If Fate wasn’t telling her to get a rescue dog of her own, she couldn’t see what it was telling her.
Definitely not that Raff Gale wasThe Onefor her. She had never heard of anything so laughable.
And yet…
No. She didn’t need a man to share her life.
She needed a rescue dog.
Having made that decision, once and for all, Kate stopped and looked around her.
How had she ended up here? Right outside Paws for Life, the village pet shop. This was definitely another sign from the universe.
She laughed aloud. She may as well pop in and have a chat with Trish. Perhaps she could throw more light on the subject of Rafferty and Hope’s Rescue Centre for Dogs.
Kate reached out to grab the door handle, just as someone inside the shop shoved the door open with his backside, spun around, and almost knocked Kate flying.
She didn’t know who was more surprised – her or the other person.
And then she heard a voice she recognised.
Seven
I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking … Oh. It’s you.’ Rafferty Gale didn’t look pleased to see her.
Kate glowered at him. ‘Clearly! Who walks out of a shop with their back to the door?’
‘Someone with their hands full.’ He nodded down to the large cardboard box he was holding in his arms.
‘Fine.’
Their eyes locked as they stared at each other.
‘Excuse me, please,’ another shopper said. ‘It might be helpful if one of you would be kind enough to move.’
‘Oh! Sorry.’ Kate moved to her left to let the woman pass, and Raff quickly stepped forward, now holding the door open with his right hip.
‘This isn’t going to work,’ the other shopper said.
‘Tell me about it,’ said Kate. ‘Sorry. You mean he’s still in the way?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll come out, and then you can come in,’ Raff said, looking utterly bewildered.
‘Good idea,’ said the other woman.
Kate stepped back as Raff stepped outside.
Then, without warning, the bottom of the box came apart. Tins of dog food thudded onto the pavement and rolled around. One landed on Raff’s left foot and he swore rather loudly.
Kate fought back her laughter. It wasn’t funny. And yet, somehow, it was. She bit her bottom lip but her shoulders were shaking from the pent-up laughter.
‘It’s not funny,’ Raff said, but there was a mixture of exasperation and amusement in his voice.
‘It is from where I’m standing.’
‘You’re lucky you can stand. I think my foot is broken.’
