“It's a pleasure to meet you, Josie,” Mason says, sitting down next to Poppy and extending his hand for Jose to shake. “I was just telling my brother that you have to be new in town, 'cause I would definitely remember a pretty face like yours.”
Instead of giggling at the compliment, Josie's eyes narrow slightly, and she looks from Mason to me, almost as if she thinks I put him up to this.
“Technically,” Josie starts as I reluctantly sit down in the booth next to her. “I've actually been coming to Silver Ridge since I was a kid. My aunt lived here for some time.”
“Well, in that case, I am very sorry our paths have never crossed before,” Mason says. “Though I am not in town very often these days. Unlike my brother, who I'm sure you have met before.”
“Yes, I have met Dr. Harris before. I've seen him a lot actually in my short time in town.”
“You must have a lot of animals then,” Mason continues, acting like he is clueless.
“I do,” Josie says but doesn't offer any further explanation. She picks up her glass and takes a small sip.
“Josie also has horses,” Poppy says. “It's tragic really, her aunt—bless her heart—passed away recently and left an entire horse rescue to Josie.”
“Shit, I'm sorry to hear that,” Mason tells her.
“Thanks,” Josie says just to be polite. She takes another small sip of her drink and inhales slowly as she turns to me. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to look at her breasts. “Pongo seems to be doing better.”
“He does,” I agree. “He's really fighting.”
Josie's expression softens and she smiles. “Thanks for taking such good care of him.”
“I haven't seen a horse with that much will to live in a while,” I tell her. “I think he knows what he's fighting for: a good life with people who will take care of him.”
Josie's smile widens and she looks into my eyes. She's so fucking beautiful, and, for a split second, I forget that Mason and Poppy are at the table with us. And, for a split second, I think Josie does too.
“So, is this your way of saying you do think I'm capable of running the rescue?” The smile slowly fades from her face as she looks into my eyes, waiting for my answer.
“Wait, what?” Poppy asks, and I internally groan. Along with not sleeping with clients, I have an even stricter role of not getting involved in drama with my clients. I know how people in small towns talk, and I have been careful in my years of practicing veterinary medicine not to be the subject of gossip.
“Dr. Harris doesn't think I'm capable of running the rescue,” Josie calmly explains to Poppy.
Right when I think I can like Josie, she irritates the shit out of me all over again. “I never said you weren't capable,” I say slowly. “I offered to help you find homes for the horses in case it ends up being more than you anticipated.”
“Right, because I can't handle it,” Josie goes on.
“Look,” I start, holding up my hands. I want to bury this subject and never bring it up in the company of others ever again. “I know many people start animal rescues with good intentions but quickly get overwhelmed. My clinic has taken in quite a few animals from situations like this. It's never the fault of the person trying to help, but the cold hard truth of animal rescuing. It's time-consuming, physically demanding, emotionally taxing, and really expensive.”
“Way to be optimistic,” Mason grumbles, taking another drink of his beer and leaning in closer to Poppy. “Though, I have to agree with my brother here. The world is almost set up to work against people who wear their hearts on their sleeves. I've seen it in my line of work a time or two before as well.”
“Very true,” Poppy says, angling her body so she's practically leaning against Mason now. Not wanting to get into a debate about this, I consider pulling my phone out of my pocket and acting like I got called away to an emergency. There is a time and a place for us to privately discuss how capable Josie actually is, and this is not it.
Before I have to fake a phone call, Mr. Baker and his newest wife walk by the table and say hello. They have five toy poodles and are at the vet at least twice a month with some sort of issue that turns out to be nothing. It's gotten to the point where I feel bad for charging them for office visits, but the newest Mrs. Baker says she isn't good with dogs and would rather be safe than sorry. Of course, I agree, but dogs sneeze occasionally the same way that humans sneeze occasionally. It doesn't mean we're sick.