Not Just the Girl Next Door

by Stacy Connelly

  “And I’d love to,” Emma insisted, “once I get...well, a few things worked out.”

  A hint of a frown shadowed the woman’s sunny expression, and Mollie impulsively said, “I hope you do. Those kittens would be lucky to have you take care of them. Until then, I’m sure you’ll enjoy volunteering at Furever Paws as much as I have.”

  “Thanks, Mollie. I’m hoping Spring Forest will be a fresh start for me.”

  After Emma excused herself to go check with Richard Jackson, a local veterinarian who volunteered at the rescue, Rebekah said, “Speaking of fosters, how’s it going with Charlie and Chief? I’ve been meaning to thank you. Birdie was so happy when you decided to take both of them on.”

  “I’m pretty sure that was Birdie’s idea all along, but honestly, having the two of them together has made fostering Chief so much easier. He’s come so far in just a few weeks—which is good, since Zeke Harper has an idea for a permanent placement for Charlie.”

  Quickly, Mollie filled the shelter director in on Bobby Doyle and Zeke’s hope that Charlie could become a companion dog for the veteran. “It’s something I’d like to do more of in the future, partnering the shelter and Veterans Affairs to match up dogs with former servicemen and women in need.”

  “That sounds like a great opportunity—for Charlie and for the shelter.” Reaching for her phone, Rebekah tapped in some quick notes. “But...what about Chief? How’s he going to handle being separated from Charlie?”

  As excited as she was for the opportunity to train Charlie and to hopefully help Bobby, Mollie was concerned about poor Chief, too. “I’ve been working one-on-one with him to build up his confidence and also encouraging more interaction between Chief and my dog, Arti. Given enough time, I think he’ll forget all about Ze—I mean, Charlie.”

  Fortunately, Rebekah didn’t seem to notice the slip of the tongue. “Good. It will certainly be easier to adopt him out if he doesn’t have to be part of a matched pair.”

  Mollie nodded even as she tucked her chin against her chest. Sure, Chief could learn to be an only dog, but it didn’t seem fair for him to have to go through life alone. Didn’t everyone deserve a soul mate? Maybe Arti could be Chief’s.

  And maybe, just maybe, if she tried a little harder to finally get over Zeke, Josh Sylvester could be hers.

  * * *

  As Zeke pulled up to Furever Paws, a sudden knot gripped his stomach. Though he and Matt believed a therapy dog might be good for Bobby, both men had agreed to wait to talk to the former soldier until they knew for sure that a dog could be found. The last thing they’d wanted was to get Bobby’s hopes up.

  Now, though, with the meeting with Charlie and the former army mechanic about to take place, Zeke realized the biggest hopes might well be his own. Mollie had worked so hard with the sweet, sensitive Lab, and Zeke knew Charlie would be perfect for Bobby, but would Bobby think so?

  Zeke had convinced Bobby to come to the shelter. From there, it would be up to Mollie and Charlie. Zeke had to believe those two gorgeous females would work their magic on the tough army vet, but that wasn’t enough to soothe the sudden attack of nerves.

  Hell, he didn’t know how the Whitaker sisters put up with this kind of pressure. So many animals in need of good homes but no guarantee that the right adopter would come along.

  Maybe Mollie was right. Maybe he should think about adopting a dog. He could use a friend to hang out and watch television with in the evenings or to go hiking with early in the morning on the weekends or to lounge with in the backyard once the sun went down... All activities he used to do with Mollie.

  He missed her. He missed the ease and comfort of their friendship, which had been replaced by an awkwardness and simmering attraction. Wasn’t that why he’d insisted on maintaining a platonic friendship? Because he didn’t want their relationship to change? And yet...hadn’t it changed already, whether he wanted it to or not?

  As Zeke climbed from his car and eyed the shelter in the late afternoon sun, he could see the progress that had been made in the past few weeks—the new roof was already in place and the area around the back staked off for the expansion that would soon be breaking ground. Hearing female voices from the side of the building, he followed the sound. His greeting died on his lips, though, as he caught sight of the Whitaker sisters huddled together.

  Though the taller, older Birdie was known for her stoic, no-nonsense attitude, even Bunny’s normally smiling round face was drawn into a grimace. “Do you really think we should look into selling?”

  Zeke hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but he couldn’t help but respond to what he’d heard. “Selling?”

  Hadn’t he just been thinking how emotionally draining it must be to work with the homeless animals? But at the same time, he couldn’t imagine the sisters walking away from Furever Paws. This was their home, established on the property that had been left to them after their brothers sold their shares of the family estate. Zeke couldn’t imagine anything shaking their commitment to the shelter. Especially after hiring the new director and the success of last month’s fund-raiser.

  The two women glanced up, clearly surprised by his presence. “Oh, Zeke,” Bunny said softly. “We didn’t even see you there.”

  “Sorry, I don’t mean to pry but—”

  “No, it’s all right,” Birdie said as she managed a slight smile. “We’ve received another offer on some of the acreage we inherited when our parents died. We’ve held on to it since then...”

  “But with the damage done to the shelter, we’ve been considering whether or not we should sell,” Bunny finished.

  “I know there’s still a lot of work to be done, but the money brought in by the fund-raiser and the grant should be a big help, right?” Zeke asked.

  “We weren’t looking to sell the land,” Bunny admitted, “but Gator says...” Her voice trailed off as the two women exchanged yet another glance. “He feels so bad about everything that’s happened here after the insurance fell through, and he wants to help out. He’s the one who found the buyer for the land and has promised to handle the details so we wouldn’t need to be involved.”

  “He does know far more about this type of thing than we do,” Birdie admitted.

  Treading carefully, he said, “I’m sure Gator has plenty of experience, but maybe you could have Dan Sutton review the paperwork.”

  The Spring Forest lawyer was known for being fair and for looking out for the local residents. Zeke wouldn’t be surprised if the man offered his services at a reduced fee.

  “That’s a good idea.” Birdie nodded. “It’s a big decision and not one to make lightly.”

  Glad to see the frowns easing from the sisters’ faces, Zeke said, “It’s always best to have all the information up front and to consider all the ramifications before making a decision.”

  “Thank you, Zeke.” Brushing her hands against the front of her khaki slacks, as if eager to wipe away her worries, Birdie said, “Now, when is Mr. Doyle arriving?”

  As the talk turned to Bobby and all of their hopes that Charlie could work her canine magic on the battle-scarred veteran, the three of them made their way into the shelter. A cacophony of sounds assaulted Zeke as he stepped inside the reception area, the barks and play growls of dogs, the constant and almost questioning meow of a talkative cat—heck, he was pretty sure he even heard the distant squawk of a parrot—all mixed in with human voices, the ringing of a phone and the constant hum of a printer.

  A young family in one corner knelt down to play with a rambunctious beagle puppy in a tug of war with its own leash under the amused yet watchful eye of a Furever Paws adoption coordinator. Another woman stood behind the reception desk, talking on the phone, while Rebekah Taylor was in a serious discussion with Richard Jackson, the semi-retired veterinarian who so tirelessly volunteered his services.

  The organized chaos was all a bit much, and Zeke ho
ped Bobby wouldn’t be instantly overwhelmed. He was about to suggest that they move the meet and greet to an outdoor area when Dr. Jackson, or Doc J, as he was more commonly known, broke away from Rebekah.

  Walking over to Zeke, the tall older man greeted him with a handshake. “Zeke, good to see you!” His smile was a bright contrast with his brown skin. “How are your parents doing? Sorry I missed the barbecue the other day. My daughter, Lauren, had us booked for a father-daughter golf outing.”

  “They’re doing well. The barbecue might have been the first of the summer, but I doubt it will be the last.”

  After a few minutes of small talk, Doc J took Zeke’s arm and moved them farther away from the Whitaker sisters and the potential adopters. Glancing over his shoulder, the veterinarian said, “I couldn’t help noticing that you were talking with Birdie and Bunny.”

  Though the Whitaker sisters weren’t his patients, Zeke took confidentiality seriously in all parts of his life. But he knew the sisters considered Doc J to be a good friend, so brushing him off wasn’t an option. “They’re worried about the shelter,” he admitted, figuring that wasn’t any revelation to the veterinarian. Not giving away any state secrets there.

  Doc J sighed. “They’ve had a lot on their minds recently, that’s for sure.” His dark eyes, still sharp despite the lines feathering out from the corners, focused on the two women. “First the tornado, then the mess with the insurance and now this offer to buy some of the land...”

  Zeke’s shoulders loosened bit. “Sounds like you know as much I do. I suggested that they talk to Dan Sutton to get a second opinion on the offer.”

  The doc’s salt-and-pepper eyebrows rose. “How’d they take that?”

  Zeke shrugged as he tapped a red rubber ball bouncing his way with the tip of his tennis shoe. The beagle racing toward him, tail and ears streaming out behind, nearly tipped tail over teakettle as it skidded to a stop on the concrete floor and charged the other way after the elusive toy. “They seemed to think it was a good idea. Hard to say if they’ll follow through with it, though.”

  “Oh, I’ll make sure they do,” Doc J vowed. “They can be so—so stubborn sometimes when it comes to asking for help.”

  Zeke gave half a laugh. How well he recognized those words, that frustration, even the look on the other man’s face that spoke of something more than friendship... Glancing over, Zeke couldn’t tell which of the two very different women had caught the older man’s eye.

  At least he didn’t have that problem.

  He knew perfectly well what woman held his interest.

  He just didn’t know what the hell to do about it.

  Chapter Ten

  Mollie didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until it all escaped in a rush as Bobby Doyle slowly bent down to greet Charlie. Zeke had arranged for the former soldier to meet the young pup in the small grassy area beside the shelter. The two of them exchanged a quick glance, and she knew Zeke was as nervous and hopeful about this introduction as she was.

  Though she’d talked Bobby up to Charlie on the ride over, assuring the dog that Bobby would take one look and fall in love with her, Mollie knew a perfect match wasn’t always so easy to find.

  “Don’t you worry, baby girl,” she’d told Charlie. “You just be yourself and Bobby’s bound to love you.”

  Mollie had meant the words as an encouragement to the dog, but an echo of truth resounded through the words. Be yourself...

  She couldn’t help thinking of her first date with Josh. Of the fancy hair and makeup, the dress and heels she’d worn. Sure, her friends had insisted they were only bringing out her natural beauty, but the real Mollie was all about ponytails and lip balm, faded T-shirts and comfy jeans.

  Maybe she needed to take her own advice on her upcoming date with Josh. It certainly seemed to be working for Charlie. The minute Bobby knelt down, the sensitive Lab placed a paw on the former soldier’s knee. Both seemed to bow their heads in a moment of silent communication. For Mollie, it was one of the most touching, emotional scenes she’d ever witnessed. She’d never been a sucker for weddings, but this...

  Blinking back the ache of tears, she started when Zeke took her hand. As her gaze met his, Mollie saw the understanding reflected there. He knew her so well and—

  Oh, crap... She was never getting over him, was she?

  Not for Josh Sylvester or, she feared, any other man on the face of the earth.

  “She’s—” Bobby cleared his throat. “She’s pretty special, isn’t she?”

  His eyes still locked on Mollie, Zeke agreed, “Yes, she is.”

  He must have come to the shelter straight from his office in Raleigh. Though he’d loosened the maroon tie around his neck and rolled the sleeves of the navy dress shirt up his leanly muscled forearms, he still looked so sophisticated and so handsome. But it was the emotion in his hazel eyes that made it impossible to pull her gaze away. As the moment of connection strengthened and grew, Charlie finally gave a sudden bark, as if to remind her distracted human why they were there in the first place.

  Pulling her hand from Zeke’s, Mollie focused on Bobby. A look of pure puppy love softened the former soldier’s rough-hewn features as he rubbed his work-scarred hands over the dog’s soft ears.

  “I tend to say this about all the dogs I’ve fostered and trained, but you’re right. Charlie is special. Don’t let her good looks fool you into underestimating her. She’s one smart pup.”

  “Yeah? What kind of tricks can she do?”

  Biting the inside of her cheek, she glanced over at Zeke, who gave a nod of encouragement. She had to tread carefully during this next part. From what she and Zeke had learned from Matt, Bobby had yet to admit he was having trouble adjusting to civilian life.

  “Well...” Mollie gave a quick laugh. “I have to admit, I’m not much of a morning person, but the minute my alarm goes off, Charlie is by my bedside, ready for a walk, her leash in her mouth.”

  “Really?” Bobby’s eyes lit up. “You can do that?” he asked the dog who responded with an enthusiastic lick to the man’s face.

  “Oh, she can do that.” No real training had been required to get the young dog up and at ’em at the crack of dawn. And with the natural instincts of a retriever, teaching Charlie to grab her leash hadn’t taken long, either. Conditioning that behavior to coincide with the sound of the alarm had been the biggest challenge, but they’d accomplished it.

  “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt for me to get out and moving. I used to love hitting the trails around here, but I haven’t done that since... Well, it’s been a while.”

  Mollie tried to hide her excitement. That was the idea. Not just as a way to encourage Bobby to give Charlie the exercise and attention an active dog needed, but also as a motivation for Bobby to stay busy.

  “Of course, she already knows sit and come. Stay is a tough one for her, and I never suggest owners let their dogs off leash unless they are in a secure area. She loves her treats and her b-a-l-l.” She spelled out the favorite word to keep Charlie from getting too excited, but judging by the way the Lab’s ears perked up, she may well have already figured that out.

  “And studies have shown that owning a dog can lower blood pressure and even help minimize risks of heart attack and stroke,” Zeke chimed in. “Not to mention the emotional benefits like helping with stress and anxiety.”

  At that, Bobby frowned and pushed to his feet. His face turned red as he eyed Zeke and Mollie. “Don’t tell me this is some kind of—doggie intervention. I told you I don’t need help!”

  “No, it’s not! It’s—” Panicked, and worried that Bobby was about to walk out on all three of them, Charlie included, Mollie looked to Zeke for help.

  But Zeke took the other man’s outburst in stride. His voice calm and controlled, he said, “This is just you checking out a dog and seeing if she’ll be a good fit for your f
amily. It doesn’t have to be anything more than that.”

  For a long moment, Bobby stood silent and still...until Charlie broke the standoff. Nudging his arm with her head, she didn’t give him much choice but to start petting her again. “But it could be,” he murmured quietly as he dug his fingers into the thick ruff of fur around Charlie’s neck. “That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it?” Keeping his gaze on the dog as he knelt back down, Bobby quietly asked, “What would she be able to do to help me?”

  Trusting in Charlie and the training they’d done, Mollie explained how the dog could be taught to pick up on cues that Bobby was exhibiting signs of depression, night terrors or slipping into a flashback. “You really think she could do all that?” he asked.

  “I know she can,” Mollie said confidently. “We’ll have to work together to come up with the right reward system to mark the behavior you want from Charlie. The behavior could be anything from curling up beside you, nudging your arm to encourage you to pet her, or licking your face—whatever helps.”

  Right on cue, Charlie lifted her head and swiped at Bobby’s chin with her tongue, making the humans laugh and breaking some of the tension.

  “So, what do you think?” Zeke asked after a few more minutes letting man and dog bond.

  Bobby gave a smile that reached his eyes. “I think this girl has found herself a home.”

  * * *

  The trail of dust behind Bobby’s classic pickup had barely settled before Mollie threw her arms around Zeke’s neck. Caught off guard, he stumbled slightly before getting his bearings and bracketing his hands at her waist.

  “You did it, Zeke!” Her smile was as bright as the sky overhead as she gazed up at him. “Did you see how happy Bobby looked? I thought he was going to buy half the dog toys in the gift shop.”

  “Charlie’s going to be one spoiled pup.”

  “All thanks to you.”

  Suddenly, Zeke was taken back to the day they’d rescued Shadow, when Mollie had looked at him with such pride and adoration even though, really, it had been Mollie. It had always been Mollie.