Puppy Love in Thunder Canyon

The woman’s eyebrows rose, disappearing into her perfect straight bangs. “Dr. Thomas North?”

“If he’s an orthopedic surgeon, then yes, he’s the one.”

“Is Dr. North expecting you?” Her gaze shifted to Smiley for a moment. “Both of you?”

Living by the motto “it’s better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission,” Annabel smiled. “We’re here to visit with one of his patients.”

“Oh. Well, his office suite is on the second floor, far left corner. I could show you if you’d like.”

“That would be great, thanks.”

The elevator dinged and seconds later the door opened. Annabel and Smiley waited for everyone to depart before they followed the nurse inside. Once on the second floor, they turned a few corners and moved into an office area. At the end of the long hallway Annabel finally spotted the nameplate for Dr. Thomas North.

“Hey, Marge. I’ve got a visitor for you.”

The older woman sitting behind the desk was obviously Dr. North’s secretary. Annabel smiled, not missing the glances between her and the nurse or the way her eyebrows rose in matching high arches, as well.

It was okay. She and Smiley were used to it.

“Can I help you, miss?” Marge asked as a beeping noise filled the air.

“Oh, shoot. I’ve got to go.” The nurse checked her pager and smiled. “I so wanted to stick around and see this. Let me know what happens, okay?”

Marge gave her a quick wink and nodded.

A bit confused, Annabel offered her thanks. The nurse waved it off and then disappeared.

“Miss?”

Annabel turned back to the woman. “Oh, I was wondering if Forrest Traub has arrived for his appointment with Dr. North yet?”

“And you are?”

She opened her mouth to reply, but a low, measured voice came from over her shoulder.

“What are you doing here, Annabel?”

She whirled around, surprised to find the man she’d asked about had somehow snuck up on her. Not usually easy to do with Smiley close by. Annabel then noticed her dog remained sitting at her side, perfectly still, not even his tail moving as he stared intently up at Forrest.

And there was a lot to look at.

Tall, muscular, dark hair and the coolest light brown eyes. Yes, he was very nice to look at. Annabel was sure her sisters would use words like yummy and sexy. Even the two recently married ones, one of whom was the bride of Forrest’s cousin, Jackson, would have to admit good looks ran strong in the Traub family tree.

Too bad the man did nothing for Annabel. No spark, no fizzle.

But that was fine with her. Annabel wanted more. She wanted true love.

The kind of love that came at you like a bolt of lightning and left you dazed, confused and tingly all over. She’d never felt that way in her life, but darn it, after a dry dating spell that had been going on for three years, she was ready for it!

“Hello?” Forrest leaned heavily on a cane with one hand while waving the other in her face. “Annabel?”

“Oh, sorry!” She blinked hard and chased away her dreams. “I … um, I’m here to see you.”

His mouth pressed into a hard line as he looked down at Smiley. Annabel did the same, noticing how her pet returned the man’s stare with a simple tilt of his head.

She wasn’t sure who was sizing up whom.

“How did you know I was going to be at the hospital this morning?” he asked.

Her cheeks turned hot. “I overheard you talking to Jackson at the family barbecue yesterday.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but Annabel kept talking. “I know you’ve been through so much since you got back from overseas. Even before then. And after all that time you spent at Walter Reed Medical Center to still need … well, I thought we could help.”

Forrest sighed and directed his gaze to the secretary. “Would it be okay if I—if we waited for the doctor inside his office?”

A thrill raced through Annabel. It wasn’t a complete victory, but it was a start.

“I’ll take full responsibility for them being here,” he continued. “And I really need to sit down.”

The woman’s blue eyes flickered toward the chairs in the corner of the room, but then she said, “Of course, please go in. The doctor is running late, but he should be here soon.”

Forrest gestured toward the open doorway with a wave of his hand. Annabel gave a quick tug on the leash and entered the office, Smiley at her side. Forrest followed, and the doctor’s secretary stood to close the door behind him.

It was a large room, with a wall of windows behind tightly closed blinds. Two chairs sat in front of a large desk with a more comfortable-looking leather couch along one wall.

Annabel stayed off to the side, not wanting to get in Forrest’s way as he dropped into the closest chair. He jammed the cane she didn’t remember him using yesterday into the armrest and closed his eyes. His right leg stuck out straight. The bulk of the brace underneath his jeans pulled the worn denim tight around his knee.

This time Smiley tugged a bit at the leash and Annabel released the slack, allowing the dog a bit more leeway while keeping a tight grip on the looped handle. Just in case.

Smiley had been with her yesterday at the barbecue, but he and Forrest didn’t interact at all. Considering her pet’s reaction to the man a few minutes ago, Annabel wanted to be sure she could pull him away if needed.

Seconds later Smiley was at Forrest’s side, instinctively resting his furry head on the man’s uninjured leg. Then a deep sigh echoed in the dog’s chest.

A full minute passed before Forrest’s large hand came to rest behind Smiley’s ears, his fingers digging into the dog’s thick coat.

Annabel titled her head back slightly and rolled her eyes, upward, pretending a sudden interest in the tiled ceiling. She’d learned it was the fastest way to stop the sharp stinging in her eyes.

Tears, or any sign of pity, were the last thing most people wanted.

The last thing Forrest Traub wanted.

He’d made that very clear while talking to his cousin yesterday about the reason he was in Thunder Canyon for the summer.

“So, Dr. North’s secretary seemed a bit hesitant about us being in here.” Annabel wanted to talk to Forrest about Smiley being a part of his upcoming medical treatment, but she couldn’t just jump into the topic. Not when she’d taken it upon herself to be here instead of waiting for an invitation. “Me and Smiley, that is. Don’t tell me your doctor is a stodgy, old curmudgeon who considers his office his inner sanctum?”

“He’s not—”

“I’m only asking because the more senior the doctor the more they tend to think the only good medicine is the kind that comes in a pill or from the sharp end of a scalpel.” She glanced around for clues, but wasn’t close enough to see the graduation dates on the medical degrees hanging from the wall. “Wow, look at all those awards and certificates. Pretty impressive. Then again, this place could use some brightening, a splash of color. Everything in here is brown.”