High Heat (Hotshots 2)

“Good. You’ve got all the time in the world to wait on that stuff. Have fun. Play the field.”

“You make it sound like you’re ancient.”

“Nah. But...my partying days are likely behind me.”

“With that backyard? Hardly.” Rain still wasn’t entirely sure about the extent of Garrick’s injuries, but he didn’t see any reason why his social life should take a nosedive.

“Yeah. We’ll see what the summer brings.” Garrick made a dismissive gesture. “So, do you think if we bring Cookie’s bed in here and put it in the corner, she’ll stay if I shut the door at night?”

“It’s worth a try. And I’m a night owl. If she starts howling or something, I could come back.” He tried to keep the offer from sounding flirty by patting Cookie at the same time. “No people bed for you, you hear? I’d say the biggest risk is you tripping on her in the middle of the night with the crutches, so maybe leave a light on?”

“That’s smart.” Garrick rubbed his shaggy hair. “That’s my worry too. She was scared of the crutches earlier though, so maybe she’ll stay back. You see anything in here she might eat? Guess I should have you move the plant to the deck.”

“I can do that.” Rain dragged the plant out the sliding door before studying the rest of the room, which didn’t even have as much as a throw rug out of place. “And you’re remarkably clean—no socks for her to eat on the floor or things like that.”

“Well I have to keep a clear floor for the crutches and the wheelchair. My dad helps, and he found me a service that’s doing some cleaning too. I stayed with him for a while after the hospital and rehab facility, but I really missed my own place.”

“That’s cool. I’ve always lived with family or roommates, but I’d be ready to be home too. It’s just different being in someone else’s space.”

“Exactly. I know my dad worries about me falling or something, but I’m happier here.”

“I feel you both. And I know you’re worried about tripping on Cookie or one of her belongings. We’ll stash the bed out of the way, and I bet we could train Cookie to pick up her toys if you point to them.”

“The weekend. She is staying the weekend,” Garrick reminded him, but his tone was less firm than it had been at the vet’s.

“Yes, yes. Still bet I can teach her before I leave. Let me find the biscuits and the toys.”

Forget his pretty pink adoptable princess plan, Rain was totally going to convince him to keep the dog if the owner couldn’t be found. The guy seemed a little at loose ends, like his grandma had when she’d first decided to stop traveling and buy the house, and before she’d adopted Mimi and Molly as a bonded pair of siblings. They could be little demons, but they gave Grandma a structured routine that she seemed to need, the same way chores at the cohousing community kept people engaged and involved. People needed to be needed, even if they didn’t always realize it, and Rain was going to prove to Garrick that he and Cookie were meant to be together. After all, Rain himself was swimming in free time until he could sort out his employment situation. He could spare the time to play canine matchmaker.

Chapter Three

“Bedtime for us.” Garrick felt somewhat strange talking to the dog, but after several hours of temporary dog ownership, it was less weird than it had been. Rain had gone away to eat dinner with Shirley, then returned to take Cookie for a short walk in deference to her hurt foot. She’d taken to the sparkling collar Rain had picked out like a champ, not even protesting any and had happily gone trotting off with Rain. Even the quick walk coupled with a big dinner seemed to have tired her out. She had been dozing next to his recliner while he’d mindlessly surfed previews for shows until he too decided that it had been a long day.

He scanned the floor as he got his crutches ready, looking for any stray toys or pet spills, but the way was clear other than the stuffed unicorn that Cookie already seemed bonded with.

“Get your toy,” he ordered, trying to echo the same uber-enthusiastic tone Rain had used when teaching her to retrieve her toys. Someone had clearly attempted to teach her fetch at some point because she’d been a fast study. Well, that and she’d wanted the biscuits. Showing a new stubborn streak, she stayed lying down until he rattled the treat bag and repeated the command. “Fetch. Get your toy.”

Tail wagging, she complied, bringing him the unicorn in exchange for yet another little morsel. “Good girl. Now come.”

Sticking the toy in one pocket and the treats in the other, he hefted himself up with the crutches. After months of casts and braces, it still felt weird not having to account for the extra bulk. There was some talk at PT of trying a new type of braces if the insurance would cover them. While he didn’t like the weight of the casts and braces, he was in favor of anything that got him to his ultimate goal of getting back out there sooner.