Matt looked at the border collie. “I think that’s Carol’s department, but with the white stripe between his eyes, he looks like a Bandit to me.”
“Bandit,” Lynda repeated, nodding. “It suits him. I’ll see you here tomorrow.”
“That sounds great.”
After she left, Matt finished examining the dog and then moved him to a clean kennel with fresh water and food. By the time Carol arrived, he’d updated the intake forms and was ready to head to his regular clinic.
“You’ve worked miracles again,” Carol said, looking at the now-calm border collie. “When they brought him in yesterday, he snapped at anyone who came near.”
“I can’t take much credit this time,” Matt admitted. “Lynda was here earlier and worked her magic.”
Carol raised an eyebrow. “Lynda has that effect on most creatures. Including certain veterinarians I could mention.”
Matt cleared his throat. “It’s too early in the morning for matchmaking.” Carol had been trying to set him up with various women since he’d started volunteering at the animal shelter. “We’re colleagues. She’s just helping out at the shelter while she’s visiting.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Carol didn’t look as though she believed him. “That ‘visit’ has stretched to three months.”
Matt shrugged, packing up his supplies. “It’s not my business how long she stays.”
Though if he was being honest, he’d noticed Lynda’s continued presence in Sapphire Bay with more interest than he wanted to admit. When she’d first started volunteering at the shelter, he’d assumed she’d be gone in a week or two. But weeks had turned into months, and he’d found himself looking forward to the days when they were working together.
“Whatever you say,” Carol said, mercifully dropping the subject. “Thanks for coming in early. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Happy to help,” Matt replied. “I’ll see you this afternoon for the vaccination clinic.”
He drove the short distance to his small veterinary practice on Main Street, smiling at the memory of Lynda sitting on thefloor, patiently winning over the scared border collie. Then he frowned, shaking his head as if to clear it.
There was something about her that intrigued him. It could have been the quiet confidence in the way she handled animals, the no-nonsense approach that never came across as harsh, or the intelligence in her blue eyes when she discussed treatment options.
He hadn’t thought about dating anyone since Maria died fifteen years ago. After the cancer took her, he’d thrown himself into raising their daughter, Stephanie, and building a successful vet practice. Between work and being a single dad, there hadn’t been time for romance, and honestly, he hadn’t missed it. No woman could compare to Maria anyway—that’s what he’d told himself for years.
But Stephanie was grown now, with children of her own in Missoula. His practice ran smoothly with a small but dedicated staff. But sometimes, in the evenings when he returned to his empty house by the lake, he felt the silence pressing in on him.
“Get it together, Reynolds,” he muttered to himself as he pulled into his parking spot behind the clinic. “She’s a Denver vet temporarily helping out. That’s it.”
Brenda, his receptionist, was unlocking the front door as he approached.
“Morning, Doc,” she greeted him cheerfully. “How’s our highway stray doing?”
“Better,” Matt replied, following her inside. “I think we’ll call him Bandit. He’s settled down now.”
“Good. Oh, and Mrs. Landry called. Her cat threw up twice this morning, and she’s convinced it’s something serious.”
Matt smiled, hanging up his jacket. “Schedule her for an appointment. It’s probably just another hairball, but you know Mrs. Landry.”
As he headed to his office, he tried to push thoughts of Lynda out of his mind. Even as he prepared for his first appointment, he realized he was looking forward to going back to the shelter. Somehow, Lynda made even the most routine tasks enjoyable.
He caught where his thoughts were going and sighed. This was ridiculous. He was sixty-eight years old, for heaven’s sake, not some lovesick teenager.
“Dr. Reynolds? Your first patient is here,” Brenda called through the door.
“Coming,” he replied, grateful for the interruption.
Whatever this strange attraction was, he needed to get over it. Fast. The last thing he needed was to develop feelings for a woman who was just passing through Sapphire Bay—and his life.
CHAPTER 3
Lynda carefully arranged the last book on the new display, stepping back to assess her work. Isabel had been given a great selection of animal books—everything from basic pet care to more specialized texts on wildlife rehabilitation and exotic animals. Lynda had organized them by subject, making sure the books aimed at children were placed on the bottom shelf.
