Chapter 1
Emma
It's been an hour past closing time in Furrylicious and one of my sisters, Luna, is still hanging around. I like to spend some quiet time in my area of the store after everyone has left . I'm the head groomer and have two people under me who are training for a permanent spot.
Right now I'm doing a second pass on the equipment, tables and everything that has to do with my side of the business. My sisters and I worked our butts off since high school, doing odd jobs and dedicating whole summers to raising the money we were going to need to open up our Pet Center. Furrylicious.
Luna walks inside the area and looks at me with suspicion. I know what she wants to talk to me about, but I'm ignoring herbecause she's got this crazy idea about her life and I don't want to encourage her. She's eyeing one of the doctors in the Storyville Hospital and plans to include him in her scheme.
"Emma."
"Hey, Luna. It's late for you to be here."
"I got caught up doing some sketches of Mrs. White's dog, Pizza."
"Oh, she's a cutie. I've been meaning to talk to you about something."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I have this idea that you can paint one pet a month from the shelter to help them get adopted. We can hang their pictures on the front wall of the store so that people can see them. We can display their info below each painting and the shelter's contact information.
"That's a great idea! And people will get to see my paintings and maybe commission more of them."
"Win, win. That's what I say."
Luna comes closer to me and gives me a hug. I relax into it and smell her familiar vanilla and peach scent.
"Hey, you've got to tell me where you buy that shampoo. It smells delicious."
"Never. I'll go to my grave with the secret."
"Fine. I'll steal it when we come for family night at your house."
"Hmm. Tell me about your crush. Have you seen him lately?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't be like that, Emma. I like to live vicariously through my sisters."
"Haven't seen him in a while. He's hard at work, as am I most of the time."
"We should do a girls' night out."
"Well, if you can get Laura and Felicia on board, I'm all for it. We'll go to Dexter's."
"Deal. Don't stay down here too late. There's a storm coming."
"I'll be warm and cozy in my apartment upstairs by the time that happens."
My sister takes off, leaving me with thoughts of our family. Our dad used to have a veterinary practice, but he couldn't run it anymore. Luckily my sisters and I already had plans for our store, which has an on-call veterinarian during the day.
It's getting a little cold down here at the store, but I want to take a look at the equipment the interns have been using. Maybe do some maintenance on the shears and combs. I'm very particular about the tools we use in our trade, and I want to inspire the girls to be proud of what they are doing.
Grooming is hard work, as every dog is different. So it takes a lot of experience to be able to handle your own business. I love what I'm doing and am happy that we can support our parents in their old age.
My thoughts go back to the hot policeman. Damn Luna for mentioning him. I've been a good girl in not thinking about him for a couple of days. He makes me want to be bad. It doesn't help that he was featured in one of those first responder calendars with his shirt off.
Oh God, now I'm going to have to turn the bath on and take care of myself. He makes me so hot, it's like lava is flowing through my veins. I'm always thinking he could come to my rescue somehow, and his shirt gets dirty and I insist on washing it so he has to take it off.
