A Hero to Love. Gail Chianese
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.”
“Dad doesn’t know how to do more than make a fried egg sandwich, and Mum can’t balance the checkbook to save her life.”
She buried her nose in Buggsy’s fur before putting him back and lifting out Lolita. Thinking about her parents in their golden years unsettled her. If they got ill, how would she take care of them? Her place was too small, and they didn’t have the acreage for her animals at her childhood home.
Plus, they drove her utterly mad after five minutes.
“I think he knows more than he lets on, and your mom can use computer software that will figure out all the details for her, so stop worrying.” Fee’s tone, along with the eye-roll, pursed lips, and bored sighed, told her it was time to change the subject.
“Hey, did I tell you I’m going to adopt a mini?”
“A mini-what?”
“Horse.” Risa put Lolita back in her pen and secured the top to make sure her babies were safe from any wild predators. “Maybe Dylan would like to give me a hand on the weekends once I bring her home. It’s a great introduction for him.”
“Oh, like in that commercial where all the other horses shunned the poor little guy, so the woman put in a doggy door and the horse could come into the house?”
“Right, except I’m going to build her a barn.”
“Can you ride them? They’re kind of small.”
“Hence the word ‘mini.’ So no.”
“Then what on earth are you going to do with it?”
Risa sighed loudly. She loved Fee, who was a great friend, but totally didn’t get her love of animals. “I’m going to train her to be a service animal like I did with the dogs, and if that doesn’t work, she’ll be a companion for the next horse I adopt.”
Fee laughed and shook her head. “Adopt away. The more animals you have, the less likely you’ll fall for some sweet-talking sailor and leave me.”
“No worries there. You know I have a strict no-dating-military-guys rule.” Which was almost a shame, because Jax had been nearly perfect—tall, good-looking with a quiet, commanding presence, those mesmerizing hazel eyes, and a devotion to his dog. What more could a woman want?
Not much, if only that woman wasn’t Risa.
* * * *
Risa had just rounded the corner after leaving Bella in her kennel when she collided and tripped over a bag of dog food. The floor rose up. She reached out and grabbed ahold of the desk and… Oh dear Lord, Jackson’s pants.
More precisely, the area below the waist and way above