by Julie Benson
Her mom had been right. He’d been running from his father and his past. No wonder he hadn’t wanted to return to Estes Park. Why couldn’t he see what strength it took for him to be here?
But what about her? When she thought of her childhood, Reed was there in almost every memory. She suspected the same was true for him. Did that mean being with her dredged up things he’d rather keep buried? And if it did, could they ever move past that?
She refused to think about that.
Just enjoy being with him, and worry about the future later. You’ve got time. At least a year.
“You look like you could use some caffeine.”
She turned to find Reed beside her, a white Starbucks cup in his hands and an endearing grin on his face.
“Tell me that’s a nonfat vanilla latte.”
He nodded, handed her the cup and kissed her cheek. “Some things about you never change.”
She sipped her drink and felt the warmth seep into her. Heat from the coffee and from Reed’s fervent gaze.
“I needed that.” She glanced around. “Where’s Jess?”
“I dropped her and Thor at the shelter. She’s helping Carly with the animals she’s bringing. What can I do? Consider me your executive assistant.”
“Cool.” She grinned wickedly at him. “My own personal assistant.”
“Not that personal. At least, not here.”
“Later?”
“Absolutely.” He kissed her lightly, and electricity dashed through her from his tender touch. “What happens at one of these things?”
Avery pointed to the trail near the dog park. “Our vendors and sponsors set up tables along here. It’s kind of like a mini pet mall. We’ve got pet products, rescue groups and local businesses. We’ve even got an airbrush artist this year who will paint a picture of someone’s pet on a T-shirt or a hat. The best part is, he’s donating a portion of his sales today.” She pointed to the large shelter. “We’ll have brats, chips and drinks for sale there. We’ve got a lot of people who are walking for pledges today, and they’ll follow the trail.”
“This is quite a production. I had no idea the event was this big. I’m impressed.”
His genuine praise flowed over her.
“Avery?” Emma’s voice came over the walkie-talkie in her pocket. “Grant Timmons wants to know if you picked up the podium from the church.”
“It’s in the back of my truck.” She turned to Reed. “Since you have so wonderfully demonstrated what great shape you’re in this week, would you mind providing a little extra muscle?” When he nodded, she spoke into the walkie-talkie. “I’m sending Reed to the parking lot. He’ll help Grant unload the podium and get it in place.”
While Reed saw to that task, Avery checked in with Carly to see what adoptable animals she’d brought to the event. She found her and a group of volunteers clustered around the shelter van unloading dogs. Hopefully a few of these souls would find forever homes today.
“How many dogs did you bring?”
“I’ve got seven. I’ll go back for the cats. I thought I’d bring ten for the cat corner we’ll set up in the small shelter.”
Feeling Carly had things under control, Avery had turned to leave when she heard a particular bark. No. It couldn’t be. Carly wouldn’t. But as Avery stood there watching, Carly opened a crate and out jumped Baxter.
“Carly, can I speak with you for a second?” She pointed to a spot ten feet away under a group of trees.
“You brought Baxter? Carly, what were you thinking?”
“I was thinking this is his best shot to find a home.” The dog strained against the leash the vet tech held. “Baxter, sit.”
The dog barked and tugged harder.
“Baxter, sit,” Avery said in her authoritative veterinarian voice. Instead of obeying, the dog jumped up on her. “Down.” This time when he failed to listen, she stepped away, out of leash range. “We’ve never had a dog fight or an animal running loose before. I don’t want to start today. Not when we’ve got so much at stake, and somehow Baxter always brings chaos with him.”
Kind of like someone else she knew, though Reed appeared to be on his best behavior today.
“We’ve got to give Baxter this chance. I’ll put a harness on him and have Nikki take him. She can handle him,” Carly said, referring to one of their most experienced volunteers. Then she scratched Baxter’s head. “How can you say no to this face? He deserves a shot to find his forever home.”
How could she refuse that pitch? “I’ll trust your judgment, but at the first sign of trouble, he’s gone.” Avery glared at the dog. “Got that, buddy? You don’t get three strikes today. One and you’re out. Don’t blow this chance.”
For the next hour Avery spoke with various vendors and sponsors as they set up their displays along the walkway. As she stood chatting with one of their biggest donors, the owner of the area pet cemetery, her phone rang. After mumbling a quick apology, she tugged it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen. Principal Jacobson. The high-school principal was scheduled to be one of the contest judges. When she answered, she discovered he’d eaten some bad sushi and wasn’t going to be able to make it. She assured him it was fine and told him she hoped he felt better soon.
“One of your judges can’t come?” Reed asked as she shoved her phone into her pocket.
“We’ll be fine. I still have two judges.” Harper and her teenage niece. Great. That meant Harper would be running the show. Avery chided herself for being so negative. Harper would be fine. She just didn’t seem to get that these contests weren’t really about who was “best,” but about who showed the most heart. Last year’s pet-lookalike winner had been a six-year-old girl with long curly brown hair and her white miniature poodle. When she was asked how she and her dog looked alike, she responded, “We’re both beautiful inside and out,” winning over the audience and the judges.
“I can fill in.”
Reed’s offer caught her off guard, but she was happy to take any help she could get.
“That would be great,” she said, and proceeded to fill him in on his duties, emphasizing that the events were meant to be fun and lighthearted.
With Reed at her side, she touched base with the remaining business people and sponsors. An important part of her duties included making sure everyone felt appreciated for their support and participation in the event, no matter how small.
“I get it now,” Reed said after they spoke with an insurance agent. “You’re really like a CEO.”
She nodded. “Just on a smaller, more personal scale. But that’s not why I went to vet school. When the shelter’s doing well enough, I’ll be glad to hire someone to take over my director duties.”
“You don’t enjoy that part of your job?”
She explained that when she’d taken the position, the plan had been that the shelter would hire a part-time director within six months. “I love being associated with the shelter and helping animals that don’t have anyone. I love working with people, but I want to do more education, more working with pet owners. A lot of what I do now is management-related, writing grants and budgeting. Not exactly my thing.”
A few feet in front of her, Avery spotted a familiar face and smiled. “Mrs. Russell, how are you today?”
“I’m still here, so I must be doing fairly well.” Then the woman turned to Reed. “Do you remember me, young man?”
Avery stiffened. Reed had taken a class with Mrs. Russell in junior high, but would he remember the woman after all these years? “Reed’s been gone a long time, Mrs. Russell, but I’m sure—”
“How could I forget you? I think of you every time I make pizza. I still use the recipe I got in your class.”
The eighty-year-old blushed like a schoolgirl and patted Reed’s hand. “I can admit it now that I’m reti
red—you were one of my favorite students. You didn’t think cooking was beneath you, and you were always willing to help other students who were culinarily challenged.”
“That’s kind of you to say, ma’am.”
“I’m proud of you both,” Mrs. Russell continued. “Avery, you’re doing wonderful work at the shelter, and, Reed, I hear you’ve made quite a name for yourself in the business world.”
Not wanting that part of his life to intrude today, Avery asked, “Are you entering Chandra in the best-dressed pet contest?”
“Of course, dear. She’s got to defend her title.”
Reed grinned and raised his hand. “I’ve got to stop you right there. As one of the judges, I shouldn’t be hearing this. I take my responsibilities very seriously.”
“We wouldn’t want anyone saying Chandra had an unfair advantage because a judge heard that she’s won the contest the last three years in a row,” Mrs. Russell stated, her tone and expression serious.
“Exactly,” Reed responded.
Avery checked her watch. “It’s later than I thought. We need to head toward the contest area.” When they arrived at the designated spot, Avery took the podium, thanked everyone for attending and asked all contest participants to head toward the open area near the baseball field.
At eleven o’clock, on the dot, she called forward the first contestants in the best-dressed category, a girl named Eva and her shih tzu, dressed in a pink tutu. “Are you a dancer?”
“Tiffany and I both like to dance.” Then she and her pet demonstrated. The dog stood on her hind legs, bounced a little and then twirled, while her owner pirouetted beside her.
The crowd clapped, and Avery asked the pair to parade before the judges’ table.
When they reached Reed, he smiled, scribbled notes on the sheet in front of him, and said, “You two are great dancers.”
Next, Avery called forward Mrs. Russell and Chandra. The toy poodle wore a white wedding dress complete with a veil and tiara. “Now, this is a dress any bride would envy,” Avery said into the microphone.
“I had so much fun making this for Chandra. My neighbor Eleanor was going to bring her poodle, Max. I made him a tux and top hat, but she had another engagement.”
The crowd laughed at Mrs. Russell’s choice of words.
“That’s too bad. I’m sure Chandra and Max make a beautiful couple. Now, if you’ll walk over to the judges—”
“We know the routine, dear.”
Avery smiled as the elderly woman sauntered to the judges’ table, Chandra following, her silk train trailing behind her.
“Mrs. Russell, the dress is amazing. Chandra looks radiant,” Reed said when the pair reached him.
As Avery called forward the last contestant, Jacob, a young boy dressed in a Broncos jersey, and his dog, Harry, a Lab mix wearing a similar shirt, she smiled at how Reed was throwing himself into the spirit of the contests. Who would’ve figured? After chatting with the boy, she sent him to parade in front of the judges.
“I’m a big Broncos fan, too. Who’s your favorite player?” Reed asked.
“Von Miller,” Jacob said. Then he frowned. “I don’t stand a chance of winning against that wedding dress.”
“Chandra’s a tough act to beat for best-dressed.” Reed tilted his head toward Harper and the other judge, a high-school cheerleader. “Especially with two female judges.”
The boy nodded in male understanding.
Avery drifted closer to better hear the conversation.
“There’s still the pet-lookalike contest. I think you’d stand a good chance in that one.”
When the young boy beamed, Avery’s heart swelled. She’d always known Reed had a soft heart. He didn’t see it, but actions like this told Avery that he’d be a good father.
Minutes later, after she’d announced that Chandra was the winner of the best-dressed contest, she saw Jacob talking to Emma—she hoped about entering the lookalike contest. Mrs. Russell gushed over her prize, a gift certificate for a portrait of Chandra in her winning costume, provided by the airbrush artist at the event.
When Emma brought her the contestant list for the lookalike contest, Avery saw Jacob’s name. Despite some tough competition from a bald man and his bulldog, Jacob and Harry ended up walking away with the win and a basket full of dog treats and toys donated by the Pet Palace.
When the contests were over, Avery reminded the crowd about the Frisbee-catching exhibition and K-9 police dog demonstrations. The day couldn’t have been going any better.
“Baxter! Come back!” Carly shouted.
Avery closed her eyes. She’d jinxed it.
She glanced toward the vendor area. People scrambled on the pathway to catch Baxter or get out of his way, she didn’t know which. The sound of raised voices and dogs barking, punctuated with periodic screams, grew deafening as she raced toward the bedlam.
“The escape artist is here?” Reed asked as he raced beside her.
“We’ve got to catch him before anyone gets hurt or we have a dog fight on our hands.”
Visions of lawsuits danced in her head.
“We’ll get him.” Reed assured her.
“Look for his bright orange Adopt Me vest.”
“I see him,” Reed said. “Go right, toward the Pet Palace booth.”
She ran, calling Baxter’s name.
“Baxter, come!” Reed’s booming voice, ringing with authority, cut through the turmoil.
Avery stared in disbelief as the blasted dog froze, turned their way and calmly trotted toward them. When Baxter reached them, he lunged for Reed.
“Sit,” Reed commanded as he grabbed the dog’s leash.
The dog plopped down beside Reed and shoved his black nose into Reed’s hand, his tail creating a decent breeze as it wagged.
“Wow, how’d you do that?” a breathless Carly asked when she joined them. “He won’t listen to anyone, especially when he’s on the lam.”
Reed shrugged. “Beats me. Dogs don’t usually like me.”
But Avery knew. There was something in Baxter that connected with Reed. They didn’t know much about the dog’s past. The police had brought him in as a stray. His shaggy coat had been so matted they’d had to completely shave him. He’d been a good ten pounds underweight and somewhat standoffish, but something about Baxter had tugged at the staff’s hearts. She thought about what her mother had said: that boy’s been running for years. That was it. Both Reed and Baxter had survived tough pasts. Avery bit her lip as tears filled her eyes. What would it take for Reed to stop running?
“I’m sorry, Avery. You were right. I never should’ve brought Baxter.” Carly reached for the leash.
Baxter whined and pressed himself against Reed’s thigh.
“I’ll take him back to the shelter.” This time when Carly reached for the leash, Baxter barked.
“Stop it,” Reed snapped, and the dog quieted. “I’ll get him to the van.”
“I don’t know, Reed,” Avery said.
“Trust me.”
His low voice ricocheted through her. This was more about them than it was about Baxter. Reed’s gaze, open and yet beseeching, tugged at her heart.
Trust him? If she loved him, how could she not trust him? She nodded. “I do.”
* * *
AS REED WALKED BESIDE AVERY, Baxter trotting alongside them, he realized he’d seen a different side of her today. They actually had more in common workwise than he’d thought.
Through watching her, he remembered what life could be like as part of a close-knit community. He’d actually enjoyed talking with the townspeople there, and they’d seemed genuinely interested in his life since leaving Estes Park. The pity he’d seen in people’s eyes growing up had been absent today. He’d felt almost as if he belonged.
Because of Avery.
“I don’t know how we’re ever going to get this guy adopted now.” She glared at the dog, who appeared oblivious to her irritation. “You’ll be forever known as the holy terror who ran amok at the Pet Walk.”
“You really think he won’t find a home?”
“I’ve always said there’s a person for every dog. It just takes a while sometimes, but he’s been here so long already. He’s been returned once and now this.”
“How long do you give him before you—” He couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
“We’re a no-kill shelter, so he won’t be euthanized, but staying so long isn’t good for an animal. Volunteers interact with them, but after a while they can become depressed.”
He stared at the mutt, who responded by wagging his tail. Jess had been right. There was something about this dog.
Don’t look to me for help, buddy. Hit up some other guy. I’ve got enough problems.
“How about I take you out to dinner tonight?” Reed said, needing to change the subject.
Avery frowned. “I’d love to, but after we’re done cleaning up here, we have to count the money, do some preliminary accounting and prepare the bank deposit.”
He leaned down and kissed her lightly. “I’ll be waiting when you’re done.”
* * *
LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Avery sat at her desk with the shelter’s bookkeeper, Mary Beth, reconciling pledges and preparing the bank deposit. Piles of checks, cash and Pet Walk paperwork were spread out in front of them.
“Do you have the numbers yet? How did we do?” Emma poked her head inside the office door.
“Once Mary Beth gets the donation jar money tallied, we’ll have the totals.”
“Look who I found knocking at the back door.” Emma stepped aside and Reed materialized in the doorway, a take-out food bag in his hands.
“I know Avery didn’t eat much at the event, so I brought dinner for everyone.” He walked across her office and placed the sack on her credenza. The spicy tang of barbecue filled the room. “I’ll even play waiter. We’ve got barbecue-beef sandwiches, coleslaw, potato salad and baked beans.”