Always For You (Always Love Book 1) (19 page)

“Oh, absolutely sure. I asked around while I was waiting for you, and like I said, I know most of my neighbors’ pets.” She stroked his head, too. “He doesn’t have a name tag on his collar, but there is some kind of charm.”

I checked it out. “Yeah, that’s his rabies vaccination. It’s only a few months old, so he’s up-to-date on that.” I patted his heaving shoulder. “I’m going to take him back to the office, see if I can induce vomiting and maybe get him on some charcoal.” I pulled out my wallet and handed her a card. “Here’s my number. If you find out who his owners are or anything else, give me a call, please.”

“I will. Oh, Mrs. Reddy.” The woman jumped to her feet, greeting an older lady who was making her way across the lawn. “The vet—Dr. Harrington—says this dog may have been poisoned. He may have gotten into your pool stuff.”

The older woman looked stricken. “Oh my goodness, Claire, you know, I forgot and left the lid off the shock tablets yesterday. And Mrs. Milward said something about seeing a dog running around the neighborhood. I just feel terrible.” She clasped her hands together under her ribs.

“I think we got to him in time. Don’t worry.” I glanced up at the woman who was apparently Claire. “Do you happen to have any old towels or blankets? I’d like to wrap him up to make the move to the truck a little easier on him.”

“Sure. Let me grab them.”

When I had the sick dog safely in the cab of the truck, I turned back to the two women. “Thanks for calling. You probably saved his life. If we can find his owner, I’ll bet he’s going to be really grateful.”

“I’m just glad you came. Oh, by the way, I’m Claire Fullerton.” She stuck out her hand, smiling. “And this is Mrs. Reddy, if you didn’t figure that out.”

I shook the older woman’s hand. “I’ll keep you posted on his condition, if you call into the office on Monday. Thanks again.”

As we made our way through the quiet night toward the office, I rubbed the dog’s soft neck. “Well, buddy, let’s get you taken care of. I know you’re feeling bad. Don’t worry, we’ll make you better.”

He lifted his head, regarded me with interest and then dropped back to the seat with a long doggy sigh.

“Y
OU THINK HE’S GOING TO
be okay, though?” I ran my hand over the shepherd’s fur. “You got the charcoal on board in time?”

“Yeah. Look how perky he is already.” The dog’s tail thumped against the table, and Smith grinned. “Reen—I wanted to talk to you. Can we go out tonight? Maybe go some place nice for dinner, just the two of us?”

I frowned. “I’d really like that, Smith, but I already promised Tim I’d go to the Road Block with him tonight.”

Smith’s eyes dropped. He growled low under his breath, and the dog cocked his head. “This is the same old dance, Maureen—every time I think we’ve taken two steps forward, you take another one back.”

“What’re you talking about?” My heart sped up a little.

“I’m talking about you and me, and the fact that you’re not into old Tim at all. You don’t want him. And yet you keep going out with him.”

“For your information, I like Tim a lot. He’s a nice guy.” I paused. “And tonight I’m going to tell him that I can’t see him anymore, because you’re right. I’m not interested in him that way. But I’m not doing it over the phone or by text. I promised him I’d go out tonight, and I am.”

“Fine.” Smith wheeled around, stopping just short of the door. “What time are you going?”

“He’s picking me up at six. Why?”

He shook his head. “No reason. Just curious.” Without turning back around, he stomped down the hallway.

“Men.” I petted the dog, who licked my hand. “No offense to you, boy, but human men are the most confusing species out there.” I swore the dog nodded. “You need a name, don’t you? We can’t just keep calling you the shepherd.” I pursed my lips, considering. “How about Jack? Jack Shepherd was one of my favorite characters on television. I totally think you look like a Jack.”

Millie came into the room with a file for me. “No bites on the lines I’ve cast, looking for this fellow’s owner. Can’t imagine someone wouldn’t want him back.” She stroked his silky ear. “If I didn’t know Boomer would kill me dead, I’d say I’d take him.”

“Well, let’s hope we find his home.” I flipped open the folder Millie had given me. “Hey, Millie, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, honey. Anything.”

“Did you always know you were in love with Boomer?”

She laughed. “I did. From the time we were nine years old, and he threw a frog on my head. I told him I’d hate him forever, but truth be told, I knew that day I’d end up married to that man.” She leaned toward me. “And don’t think he doesn’t still pay for the frog throwing, too.”

“I bet.”

“So when are you going to put that poor thing out of his misery?” Millie crossed her arms over her chest.

“What? No! He’s fine. He’s going to recover.” I laid a protective hand on the dog’s shoulder.

“Oh, honey, no. Not the pup. I meant Smith. When’re you going to admit you’re sweet on him so he can stop looking so tortured? He watches you all the time . . . looks at you the way my Boomer looks at my pecan pie.”

I felt my face warm. “You’re imagining things.”

“I am most certainly not. I think I know love when I see it. And don’t try to tell me you don’t feel the same way. You’re ooey-gooey over him, too. Just admit it, let him kiss you but good, and let’s get on with things. You should hyphenate your name, though. Dr. Evans-Harrington.”

“Millie!” Eyes wide, I stared at her. “Are you having a senior moment? Are you out of your mind? Shhh, don’t go around staying stuff like that. People will think you’re serious.”

“I’m dead serious. Life’s short, honey. Get on with it.” And with that, she turned on her heel and marched out of the room.

I glanced down at the dog. “Great help you were. And here I was thinking about taking you home with me.”

Jack grinned his doggy-grin and waved one big paw over his face.

Smith left work a few minutes early that afternoon, telling me vaguely that he had an errand to run. Millie and I closed up together, and then I hurried home to get ready for what I hoped would be my final date with Tim.

As always he was right on time, meeting me at my front door with a kiss on the cheek. He held the door to his car for me, and we headed to the Road Block. On the way, he chatted about his day at school and the weather before he politely asked me how my day had gone.

“Nothing special. Oh, except we had a new patient brought in last night. A dog accidentally got into someone’s pool chemicals and was poisoned. He’s going to be okay, but we can’t find his owner. He’s a beautiful Australian shepherd.”

“Ah.” Tim nodded. “Shame about that. I’ve never been an animal person myself, but I guess I can understand how some people could get attached.”

And there’s your final strike.
There was no way in hell I’d ever get seriously involved with any man who didn’t like animals. Tim didn’t know it, but he’d just sealed his fate.

Mason waved to me from the bar as the hostess seated us. Tim ordered his regular glass of white wine before glancing at me with a smile. “Same for you, Maureen?”

I was done trying to be what someone else might expect me to be. And why would I care now what Tim thought? “Actually, no. I’ll have a Stella, please.”

The waitress smiled at me. “Coming right up.”

“I didn’t know you drank beer.” Tim’s eyebrows drew together.

“I think there may be a lot of things you’re not clear on about me. Which is why—”

“Well, isn’t this is a coincidence?” Smith’s voice at my shoulder made me jerk around in surprise. He was standing behind me next to a woman with short blonde hair. “Fancy seeing you two here.” He met my eyes with a challenge.

He’d known Tim and I were coming here. Why the hell was he pretending he didn’t? I opened my mouth to say that, but Tim spoke up instead.

“Hey, as long as you’re here, why don’t you join us? We can make it a double date.” He scooted over on his bench seat. “Maureen, why don’t you come around to my side?”

“That’s okay. She can stay here, and Claire can sit next to you.” Smith pointed the woman to the empty spot and then glanced down at me. “Shove over, Reen. Make room for me.”

I slid over, seething.

“Claire, this is my friend and partner, Maureen Evans. And right there next to you is Tim Clark. He’s a speech teacher over at the elementary school.”

The blonde smiled at Tim. “Actually, I think I’ve seen you around there. I substitute now and then.”

Tim brightened, looking genuinely interested. “Really? You’re a teacher?”

She nodded. “Just looking for a job. I’m hoping if I keep my hand in subbing, they’ll consider hiring me if a position opens.”

“Tell me, Smith. How do you know Claire?” I rested my head on my elbow and glared at him.

“Oh, he came over last night to rescue this poor dog who’d been poisoned in my yard. He’s a real hero. Luckily, the dog’s going to be okay.”

I nodded. “I know. I’m a vet, too. I work with Smith.”

“That’s right.” Claire nodded and then turned back to Tim. “Do you like working at the school?”

The two of them went off on an involved conversation about students, other teachers and other school-related topics. I took advantage of their distraction to shove my elbow into Smith’s ribs.

“What the hell are you doing? You knew I was going to be here.”

“Yup.” He didn’t even look at me; he was watching Claire and Tim, who were now wholly absorbed in each other.

“Northern Virginia? Really? I went to NoVa for a year. My dad was in the service so I started college up there before he was stationed down here. What a small world. I loved that area.”

Tim’s eyes actually began to glow. “It’s great, isn’t it? So much culture, so many opportunities . . .”

And that was how the rest of the evening went. By the time the check came, Tim and Claire were almost on each other’s laps. Spark? Yeah, those two had it in spades. I felt Smith shaking next to me, laughing silently as he watched them.

“Isn’t it great when two people just hit it off like that? Doesn’t it just make you believe in love at first sight?”

I gritted my teeth. “You’re going to pay for this, mister. Don’t think you won’t.” Suddenly I was reminded of Millie, talking about Boomer and the frog, and I could picture with amazing clarity a day in the future when I might tease Smith about the night he brought a date for my date. Maybe I was crazy, but it felt more possible than it ever had.

As we all stood, Tim glanced at Claire and then at me. “Uh, you know, it doesn’t make much sense for me to drive you all the way to your house and then come back to town, and Smith to drive Claire into town and then go back to your house. I don’t mind driving Claire home.” He glanced at her. “As long as Claire doesn’t mind?”

“Oh, no, I think that’s a great idea.” Claire was glowing. “Thanks, Smith. This was fun.”

He waved his hand. “Any time. See you around.”

Tim lingered by me on his way to the door. “Maureen, you don’t mind, do you?”

“Of course not.” I kissed his cheek. “I was going to say tonight, Tim, that I’m not sure we should see each other anymore. Maybe we can just be—friends. And I think you may have found someone else who’s more your type, anyway.”