come here.”

      Bear slowly walked

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