About a Dog

by Jenn McKinlay

  She was here because she wanted to see him, plain and simple. With that realization, she had almost thrown the coffee at him and bolted, but then she really would be the crazy stalker she was trying to convince herself that she was not.

  Instead, she hid behind Tulip getting vaccinations as her excuse for being there. She had to admit for an excuse it was a damn good one, but then the people started pouring in. How had Gavin been managing all this since Jane the Pain had left?

  After watching Gavin sign in the mastiff with the sniffles, all of Mac’s accountant skills had been fully engaged and she had happily stepped in to give him a hand. As she met each patient, she noted that some of them had no charges on their accounts. Cheryl Benson, for example, appeared to have had four of her cats treated over the past month and had not paid one red cent.

  Mac happened to know from the aunts’ gossip that Cheryl Benson was loaded. She had been three years ahead of Mac in school and had reigned over them all as the head cheerleader and homecoming queen. She married the captain of the football team, and when that investment didn’t pay out, she had gone on to divorce him and marry an older rich guy, three times in all, and was now newly divorced from the latest oldster and living in one of the mansions in the historic district in town.

  According to the aunts, all Cheryl had to do was go out and shake the money tree, which in her case was a small orchard of ex-husbands paying her a chunk in alimony probably so she would go away, so she was more than capable of paying her vet bill.

  As she approached the counter with her cat carrier in her arms, she looked Mac over. She did not look happy to see her.

  “You’re new, aren’t you?”

  Clearly she didn’t recognize Mac, which was more than fine.

  “It’s my first day,” Mac said, not a total lie.

  “Tell Gavin Cheryl Benson is here, please,” she said.

  “Certainly, Ms. Benson,” she said.

  “Gavin calls me Cheryl,” she said. “We’re very close.”

  Mac was betting they were not nearly as close as Cheryl would like. It was clear from Cheryl’s outfit that she was trolling for a man, namely Gavin. Wearing an off-the-shoulder eyelet blouse with a push-up bra beneath it on top of leggings with platform pumps, Cheryl was strutting her stuff. Add to that the full-face makeup and artfully tousled pixie cut of her dark hair and she was clearly a woman on the prowl.

  Yeah, not on Mac’s watch. She glanced at Cheryl’s record. It seemed she came in twice a week to visit Gavin with one cat or another and she never paid for her visits. Knowing Gavin, he didn’t want to charge her because there was nothing wrong with her cats, but for Mac, she was eating up his professional office time so if she wanted to stalk him, argh, she was going to have to pay for the privilege.

  “How nice that you’re friends,” Mac said. “If you could just give me your payment information, I’ll go ahead and send you into an exam room.”

  “Excuse me?” Cheryl asked.

  “Your payment information,” Mac said. “I’m afraid I’ll need that before you can see the doctor. Judging by my records, and I’m doing quick math here so forgive me if the actual cost is higher, but I believe you owe the doctor somewhere in the vicinity of about four hundred dollars. Now, will that be debit or credit?”

  “How dare you,” Cheryl snapped. “I told you we are friends. He doesn’t charge me, you idiot, now tell him I’m here.”

  “Sorry, he’s with a patient,” Mac said. “You see, here in the office this is business, and if Dr. Tolliver is seeing your pet here, you have to pay him. Now, friends meet outside of the office to spend time together, so if you’re such good friends, I’m sure that’s where you’ll be doing your socializing with him.” Mac held out her hand. “Your card.”

  Cheryl looked like she wanted to spit in Mac’s hand. Instead, she said, “I don’t think so. I’ll be talking to Gavin about you. We’ll just see if you have a job after today.”

  “Oh, I’ll have a job,” Mac said. “And I believe it will entail calling a collection agency to pursue any outstanding debt of, oh, let’s say over one hundred dollars. That seems reasonable, don’t you think?”

  Cheryl looked like she wanted to reach across the counter and rip Mac’s hair out. Instead, she slapped her credit card onto the counter and fumed. Mac ran the charges and had Cheryl sign the slip.

  “Did you want to see Dr. Tolliver now?” Mac asked. “We can run that bill after your visit.”

  “No, thank you,” Cheryl snapped. She clutched her cat carrier to her chest and stormed out of the office as her cat yowled all the way.

  And so went the rest of the morning with a nonstop parade of furry patients and a couple of scaly and feathered ones as well.

  “Ooph!” Mac slumped down into her seat in an exhausted heap. The lobby was clear and suddenly all she wanted to do was put her head on the desk and take a power nap.

  “Call me if you don’t see any changes in Pip’s condition,” Gavin said.

  Mac straightened up as Gavin walked Mrs. Whitaker out with her Yorkshire terrier in her arms. She was an elderly lady, who lived in the center of town and her dog Pipsqueak was her constant companion.

  “Thank you, Dr. Tolliver,” she said. “I don’t know what we’d do without you. Say good-bye, Pip.” She waved Pip’s paw at Gavin and Mac before she exited through the door.

  “Holy bananas,” Mac said. “Is it always that busy?”

  “No,” he said. “Usually, it’s worse.”

  Mac laughed and Gavin smiled. He sat on the edge of the desk and Tulip came out of her sleeping spot and began to sniff his legs to see who all he had been spending his time with. Gavin reached down and rubbed her ears.

  “I suppose we missed the vaccination clinic,” Mac said.

  Gavin glanced at the clock. “By a little more than two and a half hours. It’s okay though; I’m sure I can fit you in.”

  “Two and a half hours?” Mac shot a look at the clock and then jumped to her feet. “Ack! I’m late. I’m supposed to meet Emma at the church to listen to music. I don’t have time to get Tulip home and get back. I’m the worst maid of honor ever. Emma’s going to kill me!”

  “Mac, relax,” he said. He caught her arms and held her still. “Tulip can stay with me and I’ll get her shots done. You go listen to music and come back when you’re done. Okay?”

  “Are you sure?” Mac asked. She gave him a warning look. “She gets into things.”

  “After all the help you gave me this morning, it’s the least I can do,” he said. “Go.”

  He released her arms and gave her a gentle push toward the door.

  Mac grabbed her heavy bag and draped it across her body. She kissed Tulip’s head and said, “Be good.”

  Tulip thumped her tail on the floor, which Mac took as a solemn promise of good behavior, or at least the promise that she’d try. Good enough.

  Chapter 19

  Mac had expected the time spent in the church to be an ordeal, and at first it was. They listened to so many classical pieces that they all blended together and Mac felt like she was no use at all. Of course, it didn’t help that a part of her spent every second in the church looking for an escape hatch.

  Finally, when Emma had winnowed it down to two classical pieces, Mac called Brad at the brewery and had him weigh in on the decision. He wasn’t jazzed about either, then he asked the pianist if he knew the piano version of “Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop” by Landon Pigg.

  When the music director started to play it, Emma let out a soft sigh and they all knew it was the one. When she turned to look at Mac, Emma’s eyes were watery and Mac felt her own throat get tight.

  “It’s going to be the most beautiful wedding ever,” she said. She hugged Emma close as they both smiled through their tears.

  Mac glanced up at the vaulted ceiling and the pretty stained gl
ass windows that colored the sunbeams that flooded into the sanctuary. She had thought being in this space would be hard, that it would bring back all of her humiliation and shame, but instead, as she stood beside her best friend, she felt uplifted.

  She realized it was easy to be here for people that she loved. This wedding wasn’t about her. In fact, it had nothing to do with her at all. So she was going to be just fine standing at this altar as maid of honor and watching two wonderful people commit their lives together. After all, what could be better than that?

  She parted company with Emma on the church steps, feeling more optimistic about the wedding than she had since Emma had asked her to stand up for her.

  Mac was halfway across the green when she saw them. Gavin was holding the end of a chew toy rope and Tulip was galloping after him trying to get it. He started to go one way and then faked her out and went another way. Tulip tried to hit the brakes and turn around but ended up rolling tail over floppy ears in a comical wipeout that made Gavin laugh.

  It barely slowed the puppy down and she jumped to her feet and gave chase again. Gavin was ahead of her but when Tulip put on the speed, she got tangled up in his feet. As Mac watched in horror, Gavin flailed his arms in a desperate bid to gain his balance, which failed spectacularly and he went down hard on his back.

  “Gav!” Mac shouted and sprinted across the green grass toward him. She dumped her bag and dropped to her knees beside him. “Are you all right?”

  Tulip was standing on his chest and licking his face as if she could kiss it better. Mac grabbed her collar and pulled her off, handing her the chew toy rope that had been abandoned on the ground.

  “Gah, it’s always on the mouth with that one,” Gavin said and he wiped the dog spit from his face.

  Having been on the end of Tulip’s kisses, Mac couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Are you hurt?” she asked as she leaned over him, looking for scrapes or contusions.

  “Depends,” he said. “Does bruised dignity count as an injury?”

  “It won’t get you any boo-boo kisses,” she teased. “But, yeah, it does smart.”

  “Really?” he asked. “There has to be blood loss for boo-boo kisses? That doesn’t seem fair. Wait! I’m pretty sure I’ve got a scrape. Here?”

  He pointed to his forehead. It was fine. Mac shook her head at him.

  “How about here?” He pointed to his cheek.

  Again, Mac shook her head, but she felt a seductive heat swelling within her when she caught the wicked twinkle in his eyes and she was sure it showed on her face. She felt locked in by the heat in his baby blues, and she couldn’t look away even though she knew she should.

  “How about h—?” Gavin began but was interrupted by the arrival of Zach and Sam.

  “What’s up, kids? What are you two doing, taking a siesta?” Zach asked. He sprawled out on the grass next to Gavin. “Hey, look! That cloud is in the shape of a pair of boobies.”

  “Lady present,” Sam reminded him. He kicked Zach’s shoe and then plopped down onto the grass beside him.

  “Sorry, Mac,” Zach said.

  “Oh, wow, it really does look like a pair of palookas,” Sam said. He glanced at Mac. “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine,” she said. She felt Gavin’s eyes on her face and she turned to see him staring at her with an intensity that made her insides spasm. Her throat went dry and her voice was hoarse when she said, “Well, I’d better go.”

  Gav’s eyes narrowed and he was looking at her lips as if all he could think about was kissing her. Mac was pretty sure she was going to combust on the spot. Her phone chimed in her bag and she jumped to her feet and grabbed it.

  “I’d better take that,” she said. She picked up the end of Tulip’s leash and rose to her feet. As she ran away, because there was no way to pretend that wasn’t exactly what she was doing, she called over her shoulder, “See ya, fellas.”

  She was ten steps away before she could get her brain to command her fingers to answer her phone.

  “Hello?” she said.

  “Mac, babe, how are you?”

  Trevor! Mac almost dropped her phone. Instead she looked down at the dog beside her and tried to ground herself.

  “Uh, hi,” she said. She quickened her pace, trying to put distance between her and Gavin.

  “Are you all right?” he asked. “You sound weird.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine, must be the international cell connection,” Mac suggested.

  She was so not fine! She had been moments away from kissing her best friend’s little brother in front of the entire town of Bluff Point. And the real pisser was that a small part of her, a teeny tiny part, still wanted to. She must be losing her mind.

  She brought Trevor’s image to mind. She had to get a grip. Clearly, coming home had rattled her more than she realized. She blew out a breath. Thank goodness Trevor had called to get her head back in the right space.

  “Long distance on cell phones is the worst,” Trevor said. “So, how goes Emma’s wedding extravaganza?”

  “Really well,” Mac said. She told him about picking the music and how the aunts were faring. “How goes the business venture?”

  Trevor told her about the negotiations. He was in his element, loving every bit of the battle for each clause and amendment to the contract. Mac could just see him in his hotel. His tie would be loose at his collar, his jacket would be thrown over a chair, his dark brown hair would be rumpled from his fingers plowing through it, and he would be contemplating the room service menu, wanting to order a steak but opting for the healthier chicken instead.

  “But enough about me,” Trevor said. “What else has been happening? It’s not weird that I’m calling, is it? I just wanted to know how you’re doing, you know . . .”

  “With us taking a break and all?” Mac asked. They both knew that the break had not been her choice.

  “Yeah,” he said. “You’re not mad, are you?”

  Mac took a moment to think that over. Trevor hadn’t mentioned taking a break until the night before he left. She had stopped by his apartment to wish him a good trip and while she watched him pack, he had proposed that they take advantage of his absence to be single for a while. Mac had been stunned. She had acquiesced mostly because she was too surprised to do anything else.

  “No, I’m not mad,” she said. That was true. She’d never been angry about their separation, just confused.

  “Oh, good,” he said. “So, it’s going okay?”

  Mac could hear the anxiety in his voice and she wondered if he was reconsidering their break. Well, since he was the one who had proposed it, he’d have to be the one to end it, too. A girl’s pride could only take so much waffling.

  “Yeah, it’s okay,” she said. “And you?”

  “Good,” he said.

  An awkward silence filled the line that had nothing to do with a bad cell connection. Mac finally took pity on them both.

  “I found a dog,” she said as she turned onto Elizabeth Street. As if she knew she was the topic of conversation, Tulip looked up at Mac with her tongue hanging out of her mouth and her mouth curved up like she was smiling. Mac rubbed her soft head and felt her heart melt.

  “What do you mean?” Trevor asked.

  “I was walking through an alley and there she was,” Mac said. “She’s young; about three or four months, a brown and black brindle with the funniest swirls of color on her forehead. She’s quite adorable.”

  “But you’re not keeping it, are you?” he asked.

  “Well, no, I wasn’t planning to,” Mac said.

  “Good. You know I’m horribly allergic and it would make it impossible for me to come over to your place,” he said.

  “They make allergy medicine for that sort of thing,” Mac said.

  She resisted the urge to point out that since they were taking a break,
he might not have to worry about coming over to her place. Then again, if he was thinking like that, maybe he was also thinking that their break was not a permanent thing. A week ago, she would have been so relieved but now, well, now she wasn’t sure.

  “Babe, in my position, I can’t take anything that might make me drowsy. You know that, Mac,” he said. His tone was reproachful and Mac sighed. She knew he never took anything that might impair his abilities in the boardroom.

  “I’m just taking care of her while I’m here,” Mac said.

  He was silent for a moment as if processing this new development. “All right, but you should probably unload it as soon as possible. You don’t want to get attached.”

  “I won’t,” Mac said. She knew her tone was belligerent but she couldn’t help it. She really didn’t like his bossy tone.

  “Mac, think,” he said. “You’re a career girl who works sixteen-hour days, how could you possibly care for a puppy. It wouldn’t be fair to it.”

  “It’s a she,” Mac said. “And she’s part pit bull so she’s tougher than you’d think.”

  “A pit bull? Good Christ, Mac, they’re vicious beasts,” he said. “For your own safety, you need to get rid of it. Take it to the pound today and let them deal with it.”

  “But they’ll likely euthanize her,” she protested.

  “Which is probably for the best,” he said.

  “I have to go,” Mac said. She was standing on the curb in front of her house and she was so angry, it was taking all that she had not to throw her phone on the ground and curb stomp it into a million pieces.

  “Listen, I’m not trying to be a jerk,” Trevor said. His voice was placating. “It’s just that you’re thousands of miles away from me, with a strange dog, a pit bull, no less. Mac, hon, I’m just worried about you. Wouldn’t you be worried about me if the situation was reversed?”

  She could hear the concern in his voice and she knew it was legitimate. He was right. She would be worried about him if he was thousands of miles away and had picked up a stray dog; of course, that was mostly because she knew how he felt about dogs, but still.