High Heat (Hotshots 2) - Page 6
Chapter Two
“Perfect?” Garrick echoed Rain, only with a lot more skepticism. He wasn’t sure which set of pleading big brown eyes was worse, Cookie’s or Rain’s.
“Yes. She likes you. And you don’t have any other pets, right? No one else to ask permission from? It’s perfect.”
“Sure, no other pets and I live alone, but she’s scared of me.”
“Oh, at first, maybe.” Rain waved this concern away with a flick of his long elegant fingers.
“She’s a sweetie,” the vet added, nodding along. “A few more biscuits and head scratches, and she’ll be your new best friend. A lot of dogs are skittish around wheelchairs at first, but then they warm up.”
“Maybe so, and I’m not unsympathetic to her situation.” He really wasn’t, and the old him would have likely given in to the twin set of puppy-dog eyes directed his way. “However, in case you didn’t notice, I’m kinda...mobility impaired these days. And unlike Shirley’s, my backyard is hardly suitable for a dog.”
“I have an answer for that.” Rain held up a hand, stopping Garrick’s list of reasons why this was a bad idea.
“Somehow I’m not surprised.”
“As good as she listens, I’m going to bet she’s at least somewhat housebroken. I can come walk her twice a day. And help you dog-proof today. I’ll give you my cell—you can call if she has an accident or spills water or something and you need me.”
“I’m not sure—”
“I’d take the bet on her being housebroken,” the vet said, voice as coaxing as Rain’s. “I can have Lydia give you a bag of kibble to get started, and I’ll prorate our services for the wound cleanup.”
“Just until the owner is found?” Neck muscles tensing, Garrick already knew he was beat.
“Yup.” Rain nodded like the Blazers bobblehead Garrick kept in the truck he hadn’t driven in months.
“Only the weekend,” Garrick allowed. “And we’ll try hard to find her owners or a more permanent place for her.”
“Deal.” Rain grinned widely, and damn, that was the kind of smile that Garrick would promise a heck of a lot more than canine babysitting for. Warmth spread across Garrick’s chest as Rain continued, “What do you say we find the pet store?”
“Ha.” Garrick had to laugh again at his big city assumptions. “We don’t even have any of the big box stores in town. But the feed store will have food and stuff.”
“Good. And maybe a bed—”
“The weekend. Only,” Garrick reminded him.
“Sounds like we have a plan.” The vet hustled them to the front before Garrick could offer more protests. He paid the nominal fee while the vet tech presented him with meds and a small sack of kibble. Judging by how hungry Cookie looked, he figured that wouldn’t last more than a feeding or two.
“Add more chow to the list,” he told Rain on the way to the car. “Same brand if possible. We don’t want to overly shock her system.”
“You know dogs?” As before, Rain hung back, letting Garrick transfer himself to the car before taking care of loading up the wheelchair and dog.
“Oh yeah. Like I said, my friends have a trio now. And growing up, we had a sweet little terrier with a fickle stomach. Mom took her in the divorce.” The memory made his stomach churn, even all these years later. “Then Dad got a cranky beagle who ate like a goat.” That memory was easier, and he made himself laugh, keep his voice light. Rain didn’t need to hear about his family drama. “Now he’s got two old grumpy farm dogs who tolerate horses far better than humans or other dogs. I’m not an expert or anything, but I’ve been around them plenty.”
“Good. A lot of people get scared of big black dogs like her. I don’t get it, but I’ve seen people cross the street to avoid certain breeds.”
“Like your grandma. But before you go pleading Cookie’s case to me again, I’m sure there’s a home somewhere out there for her.” Not Garrick. He couldn’t afford the distraction of a permanent pet, not when he needed all his focus for his recovery, and not when he wasn’t sure what kind of life he could provide himself, let alone an animal.
“Fair enough.” Rain sounded neither convinced nor like he was going to drop the subject more than temporarily. “Now, tell me how to get to this farm store place.”
Garrick gave the directions to the feed store a couple of blocks over. As Rain drove, Garrick fished out his wallet, emptied his cash. “Tell you what. Cookie and I will wait in the car. You’ve got a sixty-eight dollar budget to get her set for the weekend.”
“That might be enough for chow and a cheap bed,” Rain said happily, almost dancing in his seat, and damn if making him happy wasn’t fun and worth parting with the money.
Source: readsnovelonline.net