The Moment of Truth

“I can take care of that,” the man said, his voice friendly as he bent down to her level.

She held on to the towel. “I should have watched him better. I’m so sorry.” Dana looked up from the shoe and into the most soulful pair of blue eyes she’d ever seen, just inches from her own.

“It’s fine,” the man said, the warmth of his fingers transferring to hers as he took the towel from her and finished cleaning the toe of his shoe. “It’s just a pair of shoes. I have more.”

Staring, she couldn’t think of a thing to say, so she stood up. And hoped someone would do something to break the awkward moment.

“I’m Josh Redmond,” the stranger said to Dr. Tate, upright again. “I’m new to town, working at the university, and was hoping to have a word with you, when you’re free.”

“I’ve got half an hour for a late lunch, if you can wait for about five minutes,” the doctor said easily enough.

Stupidly, Dana experienced a pang of envy. The man was gorgeous, but she didn’t give much credence to looks. It was his eyes that got to her. They had a depth to them, as if they were searching. As if he’d lost something.

She was a sucker for strays.

Kitty Kari and Billy the hamster were it for her. Their small duplex had reached its capacity.

“I’m sorry.” The doctor turned to Dana as Josh Redmond took a seat. “I was just coming out to tell you that we traced the tag to an address out on the reservation. Sheriff Richards knew the place. It’s been boarded up for about a week. The family left no forwarding address.”

So Little Guy had been abandoned.

“You want to keep him until we find a home?” Dr. Tate asked Dana. “I’d take him myself but our collie is getting up there in years and her health is failing. I’m afraid of what an energetic puppy would do to her at this point.”

Little Guy looked up at Dana. She’d have to buy a dog bowl. And puppy pads. A kennel to keep him in while she was attending class. But she’d need those things on hand, anyway, as the newest pet placement counselor of the Love To Go Around Program.

“I’ll give him a home.” Josh Redmond stood up. “If you don’t already have a permanent home in mind for him, that is. I’m new to town. I...live alone. And would like the company.”

Dana knew what it felt like to be alone.

“I’ll fill out whatever paperwork you need,” Josh said, his gaze moving between Dana and the vet. The earnestness in his voice caught at her emotions even more than the look in his eyes. He seemed to feel he had to convince them.

Dana recognized that note in his voice, almost as if he was trying to convince himself that he was good enough....

“I can do the home checks, if you like,” she offered.

And maybe she’d get a puppy for herself, too. One that was smaller and could live happily in a duplex.

Dr. Tate explained to Josh Redmond about the pet adoption program requirements. Adding that Dana would perform periodic home checks for the first month or so, and asking if that was all right with him.

“Absolutely,” the man said. He wasn’t smiling, but he seemed eager enough to take the puppy home with him.

Dana handed over the leash and, counselor packet hugged to her chest, ignored the sting of tears as she turned to go and leave Little Guy behind.

She’d best get better at turning the unwanted pets over to new families if she was going to be any good to the Love To Go Around program. And really, how selfish of her to think that she deserved all the stray love.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” the man’s voice sounded behind her.

“I already paid my bill,” she assured him, needing to get outside, to take a breath of fresh air. She’d be fine in a second.

“How are you going to visit him if you don’t know where he lives?” Josh Redmond asked.

Oh, right. Turning back, she waited patiently while the man wrote his address on a pad of paper Dr. Tate handed to him. She gave him her cell number, as well, in case he had any problems with the puppy. And she bent to kiss Little Guy goodbye.

“This address is only temporary,” he said as he handed her the piece of paper. “Until I can find something more permanent.”

Dana’s smile, while still shaky, wasn’t forced the second time she turned to go. She’d see Little Guy again. Very soon.

CHAPTER FOUR

“ARE YOU SURE I can’t get you something to eat?” Sitting outside at a picnic table in the little courtyard behind the clinic, Cassandra Montford was absolutely nothing like Josh had expected.

On the bench across from her, his knees beneath the cement tabletop avoiding hers, Josh shook his head. He’d chosen Cassie deliberately because she was one step away from blood relation. One step away from someone who would be directly affected by what he had to say.

“We’ve always got fresh veggies and sandwich fixings in the fridge,” Cassie said. “For days like today when there isn’t time for a proper meal.”

“You always this busy, then?”

“Sometimes.” The beautiful redhead took a bite of a sandwich and shrugged. “My partner, Zack, is out of town with his wife this week so things are a little more crazy than usual around here.”

His mind reeling with the knowledge that he had a four-legged creature waiting for him in a kennel inside that back door, Josh said, “I won’t keep you long.”

“What can I do for you?” Cassie asked.

She took a sip from a water bottle and offered him a bottle of his own. He declined that, too.

“I have a favor to ask,” he said, suddenly conscious of the fact that the pretty veterinarian had limited time to offer him and was already halfway through her sandwich. “Of sorts,” he amended.

He’d told himself he wasn’t going to ask anything of anyone.

And he wasn’t.

Not of material value, anyway.

“You said your place is only temporary. You’re new to town?” The doctor’s expression was serious.

“Yes.”

“Here to stay?”

“For now.”

Cassie Montford swallowed her last bite of sandwich and wrapped her hands around the plastic bottle, looking at him expectantly.

“I’m Josh Redmond.”

“I know. You said so. Should that mean something to me?”

“I’d hoped not, but I wasn’t sure. My mother promised me she’d stay out of things, but I wasn’t positive she had. It was also possible someone from here had done the same research she did.” Which had been another reason he’d waited to do this in person. He was hoping for anonymity and he wouldn’t have had any chance of success at all if his identity preceded him.