Last Chances

by Jeanne Bannon

  Eight

  Hayden hadn’t felt this way with any other woman since Shaun. He hadn’t expected such an eruption of desire. He looked at her then, the moonlight shining off her thick, dark hair, highlighting the angles of her face, her sensual mouth. He wanted more of her, but when he slipped a hand under her coat and around her waist to pull her closer, she shook her head.

  “Can we talk for a bit?”

  He’d do anything to make her happy, even push his own desires to the back burner, to simmer. “Of course.”

  “What happened?” Pressley whispered and without asking what she meant, he answered, because he knew. He told her about Shaun, about the car accident that took her life three months before they were to be married. He told her how he struggled, how he’d gone off the deep end for a while and tried to drink away his sorrows. He told her about Shaun, too. About her ideals and love of animals and how Pressley reminded him of her.

  Pressley confessed how she’d thought he was gay, making Hayden roar with laughter. “Really, do I give off that vibe?”

  “No, that’s why I was confused.”

  “But I get it. Shaun’s not a typical name for a woman. Her real name was Jane and she hated it. She was a firecracker! Feisty and strong-willed. The name suited her.”

  “Sounds like a great woman,” Pressley said, feeling a little deflated. She wasn’t anything like Shaun from the sounds of it. How Hayden could say she reminded him of her was baffling, but she loved it nonetheless.

  “So, what should we do now?” Hayden asked.

  Pressley checked the time on the dashboard. “Maybe I should go home. Work tomorrow.” She didn’t know why she’d said that. The last thing she wanted was to leave this man. She wanted to stay with Hayden, to talk more, to learn about him, and of course, she wanted more of his kisses.

  “I’ve got a better idea.” Hayden threw the truck into drive and smiled when Pressley let loose with a barrage of questions. It wasn’t that she was unhappy to be with him, just that surprises weren’t her favorite thing. She liked to be in control and that meant knowing where he was taking her right now.

  When they pulled up in front of a PetSmart five minutes later, Hayden took Pressley’s hand and said, “Let’s grab a few things for Jasper. He’s going to need some stuff if he’s being adopted.” He threw her a wink.

  Pressley’s heart jumped for joy. “So, it’s going to happen? I really am going to get Jasper?”

  “Let’s just say I’ll do my best to make it happen, but I really wanted to tell you about Jasper’s past before you decided. It made me feel better because I felt like I was forcing him on you.”

  “No, I want to give him a home — a real home for once in his life. You’re not forcing me to do anything. I admit that I’m nervous. It’ll take some time before Jasper and I are comfortable with each other, but I really think everything will be fine,” Pressley said. “So then, Janet’s on board?”

  Hayden took a breath and let it out slowly. “No, that’s one of the road blocks we’re facing, but don’t worry, I’ll convince her. I have no worries about that and neither should you. There are a few legal obstacles to get past, but hey, look where we are.” He pointed to the store. “Let’s go get Jasper some nice new things. My treat.”

  * * * * *

  Pressley was back in her car and on her way home. Her back seat stuffed with food, treats, a doggie bed and other necessities every dog owner needed. She’d said her goodbyes to Hayden in the parking lot at the park. Another long, lovely kiss, followed by a hug she never wanted to end.

  That evening, Pressley would go to bed still drunk on the lingering feel of Hayden’s lips on hers and the warmth of his body as he’d pulled her close. It had been a long time since Pressley had been kissed and something had been awakened. Her therapist would have been proud of her, and if she was still seeing him, she was sure he would be happy for her, too.

  Nine

  “Are you out of your mind?” Janet said when Pressley walked through the door the next morning. The small woman stood with her hands firmly planted on her hips. “You want to adopt Jasper? That dog will rip you to pieces, or if not you, someone else. He’s a lost cause, hon.” When she saw Pressley’s smile fade Janet’s expression changed from shock to sorrow. “Don’t get me wrong, I feel bad too, and when I first started here way back when, I wanted to take home every single one of them pups and kitties.”

  Pressley had steeled herself for Janet’s protestations, but couldn’t help to defend her position. “I’m adopting the dog, Janet. Hayden said it was fine. I’ve got everything set up at my place. I even have a muzzle for him until he gets used to his new home. Plus, I took down a few names and numbers from the bulletin board. I’m going to arrange for his care during the day when I’m at work. It’s all covered.”

  Pressley walked over to her desk and plopped into her chair. It rolled away and as if it had a mind of its own, and even turned her around so she wasn’t facing Janet.

  The sound of people whispering turned her back around. Pressley saw Hayden standing inside the office door, just a foot away from Janet. He gave her a smile and a wave. Then he stepped into the office and sat on the corner of Janet’s desk.

  Janet held up a stilling hand and shook her head. “Don’t bother trying to talk me into it, Hayden. Jasper’s more dog than she can handle. And, you don’t have to tell me how we’re a no-kill shelter and how it’s our mission to do everything in our power to find homes for all our animals.”

  Suddenly, his face was a thundercloud. “And to keep the ones we can’t find homes for, here at the shelter,” Hayden finished. “Have you forgotten about Jasper’s appointment with Dr. Graham next week?”

  “I would keep him, if I could! That would be the one and only option we’d have for that dog, but he’s not a candidate.” Janet’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Jasper bit Shaun, remember? I know you do. Three stitches, Hayden, remember? You want that to happen to Pressley, too?”

  “Hey, I’m right here,” Pressley interjected. “Can I be part of this conversation?”

  Hayden turned to her. “Sorry, of course you can.”

  “Is that true? About Jasper biting Shaun?” Pressley asked.

  Janet’s eyes widened. “She knows about Shaun? My oh my, things are happening faster than the speed of light around here!”

  Hayden nodded. “Yes, I told her.” He turned to Pressley. “Jasper bit her the day he was rescued and brought here. He was scared, not vicious but ever since then, he’s been labeled a dangerous animal.”

  “And you don’t think he is?” Janet asked. “Maybe we should go on out back and see if he’ll let you pet him.”

  “You know he dislikes men,” Hayden said. “He comes by that mistrust naturally. Can’t blame the poor animal.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t be sticking my hand in the cage to give him a scratch behind the ears any time soon,” Janet said.

  Hayden sighed in frustration. “Call the family, see what they say. They own this place. It’ll have to be their decision.”

  Janet’s lips pursed to a thin line as she eyed Hayden. It looked as if there was going to be a standoff when Hayden abruptly turned and began to walk away. “We’ll talk later,” he called over his shoulder.

  Once the door at the end of the hall slammed, Janet turned to Pressley and narrowed her eyes. Pressley noticed the shimmer of Janet’s blue eye shadow and tried not to wince at what was coming.

  “You’ve been here less than a week and all hell’s breaking loose over that dog,” Janet protested.

  “Jasper likes me, Janet. He let me pet him twice now and both you and Hayden know that’s not like him. What if I just take him home for a day or two and see what happens?”

  Janet wagged a finger, opened her mouth to protest but thought better of it. “Look, I have to call the Westons: Shaun’s family. They own this place and a lot of other places around town, too. They’re richer than God but at least they’re doing some good with their money. Th
ey keep us adequately funded, but I suspect there’ll be legal ramifications if we let you take a dog out of here with behavioral problems.” A slow smile blossomed on her face, and Pressley was taken aback.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’ve never seen Hayden like this, at least not for one heck of a long time,” Janet said.

  “Like what?”

  Janet sat and clasped her hands in her lap. “Remember what I told you on your first day?”

  “You mean about how I shouldn’t take it personally if Hayden doesn’t speak to me?” Pressley said.

  Janet tapped the tip of her nose with her pointer finger. “Bingo! He keeps to himself. It’s unusual for him to even wander from the back room out here to the office, let alone speak up on anyone’s behalf. You must have made quite an impression on him. And don’t think I didn’t notice how he looked at you. Don’t tell me you and Hayden went on a date?”

  Pressley bit her lip to keep from smiling.

  Janet looked around and then her voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone. “He’s a complicated guy — always was in some ways, but since Shaun’s death, he clammed up real good. That was a little over a year ago and he hasn’t been the same since, understandably so, but if he likes you, take it from me, that’s a mighty big deal. I’d grab on tight if I were you. Men like him don’t come around every day.”

  She put a hand on Pressley’s shoulder. “You know how I feel about you taking Jasper.” She sighed. “But, you may not just be saving that dog, you might be saving Hayden, too. All I ask is that you be careful with him. He’s still fragile.”

  This time, Pressley did smile. “I wouldn’t hurt him, Janet. Not for the world.”

  “I’ve got a phone call to make,” her boss said as she plucked up the receiver of the phone on her desk. “I don’t like it one bit, but let’s see what the Westons have to say about letting you adopt Jasper. They’ve got the final say after all.”

  Ten

  “I can’t get a hold of anyone just yet. I left a message,” Janet said.

  “I never thought adopting a dog would be so difficult,” Pressley replied.

  “It’s not usually like this. Jasper’s a special case. We need to cover all the bases.”

  Pressley was well aware of what that meant — they had to make sure they couldn’t be sued if Jasper attacked anyone, and she was included in that group.

  Pressley busied herself with work to keep her mind off the impending call from the Westons, but each time the phone rang, she looked over at Janet expectantly only to be disappointed. Once lunchtime rolled around, she decided to go out back to the kennels to visit with Jasper.

  She heard him jump to his feet and let out a whine as she rounded the corner. Had he picked up her scent? When he saw her, his tail motored back and forth, and he eagerly stuck his nose through the bars of the cage. Pressley spoke softly, calling his name and telling him he was a good boy. She petted him as best she could through the bars, wishing she could let him out. She knew that would be crazy, yet she wanted so much to really pet him, and kiss the top of his head. The cage was padlocked and even if it wasn’t, she wouldn’t have dared open it.

  She spied a chewed-up rope toy and an empty bowl in Jasper’s cage. Although she couldn’t play with him, she could feed him. She made her way to the cupboard where the kibble was kept and poured some into a plastic baggie, then she sat on the floor in front of the cage and dropped a few pieces through the bars. Jasper snatched them up greedily and stared at her for more. This time, she fed him by hand and to her delight, he took the kibble gently, and even licked her fingers in appreciation. She fed him until the baggie was empty. He was a smart dog and seemed to understand when there was no more food to be had. He lay on the floor beside her, inching as close as he could possibly get. She spoke to him again, eliciting more tail wags and kisses. The time she spent with Jasper solidified her decision to adopt him. If only the Westons would call. They were the only obstacles in the way.

  * * * * *

  When she got home, Pressley looked over Jasper’s stuff, rearranging it, and putting his bed in the coziest corner of the family room. She threw a fluffy blanket on the sofa, she wasn’t the kind to forbid animals on the furniture, and although she’d set another dog bed on the floor beside her bed, she wouldn’t kick him out if he wanted to snuggle with her. She did, however, have a crate but would only use it as a last resort.

  She’d made calls to the dog sitters from the car on her way home, and after speaking with a few, was confident Jasper would be well taken care of while she was at work. She was careful to only contact women and made appointments for a few of them to stop over on the weekend just to make sure Jasper would be fine with them. She thought of the muzzle Hayden had given her — maybe it would be a good idea to muzzle him before she left for work, she thought. The sitter could take it off him once he was safely in his crate. There was a small window in the front of it, just large enough to get a hand through. All Jasper’s sitter had to do was hit the quick release on the side of the muzzle and it would be off. No harm, no foul.

  She’d do it until he got used to the new routine, and the sitter. After a while she’d allow him his freedom while she ran errands, just for short periods of time until she knew she could trust him not to damage the house. Then, when both woman and dog were comfortable, no more crating and no more muzzle. Pressley had no idea how long all this would take, but she did have dogs growing up and was familiar with training them.

  Her mind turned to Hayden and their date the night before. Even though they’d exchanged numbers, she hadn’t heard from him. And, to make matters worse, she’d only seen him for a few minutes at work. A rush of anxiety flooded her making her snatch up her phone to check it. What if she’d missed his calls or texts? Or worse, what if he hadn’t called or texted? A click on the home button flashed only notices from Facebook and Twitter on the screen. There were no missed calls and no texts from Hayden.

  “Okay, take a deep breath,” she told herself and made her way to the mirror over her dresser. “You’re fine, Pressley. Hayden likes you. He wouldn’t have kissed you if he didn’t,” she told her reflection, only she didn’t fully believe it. Maybe last night’s kiss was a heat of the moment type of thing. Or, maybe it was the wine! She pulled in a few deeps breaths, letting them out slowly. She tried again. “Stop it!” she said more adamantly, not letting her imagination run wild. “You always make mountains out of mole hills. Everything’s fine.” But then, where was he today at work? Was he hiding from her? No, she told herself — he was probably just busy; besides, if she was worried, she could always text him. But her intuition shot back a firm “no.” It would be better if he contacted her. She didn’t want to seem too eager. Damn but she wished she was still seeing her therapist. She needed him right now.

  Pressley did the only thing she could think of to get over the panic. She put on her coat and went for a long walk. Then busied herself with other tasks until the day was over.

  * * * * *

  The phone startled Pressley awake. It was Janet — she was already at the shelter — the Westons had given their permission for her to adopt Jasper.

  Pressley dressed quickly and ran out of the house not even bothering with breakfast. She was at the shelter an hour before she was supposed to start but it was all for a great reason — soon, Jasper would be hers. Before exiting the car, she sat for a while in the shelter’s parking lot, cell phone in hand. Should she call Hayden? She scanned the parking lot for his truck and spotted it. She hovered a finger over the call button, but thought better of it. With a deep breath and chin thrust high in false bravado, she made her way into the shelter.

  Hayden and Janet were waiting for her in the office, both with huge smiles on their faces. She couldn’t help but smile too as relief washed over her. Once again, it appeared she’d overreacted.

  Hayden spoke first. “We’ve got all Jasper’s stuff ready, not that he had much, just his collar and a chew toy.” He handed
her a bag. Her hand shook as she reached for it.

  Janet moved in for a hug. “I didn’t think the Westons would agree but, here we are! They were happy to hear we’d found Jasper a forever home.”

  “Dr. Graham is out back with Jasper now. Let’s go get him,” Hayden suggested.

  Pressley’s heart skipped a beat. “Why’s the vet here?”

  “Relax, he’s here to help with Jasper,” Hayden said with a laugh. “You ready to take your new best friend home?”

  When they got to Jasper’s cage, the door was swung wide and Dr. Graham was bent down, fastening a leash to the dog’s collar. Pressley stopped in her tracks, half expecting the dog to lunge and sink his teeth into the vet’s arm, but nothing happened. Dr. Graham looked up when he noticed the trio. “Hey!” He stood. “I’ve got Jasper all prepped and ready.” He waved Pressley over and handed her the leash. Jasper trotted out and lay by her feet.

  “I gave him a mild sedative. It’ll wear off in a few hours. Jasper’s had a tough life. Good news is that he likes women more than men and from what I’ve heard, he’s really taken to you. I’ve got a list with a few pointers for you.” He reached behind him and grabbed a sheet of paper off the counter. “You’re a brave and kind soul to be taking Jasper home, but please be careful with him. Read what I’ve written down for you and don’t hesitate to call if you need me. Oh, and you’ll need these.” He handed her a bottle of pills. “For the first few days, give him one pill twice a day. Wrap it in a piece of cheese or meat. He’ll wolf it down.” The doctor noticed Pressley’s apprehension and added, “It’s just until he gets used to his new life and routine. He’s high strung and doesn’t take well to change.”

  Pressley nodded. This was all happening so fast. It was only when she felt the tug of the leash that she remembered Jasper was on the other end. She knelt beside him. Pressley scratched behind his ears knowing how he liked it. Big brown eyes opened and looked up at her. He moved slowly to a sitting position and plopped his large head onto her thigh. She kissed him and wrapped an arm around his thick neck and shoulders. When she rested her head against him, Pressley heard a collective intake of air from Janet, Hayden and Dr. Graham.