“I think he missed you,” Rafferty said.
“Jealous?” she asked.
He grunted, scratching behind the dog's ears.
“He was very well-behaved the whole time I worked with him. I like to see that with first-time clients,”the groomer, Connie, said.“He enjoyed his bath anddidn’tmind having his nails trimmed. These are all good signs that he will be a good client to work with as hegets older. I hope what happened today will not keep you from bringing him back again.”
“Itwasn’tyour fault that man came here to get him.As far asI’m concerned, you did everything right to prevent him from succeeding in taking him from me,” Justus said.“You called me. You called and worked with the police to apprehend the man. Wecan’tbe certain, but that man may have been out to stop me from testifying at trial against three men in September. And if it turns out to be thecasethen your establishment was as much a victim today as I was.”
“We’venever had anything like this happen beforeandI hope we never have it happen again,”Connie said, fidgeting with her stud earring. Her fingers slightly trembling as she did.
“Idoubt it will,”Rafferty said, trying to put her at ease. “I don’t think anyone will come back here again.
Justus went to the counter and settled her bill.“Since Idon’tknow how long it will take his hair togrow,I’llgive you a callwhen I need to reschedule.Is that okay?”
“Perfectly fine.”
“In the meantime, do you recommend a shampoo for in-between grooming appointments?”Justus asked.
“Our groomers use this,”the lady showed her a brandthat wason the shelf behind her.“We sell it to our customers if youare interested in purchasingtoday. Our petsreallylove it.”
Justus sniffed For All and said, “He smells really good.” Then she opened the flip-top and sniffed the shampoo. They smelled the same.“He does favor the fragrance. I like it.”
“Are you ready to go?”Rafferty asked, stepping to the other end of the counter to join her.
“In a moment. I’m trying to decide whether to buy For All some shampoo to use in between appointments for if he gets dirty when we take him out to play or we get caught in the rain with him,” she explained.
He noticed how she kept using the word we in the sentence. He still hadn’t gotten overthe way she hadheld his hand or looked him in the eye as if she were his girlfriend earlier. It had been as if it were the most natural thing for her.In fact,the last week had been so different from the first daythey’dmet he stillcouldn’tget over the three-sixty shift in her attitude toward him.
When he thought about it, it had all started after the meltdownshe’dhad over the bathing suit. He knew that his treatment of her whenhe’dfound her huddled in bed hadbeen the catalyst that made the difference in their relationship. In the end, it had made his life so much simpler. And he knew she seemed happier. They got alongwellnow. Almostlike they were friends.
But the wayshe’dheld his hand and looked into his eyes…it almost made him wonder if shehadn’tbeen buying into the moment. He knew he nearly found himself slipping into thatrealitywonderingwhat it might feel like if they crossed that invisible line.
No.
Impossible.
He was her protector. He wasbeing paidto keep her safe, not to fall for her. And yet…
“We also have a spray that the groomers use on the pets after their baths, itkeeps them smelling fresh longer. We sell that as well ifyou’dlike to add that to your purchase today,”the lady behind the counterwas tellingJustus.
“Does it smell the same as the shampoo?”she asked.
“It does.”
“Justus.”His tone was firm, but he hoped she got his meaning. Shedidn’tneed to fall for the sales gimmick.
Of course, she ignored him and bought the shampoo and sprayandthey were finally out the door and headed back to the condo. But Rafferty realized hedidn’twant to be alone with herjust yet. And if they went to thecondothat would be the result.
“What a morning,”she said, once settled in his car.
“You can say that again,”he agreedtryingto decide where to go instead of his place.He’dbeen putting off reaching out to Rawlins for fear of interrupting his progress with Chaney, but maybe now was the perfect time to give his brother a call.
“Ineed to make a call. Do you mind waiting while I do that?”heasked.
“No. Go ahead,” Justus said.
“I’llstart the car for you, so youdon’thave to sit in the heat.” After starting the engine and turning on the AC for her, hestepped away to make his phone call, hoping he got his brother on the line. The phone rang several times before Rawlins picked up the call.
