Perhaps he should’ve spoken to Caleb before he started looking at dogs. The former air force K-9 handler was now working with a service dog company. He might have some ideas on what a good house dog would be.
Linc had a reasonable yard that could accommodate a medium- or large-sized dog. It was lucky he hadn’t sold his house before his ill-fated move to San Diego. Because he hadn’t envisioned a permanent stay on the West Coast, his plan had been to rent it out for just a couple of years to add to his savings and then he’d move back.
Now it was time to put the episode behind him. Nothing ever came of looking back. Time to look forward, and getting a dog was the start of the process. After the wedding, he’d make an effort to look at a new career path.
Happy he had a semblance of a plan, he wandered outside and played with a couple of medium-sized dogs. All sweet, but his mind kept going back to the little dog inside.
Why the hell was he thinking about a dog that wasn’t what he was used to? He’d worked with big dogs. Dogs who made people walk in the opposite direction if they saw them coming down the street. But every dog Linc looked at really didn’t compare to the first fluff ball.
Sighing, he headed back inside.
As he approached the wire kennel, he paused. Someone crouched beside it. The fall of her brown, wavy hair covered her face, complimenting the pale pink dress she wore.
“Well, aren’t you just the sweetest thing?”
What the hell?
No. No way.
That couldn’t be Meredith, could it? His hearing must be playing tricks on him.
The dog he’d been playing with earlier licked the fingers she poked through the wires.
She giggled at his antics. “You are so handsome, aren’t you? Are you looking for a new home?” The dog yipped at her question. “Well, now you are a smart pup, aren’t you?”
The more she spoke, the more the tingle in his spine intensified—it was Meredith.
“Meredith?”
Her head swiveled faster than a dog’s when it smelled bacon. “Linc? What are you doing here?”
He closed the distance between them. “I’m looking for a dog. In fact, I was coming back to look at this fella.” He squatted, and the dog practically vibrated. “We had a good time earlier, didn’t we, buddy?”
“Why are you getting a dog here? Aren’t you going back to San Diego after the wedding?” Meredith demanded as she straightened and crossed her arms over her chest.
Linc scratched the dog behind his ears again, then stood as well. “I’m not going back. I’m staying here in San Antonio.”
He studied her. Apart from the shadows beneath her eyes, no one would ever know what she’d been through the night before. Yet even though he’d spent only a few hours with her on two occasions, he could see the hint of fragility coating her. The way her fingers clenched and unclenched over her biceps. “Are you doing okay?”
Her spine straightened and she relaxed her arms. “I’m fine.”
The dog yipped a couple of times and Meredith turned to look at it, her face softening. “He’s so cute. Are you seriously going to adopt him?”
“I’m thinking about it. What about you, do you want him?”
She tilted her chin up with a defiant lift. “Yes, I do.”
Out of all the dogs in the shelter, both he and Meredith wanted the same one. How did things like this happen?
As stupid as it was, he wanted this little fluffy dog. He’d made a connection with the animal the second he’d started patting him. How else could he explain why none of the dogs he’d spent time with outside pulled at him like this one? Dogs he thought he’d be automatically drawn to, considering his experience with the ones he’d worked with on base.
Regardless of the fact that his friends would tease him mercilessly the second they saw this little ball of fluff—Linc could take it—this dog was for him and for him alone. He wasn’t going to take him into any buildings, looking for hidden explosives or insurgents.
“Well, it seems we have a dilemma because I was here with him fifteen minutes ago. Now I’m back to claim him.” Okay he was going there. He was making the I was here first play call.
Meredith rolled her eyes. “When I walked up to him, you weren’t here, so I think that means I have a pretty good case to claim him.”
Linc took a deep breath and then blew it out. He’d thought this trip would be simple. Go to the shelter, look at the dogs, pick one out, and then begin the adoption process.
Now he found himself in a duel with the mother of his child, if only for a few hours.
Life was certainly kicking him in the ass.
*
What the hell had she done to karma for it to be playing with her like this? The doctor had said she should be able to go about her business as normal, and he was right. When Meredith had wakened this morning, the pain was gone. On the outside, no one would know that twelve hours ago she’d been writhing in agony on a hospital bed.
The idea to get a dog hadn’t been a conscious one. She’d been driving past, saw the sign for the shelter, and had the urge to go in and pat some puppies. She’d get her fill, leave, and do some last-minute errands for the wedding. Instead, she was fighting with Linc about a dog that didn’t look like one a former military guy would be seen dead with. She could definitely picture Linc with a big dog, like a Rottweiler or a German shepherd or even a Great Dane, not a frou-frou dog like Buster here. She’d taken note of his name when she’d squatted down to pat him.
Linc’s whole “I was here first” argument was so ridiculous. Her elementary students had used it on numerous occasions. It hadn’t worked on her then and it certainly wasn’t going to work on her now.
“You don’t want a dog like this, Linc.” she started reasonably. “He wouldn’t suit your needs.”
“And you know my needs, do you?”
Well, she knew what he liked in bed.
Why the hell am I thinking about our night? Because it’s better than thinking about…
Yeah, she wasn’t going to let herself finish that thought.
“Well, I would think as a K-9 handler, you’d prefer a big dog, one you could go on runs with. This dog”—she pointed to the cage—“will likely get exhausted after running for a couple hundred yards and will sit on your lap like a cat.”
“Former K-9 handler.” His eyes flashed, but a moment later it was gone.
What was up with that? Did he regret his decision to leave the army? Was it really any of her business?
“What makes you think I don’t want a dog that’s like a cat?” Linc continued, quirking his eyebrow. “Maybe I want to spend the evening with it curled up on my lap.”
“Puh-lease. One week of having a dog like this and you’ll regret it and bring the poor thing back. Once your friends get a good look at Buster, they’ll laugh their asses off. It only makes sense that I adopt him.”
What the hell was she doing? Why was she fighting with Linc over a dog, for goodness’ sake? Tomorrow they had to be partners. They had to smile and act like they liked each other. No way was she going to spoil Isabella’s wedding day.
“That’s a tad sexist, isn’t it? Besides, I don’t care what you say or think. I want this dog.”
Meredith glanced at the cage. The little dog was sitting on his haunches. His mouth was open and his tongue was hanging out as he panted. He looked happy. Happy that two people were fighting over him.
How long had he been at the shelter?
How long had he watched dog after dog around him being adopted?
How long had he been alone? Like her, with no one to love them for themselves and unconditionally.
Well, that was about to change. She might not have consciously set out to get a dog today, but she planned to leave with this one.
Last night the doctor told her that she would have to wait a while before trying to get pregnant, which meant her plan for getting a sperm donor was on the shelf—temporarily. It wasn’t off the table and
it wouldn’t be. When the time was right, she’d get the all-clear from her doctor and make an appointment at the clinic. It was still possible that in a year’s time she’d have a baby in her arms, or at least be pregnant with her first child.
Second child.
Meredith quickly banished that thought. An ectopic pregnancy she didn’t know about didn’t really count as her first child, did it? But something inside her, too broken to be let out, insisted it did.
“I want this dog,” she whispered. Turning, she faced Linc. “I’m going to adopt Buster. You need to make another choice.”
“How about we flip for him?” he suggested.
“Are you serious? Did you just ask me if I wanted to flip for him?” What a boneheaded suggestion. And still, she was almost tempted to take him up on the bet.
“Excuse me, sir, ma’am, but our dogs are not bargaining chips. You do not flip for the animals at our shelter.”
Meredith whirled around to see a shelter employee looking at them, sucking her cheeks in like she was sucking on a lemon. Of course, an employee would walk up just was Linc said something inappropriate.
How could Meredith have even contemplated the thought of flipping for cute little Buster?
She’d lost her mind. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’d never gamble on a dog.”
Giving the dog one last look, she mentally said goodbye.
“Yes,” Linc stepped forward. “I’m sorry too. My joke was in poor taste.”
“Very poor. I think, for the moment, it might be best if you both leave the shelter. Next time you come, please consider your words.” With that, she walked away.
The little dog in the cage barked and Meredith’s heart clenched. What was it about this dog that affected her so much?
She swallowed back a sob. Her emotions were riding high. The doctor warned her, after the shot was administered, that her body still had to process the hormones generated by a pregnancy. He said it would take time before they evened out.
She needed to get out of here. The last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of Linc again. Without saying goodbye to Linc, Meredith strode in between the cages toward the exit.
Chapter Six
“Are you sure everything’s okay, Meredith?” Isabella asked for the fifth time.
Meredith sighed. “Yes, Iz, I’m fine.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose in an attempt to push away the melancholy that had absorbed her since she’d driven away from the animal shelter. “It’s been a hectic few weeks. I’m still adjusting to being back.”
A little white lie to the bride to alleviate her stress wasn’t a bad thing. No way was she going to unburden everything that had happened to her over the last forty-eight hours to her best friend moments before she walked down the aisle.
Instead, Meredith grabbed her hands. “Iz, you’re a beautiful bride and you’ve come a long way from where you were when you first met Ethan. I’m so very happy that you’ve got a second chance at a happy ever after.”
“You’re right, I am different. Finding Ethan, having him be super patient with me when I didn’t deserve it, is something I’m forever grateful for. And now we have our gorgeous Marnie and I can’t wait to be Mrs. Ethan Masters. I want that for you, too, Mere. If anyone deserves a fairy-tale romance, it’s you.”
“Well, let’s not go too far there. I’m perfectly happy being by myself now. I think, after Mark, it’s going to be a while before I go down the relationship road. But I’ve made a decision. Tomorrow, I’m going to adopt a dog.”
Until she’d said it out loud, she hadn’t decided if she was going to go through with it. But now that it was out in the open, she liked the idea even more. So, yes, tomorrow she would go back to the shelter and start the process of adopting Buster, and hope like hell someone else hadn’t fallen in love with the little dog. All she had to do was get through Isabella’s wedding and stand next to Linc without bopping him over the head with her bouquet. Or asking him to hold her again like he had two nights ago.
“You’re going to get a dog? Since when?”
“Since I went to the shelter yesterday and fell in love with a little fluff ball called Buster.”
“Why didn’t you get him then?”
A totally reasonable question, but what was Isabella going to say when she heard the reason she didn’t get the dog was because of the best man?
“I, uh, um, well, I had the wedding today. It wouldn’t have been fair to the poor little guy if I left him alone all day the day after I rescued him. Plus, I think it takes a couple of days for the paperwork to be completed.” Wow, that actually sounded like a reasonable answer.
“Makes sense.”
A knock sounded on the door. “Honey bee.” Isabella’s dad’s voice floated through the wood. “It’s almost time, can I come in?”
Meredith, careful not to crush the bride’s beautiful gown, hugged her. “Let’s go get you married, Iz.”
*
Linc adjusted his tie, feeling a little out of place standing next to Ethan, who was dressed in his military blues. If he hadn’t taken leave of his senses, he could’ve been standing next to Ethan in his own army dress uniform instead of a tux.
If he were in uniform, would Meredith be impressed?
What the hell? Why did it matter if Meredith was impressed with him in a uniform or not? After she found out that he’d gone back and adopted Buster, she’d never speak to him again.
There was no decent explanation for why he did what he did. All he could say was that on the drive back to his place, he hadn’t been able to get Buster’s sorrowful look and sad whimpers out of his mind. He’d walked into his house, the silence descended on him, and he found he didn’t like it. Instead of going into the kitchen to get some lunch, he’d turned right around again and drove back to the shelter.
He couldn’t pick up Buster for a couple of days while they processed all the paperwork, but Buster was no longer an unloved puppy.
Music filled the church, echoing off the vaulted ceiling. Linc glanced over at Ethan and saw his friend swallow.
“You ready for this, bud?”
Ethan turned and smiled. “More ready than I’ve ever been for anything in my life.”
“Well, I’m kind of disappointed you didn’t name your firstborn after me, considering the reason we’re standing here is because of my matchmaking skills.”
Ethan shook his head and chuckled. “Shut up, Linc. I’m about to get married. Besides, we had a girl. No way was I going to give her a name that would cause her to be bullied at school.”
“You make a fair point. Maybe your next one will be a boy and you can name him after me.”
For a brief moment, an image of Meredith holding a baby in her arms, her beautiful green eyes sparkling up at him, formed in his mind. “Lincoln Junior is the perfect name,” her sweet voice echoed.
What the hell? No kids!
Right, that was what he needed to remember. His life was complicated enough right now without adding a child into the mix.
Behind him, Linc registered the rustle of movement from the guests and directed his gaze to the double doors like everyone else. The memory of Dream Meredith and their son faded like dust motes dancing in the sunlight.
The doors opened and the woman of his thoughts stood framed by the large wooden surround, the sun lighting her from behind. She looked beautiful, and an ache in the region of his heart welled up inside of him. Her lavender dress hugged her body in all the right places and she walked down the aisle with a serene smile on her face.
How was she was feeling?
Was she still experiencing pain?
Was there now no trace of the life they’d created?
He’d been so wrapped up in himself yesterday that he’d only asked her cursory questions about her well-being, even though he’d been able to see she’d been hurting.
The closer she came, the more she took his breath away. Her long, brown hair was swept up in an artful knot at base of her neck. Curly ten
drils whispered against her cheek and he longed to reach out to twist one around his finger to watch it spring back.
She took her place on the other side of the aisle, her gazed trained forward, and he willed her to look at him.
Unfortunately, he didn’t possess any mind power abilities and Meredith didn’t look his way. Isabella swept into place beside Ethan and the service passed in a blur of words, occasional laughs, and quite a few sniffles as they recited their own vows.
When the time came for them to kiss, Linc once again sought out Meredith and found her watching the couple, a look of longing and the sheen of tears shining brightly in her eyes.
He wanted to kiss the sadness away. Make her smile like she had the night they’d first met. When she’d laughed at his corny jokes.
Now man and wife, Ethan and Isabella made their way to the altar to sign the various documents to solidify their union. Finally, he would be close enough to talk to Meredith, to make sure that everything was okay with her.
He crooked his elbow and Meredith slid her arm through the gap. He placed his free hand over hers and a shot of electricity sizzled through him, the same sensation that had slid over him as he’d taken possession of her body.
Meredith tripped up the stairs as they followed the newlyweds, and he tightened his grip on her. “It’s okay, I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall.”
“I’m fine, my heel got caught on a piece of carpet.”
The fact that the runner they were walking on was as smooth as a sheet of ice, Linc doubted that was what had happened. But he let it pass.
“How are you doing? You feeling okay?”
Her arm tensed beneath his fingers. “I believe I said I was fine.”
Damn, looked like she still hadn’t forgiven him for yesterday. Why couldn’t he have just let her have the dog?
It was a moot point now, and he’d have to find the right time to tell her exactly what he’d done. That was going to be fun, but no way would he blurt it out at the wedding. The last thing he wanted to do was cause a scene in the middle of Ethan and Isabella’s celebration. That would go down really well.
The Matchmaker’s Match Page 5