Chapter 13
Tim trudged down the stairs, pulling a shirt over his head as he went. He’d go for a run after he fed Mitzy. What the hell kind of name was that for a dog? Denise said she’d come with that name, but he had his doubts. He wouldn’t put it past her to name a dog Mitzy just to screw with him. He’d tried out other names, but so far none had stuck so he decided to call her “dog”—it wasn’t like he was keeping her forever anyway.
When he rounded the corner into his living room, the lady in question raised her head. Upon seeing him, she ambled to her feet and shuffled over. He’d never seen a dog shuffle before, but that was the only way he could think to describe it.
“Come on, girl, outside then I’ll get you some food.” He didn’t bother with a leash since she wasn’t going to wander off. Even if she did, as slow as she moved she wouldn’t get very far before he caught her. After clearing the back door, she walked exactly six steps into the grass, squatted, and returned to the house.
He filled one bowl with kibble and the other with fresh water. She lay down in front of her food, paws on either side of the bowl, and ate her breakfast.
Hands on his hips, he stared down at her. She paused long enough to look up at him as if to say “Don’t judge me” and went back to eating. Shaking his head, he laced up his running shoes and left out the front. Stretching his quadriceps, movement in his peripheral caught his attention and he glanced to his right.
Zoe appeared to be bouncing on a pogo stick on the far side of her car. It was almost as odd as seeing her stuck in a window. Almost.
It’s none of your business. Don’t get involved.Right. Telling himself that did not stop him from dropping his leg and crossing their yards to help her. Because he was nothing if not a glutton for punishment.
“What are you doing?” he asked as he rounded the back of her small SUV.
She shrieked and slipped off the tire iron she’d been bouncing on, tumbling to the ground.
“Oh, shit.” He crouched down next to her. “Are you okay? Is anything hurt?”
She groaned and sat up. “Just my pride. How do you always manage to find me in the most awkward situations?”
He grinned at her disgruntled tone. “How do you always manage to be in the most awkward situations when I find you?”
“I’m pretty sure they aren’t awkward until you show up.”
“I’m pretty sure getting stuck in a window was awkward before I showed up.”
If glares could kill, he would probably be a pile of ash. Chuckling, he helped her to her feet. “You good?”
“Yes.” She dusted off the seat of her pants. Shaking the curls out of her face, she twisted her hair up into some kind of precarious pile on top of her head and secured it with a clip.
A few loose curls escaped and his fingers itched to see if they were as soft as he remembered. “Lug nuts stuck?”
“No, I just enjoy jumping up and down on a tire iron at five in the morning.”
“Smart ass.” He looked down at the flatter than flat tire. “Looks like you hit a nail or something. Did you notice if it was low yesterday?”
“No, but I also didn’t check them when I got home.”
She had already pulled the spare and jack out of her car, so he crouched down next to the car, grabbed the tire iron and hefted on it. “Sucker is on there tight.”
“Would you like to try jumping on it?”
He grinned up at her. “Are you always this surly in the morning?”
She scrubbed her hands over her face. “Sorry. I’m not a very good morning person, especially when I’m stressed.”
“What are you stressed about?” He grunted and the nut finally gave. Turning the iron a few more times for good measure, he moved to the next one.
“The building inspector is coming by the bookstore this morning. I’m nervous we aren’t going to pass and if that happens, it’s going to cost more money I haven’t budgeted for and more time I haven’t accounted for.”
“Do you have a reason to think you won’t pass?” The next two nuts loosened with little effort.
“No. Linda assured me everything is good and in compliance, but it’s a big deal and it’s not something I can control so I’m freaking out about it.”
Finishing the final nut, he set the tire iron aside and grabbed the jack. Peering under the car, he placed it near the back support and raised the car.
