She hadn’t told Tami or anyone about having Grady’s phone. It was a secret pleasure for her, one that became a guiltyobsession.
Grady’s family texted numerous times a day, as well as a woman named Vanessa Ransom. From the frequency of her texts, she had to be someone who cared about him—maybe his realgirlfriend.
Linx slapped her forehead and forced herself to put the phone down and go through her paperwork. She had no right to worry about him with other women. She and Grady weren’t even friends, much less in any form of a relationship, and other than this one-sided connection or obsession she felt for him, there was nothing substantial to hold onto—other thanJessie.
She had a lot to do for the Gold Rush Festival, and she needed prepare the center for the horde of adoptions she hoped would follow the “picture pet” auction, but she couldn’t focus on it. Not when she was so concerned aboutGrady.
She updated the website with the biographies and personalities of the dogs and entered completed adoption applications into the database. Her eyes itched to go back to Grady’s phone, but sheresisted.
Three more applications to process. They were veterans and one mentioned that Grady had told him about an elderly bulldog needinglove.
Linx linked the application to Bob the Bulldog’s entry, and was about to update the stats showing someone was interested in the dog, when Grady’s phonerang.
A picture of an attractive black woman, Vanessa Ransom, popped onto the screen. She had long silky hair, just the way Grady appreciated in a woman. She also looked happy and perky, with a big wide smile and eyes sparkling with good humor—the product of a happy life, most likely with a loving and caringmother.
Before Linx knew what she was doing, she swiped to answer. “Hello? Grady Hart’sphone.”
“Who’s this?” The woman soundedsurprised.
There was an unmistakable quaver in her voice that showed she might be more than a little bit interested in Grady and she wondered what another woman was doing answering hisphone.
“I’m Linx Colson. Grady’s not available rightnow.”
She was evil, making it sound as if Grady were in the shower after a hot round of morning wake-up sex. But why not? The woman had been textingnonstop.
“Oh…” Vanessa sounded disappointed. “LinxColson.”
“What can I do for you?” Linx turned the screw another notch. “Shall I tell him youcalled?”
“He hasn’t returned any of my text messages, and now it might be too late,” Vanessa said. “Maybe you can helpme.”
“Me?How?”
This was unexpected. Linx thought Vanessa would hang up now that she had confirmation Grady was seeing anotherwoman.
“Grady got Sam from your rescue center, am I correct?” Vanessaasked.
“Uh, yes, has something happened to Sam?” Linx’s attention shifted from one-upping this attractive woman friend of Grady’s to concern about thedog.
“He bit a friend of the veteran Grady placed him with, and I need to return him. The friend agreed not to press charges. Grady was supposed to come fetch him. As I recall, your rescue organization will take back any animal who doesn’t fit in after a trialperiod.”
“Of course, we’ll take him back.” Linx blinked and pushed herself up from her desk, startling Cedar who wandered to the kitchen where Ginger was napping. “I’ll pick him up from yourplace.”
She might as well check out the competition. This Vanessa chick sounded reasonable and levelheaded. She hadn’t even gone hysterical and demanded to know why Linx picked up Grady’sphone.
“Actually, I’m on my way over,” Vanessa said. “I have a few clients I’m visiting out your way, so I figure I might as well drop Sam off. Also, I’d like to pick up a few more dogs. Tami approved myapplication.”
“Sure, I’m at the center. Which dogs?” Linx was thankful Tami had kept things going while she was having her multiplecrises.
“It’s in the email I sent you this morning,” Vanessa said. “Can you tell Grady I’m on my way? I’m a little worried about him. I’m about twenty minutes from Colson’sCorner.”
“Sure, yes, of course,” Linx said, not wanting to admit that she also hadn’t heard from him. “One more thing. Call me on my direct line. It’ll be easier thatway.”
They exchanged numbers and hungup.
Her heart pounding and hands sweaty, Linx went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Little Ginger lifted her head from the blanket she was on and pushed up on her hind legs, wagging the tip of hertail.
“Oh, you sweet little thing,” Linx crooned. “You’re trying towalk.”
