A crease formed between Hazel’s eyebrows.“What’s wrong?”
“Lily Nelson is bringing Rocko in,” I explained.
“I thought you’d already fulfilled your auction commitment,” Hazel said.
“He did.”Nora spoke to her computer monitor without pausing in her work.“I clarified that she’d be paying for this one.”
Nora’s undertones of irritation were obvious in the appointment notes.Owner stated a need for appointment due to obedience issues.It was made clear to owner that we do not offer obedience training.Owner remained insistent to keep appointment as scheduled.Owner wasre-emailed a list of American Kennel Club certified obedience trainers in the area.
In October, the clinic had thrown a bachelor auction to raise money for the local humane society.Instead of selling dates, the men of the town sold our trades.Ihad offered three free vet visits.As soon as betting began, Lily started bidding aggressively.In the moment, I was having a good time, and I didn’t think anything of it.Until, for weeks afterward, Lily and I were a source of gossip.The folks of Grand Ridge loved to murmur about their neighbors.I would think they were out of line if Lily hadhada pet when she’d bought my vet package.
By the time of her first appointment, she’d adopted a year and a half old Mastiff-Lab mix with behavioral issues: Rocko.
Anytime I was near them, I wasn’t sure who I pitied more, her or Rocko.
He was hyper and gigantic.Poor Lily had been dragged through multiple snowbanks.
I felt bad for her, really.But her advances toward me were growing as aggressive as her auction bidding had been and turning her down was getting embarrassing.Lily was great in a lot of ways.She had a good job.She was beautiful—big gray eyes; full, pouty mouth; tall; curvy.We were both single and similar ages.When I had first moved to Grand Ridge, I’d considered starting a casual friends-with-benefits thing with her.But the town didn’t really do casual: a first date was a near-marriage proposal.
Since moving here, my dating life had gone pretty dry.A far cry from my time in Phoenix.
“We’re just going over obedience again?”I asked, not expecting anyone to have an answer.
Hazel sucked her lips between her teeth.
Glancing over her shoulder, Nora said, “You know, the scrubs might put an end to whatever it is she has planned.”
“You think so?”I grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled it away from my body to get a better, and unnecessary, look.“They’re just scrubs.”
“If anything could, it’s them.”
Chapter Three
Alicia
Therewasnotawhole lot to do in early February in a town this size, especially having a thirty-pound cocker spaniel in tow.My options were limited.But I was starving and there wasn’t any food at my place.I couldn’t leave Furgie alone; her symptoms hadn’t gotten worse, but they hadn’t gotten better.
Sadie and I had Googled giving Furgie an over-the-counter medication.It turned out that I could, but also couldn’t, and also probably don’t.
Then we talked about how much we missed each other already, until the crushed granola bar I’d found at the bottom of my purse stopped keeping my ravenous hunger at bay.There were two possible places that I might be able to get food and bring Furgie, a rustically trendy bar and an eclectically trendy coffee shop.
If both failed me, I would have to do a drive-through.But I really wanted to meet a Grand Ridge person.
Parking my SUV outside of Country Grounds Café, I took hold of the leash.The cold snapped at my cheekbones as we rushed to the front door.The warm air just inside smelled of espresso and baked goods—I sent up a silent prayer that they wouldn’t tell me to get my dog out of there and kick dirt.Or snow, I guess.
“Hi,” a woman even taller than me called from behind the counter.
Gesturing to the leash around my wrist, I asked, “Is it okay for me to have her here?”
“Of course.”The smile on her face was as wide and welcoming as the decor of her place.There were used mugs stacked in a bin on top of the trash can, but I was the only customer at the moment.There were shelves on the wall with knickknacks for sale.And two loveseats facing a shared coffee table.On the far back wall was a huge poster of a floral meadow with a poorly photo-shopped crystal blue unicorn rearing.The café’s name was at the top, and under the hooves it read,Our grounds are magic.
I was charmed.
She hooked her arm, welcoming me in.“What can I help you with?”
“I just moved in, and I don’t have any food at my place.Are you serving your sandwiches?”
“It’s not the full menu that we have during summer, but I have a couple I can do.I have soup too.”
