Caleb and Hamilton stepped inside.
She paused in front of him, noting how his cheeks were red from the cold, how his light-brown hair appeared tussled.
But it was his eyes that really caught her attention. They looked . . . worried.
He seemed like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. It was that same expression he’d worn throughout their relationship—whenever a friend needed help, whenever someone at work had a crisis, whenever his dog had so much as a limp. He’d try to fix it all himself, carry every burden, shoulder every responsibility.
She used to tell him he couldn’t save everyone. He’d never listened.
Biscuit wagged his nub at Hamilton, and Hamilton copied the motion.
She took a deep breath before asking, “Any word on the license plate?”
He shook his head. “No, not yet.”
Disappointment pressed on her. She knew these things took time. She was simply anxious for answers, anxious to know if Garrick might be behind this.
One thing was for sure—she needed something to do instead of sitting around thinking about things.
She looked back up at Caleb. “Listen, I like to stay busy. Is there anything I can help with around here? Maybe the dogs?”
He glanced at her, surprise flickering across his face. “Help how?”
“I worked as a kennel assistant at a vet clinic for a while when I was in college. Cleaning, feeding, handling. I know how to do all those things. And animals usually love me.”
Caleb studied her, not necessarily skeptical but measured.
Finally, he nodded. “All right. If you want to. We could always use a hand.”
Relief slid through her, quick and unexpected. “Perfect.”
“Grab a coat. It’s cold out there.”
She turned back toward the stairs, hurried to get her jacket, and then raced back down. Biscuit remained at her heels the whole time.
The dog started to follow her to the door when she paused. “Biscuit, stay.”
Biscuit tilted his head, as if considering her directive and whether or not to obey.
“I’ll be back,” she told him. “You stay. Understand?”
His nub wiggled back and forth as she slipped on her coat.
She wished she could take him, but it was better if he stayed here. Having him go into the kennel with her might set the otherdogs off. But the dog was attached to her—and she was attached to him.
Going anywhere without him felt like leaving part of herself behind.
As she looked down at his puppy dog eyes, she already missed him. He was one of the driving reasons she’d left. Not only to protect her own life, but to protect his.
chapter
eleven
Caleb watchedas Millie paused at the kennel entrance.
She stood there a moment, taking everything in.
Dogs barked in uneven bursts, some excited, some cautious. Nails clicked against concrete. A bowl clattered as one dog shifted it with a paw.
