“I have to say, I’m a little surprised to see you two spending so much time together.” Was it simply curiosity? Cliff’s tone was neutral, impossible to read. Or was there a warning there?
“Yeah, me, too.” He shuffled his feet. “It’s complicated.”
Nothing had ever been simple about Abbie Bennington, except the way he felt about her.
Chapter 11
Abbie
“C’mon, Gibbs.” Abbie stood holding the door open at the local vet clinic. Her behemoth of a dog had firmly planted his bottom on the ground, making himself as unmovable as the sidewalk.
Despite his hefty size, Gibbs was usually an easygoing dog—except when a trip to the vet was involved. “They have treats inside.” Gibbs gave her a side glance that spoke of mild interest, but nothing to promise he could be persuaded with mere dental chews.
Abbie muttered under her breath, wishing she’d brought her mom along. She wasn’t sure what she put in those homemade peanut butter treats, but it was surely something magic. She could use their miracle-working abilities right about now.
“I’ll let you sleep on the couch whenever you want,” she tried again, but Gibbs didn’t move. Probably had no clue what luxury she offered him, if his indifferent groan was any indication.
Letting the door fall closed, she tried another tactic. Crouching behind her dog, she shoved with all her might. Though the effort felt a little like moving a concrete barrier, she did manage to nudge him to all fours. Before Gibbs could plop down on her again, she straddled him. Both arms wrapped around his large frame, and with her entire body, she encouraged him toward the door.
She had only a brief moment to consider how embarrassing a sight she must’ve been when she heard that deep, rumbling laugh behind her. Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she couldn’t stop her forward progress. If Gibbs quit shuffling his feet, they might not move again.
“Allow me to get the door.”
Resisting the urge to fire a retort, she shoved Gibbs toward the entrance. If she said something stupid, she might lose the help she was lucky enough to happen on. Even if it was from Logan.
The furry bear put up quite the fight, but between the two of them, they managed to contain stray legs when his paws pushed against the door frame, and ushered him inside before he could make any real escape attempt.
“I’ve heard about dogs not liking the vet, but this is something else.” Logan chuckled, that twinkle in his eye causing her heart to skip a couple beats.
She hated to admit how much she’d missed it. How much she had started to look forward to seeing it.He’ll be gone at the end of the week.
“I think it’ll be house calls after this.” She checked them in, then managed by some miracle to convince Gibbs to follow her to a seat in the corner. It didn’t stop him from trying to crawl into the chair with her. She relented, and hugged the upper half he dropped in her lap. He wore the most pitiful look she’d ever seen.
It hadn’t occurred to her to ask why Logan was here. Or why he didn’t follow her to a seat. Her nerves tingled with a mixture of realization and terror at how easily they fell back into completely normal moments. If only he wouldn’t leave this time, maybe they’d have a real chance. But Logan giving up the rodeo to stay with her was as impossible as roping the moon.
“I’ll bring him in.” Logan nodded in response to something the receptionist had said to him, then turned toward the door. She could only assume he’d picked up Gus, and wondered how much extra tension the kind gesture caused between him and his grandpa. Gerald worked long days between the auto body shop and the cement factory and likely didn’t even know his dog was gone for a checkup.
A few minutes later, Logan reappeared. Her eyes traveled immediately to the floor in search of Gus, but she didn’t see him until she lifted her gaze to Logan’s arms.
Fear clutched her chest. She’d noticed Gus becoming more lethargic, but this was something more. Unlike Gibbs, Gus was usually excited to come to the vet. But his enthusiasm was limited now to a couple weak tail wags.
“What’s wrong with Gus?” she asked Logan when he took a seat across from her.
The twinkle in his eyes from before was gone now, replaced with concern. “Not sure, but whatever it is, I think he might be in pain. He only gets up when he absolutely has to.” Logan let out a defeated sigh. “I’m just hoping it’s something they can take care of.”
She hoped so, too, but words lodged in her throat. Memories of Gus joining them on adventures in the country flashed through her mind. The once energetic, happy dog seemed gone, and a stranger in his place. “How old is he now?”
“Suppose he’s about twelve or thirteen.”
Old. But notthatold. She hugged Gibbs tighter. They’d been a part of each other’s lives just short of a year, but she couldn’t imagine what life would become without him.
Logan stroked the sleepy shepherd in his lap. It appeared Gus had lost a little weight too. “What’s Gibbs in for?” Logan asked.
“Just a checkup and a couple shots.” Before she could ask what he might do if Gus needed an operation, the receptionist called Gibbs’s name.
Removing the clinging dog from her lap, she managed to get to her feet. “Let me know about Gus, okay?”
Logan nodded, trying to smile but failing. Against all rational thought when it came to keeping her distance, she set a hand on his shoulder. “It’ll be okay. Let me know if you need anything.”
