She startled just as Bella moved in front of her. Evie nearly tripped over her leash.
“Whoa.” Bryson wrapped his arm around her middle to steady her. “You okay?”
She nodded. “I’m good.” She stepped out of his embrace, but the sensation of his palm against her waist lingered.
They approached the entrance to Audubon Park, across from Tulane University.
“Can we grab a seat for a bit?” Bryson asked. “Bella’s walking slow, which means she needs to rest.”
Evie glanced down at his dog. “How old is she?”
“My best guess is between ten and twelve, but I can’t be sure. She was brought in for a surgery and her owner never came back to pick her up.” They walked over to Gumbel Fountain and took a seat on one of the benches that circled the bronze sculpture and its surrounding pool of water. “It wasn’t the first time it had happened, but there was something about Bells that just wouldn’t allow me to leave the hospital without her.”
“Does she realize how lucky she is to have the world-renowned veterinary surgeon Bryson Mitchell as her rescuer?”
“She couldn’t give two shits,” Bryson said with a laugh. “As long as I keep her supplied in T-R-E-A-T-S, she’s good.”
Evie laughed. “I’m pretty sure Waffles would join Pennywise in the sewer if he was holding a bacon-flavored Milk-Bone instead of a balloon.”
“You mind if Bells sits up here with us?” Bryson asked,lifting the papillon from the ground and placing her on the bench between them. Bella immediately curled up and closed her eyes.
“Let’s see if this one will sit still for a few minutes,” Evie said.
Just as she reached down for Waffles, a squirrel ran down the trunk of one of the huge oak trees surrounding the fountain area and darted in front of them.
Waffles bolted, yanking his leash from her grip.
“Waffles!” Evie yelled. “Get back here.”
“Shit. I’ll get him,” Bryson said.
Evie watched in fascinated horror as Bryson chased after Waffles and the squirrel. Her dog tore through the flower beds, kicking up dirt in his wake. She looked around to make sure there were no police or park employees. This dog was going to get her banned from one of her favorite spots in the city.
“Stop!” Bryson called.
He tried to catch the leash that still trailed behind the dog, but Waffles was too fast. Bryson nearly slipped and Evie was appalled by the giggle that escaped.
This wasnotfunny. Except that it was. At least a little.
The squirrel zipped out of the flower bed and headed for the fountain.
Oh shit! No!
“Waffles don’t!” she called.
But he did.
With a leap, Waffles dove into the shallow pool, splashing water everywhere. He ran to the center of the fountain where the squirrel had climbed onto the bronze sculpture.
Waffles’s barking had attracted the attention of several park-goers. Evie could feel her face heating with embarrassment.
Bryson clapped his hands and, in a stern voice, said, “Waffles. Come.”
Waffles ignored him.
“I can’t believe this,” Evie said underneath her breath. She started for the fountain, then stopped when Bryson climbed into the water and snatched up her dog, who continued to bark at the poor squirrel. He held the sopping-wet Waffles at arm’s length as he walked back to the bench.
“Might I suggest dog training. Maybe then he will listen to commands,” Bryson said.
