A Hero to Love

by Gail Chianese

  He moved out of her way as she slipped back behind the screen for the next set of pictures. “Just a sister—Missy Grace.”

  “That’s… sweet. Did you live in Mississippi when she was born?” Risa slipped back out to grab the films, stopping to rub Bella’s ears before taking care of the X-rays.

  Jax stroked his dog’s back. “No, we were in Georgia by then.”

  She looked up, puzzled. “So why not—”

  “I have no idea why she didn’t pick Georgia, other than she might have been afraid she’d get about five or six girls come running every time she yelled for us.”

  Risa couldn’t even imagine one other classmate with the same name, much less her extremely British mother yelling. Then again, as long as Risa had done well in school and had been home in time for dinner, neither of her parents had worried much about her or her life. She was given instructions and expected to follow them to the letter, which she’d done until college rolled around. Or so her parents thought, because in Risa’s mind, if she didn’t get caught, she wasn’t guilty. College changed everything. The Professor and Mr. Reynolds still weren’t over the fact that she’d turned down Oxford.

  They just didn’t understand. England was entirely too far from her animals.

  “I’m guessing by the slight accent that slips through, you’re not a native of Connecticut either,” Jax said.

  “Guilty. Born just outside of London, where we lived until I was about five. Then my American dad was transferred back to the states and, of course, his fair English bride packed up her life, said good-bye to her homeland, and dragged me here.”

  “Did you ever want to go back to England?” he asked.

  “No. This is home now.”

  Risa slid the X-ray into place and turned the light on, forgetting the conversation. She scratched at the side of her neck as she studied the image.

  Good. Very good. But the pictures didn’t explain Bella’s behavior.

  Jax had moved quickly and quietly across the room until his body was within an inch of hers. He didn’t touch her or push her out of the way. She wasn’t sure how to explain it, other than the heat radiating off of him, along with his commanding presence, forced her to notice him.

  He pointed to a section on the screen. “What’s going on there?”

  “She’s fractured her hip, either when she hit the walk or the ground.”

  Every muscle in his body tensed up and he looked over his shoulder toward Bella. “Will she need surgery?”

  “She shouldn’t. It’s a clean break and should heal on its own in a few weeks. She will need someone watching her, as she won’t want to put weight on her leg. So she may need assistance getting up to eat or to take care of her business. Is that going to be a problem?”

  He shook his head. “No. She’ll probably consider it a vacation.”

  What an odd thing to say. “I’ve heard of some military working dogs being given an honorary rank and even awards, but I’ve never heard of them earning leave time.”

  “They don’t. My girl’s been a little stubborn lately, not wanting to listen to the other handlers.”

  That tidbit caught Risa’s attention. “How does she do with you? Does she follow your commands?”

  Risa moved back to the table where Bella was still sleeping, thanks to the analgesics she’d given her. She checked her vitals again.

  “She went after the Frisbee. That’s how we got into this mess.”

  “Yes, but did you give her any working commands, or was it a play date?”

  “A play date?” He crossed well-developed arms over an equally well-developed chest and stared down his nose at her. “Lady, I’m a chief in the U.S. Navy, not a five-year-old. Bella’s my partner. Everything we do is training or work.”

  “Didn’t you just say you were playing Frisbee?” She ignored the stare-down and the bulging muscles, along with the sneer and sarcasm. If she hurt his pride, he could get over it, because what mattered here was her patient’s health—both physically and mentally.

  Risa continued her exam and glanced up at Jax, waiting for him to answer her question.

  “Fine. Call it what you want. She loves to fetch.”

  Risa ducked her head to hide her smile. He was trying so hard to come across as the tough military guy.

  “Like I said, she’s been a little stubborn lately.” His voice softened as his big hand stroked the dog’s fur like he was caressing a newborn.

  “Jax, I’m just trying to help.” She reached out and gave his hand a quick squeeze to get his attention before letting go. Stepping over to the cabinet, she reviewed the labels before pulling out the right bottles. “It wasn’t your fault she got hurt.”

  “Let’s hope the Navy agrees with you.”

  Risa stopped in the middle of filling the prescriptions to look at him. She hadn’t thought he’d get in trouble for an accident. “If you need, I can explain to your boss that this is a simple and common accident. Also, that she’ll be okay in a few weeks.”

  “Why were you asking about her behavior?”

  “Based on how quiet she was when you arrived, plus what you said about not responding to commands, there’s a chance she could be burned out or suffering from PTSD.”

  He flinched. It was there and gone in the blink of an eye, but she’d caught it. Chief Faraday was the kind of guy who wore the weight of the world on his shoulders… or at least the well-being of a dog that wasn’t even his.

  “What do I do with those?” He nodded toward the bottles in her hand.

  “Three times a day for both. It’s really important that you keep her calm and from moving around a lot. Use the sling to help support her hind legs when she gets up to walk, but keep it far enough forward. Here.” She pointed to the area where he needed to place the device. “Her appetite might drop off some due to the lack of activity, but that’s normal. Dogs are pretty intuitive when it comes to healing. Just don’t let them rush her back into training.”

  “Will do, Doc. I assume Dr. Lagasse will be around tomorrow to check on Bella at the kennel, or do I need to bring her in for a follow-up?”

  “He’s on leave, so I’ll be by in the morning.” She turned and grabbed a pen and pad of paper, quickly scribbling on it before handing it to Jax. “Please give this to whomever is on duty. If she takes a turn for the worse or appears to be in a lot of pain, have them call me right away.”

  “Thanks. And if you really want to help, don’t include in your report that you think my dog has mental issues. They’ll want to send her to Texas for reevaluation and training. Let’s get her leg healed and give her a break, and see how she does first.”

  “I’ll agree on one condition.” She waited for him respond, but only got a raised brow. “Be honest with me about her progress. I might be able to help and keep her from being sent away.” What she was offering to do went totally against her job description working for the Navy, protocol, and her better judgment, but damn. She knew if someone tried to take away one of her four-legged family members, her heart would break.

  “You got a deal, Doc.”

  Chapter 2

  Risa pulled up in front of her farmhouse and swore. Sitting on the front steps was Fiona Sinclair, her best friend in the whole world, sipping a glass of wine with Risa’s cat on her lap and the pups at her feet. After Jax had left with Bella, Risa had cleaned all the equipment and sterilized the room. Then she wrote up her report while everything was fresh in her mind, minus her suspicions about the dog’s mental state. And she’d forgotten about Fiona and their plans.

  They had met the first day of first grade. Fee had been the only one not to make fun of Risa’s English accent. Risa had been tall, gangly, and shy, while Fee had always been a bit smaller than the others kids. She’d also been a bit fiercer, and they’d made a perfect team.

  She hung her head as she slip
ped out of the SUV. “Fee, I’m so sorry—”

  Fiona held up a hand. “Was it a work emergency?”

  “Dog with a fractured hip.”

  “Aw, poor baby. Say no more. Here, you probably need this as much as I do.” She held her near-empty wine glass out to Risa.

  Risa took the glass and sat down on the steps next to her friend. The cool, crisp white wine slid down her throat and burned her empty stomach. She handed the glass back and took a minute to greet her cat, Morpheus, and her two dogs, Athena and Eir, while studying the prominent stress lines on Fee’s face.

  “Rough day?” Risa asked.

  “Salvador strikes again.”

  Given Fiona’s ex-husband’s track record, Risa didn’t bother asking what happened this time. It didn’t matter. Her role was clear. “Where’s the body? I’ve got the perfect spot to bury him.”

  Fiona laughed and laid her head on Risa’s shoulder. “I shouldn’t laugh. You’re probably more than half serious.”

  “I’ll have you know I’m one-hundred-percent serious. The guy’s a wanker and doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as that sweet, beautiful boy he helped create. That was his one-and-only good deed in life. Now that he’s accomplished his mission on the planet, he can exit this plane of existence.”

  Fiona held up the empty wineglass. “You drank all my wine, you lush. Anyway, it doesn’t matter, because Dylan—and, by extension, me—won’t have to deal with Salvador for a while.”

  Risa sat up with maybe a bit too much enthusiasm. “Is he getting sent to the Sandbox? Or the frozen tundra of Siberia? Both are incredibly too good for him, but it’s a start.”

  “For a woman who would give up her own life to save any four-legged creature, you’ve got a surprising mean streak.” Fiona stood, still holding Morpheus. “Did you hear your Mommy, Morph buddy? I know, I’m shocked too, but I like it. Not sure what that says about me.”

  “You’ve got incredible taste in friends?” Risa suggested.

  “And horrible taste in men.” Fee set down the cat and automatically went into a Mountain Pose. She breathed deeply and twisted to the side. “He’s someone else’s problem now. He blew off his week with Dylan because this was the only week he could take his honeymoon.”

  “Your ex got married and didn’t tell you ahead of time?”

  “Nope.” She twisted the other way, exhaling. “Not sure if he thought I’d show up and stop the wedding, or what. If it wasn’t for the crushed look on my baby’s face, I’d be dragging you out to celebrate.”

  Risa got the hint; Fee was ready for their yoga workout, but first she needed to change out of her work clothes. She headed inside, followed by the dogs, cat, and her friend. “Where is Dylan?”

  “With my parents.”

  Stripping off her scrubs, Risa paused. “Then what’s stopping us from going out? This deserves at least a nice dinner and maybe some chocolate lava cake.” She smiled at the thought.

  Fee snapped her waistband. “Uh… yoga pants. Plus, you look exhausted. So how about we call for pizza, and while we wait, do some yoga. You can tell me about your day and why you came home looking all frowny.”

  So much for lava cake. But Risa agreed and finished changing. First she called in the pizza order, then kicked the four-legged children out to play, or else Eir would be sticking her nose in Risa’s face the minute she went into Downward Dog.

  As Fiona led her through the now-familiar poses, Risa tried to clear her mind like instructed. It was so easy for her friend. She was a pro and had discovered yoga before they hit their teens. For Risa, it was a time for her mind to go into overdrive.

  Risa’s brain kept circling around to her last patient, and even more so around her human. Striking hazel eyes, hair that was neither blond nor brown but somewhere in between, and a smile that did funny things to her insides. Add all that to a man who cared deeply for his dog, and you had a near perfect package.

  “Near” being the key word.

  “Yo, earth to Risa.” Fiona waved her hand in front of her face. “Hello, pizza’s here.”

  “Has it been an hour already?” Risa asked as she went to pay for the pizza and let the crew back in.

  “Yep. I have to say, I’m impressed. I’ve never seen you so in tune and lost in meditation before.” At the look that must have passed on Risa’s face, Fiona narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger. “You weren’t meditating, were you?”

  “I tried. It’s not my fault my brain won’t settle down.”

  Fiona slid two slices of loaded pizza onto her plate and headed for the recliner. “At least your body is healthy. As for your mind, I give up.”

  “It’s my last patient, Bella. She’s a military working dog.”

  “The one with the broken hip.”

  “Yep, but that will heal on its own in a couple of weeks. I’m more worried about her mental state. She seemed despondent. When Jax carried her in to the exam room, she just laid there. Most dogs show some kind of stress, or try to get closer to their humans or… something, but it was like she had given up on life.”

  “Did this Jax say anything about her behavior?”

  “He didn’t want to tell me, but finally said she’d been non-responsive to commands recently. They were playing Frisbee, which is how she got hurt. It could be that she’s experiencing burnout. It happens.”

  “I thought Doc What’s His Name handles the military dogs.” Fiona had finished off her two slices of pizza and had gone back for more. Risa had no idea where she put the food, as there wasn’t an ounce of fat on the woman.

  “Normally he does, but he’s on holiday right now. Jax asked me not to report my suspicions just yet, and I agreed, but I’m going to keep a close eye on her.”

  “What else did Jax ask you?”

  Risa looked up from her plate. “Huh? What do you mean?”

  “Who is this Jax guy? Usually when you talk about work it’s Fido’s dad or Fido’s mom. I’ve never heard you call them by their name, much less their first name, especially since you started at the base clinic. It’s almost as if the people are simply accessories to the animals, and you really don’t see them.”

  “Bollocks!” Risa tossed her paper plate down on the table next to the couch and stared at her best friend. What a horrible thing to say. Yes, it was true that she preferred animals to most people, but animals loved unconditionally and didn’t play mind games. Still it didn’t mean she ignored those around her. “That’s not true.”

  “Did he ask you out?” Fiona asked.

  “No. Why would he?”

  “You honestly don’t see it, do you?” Fiona sat down next to her and gave her a one-arm hug. “You’re intelligent, fun, beautiful, and have one of the most compassionate hearts I know.”

  “Doesn’t matter. He’s active duty. I would have said no.” It was a steadfast rule of hers; one she didn’t plan to break.

  “Not all men are like Salvador and move you far from home, cheat, and then leave you stranded.”

  “They all leave eventually.” Risa felt tears burn as old injuries resurfaced. “My feet are happily planted here in Connecticut, near you and Dylan and Mum and Dad, who need me. Plus, Dr. Lagasse is talking about moving to Florida, and that means I’d be in the running to be head vet.”

  Fiona clapped with excitement, her eyes lighting up. “That’s huge. When will you know for sure?”

  She shrugged. “He and his wife are on an extended holiday right now, road-tripping through the Sunshine State. Hopefully when he returns in a couple of weeks, he’ll have made up his mind, which means I don’t have time for a relationship. I need to be on my toes and proving I can handle the role.”

  “Puh-lease. Everyone has time for love. You just have to be open and receptive to the idea.”

  Risa looked her friend dead in the eye. “Oh, really? When was the last time you
went on a date?”

  Her friend squirmed and broke eye contact. Seems the pot didn’t like the kettle calling her out. Too bad, because it’s what friends were for—keeping it real.

  “Totally different scenario. I’m a single mom. Guys don’t line up to date me.”

  Risa snorted with laughter. “And you think they do for a woman who smells like a dog and is covered in fur? Guess again. Besides, we don’t need no stinking men. We’ve got each other.”

  Fiona dropped her head onto the back of the couch and looked up at the ceiling. “Don’t take this wrong. I love you and everything, but there are things I could use a man for. Like… reaching the dishes on the top shelf, changing light bulbs, and to give Raphael a break once in a while.”

  Risa covered her face and laughed. “I don’t want to hear about your battery-operated friend.” She got up and let the pups out again, then stood by the door watching them play in the yard. “At least you have one.”

  “Hey, I told you I’d take you shopping, since you’re too chicken to walk into an adult novelty store by yourself.”

  “Thanks, but I’m still going to pass.”

  “You know they have online stores—”

  “Just shoot me now.” She caught Fiona’s giant smile, shook her head, and signaled for Fee to follow her outside. “Can we please change the subject?”

  “Fine. You don’t want to talk about the hot guy—and yes, I know he was hot, or you wouldn’t have noticed him. I don’t have a love life to talk about. Dylan is fabulous.” She leaned against the rabbit cage as Risa checked their water and refilled their food dishes. “What did you mean by take care of your parents? Is there something going on that I don’t know about?”

  Risa took out Buggsy first and cuddled him. “No, healthy and happy. Mum’s thrilled that school is gearing back up. She does love molding college minds, and Dad got a promotion not long ago, but they’re getting up there. Pretty soon they’re going to retire, and what if something happens to one of them?”

  “Nothing is going to happen to them. They’re still young.”