“Go, then. I can handle this guy. I’ll take him for a walk and run off some of this nervous energy. I’m sure he’s had a lot of excitement today.”
Aiden nodded. “Yeah. He was pretty worried about his daddy when I got there.”
“I bet he was.” I grabbed his ears and wiggled his head. “Were you worried? But now Doctor Donovan is on the case. Everything will be okay.”
“I hope you’re right.”
I leaned over and kissed his forehead. “No matter what happens, you showed up for this man when nobody else did. You probably saved his life, Aiden.”
“It shouldn’t have needed saving,” he said as he pushed to his feet. “But I’m glad I went. I was supposed to observe a surgery tonight. If I’d been Ian Foley, I would have done that instead, so maybe he’s right about me.”
“Who’s Ian Foley?”
“A good surgeon. Not the best people person, though.”
“Ah.”
Aiden headed for the door. “I don’t know how soon I’ll be home.”
I nodded. “Text me a few updates. Call if you need me. It doesn’t matter how late.”
“Thanks.”
Once Aiden was gone, I hooked the dog up to his leash. He had a metal tag hanging from his collar. Waffles, it read.
“Waffles? Really?”
His ears perked up, and he gave a small bark.
“Well, okay, Waffles. Let’s go for a walk.”
That got him really excited, and he raced for the door, tugging at the leash until I caught up. I grabbed Aiden’s rent check off the breakfast bar where he’d left it last night and followed Waffles outside.
We walked toward the front office, taking a meandering path that allowed Waffles to sniff every shrub and mark his territory on random patches of grass.
We passed a large Doberman who took issue at another dog passing by, ferocious barks ringing out. Waffles had more courage than brains and tried to rush at the fence, barking and growling like he could really take on that brute.
I tugged him away. “Learn your limits, dude. You’re a waffle. He’s a T-bone steak. You feel me?”
Waffles craned his head to look back, lips pulled back in a snarl. Well, some guys never learned.
We eventually made it to the front office. I let us inside.
“No dogs in my office!” Nina called.
“Just dropping off your rent,” I said.
She eyeballed Waffles. “There’s an extra fee for keeping pets in the park.”
“He’s a temporary visitor.”
“Fine.” She sniffed and held out her hand to accept the rent check.
I handed it to her and then dug out my wallet to add my half of the rent in cash.
“The fence over on the east side needs repairs,” Nina said. “You’ll do it.”
“I can’t, sorry. I’ve worked off what I owed you already.”
