Rescued

by Linda Rettstatt

  “No. Tiffany returned to New York. I don’t expect her to be back. Ever.” Evan shifted uncomfortably. “Shouldn’t the dog be sedated by now?”

  Howard glanced at his watch. “I’ll check. Alex, can you give me a hand?”

  She gave Evan a look similar to the one she gave Walter when she wanted him to stay put. Xena lay in the kennel, eyes partially closed, breathing slowly. “I’ll go in first and make sure she’s out.”

  Once Alex was sure the dog was relaxed, she handed the puppies off to Howard. “The pups are definitely sick.” She brought out the dead puppy and placed it in a box. “I need to know what killed this one.”

  “I’d guess it’s parvo. But let’s get that mama dog into a carrier and in my truck. I’ll take her and the puppies to the clinic and check them all out. You’ll want to thoroughly disinfect this kennel.”

  “I will. Let me get a carrier.”

  Xena was safely in the carrier in the back of Howard’s truck and the puppies were loaded into a separate carrier. “Thanks, Howard. I’m sorry to call you out on a holiday. I hope I didn’t disrupt any plans.”

  “No. No plans.” He glanced to where Evan stood at the front door. “Alex, I think I may have put too much pressure on you. Do you think I could have another chance?”

  She shook her head. “You’re a great guy and I really like you, but I don’t see anything more between us.”

  He nodded. “Got it. I’ll give you a call tomorrow with the results of my exam and tests.”

  “Thank you.”

  She watched him drive off and then returned to the lobby where Evan waited. “We have to disinfect the kennel. We should disinfect the back of your SUV, too. If it’s parvo, I don’t want to take a chance of infecting Walter, although he’s been vaccinated.”

  “What’s parvo?”

  She explained the highly-contagious virus and how it spread. “That’s why we have to thoroughly clean and disinfect their kennel. They weren’t out among the other dogs, thank heavens.” She grabbed a broom, buckets, and bleach. “Let’s get to work. Put on a pair of those gloves.” She pointed to a stack of rubber gloves on a shelf.

  By the time they’d finished the kennels, Alex’s stomach was rumbling and both she and Evan were bathed in sweat. “Break time.”

  “Break? I thought we were finished. I have our picnic lunch next door.”

  “Almost. I have to bring the outside dogs back into their clean kennels, feed everyone and change out their water. Let’s finish this and take a short break, grab a drink and an energy bar.” She handed him a clean sponge and a bottle of disinfectant spray. “Why don’t you go and disinfect the back of your SUV? Spray this on both the carpet and the other surfaces and rub it in with the sponge. Don’t worry about the carpet. It’s color-safe.”

  They cleaned, had about ten minutes to snack, then she had him assist with bringing in and feeding the outside dogs. When the last dog was kenneled and fed and the sun beginning to fade, Evan asked, “Is it our turn? I’ll get our lunch…er…dinner.”

  She looked at him and then down at herself. “I don’t know about you, but I can’t eat until I shower and change clothes.”

  “I have a shower. Next door, in the upstairs apartment. The place isn’t ready to rent out yet, but I have some towels there, along with shower gel and shampoo. I’ll go ahead and shower. You come up when you’re finished here and you can shower while I get the food ready. Maybe I’ll run to my place and pick up Walter. He’s been cooped up all day and might enjoy a picnic.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  “I’ll leave the door unlocked.”

  Alex walked the kennels and returned a few dogs to the outside runs. Her t-shirt clung to her and sweat had platted her hair against her face and neck. Her heart ached for the sick puppies Howard had picked up. Parvo treatment was grueling and sometimes a puppy was too weak to survive. She could only pray for those little ones.

  Every muscle in her body complained as she crossed the parking lot and climbed the steps to the second-floor apartment. She opened the door and stepped inside, reveling in the air conditioning. The space held no furniture, but two saw horses sat in the center of the open living area. Across the room, a door stood open to another space. The bedroom she assumed. A closed door to the left of that was either the bathroom or a closet. Her question was answered when the door opened and Evan came out followed by a cloud of steam and wearing only a pair of cargo shorts.

  He stopped abruptly. “Oh, sorry.” He pulled a t-shirt on over his head, finger-combed his hair.

  Alex tried to remember to breathe. She held the jeans and clean shirt, along with a plastic bag that held a change of underwear. She’d learned to keep a full change of clothes on hand at the shelter because, many times, she got a call and returned to the shelter filthy and sweaty.

  Evan stood there, looking like a male model, and she wondered how he stayed in shape when he spent most of his time around food.

  “Alex?”

  “Uh—huh?”

  “I said the shower’s all yours. There are clean towels on the wall rack. No hair dryer, I’m afraid.”

  She lifted her hand and dragged her hair back from her face. “I can manage without one. Thanks.” The large, empty room seemed to have shrunk. She inched past him as if he might bite. It wasn’t until she stripped off her dirty clothes and stepped into the shower that she let out a breath. She leaned against the shower stall. The man was gorgeous. Not overly muscled like those guys who lived at a gym. Just nicely put together.

  She turned the knob and cool water sprayed over her. She needed a cool down, not so much because of the work but because of the last five minutes. The attraction she felt to Evan was almost palpable. But there was still the matter of that little voice in her head warning her not to trust him, that he would only leave.

  She dressed and towel-dried her hair, then pulled a comb from her purse and did the best she could with it, deciding to leave it hanging loose to dry. As she descended the stairs and walked through the restaurant, she heard Evan talking to someone. But when she reached the kitchen, no one else was there. “Who are you talking to?”

  He pointed to the screen door. “Walter. I can’t bring him into the kitchen, so I tied him outside.”

  The dog stood and yipped at her.

  “He’s really calmed down. You’re doing a great job with him.”

  “Thank you.” His gaze slid over her, settling on her face. “I like your hair down like that.”

  “Oh. Well, not much I can do with it until it dries. Can I help with lunch?”

  “Nope.” He turned and placed plates into a picnic basket. “All ready. Shall we?”

  She went out the back door and untied the leash, leading Walter across the parking lot and through the gate to the visiting area. The sky had turned a soft gold and the air cooled. “If I turn you loose, do you promise not to jump the fence?”

  “He won’t leave as long as there’s food on hand.” Evan placed the picnic basket on the table under the canopy. “And, don’t worry—no chicken bones.” He set out the spread, including two wineglasses and a chilled cabernet.

  “Wow, this is a picnic? Where are the bologna sandwiches and potato chips?”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “You want a bologna sandwich when you have one of the top chef’s of Cade’s Point serving you dinner?”

  She laughed and glanced around. “Is Uncle Jack here?”

  “Oooh. I’d be insulted, except that I have a great respect for Jack and his culinary skills.” He poured wine into the glasses and handed one to her. “A toast.”

  “To what?”

  His gaze locked with hers and he lifted his glass. “New beginnings?”

  She bit on her lower lip, deciding, and clinked her glass against his. “New beginnings.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “That was delicious.” Alex stacked the plates—real plates—back into the picnic basket. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.
What do you say we walk off this food? I think Walter would enjoy a little exercise.”

  “Walk where?”

  “Around town, some of the residential streets. You can show me a few of the historic sites I may have missed.” He picked up the basket. “I’ll take this inside and do the dishes later.”

  “Sure. Let me get Lambchop. He’ll enjoy a nice walk, too. And he and Walter are buddies.”

  They wound their way through the main business district—all two blocks square, then down one of the side streets. Lights glowed in house windows and cicadas thrummed a pulsing rhythm through the trees.

  “I’m glad everyone came back for your second grand opening,” Alex said. “And how about that review by Carson Bentley?”

  “Yeah, how about that? I think he was afraid of another assault with champagne by a crazed waitress?”

  “Me? I’m not crazed.”

  He laughed. “But you do a good imitation.”

  She punched his arm. “I think he genuinely enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Business has been good?”

  “Very. Beth Ann is a good Sous Chef and has some great recipes of her own.”

  “How is Ludean’s niece working out as a hostess?”

  “She’s wonderful. It helps that she knows just about everyone and they love her. I’m getting the hang of this small-town living.”

  “You think you’ll stick around?”

  He hesitated, then asked, “Would you like that?”

  “I…uh…yeah. I mean, we need a good restaurant in town. Especially since Uncle Jack’s been hinting he might want to retire and close the Out Back.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, but don’t say anything. He hasn’t decided.”

  They walked in silence. Alex was aware she hadn’t answered his question. “It’s getting dark and the mosquitoes are coming out. Should we turn back?”

  “Good idea.”

  They reached the park in the center of town when, in the distance, fireworks exploded overhead. Alex gasped and pointed up. “Oh, look.”

  “Let’s sit and watch.” Evan motioned toward the gazebo in the small park. “Up there.”

  They sat facing one another, turning on the bench to watch the fireworks display.

  “I love fireworks. When we were kids, Grandad would take us for ice cream, then we’d drive down by the river and sit in the back of his pick-up truck and watch the fireworks display at the high school stadium.”

  “You have a lot of wonderful memories from your childhood.”

  “I do.” She looked at him. “Don’t you?”

  “Not so many. I do remember one New Year’s Eve, though. My father was away on business and got stuck at the airport in Denver. My mother took us into the city for the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square. There was music, confetti, fireworks. Thousands of people. It was the most fun I’d ever had. I think I was eleven at the time. Of course, my brother told my dad and he and Mom argued about it. I wish I’d had more times like that with her.”

  “You miss her.”

  He nodded. “Often.” He cleared his throat and asked, “What about your mother? Have you heard anything more from her or your father?”

  “No. I think she got what she wanted and she’s done.”

  “You mean that she got to see you?”

  “I sent her a check. Not even a thank you note. Of course, I didn’t give her my address, but she knows how to reach me through the grill.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  The fireworks finale exploded in the sky with a series of whistles and streaking lights and loud bangs. The dogs whimpered and huddled together.

  Alex stared at the flashes and said, “Did you ever notice how the finale is both sad and fantastic? I’m never sure how to feel when the show ends.”

  “Maybe an ending is just an opportunity for a new beginning. Like turning a page to a new chapter.” Evan took one of her hands in his. She turned her head and met his gaze. He leaned in and kissed her. A soft, but sure kiss. Deliberate. Inviting.

  Alex felt her body mold into his as if beyond her control. She parted her lips and deepened the kiss. His arms wrapped around her and she wound her arms around his neck. It felt right being here in this place, in this moment in time with Evan Whiting. It felt as if a missing piece had fallen into place. When the kiss ended, she settled her head onto his chest and listened to his heart. It beat strong and steady. Her own heart seemed to be racing.

  His arms tightened around her. “Alex?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I think the fireworks are over.”

  She lifted her head and looked into his dark eyes. “I thought they were just beginning.” And with that, she pressed her lips to his.

  He laughed into the kiss, sending a vibration through her. She laughed with him.

  *

  Alex awoke with a smile the following morning. She dreamed about Evan and about what a new beginning might look like. In the dream, he’d been kissing her. When she opened her eyes, however, it was Sippi’s face that loomed close to hers. She wiped a hand over her mouth. “Sip, do you have to do that?”

  The cat blinked at her and meowed as if to say, “Oh, good. You’re up.”

  Alex stretched and glanced at the clock. She needed to call Howard about Xena and her puppies, then get to the shelter. But she gave herself a few more minutes to linger with the memories of last night in Evan’s arms. His embrace had made her feel warm and safe. At home. Things shifted between them last night. Or was that her wall falling down? They’d held hands as they walked back to the shelter. He’d helped her do a final check on each of the animals, before shutting down for the night. Which reminded her that she needed to call the electrician. Evan had expressed a concern about the outdoor motion light in the back, questioning a possible short. She had thought the flickering was normal, a reaction to subtle motion. She would take care of that later. Right now she wanted to remember how their night had ended.

  At her car, he’d leaned in and kissed her once more. A soft, sweet kiss. He hadn’t been demanding or pushed for more. If anything, she’d been the one to push past her own boundaries and kiss him back. They were getting to know one another on a new level and the pace seemed just right. And so foreign to her. Most guys would have taken her acceptance of a kiss as an open door. But Evan hadn’t. He’d left her feeling warm and fuzzy and smiling. But he’d left, not pressed for more.

  She stretched and the cats both leaped off the bed, taking it as a signal breakfast would soon be served. The cats danced around her feet while she filled their bowls. She popped a K-cup into her brewer and made coffee. When she opened her back door, a pleasant breeze—cool for this time of year—wafted inside. Alex stepped out with her coffee and closed her eyes. Cade’s Point was home, had always been home. She’d never want to live anywhere else.

  A knock sounded on her front door. She wasn’t exactly presentable for guests, but who showed up at seven-fifteen in the morning? She checked her hair in the mirror in the powder room on her way by. She opened the front door and stood behind it, peering around the corner. Her boxer shorts and tank top weren’t appropriate attire for receiving a guest.

  Lex stood with his hands shoved into his pockets. “I’m sorry for showing up like this so early. I was afraid if I called, you’d refuse to talk with me.”

  “And you would have been right.”

  “May I come in for a few minutes? There’s something I have to say.”

  “You’ll have to wait while I get dressed.” She closed the door in his face and went to her bedroom where she pulled on a bra, t-shirt and jeans. She didn’t bother with shoes.

  When she opened the door wider this time, he stepped inside.

  “Would you like a cup of coffee?” she asked.

  “Love some.” He followed her to the kitchen. “Nice place. Cozy.”

  “I like it.”

  She motioned for him to sit at the small dinette table while she brewed his coffee. “You have som
ething to say?”

  Lex cleared his throat and wove his fingers together, hands on the table. “I’m sorry how things went with your mother. I came to tell you she’s gone.”

  “Gone? You mean she died?” Her hands trembled.

  “No, no. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have phrased it that way. I mean she left. After you came to see her, I had to return to Atlanta for business. When I got back to New Orleans, she was gone.”

  Alex sat across from him wrapping her fingers around the coffee mug. “I sent her money.”

  “Oh.” He shook his head.

  “I recently came into an inheritance. I know Star found out about it. That’s no doubt what prompted this whole thing.” She narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t know about the money?”

  “Not at all. I was surprised when she contacted me. Even more so when she told me about you.” His gaze locked on hers. “I was happy to learn about you, even if it was so late. I would have liked to see you grow up.” His eyes misted. “I wish my mother had lived long enough to know she had a granddaughter.”

  Despite her efforts, tears stung Alex’s eyes.

  “I didn’t know much about your history with your mom, only what she told me. I had the impression you two had had a falling out and stopped talking to one another. I didn’t know all of it until after you and your sister visited. I made Starlet tell me the whole truth. I’m so sorry.”

  Alex shrugged. “It isn’t that much of a surprise to me.”

  Lex nodded. “You thought I was part of a plot with your mother because of your inheritance?”

  “It was a logical conclusion.”

  He sat back in his chair. “Alex, I’m the President and CEO of a Fortune 500 company based in Atlanta. That is to say, I don’t want or need your money. I married once and have two boys, both in college in New England. My wife and I are divorced, but family means a lot to me. And I consider you to be my family.”

  This news took the wind out of her. “I have brothers? Well, half-brothers?” She shook her head. “Wait, how do I even know you’re my father?”