“Of course. Said he didn’t want to put her in the kennel by herself while the other two dogs were roaming around.”
“Oh.” Bree tried to wrap her head around everything Carol had said. “Uh, you’ll need to fill out an adoption application. She needs to be spayed and brought up-to-date on her shots.”
Carol’s eyebrows rose and she looked hopeful. “Is there a way I can keep her until she’s officially ready to be adopted?”
Bree smiled. “I think we can probably arrange something. Is he busy?” She tilted her head toward Jase’s office.
“Nope. Let me buzz him and tell him you’re here.” Carol picked up the phone and pushed a couple of buttons. “Jase, someone here to see you.”
Less than ten seconds later, Jase opened the door to his office and strode toward Bree. He grabbed her close and bent her over the arm he banded around her upper back. The kiss was hard and open-mouthed. She forgot they had an audience. She sank into the kiss, oblivious to everything. He finally pulled away. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
He stood her up and grabbed her hand. “Thanks, Ms. Carol.” Bree smiled and waved over her shoulder as Jase dragged her into his office.
“You brought the foster with you.”
He closed the door behind her and backed her up against the wall. “She was whining when I put her in the cage. It broke my heart so I brought her into the office. Charlie and Polly were curled up on their beds when I left.”
“Softy.”
“Sue me. You left me asleep on your couch.”
“You were sleeping hard. I didn’t want to wake you. You haven’t been getting much sleep the last few days.”
“What did I say about waking me up?”
Bree rolled her eyes. “I didn’t have time to get creative on my way out the door.”
Jase shook his head at her. “Wake me up before you leave. For whatever reason you’re leaving.”
“Bossy.”
“Yup.” He didn’t even try to deny it.
Bree rolled her eyes again and changed the subject. “Why do you call her Ms. Carol?”
Jase stared for several heartbeats before placing a kiss on the sensitive skin just below her ear. He pushed away from the wall and sat behind this desk.
“I’ve always called her Ms. Carol. Ever since I was five.”
“You’ve known her that long?” She inhaled sharply, connecting the dots. “She’s Tony’s mom.”
Jase looked up from his computer. “Yeah. When I started V.E.T. Adventures, I needed help. She was retired and offered to help me get started.”
“And never left.”
“I don’t think I could get her to re-retire even if I wanted to. I need to finish up some emails before I’m ready to leave. You good with waiting?”
“I don’t have anywhere else to be. I was going to go letRubyout, but that’s been taken care of.”
“Yeah. I don’t think you’re getting that dog back.”
“I’m good with that.” Bree wandered around Jase’s office. The large L-shaped desk took up the far corner. The computer sat on the long side of the L, leaving the short end, facing two tan arm chairs, open. Pictures and ubiquitous military plaques hung on the walls. One picture was of the ribbon-cutting for V.E.T. Adventures. “Are you a 501c?”
“Yes. One of those things Carol helped with.”
“How do you get your funding?”
