Thomas wanted to argue, but Dr.Reeves was right.There was nothing he could do here.He’d just be in the way.
“Come on,” Rowan said quietly, already moving toward the door.“Let’s give her space to work.”
Thomas followed reluctantly, casting one last glance at the small white form on the examination table.The rabbit looked so vulnerable lying there.Thomas hoped that it would pull through.
As they stepped back into the hallway, Thomas took a breath.He felt Rowan watching him, probably wondering what was wrong with him.Most people could handle seeing injured animals.It was part of the job.
“You okay?”Rowan asked after a moment.
Thomas nodded, even though it was a lie.“Yeah.I just hate seeing them hurt.”
“Me, too,” Rowan said, and there was something in his voice that made Thomas look at him.The wolf shifter’s expression was gentle.“But that’s why we’re here, right?To help them.”
Thomas managed a small smile.“Right.To help them.”
And maybe, just maybe, Rowan wasn’t so bad after all.
* * * *
ROWAN COULDN’T STOPhimself from sneaking glances in Thomas’s direction.The man was doing paperwork while Rowan cleaned, or rather, while Rowan was distracted.It was the end of their shift, so Rowan would be going home soon, and he wasn’t sure what to tell Thomas.He wasn’t sure there was anything to say.He’d shadowed him for the entire day, and he was a little overwhelmed because of the new job, but Thomas had been nice.He clearly didn’t trust Rowan, but Rowan didn’t mind.He was new to town and the job, and Thomas didn’t know him.Rowan was sure that, in time, that would change.As long as they were able to work together, he was pretty sure things would be okay.
But he was intrigued.He didn’t want to make a mess of things because it would be way too easy for him to get fired, but he wanted to know why Thomas was so wary of him.Was it just because he was a wolf shifter?It would make sense.Thomas was a rabbit shifter, so maybe he wanted to keep his distance.But as a shifter, he had to understand that Rowan wasn’t his animal.Neither of them were.Thomas probably hadn’t meant to show Rowan he was freaking out, but Rowan had seen it, and he wanted to change that.He wanted Thomas to feel comfortable with him, especially if they were going to work together.
Rowan liked Thomas.He was a little prickly and kept his distance, but he was also professional and competent, and he clearly cared about the animals.The way he’d treated that rabbit had touched Rowan, especially with how shaken Thomas had been.
The two of them were coworkers.Rowan wasn’t sure if he’d continue working with Thomas like he had today or if Shane had something else in mind for him, but either way, he’d see a lot of Thomas in the future.He wanted them to start on the right foot.
He cleared his throat.Thomas looked up from the document he was filling in, a frown on his face.Now that Rowan had his attention, he needed to keep it.
“I was thinking about getting dinner at the diner.”
Thomas stared at Rowan as if waiting for him to continue.Rowan felt like an idiot, but he did.“I was just wondering if maybe you’d want to have dinner with me.We can get to know each other since we’re going to work together.”
Rowan already knew how this would end, but he’d still felt the need to offer.He wasn’t surprised when Thomas shook his head.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
“Of course.”
“It’s nothing against you.I already have plans.”
Rowan wanted to ask if Thomas would have said yes if he didn’t, but he didn’t dare.One rejection was enough.
It was fine.Rowan wanted to get to know Thomas, but he wasn’t going to push.He was sure they could get to know each other on the job.He’d hoped to get Thomas to relax in his presence so that he’d be more comfortable, but that could wait.
“You can go, by the way,” Thomas said as he checked his phone.“Since you’re hungry.”
“I can keep you company.”Rowan was done cleaning, but he wasn’t quite ready to leave Thomas.He wasn’t sure why, and he wasn’t about to examine that too closely.
“There’s no reason for you to.You’re done with the cleaning, but it’s going to take me a little longer to finish the paperwork.You’ve already done a good job today.Go and get some food, then rest.You’ll need it if you’re going to work with animals.”
Today had been frantic, but Rowan had enjoyed it.He couldn’t say if he wanted to do this for the rest of his life, but he enjoyed the job and the people he worked with.He could see himself staying here for a while, so he didn’t want to make things complicated for anyone.
He placed the last mug he’d been drying on the counter by the sink.There was no dishwasher in the break room, but Rowan hadn’t minded washing the mugs and silverware by hand.It had given him something to do.
That was over now.
He gave Thomas a light smile.“If you’re sure.”
