I hadn’t been this frustrated and fidgeting since I was in high school. What was wrong with me? I grabbed the coffee to use as a prop and headed inside. The same girl was behind the desk and I could tell by the look on her face she remembered me as well.
With the sexiest smile I could muster, I leaned over the counter. “Good morning. Maybe you remember me.”
“You can’t forget a man who injures an animal.”
This wasn’t going to be easy. “I honestly didn’t mean to. The dog ran out in the road.”
She lifted her head, but the gaze didn’t change. She was furious I was still breathing. As I was certain the mystery woman would be.
“I assume the charges were placed on my card.”
“Yes, they were. I made certain of it. Although not the charges I was hoping for.”
Everyone was a comedian.
Why did I have feeling she’d charged every other one of the day’s invoices onto my card as well? “Excellent. By the way. You wouldn’t happen to know her name, would you? The woman who came in with Indiana, I mean.”
“We’re not allowed to give out any information. There are rules against doing so. There are nutcases everywhere in this world.”
I allowed a smile and leaned further over. “Yes, you are correct about that, Lauren.” I’d taken a quick glance at her nametag. “However, in this instance I simply wanted to send Indiana a get well soon gift. Call it a gesture of good will for my part in the horrible accident.”
She backed away as if I’d frightened her. Maybe I had. Maybe I didn’t mind doing so. “You’ll need to ask her yourself.”
Wow. Now I was getting frustrated. “If I knew her name, I’d be happy to do that, but since I don’t, I can’t. Can I?”
“She’s still here.”
“What do you mean she’s still here?”
“Just what I’m telling you. She never left last night, insistent on staying with Indiana. Good dog moms do that. Anyone who cares about an animal does that.”
The girl obviously didn’t know she was antagonizing someone who could make a single phone call and easily destroy her life.
Down, boy. Down. You’re not here to fight.
For once my conscience had awakened. What a nice change. “Where is she?”
“She’s in the back.”
“Thank you very much.” I headed for the door where I’d taken Indiana.
“Sir, you can’t go in there.”
I stopped just before heading inside. “I can do anything I want.” I winked and walked in, shocking the people standing in the back. I scanned the room quickly, finding Indiana’s mama dog sitting on the floor with her back against a cage. Inside was Indiana.
Her eyes were closed, her hand inside touching him. Even in her quiet state, she appeared distraught. And still very beautiful. Hair had slipped from her ponytail, her long legs crossed at her ankles. She quite literally took my breath away.
Fortunately for those in the room, they didn’t try to stop me.
As soon as I approached, Indiana lifted his head, flicking his tail against the bars. He looked so sad, but his eyes were much brighter than they’d been the afternoon before. Since she didn’t move, I had to assume she was asleep. I placed my finger over my lips, hoping he understood I was telling him to be quiet.
Without hesitating, I sat down next to her, keeping just enough of a distance between us so as to not awaken her.
Sleeping beauty.
Her nose wrinkled a few seconds later and her long eyelashes skimmed across her cheeks just before she opened her eyes. Yawning, she stretched slightly, her hand accidentally touching me. The realization someone had crowded her space startled her and she snapped her head toward me.
Even in a sleepy haze, recognition was almost instantaneous. Now those lovely eyes flecked with gold opened wide. “What are you doing here?” Her gaze fell to the cup in my hand, her tongue involuntarily darting out to touch her bottom lip.
