“Only medical personnel are allowed back here,” he growls.
“I was just checking on my dog. There was only one person in here,” I explain, hoping I don’t get the doctor in trouble. “By the way, if you’re Dan, she said you should meet her in the x-ray room.”
“Oh, man,” he mumbles. “The doc is going to be disappointed that I wasn’t here to help. I bet she didn’t get your information. She hates paperwork. Bobbi is back. Give her all your info. Tell her I couldn’t log into the computer when you came.”
It’s obvious that this place is falling apart. I should’ve gone somewhere else. Then again, any other place might’ve sent me to a shelter or just let the dog die. It’s to no surprise that I spend thirty minutes filling out the forms. It’s not because I’m a terrible dog owner, as Bobbi points out, but because I had to make up lies about a dog whose name is now Buster and was probably born eight months ago.
“You don’t know the breed of your dog?” She gives me a judgmental glance that makes me tremble.
“It’s a mix,” I respond.
“He’s a German Shepherd, Lab mix,” the redhead comes out of the examining room, pulls down the mask from her face, and smiles at me. The room brightens just as her eyes shine with genuine happiness. “The little guy is going to be fine. We stitched him up. There were no broken bones or internal bleeding. He’s a lucky guy. I still would like to keep him overnight if you don’t mind. You can pick him up tomorrow.”
“You want me to pick him up?” I lean backward because as I said, I don’t have time for a dog. Most importantly, he’s not mine.
However, if you’d like to go for dinner and to the room I booked at the Ritz Carlton, I’m game.
Tonight is the only night I have to blow off some steam. If I don’t, I’m going to be having a hell of a time during the week. Maybe the dog dragged me here to find some variety. I wouldn’t mind spending the night with her.
“Yes, tomorrow morning would be fine,” she responds. “If you want to take him home tonight, I can give you his care instructions.”
“It’ll be cheaper,” Bobbi claims and turns her attention toward the redhead. “Leyla, Doctor West finally arrived. Go home.”
“I swear when I am done with this internship, I’m never coming back. Good luck finding another sucker who doesn’t get paid and won’t care that he arrives three hours late,” she grins.
“You’ll be missed, or maybe you’ll open your own practice and I’ll follow you,” Bobbi answers. “Go change and head home. You’ve been here for almost twenty-four hours.”
Leyla sighs and looks at me. “Can you take him home? If not, I’ll stay here to watch over him.”
“Stop finding side gigs and go home,” Bobbi insists. “Hopefully Dan and Dr. West will keep an eye on him.”
“Sure, I can take care of him,” I say, and she smiles.
And fuck if that face doesn’t knock me down and shifts me from my entire axis.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “I’ll get Dan to work on his discharge paperwork and the medicines you need to get home. I’ll help you take him to your car.”
“Stay away from her,” Bobbi snaps at me. “She’s not your type.”
“What is that?”
“Just, stay away,” she warns me.
Twenty minutes later, I’m heading to my car with Buster, a detailed list of what medicines to give him, step by step instructions on how to clean his wounds, and a cone for tomorrow.
“You should come with me,” I say, as Leyla walks me to my car.
“Why?”
“I’m not sure if you are aware, but I don’t have anything in my apartment to take care of this dog,” I remind her. “He’s not mine.”
She yawns. “I’ll tell you what, let’s go to the grocery store. Those are usually open until late at night. They have pet supplies. We’ll be able to find enough things to cover you for the night. If you let me crash on your couch, I’ll help you keep an eye on him. Tomorrow we’ll set this kid up with everything he needs. I’ll even help you train him free of charge.”
I love the idea of having her for the night. What we’d be doing has nothing to do with the dog and everything to do with her. I’d concentrate on kissing her full, lush mouth. My hands are already itching to touch her toned curves. I make a bet with myself that her perfect tits are small, round, and perky. I could fit them in my mouth and suck them while I fuck her hard.
“Sorry, are you having a conversation with my boobs?” She snaps her fingers and lifts her hand all the way up to her eyes. “How would you feel if I stared at your dick while we talk?”
I smirk at her. “Well, it depends what we’re discussing? If it’s a blowjob—”
“Stop it right now,” she orders. “Can we focus on the dog?”
“Buster,” I say.
“What?”
“His name is now Buster,” I claim.
She looks at the sleepy dog and pets him. “That’s perfect. He’s such a nice guy. Whoever ditched him on the road is an asshole.”
“Why do you assume?” I ask. Up until now I haven’t thought about his origin. I just assumed he was injured and needed to go to the hospital. “His owner is probably looking for him. He got lost, someone ran over him, and I rescued him.”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, the puppy is malnourished, and he doesn’t have a chip,” she explains. “At first, I thought maybe he left home a couple of weeks ago. That’s when I found a couple of old scars. I had Dan do a search for lost dogs around the city and no one is looking for him.”
“He’s sleeping. Maybe we should take him home before he wakes up,” I suggest, hoping that once we arrive at my place I can convince her to do more than just sleeping on my couch.
“I sedated him,” she explains. “With that and the pain medication I sent, he’s going to be drowsy for a couple of days. It gives you plenty of time to puppy proof your place.”
“I’m sorry, but you forgot a very important fact,” I remind her.
“Which is?”
“My job is too demanding. I don’t have time for him—or any pet,” I press the flaws of this plan she’s concocted. “Just because I get along with animals doesn’t mean I have time to save them.”
“I promise that once he recovers, I’ll find him a forever home. I’m good at that.”
“Why can’t you take him?”
“Because I live in a building that doesn’t allow pets,” she answers. “Plus, as you heard, I tend to spend too much time at work. It’s not as if I can take my work home. I bet you can.”
I look at the dog, then at her, and sigh.
“Fine, but don’t think I’m going to be taking care of him for more than a couple of weeks.”
She smiles at me, and fuck if I don’t feel like I just achieved my only goal in life.
Chapter Two