Judging from the passionate way she spoke up for the animals, her emotions ran deep, deeper than he cared to go. He was glad that people like Tansy existed in the world, but he couldn’t follow her chosen path, and she would never understand his decision not to adopt.
She was the kind of woman who would get past his defenses, demand that he drop his guard and become vulnerable again.
There was no way he would risk that.
* * *
TANSY’S SUBURBAN HAD been retrofitted for hauling animals. After she and Rose loaded Wookie and Ewok into the back, they hurried around to the front of the vehicle and climbed in, their breath fogging the air. Tansy dug out the keys and coaxed the balky engine to life before switching the heater to high. The cold rain tapping on the windshield could easily turn to snow by nightfall.
Rose rubbed her hands together and held them against her wind-reddened cheeks. “That was interesting.”
“It wasn’t Ewok’s fault.” Tansy’s anger resurfaced as she left the station’s parking lot. “I had to be nice, especially since Paul’s running promos from now until Christmas, but I could have throttled that woman.”
“She almost throttled Ewok,” Rose said. “Good thing she didn’t pursue the idea of adopting these two.”
“Yeah, that would have been awkward. You and I know she’d only have been doing it as a publicity stunt, but Paul might not have seen it that way. He’s a nice guy, and I’d rather not lose his goodwill by refusing to give his publicity-crazed anchorwoman Ewok and Wookie.”
“Speaking of nice guys, that cameraman was helpful.”
“He was.” Tansy’s pulse beat a little faster thinking about his sexy brown eyes.
“And gorgeous.”
Tansy glanced over at Rose and grinned. “You noticed that, did you?”
“I may be old enough to be his grandmother, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate tall, dark and handsome when I see it. If I’m not mistaken, you two shared a moment.”
Tansy’s cheeks warmed. She hoped she hadn’t looked quite as dazzled as she’d felt. “I was trying to mentally place him.”
“Don’t blame you. Was he on a beach towel in the sand or on a bearskin rug in front of the fire?”
“Rose!” Tansy laughed, bringing an excited bark from Ewok. “I was trying to figure out why he looks so familiar. I swear we’ve met before.”
“Did you tell him so?”
“I did, but apparently we haven’t met. He said he would have remembered.” Sexual heat curled through her as she thought about the low, intimate way he’d said it.
“Whew!” Rose fanned herself. “A guy who knows how to deliver his lines. And he wasn’t wearing a ring. I checked. What’s his name?”
“Don’t know.”
“Why on earth not?”
“Didn’t think to ask.”
Rose slapped her forehead. “You meet a hero type who rescues precious little Ewok, a man who says he would have remembered if you’d met before, and you neglect to get his name?”
“I’m out of practice with that kind of thing.” Though now Tansy wished she had a name to attach to the first man in ages to arouse her dormant libido.
“I know you’re out of practice. I’ve volunteered at the shelter for almost two years, and I don’t think you’ve had so much as a date, let alone a romance. I figured you were either too busy or very picky.”
“I’m both.”
Rose nodded. “I realize your work brings you joy, and there’s nothing wrong with being picky. But FYI, you and that cameraman were giving off sparks.” She pulled a phone out of her small messenger bag. “I’m going to call the station and find out his name.”
“No!” Then her panic turned to laughter. “Okay, you got me. Very cute, Rose. You don’t have the number.”
“Yes, I do.” She hit a button on her phone. “Yesterday you asked me to double-check when we were supposed to arrive. The number’s still in my phone.”
Tansy groaned. She’d forgotten about that. “Rose, hang up. Seriously.”
“No worries. I’ll just say that The Haven wants to send him a personal note for his part in recapturing Ewok.”
“That’s a flimsy excuse. Please don’t—” But Tansy was wasting her breath. Rose was already talking to someone at KFOR.
“Yes, I mean that quick-thinking cameraman who saved little Ewok after he escaped. We want to send him a note of thanks. Ben Rhodes? Got it.”
Nice name, but Tansy couldn’t connect it to the dim memory she had of seeing him somewhere before.
Theoretically, Rose should be hanging up now that she’d found out his name, but for some reason she was still talking. “Really? That’s too bad.” She paused. “Well, if you’re considering sending someone out, I can’t think of a better choice than Ben Rhodes, if he’s available.”
Tansy’s eyes widened as she glanced over at Rose, eyebrows raised.
Rose pretended not to notice. “Well, good. I hope it works out. I’ll check with Tansy. ’Bye.”
“You’ll check what with Tansy? What are you up to, Rose Parker?”
The volunteer’s expression was smug as she tucked the phone back into her purse. “You remember those candid photos of the animals you gave them so they’d have something for the promo spots?”
“Yes. I know they aren’t great, but it was all I had.”
“They didn’t pass muster, so they want to send one of their cameramen out to take some better shots.”
“And you suggested Ben.” She tried to sound disapproving, but that was difficult when she was short of breath and squiggles of excitement were dancing through her system.
“Yes.” Rose settled back in her seat with a smile. “He’ll be perfect.”
CHAPTER TWO
PERFECT. THE WORD CERTAINLY described Ben as Tansy opened the front door of the yellow-and-white Victorian that The Haven used as its administration building. She and Ben had agreed on an early Saturday morning appointment, and she’d turned on the white Christmas lights outlining the house to banish the gloom.
Against the backdrop of those sparkling lights, he looked ruggedly handsome in jeans, boots, a sheepskin jacket and a brown cowboy hat. The scent of the fresh pine wreath hanging on the door came in with him, along with the tang of frost and his minty aftershave.
Tansy greeted him as nonchalantly as she could, considering they were alone for the first time and her heart tap danced with excitement. She’d suggested giving him a tour before The Haven opened for the day, which meant that even Faye, the receptionist, wasn’t around.
“Good morning.” Tansy extended her hand and Ben pulled off a leather glove to shake it. “Where’s your equipment?”
“Left it in the Channel 10 van.” His grip was warm and firm, but the brim of his hat cast his face into shadow, making his expression difficult to read. “I wanted to get the lay of the land first.”
“Of course. No sense in lugging everything around until you’re ready to start.” When he let go of her hand, she resisted the impulse to press it against the butterflies circling in her tummy.
Stepping around him, she relocked the door. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. I knew my pictures weren’t very good. Photography isn’t my strong suit.”
“Maybe photography isn’t, but I can already tell this is.” He walked into the reception area. What had once been the house’s living room was now divided by a waist-high counter. Two desks and several filing cabinets occupied the larger space behind the counter. In front of it, two sturdy wooden armchairs and a low table created a seating area, and a coat tree stood in the corner.
Ben’s gaze lingered on a small artificial tree sitting on the counter. Its only decorations were a strand of multicolored lights and white angel donation cards hanging from
the branches. A small sign invited visitors to choose a card and donate the item listed on it.
Unhooking one of the angel-shaped cards, he tucked it in the pocket of his coat. “That angel tree’s a good idea. Paul said you’ve made astounding progress at The Haven since you were hired three years ago.”
“He’s giving me too much credit. None of this would have been possible without a generous benefactor who donated this land, including both houses, when he died.”
“According to Paul, that benefactor was inspired by your enthusiasm for the animals. So you’ll have to take some of the credit, Tansy.”
Hearing her name spoken in his deep baritone sent a shiver of delight up her spine. “What can I say? I love my work.”
“Obviously.” He walked over to a bulletin board mounted on the wall to the right of the seating area. Tilting his hat back with his thumb, he scanned the array of snapshots.
“More bad pictures, I’m afraid,” she said.
“Not so bad. The idea of putting up pictures of folks with their newly adopted animals is terrific. You just need a better camera.”
“No, I need a better photographer.”
Ben scanned the pictures. “Don’t sell yourself short. I see potential there.” He turned back to her. “So The Haven ended up with these two houses, and you designated the bigger one as your headquarters.”
“That’s right. It’s mainly office space except for a couple of rooms we use as temporary holding areas for incoming animals. There’s not much to photograph in here.”
“Are you also housing animals in the blue Victorian next door?”
“No, that’s where I live, along with whatever animals I’m fostering at the moment. Right now it’s Ewok and Wookie.”
His eyebrows rose. “No one’s taken them?”
“Not yet.” She did her best to breathe normally, but her chest was tight with the thrill of seeing him again. “I had hoped their TV appearance would help, and by the way, the camera work on that segment was wonderful. Paul said a good part of it was your doing.”
“Animals make great TV.”
“Only if the person behind the camera has a feel for them. You do.”
He met her gaze. “Thank you. That’s nice to hear, but it didn’t result in a home for Ewok and Wookie. I’m sorry about that.”
She gulped and resisted the urge to fan herself. He was potent. “Many dog lovers prefer a certain size. They want small, big or in between. The big and small combo takes some getting used to. But I’m not splitting them up. Someone will come along.” Once again she wondered if maybe Ben would adopt them.
She’d developed a reputation for being able to match animals with their ideal human companions, and her instincts told her Ben would be perfect for those two dogs. He appeared to have the calmness Ewok needed and the athleticism to play with Wookie.
But there was something else, something more subtle that she’d picked up from watching the television clip. He obviously saw the dogs as creatures worthy of notice and respect. Not everyone did, and it was a trait she admired.
She really hoped he’d take Ewok and Wookie, but for some reason he wasn’t rising to the bait. Maybe he needed help to figure out that these dogs were meant for him. “Do you have any animals at home?”
“Nope.”
She was taken aback by his definitive tone. “Not interested?” Her spirits spiraled downward.
He shook his head.
She waited for an explanation. When none came, her disappointment bloomed out of all proportion to the situation. She wanted to blame Rose, who had woven fantasies all week long about how Ben could be her Prince Charming.
But she was a grown woman of twenty-eight who shouldn’t allow anyone to plant ideas in her head. And they’d both been wrong about Ben. He could be the most desirable man in the world, but if he didn’t want to share his life with companion animals, he was not the guy for her.
Animals were her life, had been ever since she was a little girl. Although it might sound corny, she felt that she had a calling to love and protect them. The concept of euthanizing those deemed unadoptable was blasphemy to her, which dictated that she had to work for a no-kill shelter.
Rose’s instincts and that wonderful film clip to the contrary, Ben wasn’t willing to offer his home to an animal, and he wouldn’t reveal why. She couldn’t imagine having a close friendship, let alone a romantic relationship, with someone who had that attitude.
She had to write him off as her prince and quit daydreaming. He was here to do a job, and once he had, she’d put him totally out of her mind.
“All the photo ops will be in the buildings out back,” she said. “Let me get my coat, and I’ll show you the—whoops, hello, Max.” She turned to greet the orange tabby that appeared unexpectedly, hopping up from behind the counter. “I’m surprised you made an appearance, kitty-cat.”
Max sat on the tan Formica, tail curled around his haunches as he fastened his green-eyed gaze on Ben.
“Max is our office cat,” Tansy explained. “Most people think that’s funny because office cats are supposed to be friendly and Max certainly isn’t. He takes aloofness to a whole new level. If I were to try and pet him now, he’d probably walk away. He’s never checked out a visitor, either.”
A soft rumble came from Max’s chest.
Tansy stared at the cat, who continued to focus on Ben. “Now you’re purring? What’s up with that?” She looked over at Ben. “Max hardly ever purrs.”
“Maybe I remind him of somebody he used to know.”
“I suppose that’s possible. He was a stray, so we don’t know his story. Since he’s both standoffish and neurotic, it’s unlikely he’ll be adopted, so we’ve designated him as our unfriendly office cat.”
“What’s neurotic about him?”
“When he’s stressed, he’ll chase his tail and chew on it. Sometimes we have to bandage it and make him wear the cone of shame so he won’t chew the bandage.” Tansy shook her head and sighed. “But I love him, anyway.”
“That’s why you’re good at your job. You probably have something you love about every dog and cat in the place.”
“I do. They’re each special in their own way, even curmudgeons like Max.” She consulted the clock hanging on the wall. “But enough about that. We’d better get moving if we’re going to have any time at all for you to take pictures this morning.”
“And I want to make sure I get them before the morning naps start.”
“Good thought. Let me get my coat and we’ll be off.”
So he knows animals tend to grab a midmorning nap. She thought about that as she walked around to her desk and picked up the dark blue parka she’d draped over the back of her chair. He might not want animals in his house, but he was familiar with their habits.
She shoved her arms into the sleeves of her coat and glanced down as she fumbled with the zipper. When she had it engaged, she raised her head, intending to tell Ben to follow her down the back hallway to the rear door.
Her breath caught. He stood at the counter scratching behind Max’s ears. Nobody scratched behind Max’s ears. He never allowed it.
But the cat was relishing the attention now, and Ben was a natural at giving that attention. Tansy could tell when someone wasn’t used to interacting with animals—their movements were hesitant and awkward. Ben might not have any animals now, but he’d been close to at least one cat in the past, a cat he’d loved. Maybe she shouldn’t put much stock in that, but...she did.
Turning away so Ben wouldn’t catch her staring, she zipped her parka in one noisy motion. By the time she finished, he’d moved away from the counter and Max, who still seemed mesmerized by the man in the sheepskin coat and cowboy hat. Now she was really curious about what had happened to Ben that kept him from wanting pets. If she kept her eyes
, ears and even her heart open, she might be able to find out.
Taking a deep breath, she met his gaze. “Ready to explore The Haven?”
“Lead the way.”
“We’ll visit the cats first.” She’d thought maybe Ewok and Wookie would touch him the most, but perhaps not. If he could warm up to Max, then he’d be a sucker for the sweethearts he was about to meet.
* * *
IN THE GRAY LIGHT OF DAWN, Ben followed Tansy out the back door of the house to the lighted buildings behind it. He hoped she hadn’t noticed him petting Max, because she might read too much into it. He should have resisted the impulse.
But Tansy’s comment that Max wouldn’t let anyone pet him had been a challenge. He’d wanted to test that, especially because Max had looked at him exactly the way his childhood cat, Mickey, used to, with a silent plea for attention.
Mickey had only been able to make that plea with one eye instead of two because he’d lost the right one in a fight. Ben later learned that male cats should be neutered so they wouldn’t fight or breed. But as a kid he hadn’t known that, and his aunt and uncle certainly wouldn’t have wanted the expense of a vet bill.
So he’d allowed Mickey to roam the streets of whatever town they moved to in their vagabond life. Max looked so much like Mickey that if Ben believed in kitty reincarnation, he’d wonder if Mickey had somehow come back in the body of this cat. With his eye repaired.
Didn’t really matter if he had, though. Mickey’s life had been cut short by a car. He’d been ten—not so bad, actually, for a cat, especially an outdoor one. Ben had heard of indoor cats like Max making it past twenty, or even twenty-five, but that still wasn’t long enough to suit Ben. He wasn’t into long-lived animals like parrots or tortoises, so he was better off staying out of the game.
Scratching behind Max’s ears had felt achingly familiar, though. This gig was already testing his resolve not to form attachments. But petting one orange tabby wasn’t the same as forming an attachment, he told himself. It changed nothing.
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