by Lea Coll
I followed the instructions, walking around the side of the clinic with Crew pulling on the lead, seeing a few people milling about with their dogs.
I approached the man who was there by himself, presumably the instructor. He was tall, wearing a thick sweater against the cold, and dark wash jeans with boots. He turned to me, my heart rate picking up at the sight of his familiar dark, messy hair and chiseled jaw. “Dr. Stanton?”
“It’s Gray. The instructor called in sick.” His expression was tight, his words tinged with annoyance.
He looked like a Gray: serious, uptight, and grumpy. I bet his apartment was all black, modern lines with no personal effects. I’d gotten pretty good at reading people in LA. I could spot a fake or hanger-on easily now. Gray was the opposite. It seemed like what you saw was what you got. “So, you’re going to be the instructor?”
The thought made me feel energized as if I’d drank several cups of coffee. The cold wind lifted my hair, whipping over my shoulders.
“Just for today.” His lips were set into a straight line like he wasn’t happy. I wasn’t sure if he didn’t want to teach, didn’t want to be around me, or a combination of both.
My heart beat rapidly in my chest as he crouched next to Crew, his face softening, the lines around his mouth smoothing out as he spoke to him.
I stilled, not wanting to move a muscle or say anything that would lower the perpetual shadow over his face. He looked younger like this.
“Has Crew been good?” Gray looked up at me, avoiding Crew’s tongue as he scampered around, wagging his tail in excitement.
“If you call eating my new boots good,” I teased, wondering if my admission would annoy him.
He glanced at my sneaker-clad feet, giving Crew one last pat. “You need to teach him manners.”
The familiar shadow covered his face inch by inch as he rose to stand, the muscles in his shoulders tight.
My shoulders dropped at the return of the Dr. Stanton I’d met in the exam room. “That’s why I’m here.”
“You can stand over there.” His words short, he pointed to the spot next to an older woman and a rambunctious lab.
I sighed, disappointed he was back to his usual self. I took my spot. Something told me getting close to him would be like sidling up to a porcupine. I wondered if I could find a way to push the needles down, would he be soft underneath? I wasn’t interested in a relationship since I just moved here and was starting a new business, but I was intrigued by him.
Gray introduced himself, his voice was mesmerizing as he talked about the clinic, why the clinic offered obedience classes, and how important it was to train your dog early so you didn’t run into behavioral problems later.
I wondered if the dog that had been hit by a car was doing okay. I made a mental note to ask him after class.
He ran through basic commands like sit and stay; then he taught us a little about heeling. Reading about dog training was different than seeing it in person. I listened with rapt attention.
When it was my turn to work with Crew, I was a little nervous trying to mimic the commanding tone of Gray’s voice. Crew wasn’t cooperating. Instead, he pulled on the lead to get closer to the other dogs, and he barked at the squirrel running up the tree. As frustrating as it was, I knew training a puppy would be challenging.
Gray walked around the group, issuing soft-spoken suggestions until his gaze landed on us. Crew took that moment to bark at Gray, pulling on my arm to get closer, his butt wiggling with everything he had. Crew obviously thought Gray was a good person. I already suspected Gray was better with animals than people if our meeting in his exam room was any indication.
“He needs a firm hand. May I?” Gray held his hand out for the leash.
My face heated at his words, my mind going to a completely different place before I recovered. “Of course.”
I offered him the leash, his hand brushing mine, sending awareness through my body. He stepped close. I smelled leather and man, making it difficult to draw a deep breath or think about anything else. I forced myself to focus on his words.
“You’re going to want to use your body language and your tone to assert authority over Crew. You want him to respect you as an alpha.”
“Okay.” He’d mentioned the same to the class. I wasn’t sure how to put that into action.
Gray stepped in front of Crew, holding up a hand, and then issued a firm command to sit.
Crew’s butt was on the ground within a second of the words leaving Gray’s mouth. Gray offered him a treat, praising him.
Of course Crew would listen to him.
“He’s a good dog. You just need to be consistent.” He patted his leg, encouraging Crew to stand before handing the leash back to me.
I nodded, feeling a little discouraged. I wasn’t sure I could replicate what he’d managed to achieve.
“Now, you try.”
He was going to watch me. The added pressure tensed every muscle in my body as I attempted to use the same tone Gray had used when I asked Crew to sit. Crew looked back and forth from me to Gray trying to determine who was in charge.
“You need to be convincing.”
I stepped assertively in between them so that all Crew saw was me holding up my hand in a stop motion before saying clearly and succinctly, “Sit.” I willed him to sit. He hesitated a few seconds before his butt slowly lowered to the ground.
I stood straighter, pleased he’d complied.
“Good. That was better.” Gray’s hand rested on my shoulder briefly. All the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention, the warmth spreading through my jacket.
Before I could say anything, he’d moved away, giving instructions to a woman whose dog was ignoring her repeated commands.
Disappointed he’d moved on to someone else, I watched Gray for a few seconds, impressed by his ability to work with the dogs. There were little moments when I thought there was more to Gray Stanton than his gruff exterior suggested. I wondered who the real Gray was, the man who exuded confidence around animals or the brusque man in the exam room.
He ran through the rest of the lesson without spending any extra time with me. It shouldn’t have bothered me. I barely knew him.
Crew improved slightly as the lesson went on, giving me hope that I was capable of training him. Gray ended the session by reminding us to practice during the week and to make sure the dogs got plenty of exercise.
I waited while one of the men talked to him about theories of dog training before I approached.
Gray raised one brow when he saw me.
“I just wanted to make sure the dog you operated on was doing okay. You know the one that got hit by a car?”
“Athena? Yeah, she’s going to be fine.” He tilted his head, studying me.
Would he think I was being nosy or tell me it was none of my business?
“Did you find a home for her?” I wasn’t sure why it was so important to me, but it was. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the poor dog’s situation since Crew’s appointment.
He shook his head, his forehead wrinkled. “Not yet. I talked to a local rescue to see if they have room for her.”
Could I take her? I didn’t like that she was homeless. However, I had my hands full with Crew. “It’s so sad the family didn’t want to keep her. Does that kind of thing happen a lot?”
“A couple of times a year. I don’t like being asked if I can put a healthy dog down because they don’t want to pay for surgery or whatever care they need. I offer payment plans and pet care insurance, but sometimes people are too proud to ask for help. Other times, they don’t believe in spending a large amount of money for a dog’s care. Surgery’s expensive.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “I don’t know how you do it.”
“I refuse, offering to find the dogs a home when it happens. The owners are usually relieved. They don’t want to kill the dog; they just don’t want to care for it anymore. It’s probably for the best. Then the dog can go to
a home where they can afford to care for them.” His tone was matter of fact.
I could see being put in that position bothered him deeply.
“Still, I can’t imagine giving up Crew because he was hurt.” I couldn’t imagine asking a vet to put Crew down because he needed surgery. There had to be organizations out there who could help so the dog didn’t need to be re-homed or put down.
Crew jumped around us in a circle, eager to get moving.
Gray started walking toward the parking lot. “People don’t realize how expensive dogs are.”
“Yeah. That’s true.” I fell in step with him, Crew between us.
I was acutely aware we were alone. I was happy because it would give me an opportunity to get to know him better. When we reached the lot, the other vehicles were leaving.
I tilted my head slightly, wondering how I could help him. “Who pays for a dog’s surgery if the owners can’t, or won’t?”
He glanced over at the clinic before meeting my gaze. He seemed reluctant to tell me. “I do.”
“Wait, you mean you’re paying for the surgery, not the clinic?” His frustration when we met that I’d gotten a dog with no prior experience came back to me. He was worried I’d taken the decision of getting a puppy lightly. It was presumptuous, yet understandable, given what he’d been through that morning.
“That’s right.”
“Why?”
“My hands are tied. I want to help, but I don’t own the business.” He opened his mouth, then closed it without adding more.
There was more. He was holding back. I waited patiently for him to continue.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets, lowering his voice. “I’m afraid my boss will tell me to comply with the owner’s wishes. I can’t put down a dog with survivable injuries.”
This man, who seemed so grumpy at Crew’s examination, had a heart of gold, at least when it came to animals. “I think that’s amazing.”
Gray’s lips twitched. “I’m not sure Ed would think that. He thinks his client’s wishes come first.”
I placed a finger over my lips, trying to think of some way I could make things better for him. “I could put up a sign at the shop asking people to donate money to pay for Athena’s care if you want.”
“That’s not necessary,” he said each word slowly, seemingly surprised I’d offered.
“The offer stands.” Crew pulled toward my SUV, so I picked him up, placing him on the back seat. When I turned, Gray had taken a few steps back from the vehicle.
I wished he’d take a step toward me, asked me something about myself. The idea was ridiculous. He wouldn’t want to know me if he learned about my past.
I’d gotten a brief glimpse into Gray’s personality this morning. It left me wanting more.
I opened the driver’s side door, settling inside as Gray waved, turning to head inside the clinic.
Gray was unlike anyone I’d ever met. No one in the crowd I hung around with, including the show’s employees, would pay for a dog’s surgery, putting their own job on the line in the process. They were usually out for themselves, or what they could gain from any given situation. What Gray was doing was heroic, even if the life he was saving was an animal’s.
Chapter 4
Gray
Sunday night, I drove down the long lane leading to Henry’s family home, Rigby’s Ranch. I tried to make their weekly family meals whenever I could because I loved home-cooked meals. My apartment was uninviting, so I tried to spend as little time as possible there. Because it was a rental, I didn’t take any pride in it. I certainly didn’t see it as a home.
I ran my fingers through my hair. Ed’s concerns about me were valid, forcing me to challenge the solitary life I’d led the last four years. Ed wanted me to prove I planned to make Telluride my home. It was something I’d never considered until now.
With Elle, I could blame my irritation, that first day, on what happened with Athena, but it wasn’t true. My attraction to her threatened my uncomplicated life. When she approached me during the obedience training class, her beauty struck me in the middle of my chest, sharp and potent. Her hair fell in waves around her face, her cheeks rosy from the cold, and her eyes shone bright with excitement as she looked up at me from under long, black lashes. When she realized who I was, her smile dimmed. As much as I liked her looking at me like that, nothing good could come of it.
Henry’s mother, Rose, had been hinting at both Henry and me to settle down. We always laughed her off. Henry wasn’t ready to settle down for different reasons. He had things in life he wanted to accomplish first, with the ranch, whereas I had nothing to offer a woman.
I stepped onto the porch of the Rigbys’ log farmhouse, knocking on the door. It was different than the traditional farmhouses in Maine. Different enough that living here didn’t bring up any memories of my childhood.
Mrs. Rigby opened the door. “Gray, how many times have I told you that you don’t need to knock?”
“It’s never enough, Mrs. Rigby.” I stepped inside, muscles relaxing as the smell of roasted chicken and fresh-cooked bread reached us.
“And it’s Rose.”
I smiled, not acknowledging her words. The hardwood floors were covered in area rugs; every inch of the walls had western-style pictures or family photos. My gaze caught on one of Henry standing next to me. As much as I enjoyed spending time here, it made me ache for what I didn’t have. I followed Rose into the kitchen.
Henry came into the room. “Good. You’re here.”
“I wouldn’t miss it. It’s my best meal all week.”
Rose smiled with pride. “And don’t you forget that when you meet some nice young woman. You won’t have time for us anymore.”
“Yeah, that’s not happening.” I exchanged a smirk with Henry before Elle’s face popped into my head. At first, my excuse was that I was young. At thirty years old, I wasn’t that young anymore.
Henry smirked. “I heard the owner of the new barbershop is smoking hot, and that she was at the vet clinic with her new puppy.”
Elle. Panic shot through me. “Christ. The gossip in this town is unbelievable.”
Rose looked up in exasperation. “Watch your language.”
I winced. “I’m sorry.”
“Piper’s working there now. She wanted a change from the salon. She said she met Elle a few months ago when she was renovating the shop. I guess Piper asked if she was hiring, then invited her to the bar with us. Elle must have left before I showed up because I never met her.”
“Yeah, I met her.” I had been attracted to her even then. What I remembered was that she kept her head down, her hair covering her face as if she didn’t want to attract attention. She seemed more open now.
I followed Henry to the family room. It was a sunken room with large windows showcasing the fields, the vastness of their land. There was wood paneling on the walls, a braided area rug, and a lamp in the corner that gave off a warm glow. The design was different than the home I’d grown up in. Though the feelings of safety and belonging were the same.
“Where is Piper?” It seemed like she tried to avoid Sunday dinners as much as I wanted to be here.
“Who knows? I think she told Mom she has knitting club or something.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Knitting club?”
“Lame, right? It’s either the worst or the best excuse.”
“It sounds like something she made up. Anyway, I’m going to go check it out this week.” Henry sat in the armchair by the large screen TV, pointing the remote at it to turn it on.
I sat on the couch across from him. “Check out what? Knitting club?”
Henry flipped through the channels until football players filled the screen. “Smoke & Mirrors, the barbershop. I want to see if the owner is as hot as people are saying.”
I’d forgotten the name of the shop was Smoke & Mirrors. I wondered if it had any meaning for her. “Her name is Elle Carmichael.”
He looked from the TV to me.
“So, you did meet her?”
I shifted, uncomfortable with his scrutiny. I didn’t want Rose to find out. If she did, I’d never hear the end of it. “She was at the bar months ago. It was probably when she was renovating the shop. I saw her again at the clinic when she brought in Crew.”
At Henry’s raised brow, I added, “Her puppy.”
I hoped he wouldn’t ask any follow-up questions about the night I ran into her. Touching her was a jolt to my system, shocking me out of my solitary existence. The moment only lasted a few seconds, but I’d wanted to give into temptation, my fingers easing from steadying her balance to wanting to be closer, lowering my head, imagining the feel of her lips under mine.
I ignored my strong desire for self-preservation, giving into baser needs. I wanted more time with this woman. Would she be up for one night? Right before our lips touched, she was the one to jerk back, easing out of my grip. With an apology for running into me, she’d taken a step past me, disappearing. I didn’t know she owned the barbershop. I didn’t think I’d ever see her again.
“What’s she like?” Tourists looking for a good time were plentiful, so I wasn’t sure why Henry was so fixated on her when he usually went for the ones that were only in town for a short time.
“I don’t know much about her except she’s from California, she opened the shop, and she has a puppy.”
Henry’s face fell in disappointment. “Is she hot at least?”
I didn’t want to admit it to him. I didn’t want Henry to lay claim to her. “She’s pretty. If you like the down-to-earth, natural look.”
For reasons I couldn’t quite place, I hoped he didn’t.
Henry sat on the armchair, cradling a beer in his hands. “I usually go for high-maintenance women. Maybe I should go after something else.”
Something about his interest in a woman he hadn’t met yet, irked me. “She’s not your type. She’s here to stay, a business owner. She’s not a tourist, here for a few days then gone.”