Shelleysatatherdesk, tapping a pen against her notebook as she mulled over how to deal with Gray's absence for the next month.Before she settled on a plan, a shadow filled her doorway.Without looking up, she knew who it was.
"What the hell is this?"a booming voice shouted.
Ah, Dr.Mark Cameron—grumpy, self-important, and always frustrated.Shelley let out a slow breath before raising her eyes to meet his.
"Well, hon, it looks like a piece of paper.Do I win a prize?"She smirked, unable to resist poking the bear.He loved throwing his weight around, especially with the assistants and support staff.
Dr.Cameron strode into the room, his bulk making her small office feel even smaller.He slapped the paper onto her desk."I asked for line graphs, not this lazy excuse for a bar graph.You either didn't listen or couldn't bother to do it right."
Shelley glanced at the paper and then back up at him, unfazed.Years of sun exposure had weathered his face, making him look older than his 30-something years.He had a broad chest and seemed to prefer wearing t-shirts slightly too small, so he always looked like he was about to burst out of them.
"Yes, you asked for line graphs," she said evenly."And if you'd read the notes I sent along, you'd know I chose a bar graph because it supports your hypothesis better.It shows the years side by side, so there is longevity to your project.I assumed you wanted something that would impress the funding committee."She leant back in her chair, fixing him with a sweet but pointed smile.
He hesitated, then snatched the paper back and scanned it again.Slowly, he sank into the chair across from her; the fight draining from his posture.
"Well...damn," he admitted grudgingly."You're right; this strengthens my case.Sorry, Shelley.I shouldn't have jumped down your throat.I'm under a lot of pressure.If this proposal doesn't get funded, the entire project's dead in the water.I'll have to start over and chase down another grant."
Shelley saw the spark of desperation in his eyes and felt a familiar flicker of inspiration.If she helped him polish his proposal, maybe his project could edge out Gray's for funding.And if Gray didn't get the grant, he wouldn't leave for a month.
"Well, Dr.Cameron," she said casually, but he cut her off.
"Shelley, if you helped me finish this, I could get it submitted before that newbie Gray does.What do you say?"
Three things clicked into place in Shelley's mind.First, Dr.Cameron always had to believe an idea was his own.Second, if she played this right, he might get the funding, not Gray.And third, there was no way in hell she'd tell him Gray had already submitted his proposal.
"Wonderful plan!"She said brightly, standing and grabbing her notebook."Let's grab some food and head to the boardroom.We'll knock this out in no time.Have you tried the taco stand a few blocks away?It's a mom and son place, and they have the best fish tacos I've ever had."
He nodded; the relief clear on his face.Shelley grabbed her bag, forcing her lips into a smile as she followed him out.
Inside, she was already mapping out her next move.
Chapter 9
Bear
Rileydecidedthattodaywas the perfect day to ride her bike to work.Most days, she opted for the Jeep—it was hard to resist the allure of driving it, especially on an island where having a Jeep felt like the ultimate dream come true.Today, the weather was perfect—not too hot or cold, and finally no wind.So, she grabbed her bike and headed out.
Few people rode their bikes around the island.There were scooters, cars, and so many buses—tourist buses, local buses, you name it.Roads were okay for biking, and she didn't live far from work, so she avoided the little traffic there was.Back home, the roads were chaotic and dangerous for cyclists.Here, she enjoyed a leisurely ride and took her time looking around and inhaling the smell of the pine trees.It was a smell like no other.The pine smell mixed with the sun-kissed bark on the trees made her almost feel like she was back home standing in a densely packed Canadian forest.
As she approached the turnoff to the hidden, off-limits Sanctuary Road, something caught her eye.A black mass moved in the bushes near the corner.Was it a garbage bag?Curiosity got the better of her, and she stopped, leaning her bike against a nearby tree.She walked over, her heart skipping a beat as she realized it wasn't a bag—it was a tiny black puppy with a white patch on its chest.
"Oh, my goodness!Poor thing, you look terrible!"Riley exclaimed as she bent down to pick up the puppy.She hesitated, realizing the puppy was covered in dirt, scabs, and possibly fleas."Yikes, you're going to need some serious attention!"As she scooped the puppy up and placed it in the bike basket, it fit perfectly.She continued pedaling to work, hoping the vet would be in today for his regular check on the dolphins.She had a new patient for him.
"Well, what do you think?"Riley asked, nervous to hear the vet's prognosis.
"He's not as bad as he looks," the vet replied, examining the puppy."Once we get him cleaned up, he's in better shape than you'd think.Definitely underweight and filthy, but nothing we can't fix.We'll clean him up and find him a suitable home."
Riley bit her lip, glancing between the vet and the puppy, who was now staring up at her with big, puppy dog eyes."Maybe he could live with me?"she said, half to herself, half to the vet.
The vet smiled."Riley, if you're willing to care for him, that would be fantastic!Honestly, the rescue is so overwhelmed with potcakes right now, we could use someone to take him in."Riley chuckled at the vet's use of "potcake," the local slang for island dogs.
"What kind of breed do you think he is?"She asked, both of them eyeing the dog curiously as he peered back at them, equally bewildered by the situation.
"Well, I'd say there's some Labrador in there, maybe a bit of Shepherd.Who knows with these potcakes?He's pretty cute, though."They both laughed, but Riley didn't care; he seemed to have the sweetest temperament a dog could have.
"How about this," the vet continued, "I'll take him back to the clinic, get him cleaned up, do a quick check, maybe take some blood.Then, how about you come by after work and we'll get you all set up?Are you sure you want to take on the responsibility of having a dog?"
Riley didn't hesitate.She'd been thinking about getting a dog for a while now.Life on the island was amazing, and she loved taking care of the dolphins and being with her coworkers, who felt like family.But at night, when she was alone, she often wished there was someone else there with her.And by someone, she meant a dog.She didn't need more people time!
