Brought Together by a Pup, page 3
The poor fella. He must’ve been beside himself with pain and fear with his owner not there for him. ‘That explains why the injuries weren’t fresh. Is there other family to take care of him?’
‘No. The owner, Mrs Burnside, reluctantly agreed for him to go into a boarding kennel until she’s home again, but so far Dog Rescue haven’t been able to find one prepared to take him. Don’t ask me why. I’m only repeating what our receptionist, Kathy, was told.’
‘Can he stay at the clinic?’ She thought the answer was obvious, but what else could she say? It seemed Axel was caught between a rock and a hard place.
‘Not for that long. You wouldn’t think of looking after him?’
Here we go. Pile on the pressure, why didn’t he? ‘Like I said last night, I’m not here for the long term so I’m not set up for taking in a pup even for a few days.’ She wasn’t going to mention how her heart had softened over Axel being alone, his owner not able to be with him when he was hurting. She kind of understood where he was at. Plus, he was so cute. Those sad eyes that had followed her every move in the clinic last night until he’d succumbed to the painkiller had stuck with her ever since.
Along with another pair of eyes, though not sad ones. Eyes that she did not need following her into sleep. They’d got to her, kept reminding her she required a partner for the wedding if she was to avoid Dave’s overbearing gestures. It wouldn’t be Carter. He already had a woman in his life. Yvette had made it clear she was not happy to find him having coffee with her.
‘We’ve got everything you’d need here at the clinic.’ The man pulled no punches.
Not that she was surprised. Last night had shown her a man who would do anything to make his patients well and happy. Not so much the women in his life. But he’d have an agenda when it came to sad animals. Get their tails wagging again. ‘You think it would be fair on Axel to come and stay with me when I won’t be at home most days of the week?’ She’d love to have him there and watch him get back on his feet so he could go for walks. But then she’d get too close and it would hurt to return him to his owner. One day she might settle down, but it was unlikely she’d ever have a pet. Losing it would be painful and bring back a lot of memories about her friends, Dee and Jess, who’d died.
‘You could bring him in to work with you. There’s usually a couple of cages going spare. It would be a lot better for him than staying at the rescue centre where he’d have to share the love being handed around. If they take him at all.’
Like she said, this man knew how to find a person’s soft spot. Hers, anyway. She refused to buy into it. ‘My first, and only, question was, how’s he doing?’
‘Apart from missing his rescuer, he’s good. He tried putting weight on his bung leg but quickly lifted it off the ground. Still, I don’t think it will be long before he’s running around on it. With a limp, but walking nonetheless. He is a puppy after all.’
They’d make a matching pair with their limps if they went for walks. Hopefully Axel’s would vanish with time and exercise. ‘I’ll call in later to see him.’
What was it about Carter that her usually clear mind went cloudy around him? Surprising since she’d become a dab hand at avoiding getting close to anyone—and pets—since the loss of her friends. She would see out a contract and move on. That was the way of it. Her next move might be across to Perth in Western Australia since it was one of the places in her own country she hadn’t been to. There again, she wanted to visit and work in Wales and Scotland. There was also a position she’d seen advertised last week coming up in Napier, New Zealand over winter.
‘By the way, Yvette feels terrible about last night. She and I had organised a surprise dinner for her husband, and she was stressed to the max worrying that Joe would think I wasn’t coming. When she’s like that she lets rip without thought. She said if I was talking to you to say sorry.’
‘It’s fine. I’m not holding a grudge.’ A wee smile slid over her lips. Partner’s wife, not Carter’s girlfriend. That she could handle. It shouldn’t make a crumb of difference. It didn’t. She wasn’t interested in getting closer to Carter. Except she was on the hunt for someone to take with her to the wedding. Her flatmates hadn’t been very forthcoming with names last night when she’d broached the subject. ‘What time do you expect to close?’ She was heading to the beach shortly. Nothing like swimming in the surf to keep her muscles in shape, and her stump firm.
‘Supposedly six o’clock, but that rarely happens. Regardless of the time though, I’ll be here.’
So she was going to see him today. Which made her think about the wedding again. And Carter. So much for avoiding the hot dude with jeans that emphasised a muscular butt and a shirt highlighting a wide chest.
From her interview she knew there were three vets working at the clinic. Did this mean Carter was deliberately staying back so he could continue nudging her to take Axel on? From the little she’d seen he appeared to be determined when he wanted to achieve an outcome. Especially for a pup that had been found in a traumatic situation. He hadn’t been focused on her. There’d nothing between them, not even a flare of interest. A small sparkle maybe. Make that definitely on her side, but Carter hadn’t looked at her twice. There probably was a woman in his life. Why wouldn’t there be? He was good-looking, and downright sexy in those fitted jeans, probably about thirty and settled in his own place by now. Of course he had a partner.
‘I’m not sure what time I’ll get there.’ She could cut the beach visit short, but she didn’t want to rush around looking like a besotted female when she was not interested in relationships, or even flings, since men seemed put off by her lack of a leg.
‘Doesn’t matter. See you whenever.’ And he was gone.
Yeah, Willow. You’re going to see Carter again.
To have another glimpse of a good-looking man who had managed to undermine her usual deliberate lack of interest when it came to feeling intrigued about a male. It should be an interesting few minutes at the clinic, then. Why go? Axel didn’t really need her attention. Nor did Carter. But she felt driven to see him again. It was crazy when she was about to start working at the same clinic and everything would be about professionalism. Tomorrow morning to be precise.
A shiver ran down her spine. Men didn’t do this to her. She didn’t want them to. She was running solo and intended staying that way for a while to come. Another shiver lifted the hairs on her arms. The way she was reacting to Carter felt as though she was coming out of hibernation. The winter in her heart could not be over. Not that easily and quickly. She wasn’t ready to heat up and let people in. What if another disaster happened? She doubted she’d be able to cope a second time. Let’s face it, she’d barely got through the pain of last time. Two close friends gone in an ugly, terrifying blink. The image of which was seared on her brain.
Bodies everywhere. People screaming. Cycles broken. The wrecked truck looming over her, pinning down Dee. Excruciating pain. Sirens wailing. People dashing everywhere, asking questions, helping her. Saving her. Covering Dee and Jess with blankets, feet to head, nothing to be seen of their usually bright sunny faces. Ever again.
She jammed her phone in her beach bag, snatched up her keys and raced for the door. She’d swim until she couldn’t lift an arm, and then she’d swim some more.
* * *
The clinic had been closed nearly half an hour when Carter glanced at his watch for the third time in five minutes. Every second seemed like an hour. What time would Willow get here? She couldn’t be working somewhere else, could she? She was rostered to start here tomorrow, working with him, as it happened. Not because he’d put her name down. Kathy did the rosters and had done the nurses’ days ago.
A car pulled into the parking lot out front. Willow’s. The tightness in his muscles lightened. She’d come.
To see Axel, not you.
The tightness returned. She hadn’t been the slightest bit interested in him last night. Nor had he been in her, or so he kept telling himself, yet he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her ever since. He should be glad for her lack of interest. They had to work together for the next two months, getting sidetracked wasn’t in the interest of good working relationships. He wasn’t in the market for romance, he reminded himself for the umpteenth time. He was comfortable with the slow and steady lifestyle he lived.
It had taken years to accept Cassandra was never coming back, that she’d meant it when she’d said they were too close, hadn’t had enough experiences outside the rural community they’d grown up in to be settling down together in the same area. It was a valid point, but he still couldn’t understand why they couldn’t have done something about it—together. She’d moved on fast, was now settled with a Scotsman and about to have a baby. She’d definitely gathered more experience. He was still getting around to it, preferring to protect his heart and wait until he was absolutely certain he was ready to take a chance on love again.
It might never happen. A sad sigh escaped. When he saw how happy his two brothers were with their wives and kids he did wonder if he should try harder to move on and take a giant leap of trust. Then he’d remember his wedding day and the pain that knifed him when Cass came to call it off.
The door opened and Willow limped in, then hesitated. She looked utterly shattered, as though even breathing was hard work.
Carter’s lungs stalled. Despite the exhaustion rippling off her in waves, she was gorgeous with a capital G. She wore a sleeveless pink blouse and white denim knee-length shorts. Dark scars marred her right shoulder. ‘Hi. You okay?’
Defiance blinked out at him. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
Which was in complete contrast to his initial first impression. Understanding hit him. At least he thought he might be right. She was wary of his reaction to the prosthesis. She’d probably heard every kind of inane or sympathetic comment over the years and was waiting for more. He met her resigned look and said, ‘Come on in. You are going to make one boy very happy.’
‘Any changes since I phoned?’ Willow closed the door behind her. She hadn’t relaxed but she was limping forward, almost dragging her prosthesis. Damp, long thick hair the colour of milk chocolate fell across her shoulders and down her back, teasing him with the need to reach out and run his fingers through it. It was nothing like the tight knot it had been scrunched into last night.
‘He’s moving a little easier, but still whimpers a lot. I think that’s more about being stuck in a cage with only strangers to talk to him than discomfort.’ He led Willow through to the back room.
Instantly Axel was on his feet, tail wagging as he barked once.
Turning to look at Willow, Carter felt his chest tighten.
Her eyes were now alight with pleasure, and she wore a beautiful smile as she gazed at Axel. She did adore dogs. Or this one anyway. ‘Hello, fella. How’re you doing?’ She opened the cage and bent down to pat the pup as he pushed up against her, his nose pressed into her thigh.
They looked as though they’d always known each other, even as if they belonged together. ‘You’re a perfect match,’ Carter said through the sudden yearning to be a part of the picture.
‘You don’t give up, do you?’
‘Nope.’ That was a lie. He’d given up on a lot of things the day Cassandra turned her back on him. Plans for the future involving a family and a home to share with them, trips around the country and even possibly offshore, to name a few. He’d stopped living.
Carter straightened, stepped back. It wasn’t true. He’d been protecting himself, recovering from a broken heart, and afraid to step out into the real world again. He had not stopped living. He was a partner in this veterinary business. He had a house in Southport and a small cottage on his family’s farm. He joined in everything they did, including spending plenty of hours with his nieces and nephews. He was busy all the time.
‘What do you think, Axel?’ Willow was running her hand down the pup’s back and the way Axel arched into her touch said he was more than happy with the idea of spending more time with her.
‘Do you really have to ask?’ Carter pushed aside the shock of what he’d just realised about himself and concentrated on the here and now. Which included Willow Taylor. Something about her tweaked his interest. ‘Are you thinking you will take him in for the days needed till his owner goes home?’
She straightened and locked formidable eyes on him. ‘Mrs Burnside, Miriam, is at the Gold Coast Hospital and I called in to see her this morning. She’s so grateful Axel’s safe, and for the treatment you’ve given him. She has been trying to find someone to take him in until she’s capable but it’s not easy given she’s in a bad way with serious injuries and using a phone tires her.’
‘That was kind of you. One less thing for her to worry about, knowing Axel is safe.’ Carter paused, sensing if he said any more about Willow looking after the pup she’d back off permanently. Something was causing her to hesitate. It could be as simple as trying to encourage her flatmates to agree, or it could be she didn’t do getting involved with pets because she’d been upset by the loss of one.
‘I think it helped her. One less worry when she’s so ill.’
No doubt about it; Willow was kind-hearted. ‘Feel like having that coffee we didn’t get to last night? Or we could take Axel out to the yard and have a beer while he wanders around. I’m off duty, so can relax some.’
Her head flipped up, and she stared at him for a moment, as though arguing with herself.
He waited.
Finally, ‘Second suggestion sounds good. Thanks.’ Willow slipped through the door out into the yard, Axel at her side, not waiting for him.
He watched for a moment, taken in by that connection between Willow and the pup nudging her good knee. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen a dog take to someone so fast, accepting and believing in them in a straightforward way. So much trust given so easily when it came to animals was awesome. It often happened with pets in need of being loved, though this one was already cared for. Why weren’t humans like that with each other? Or were they? Was he the one with problems? Of course he had issues. Who wouldn’t if they’d been hurt as he had been by Cass?
What was Willow’s history? Did she have a partner? Probably not if she moved around as much as she’d indicated. How did she lose her lower leg? When did it happen? Questions flew around his head. Questions he wasn’t about to put out there for her to tell him to mind his own business and storm away leaving him filled with regret. Working together should be in a comfortable environment, not one he’d turned icy by being inquisitive. He didn’t need to know any more about her than her ability as a vet nurse. Learning more about her could lead to getting too close, which might take him down a path where he again got hurt.
‘I’ll grab the beer.’ Cold and thirst-quenching liquid was what he needed, nothing else. No female distractions. He didn’t do travelling around the world long term. Couldn’t even consider short term now that he was tied up with the vet clinic. This was where he belonged. Willow moved around lots, so she wouldn’t be staying on here after this job. He needed to keep that at the forefront of his mind and forget she was attractive along with kind.
* * *
We make a right odd pair, both limping along like a couple of has-beens, Willow thought as she walked around the yard with Axel. He didn’t seem to want to leave her side for a minute, not even to go ten metres to the far wall.
What did Carter think about her prosthesis? Because there was bound to be something going on inside that craggy head. He didn’t seem to be someone who missed anything, and her physical state was pretty damned obvious, especially tonight after her swim. She’d flung her togs off and pulled on a shirt and knee-length shorts without much thought. She wasn’t even trying to make it look less obvious because it was a way of dampening down the strange awakening in her body. When he really took on board her disfigured body, he wouldn’t look at her twice.
Anyway, no matter what, she was heading away again. It was how she managed to survive her heartbreak and avoid any more. If only she didn’t feel this awakening within her—as though she’d found something she’d been deliberately avoiding for years.
Carter sat at the outdoor table by the fence, sipping from a bottle. This vague attraction to him hadn’t faded overnight. He was good-looking and tall and well honed. There were plenty of good-looking, fit men out there she’d not taken a second look at so why did this one in particular set her pulse racing a little faster than normal?
He had just given her the once-over, his eyes brightening for a moment as they cruised down her body. Enough of a moment to have her wondering if he was attracted to her. Okay, so she found him interesting. Interesting? Try sexy.
Even better, he hadn’t come up with something inane when he’d seen her prosthesis, as others did. She understood they didn’t know whether to pretend they hadn’t noticed or to say something bland to get it out of the way. Carter hadn’t cringed and had carried on as though nothing was out of the ordinary. Exactly how she liked people to react.
Except this time she’d hoped it would be the dampener on her emotions she needed. He had her trying to second-guess what he thought—because, if she was honest, she didn’t want him turning his back on her. It was hard to understand where this came from, considering she wasn’t looking for a man to become part of her life. They’d want her to settle down, not keep moving, grabbing all the dreams she’d held before her opportunities imploded and she missed out for ever.
As well as making her want to avoid further pain, Jess’s and Dee’s deaths had made her go and grab at life since they no longer could. She didn’t want to miss out if tragedy struck her too soon as it had them. It would be a waste of her life. So she wasn’t looking for a permanent relationship any time soon. She had too much to do first. Dreams to chase and make the most of. On her own. It was far safer that way.
