Read The Next Season (novella) for Free Online Page A

yanked back. Trying to recover from the fright and also her giggles, she looked up to see Shaun panting almost as much as the dog, his cheeks red from exertion.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ he puffed, looking down at her. ‘We were just jogging and he took off. I don’t know what got into him.’
    Trying to ignore all six feet of gorgeousness standing above her, and forgetting that she looked like some kind of drowned rat in her wet summer blouse and tailored dress shorts—not to mention her tear-stained eyes—Zoe raised an eyebrow at Shaun. ‘Did you just call that beast Eeyore ?’
    The idea that a big, strong, sexy guy like Shaun Elliot had a dog called Eeyore made her giggle. She started gently, and soon there were tears of hilarity running down her cheeks. In seconds she was shaking with laughter but, judging by the stony expression on his face, he failed to find it funny.

Four
    Shaun scowled as he tried to catch his breath and keep his grip on Eeyore, all the while endeavouring to clip the leash onto his collar. Generally when he jogged the dog stuck close to his side, but he’d seen the figure of a woman ahead sitting on the beach and something had snapped. He’d raced off—sand kicking up behind his strong hind legs—before Shaun had even registered it was Zoe.
    â€˜My ex named him,’ he said eventually, trying not to stare at the see-through-ness of her sopping wet, pale pink blouse and hoping his shorts disguised how much the sight affected him. ‘I wanted to call him Baxter but we tossed a coin and she won. She said his sad face made it the perfect name.’
    Despite his explanation, Zoe was still laughing. Hysterically. At his feet, Eeyore tugged on the lead, desperate to go to her again, but this time Shaun kept a firm grip. It would be better to move right along but he couldn’t get past the fact that only moments ago she’d been crying. Something was seriously wrong. He’d known from the way she’d been curled into herself, her head resting upon her knees, but up close it was even more obvious. Crazy laughter aside, all the signs were right before him; her bloodshot eyes, her blotchy cheeks and puffy face, not to mention the fact she’d obviously been swimming in some rather nice clothes.
    But dammit, it was no business of his if she was upset. Although his heart wasn’t in it, he gave a tug on Eeyore’s lead and started to turn away, vowing not to lament over whatever the hell was worrying her.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ she called when he’d taken only two steps.
    His heart stilling, he sighed and closed his eyes briefly, before turning back. Sitting up again, she was hugging her knees against her chest and looking at him with her big blue eyes.
    â€˜Sandee told me about your ex,’ she said, an expression of sympathy on her face.
    Shaun’s stomach tightened. Of course Sandee would have told her. She might be a saint when it came to fostering state wards but that didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy a bit of gossip as much as the next woman. ‘What exactly did she say?’
    And that was as stupid as asking What colour is the sky?
    He cringed as he thought back to New Year’s Eve. How he’d dressed up in his best clothes and hired out the town hall. He’d brought in caterers and planned out a menu that included every one of Melissa’s favourite foods. He’d organised a DJ from Margaret River and invited his entire family, along with Melissa’s folks and siblings and all their mutual friends, to what he hoped would be a very memorable night.
    Memorable was an understatement.
    Now he just wished he could forget it.
    But it would take a bad case of amnesia for him to blank out the recollection of getting down on bended knee in front of a room full of people and asking Melissa to spend the rest of her life with him. He’d been with her for almost five years and they’d lived