"I guess it's just you and me tonight, buddy."
The dog is trembling in my arms, so I take him with me to my patrol car. While I'm there, I pull out a towel that is on my gym bag and wrap it around him. He seems to have trouble with one leg and then I try to check his body and realize he's full of mats in his hair.
Not only has someone left him outside, they've neglected his basic grooming needs. I pass my hand through his body and shake with anger. There's only one place where they can help me with this, but they are probably closed by now. Still, I've got to try.
"Let's go see if the pretty lady can help us, my friend."
As I drive, I watch how the weather begins to worsen, and I know this little one would have died if I hadn't found him. When we finally get to Furrylicious, I see that the front part of the store is closed down and the lights are off. I can't give up now, so I get out of the car with my new friend and go look through the glass door.
That's when I see it, a small light under a door that leads to another area of the shop where they take care of the dogs. I start knocking on the glass, hard. After a few minutes of this, I get an idea and walk to the back of the building.
Eureka, I can see the light more clearly over on this side, so I take up my knocking. I don't care who I wake, but this little guy needs help and I know they can give it here. As I keep making noise, I see the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life.
I've seen her before. I know her from afar. She's one of the owners of this establishment, and she's looking at me as if I have a third eye on my forehead. I lift up the dog and show her. She moves fast and opens the door. I'm speechless and just stand there in the doorway, not knowing what to do.
"Come in. You guys must be freezing."
She closes the door behind me, and I give thanks that it was her who was available to help me with this pup. After that I send up a prayer that I can keep a cool head while dealing with this gorgeous morsel.
Chapter 3
Emma
The man I've been daydreaming about is here and seems to need help. My fantasies of him are recent in my mind, so I feel a little off about having him here tonight.
"I'm only helping you tonight because of the little one. The shop is normally closed at this hour."
"Yeah, thanks. I found him shivering and tied to a bush, and I couldn't leave him like that. When I got him into the car, I realized how neglected he has been."
It breaks my heart to hear how someone can treat their pets like that. They should become part of your family once you take them in. It's a reality we have to face, though.
"Come through here and put him on the table. Is it a he?"
"Yes, I checked."
The dog or rather puppy, can't be older than eight or nine months. I take the towel off and examine him thoroughly.
"He doesn't seem to be hurt other than malnourished and heavily matted."
"Okay, what can you do for him? Can you dry him up with your equipment?"
"Let's do something better. I want to see how much matting I can cut to make him more comfortable."
I eye him carefully. He looks distraught about the animal he's brought in, and that hits me deep in the feels.
"Can you stay with us and help me keep him calm?"
"Of course. I wouldn't leave you alone with him."
"You might have to render him to a shelter while you find out who the owner is and get them fined."
"I was planning on keeping him."
"I can see that."
"You know I can dry him up back home. I don't want to bother you with this."
His panic is real, but a little funny to me. He's already attached to this dog. I look down at the client at hand and see what he could be underneath all the matting.
