Maybe this was a chance to start over, too. Could the Matchmaking Mamas really do any worse than I had when left to my own devices?
“I guess it couldn’t hurt to try it once,” I said hesitantly.
Iola squealed like a preteen, then pulled out her phone, which had text large enough to be seen from space. “Okay, give me your number.”
I rattled off my digits, feeling a weird sense of deja vu. The last time I’d done this, it’d been the night I picked upClara over drinks in a bar. Never thought I’d be giving my number to an old gal who frenched dogs, but oh, how times changed.
Iola set Ricky on the counter while she typed in my number. I scratched him behind the ears, and he panted happily, scraggly tail wagging.
“Okay, Iola, you should be set to bring Ricky back next week. Same time as usual?” Sammi checked.
“Yep. I’m too old to play with him enough. He justlovesthis doggy daycare. I’m so glad you’re here for us!”
Sammi gave a tired smile. “Me too.”
Iola gathered up Ricky once more and turned for the door. “I’ll be in touch, Hank! Don’t worry. We’ll find you that perfect princess, even if you have to kiss a few horny toads!”
“Uh… thanks?”
As soon as Iola went out the door, I whirled on Sammi. “What the hell was that? I do you a favor, and you entrap me?”
She busted out laughing.
“Sorry,” she choked, gasping breaths between laughs. “It’s just… Your face is so—” She laughed again, unable to finish her sentence.
I glared until she’d gotten control of herself and wiped the corner of her eyes. “Oh, boy. Whew. I needed that.”
I crossed my arms, eyes narrowing in a glare. “Glad I amuse you.”
“No, I’m sorry! It’s just that this is Granville, and you clearly don’t know how things work.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Iola is tough to resist. You see how she is!”
“Uh-huh.”
And maybe she’s just some old lady to you, but she’s Nana, you know?”
“Not really?”
“She’s like a grandma to me. To everyone around here. You just don’t tell Iola no. Even if you try, she eventually gets you. Might as well make it easy on yourself.”
“I guess I do need to get out more,” I said reluctantly.
“You really do.” She paused. “But notthisweekend. You’ve got a date with my fur babies.”
I laughed. “I see how it is.”
“Seriously, I’ll feel so much better leaving them with you than some doggy day care in the city.”
“Shouldn’t you trust in doggy day care services since you run one?” I teased.
She shrugged. “Not every place can be as great as BowWow.” She patted my arm. “That’s partially thanks to you.”
I couldn’t really take the credit. I’d come aboard because Sammi had more business than she could handle. Running both a grooming service and a doggy day care was great in theory, but she couldn’t be in two places at once. Even with two of us and a part-timer, we were run off our feet.
Scarlett’s owner, Karen Myers, came inside. Sammi dashed into the doggy playroom to collect the Irish setter.
