“Just let it go, Bash.”
“How many times?”
She sighs. “It’s happened once or twice. It’s just something that comes with volunteering sometimes. But there’s no way I’mgoing to let anyone ruin it for the people who really need help. Guys like him are few and far between.”
I clench my jaw. “This isn’t right.”
“It’s really no biggie.”
I shake my head. “No biggie?No biggie?Romilly, you have no idea what some men are capable of.”
My words invoke a strange reaction in her. Something plays behind her eyes, something I can’t see. It’s as if she completely gets lost in her thoughts for a moment. The openness in her expression dims, like a light being shut off. I know that look, because I’ve caused it before. Not to her, but other women, past flirtations that barely had a chance to form before I shut them down.
Someone hurt her. Someone broke her heart.
My thoughts are confirmed the moment she says, “Believe me. I know exactly what men are capable of.”
“I only meant?—”
“And I know I said yesterday that I’d be at your sister’s brunch, but I can’t make it. I’m sorry.”
No.“Wait…please don’t cancel. This brunch is a big deal to my sister.”
She barely looks at me. “Bash…”
“Please.” I take her hand. It’s meant to be friendly, comforting, but the moment our fingers come together, a pleasant tingle races through my spine. I swipe my thumb across her palm.“Please.”
She takes an unsteady breath and looks up at me. She looks like she’s fighting for control, like the ease in which she usually wears her polite smile has dissipated.
I can’t help but wonder if she feels it too, this connection between us forming, taking root and growing quicker than I can comprehend.
She takes her hand out of mine. “I’ll think about it and let you know soon.”
I nod, because I have a feeling if I ask again, she’ll give me a final no.
We complete the rest of our workday in mostly silence. Romilly is swamped with dogs, thanks to her mission to raise her rating. She barely takes a break from grooming to drink water, let alone eat. I haven’t seen her eat a thing, in fact, and after five hours it’s alarming.
She sways a bit on her feet as she grooms a large Bernadoodle. It tugs against its restraints as she shaves its underside, pulling her right along with it. I glance around the pet salon. The floors are swept, all the dogs that needed washing are clean, dried, and have gotten their claws trimmed by yours truly.
There’s nothing left for me to do, and plenty Romilly still needs to get done. She has four dogs waiting for her in their comfy, assigned kennels. That’s another eight hours of work for her, at least. I don’t know how she’ll accomplish it. But then again…I’ve doubted her before. Still, I just wish she’d eat something.
And then an idea takes hold of me.
“I’m going to step out for a moment,” I say.
She smiles brightly as if she hasn’t been on her feet all morning and afternoon. “Of course. Take all the time you need.”
If only she followed her own advice.
I make for the reception area and find Romilly’s phone face down on the desk. “Please don’t have a password,” I mutter, unlocking the screen.
Sure enough, I have access to her entire phone the moment I turn it on.Romilly, luv, you are far too trusting in humanity.
I find the number in her contacts I’m looking for and send a quick message from my own phone.
Me
What’s Romilly’s favorite food?
