by Theresa Weir
It wasn’t working all week, either. I thought you could use some time. You know…to get used to having me around.
She turned very slowly. Mosey sat in a slumped sitting position, his wrinkles arguing with gravity as they slowly settled down toward his tail. Ninna couldn’t help backing up slightly. She was fascinated by him. She’d never been this close to his breed…and didn’t plan to get any closer. She’d made wide circles around the dog to avoid accidentally coming into contact with him. He creeped her out, unlike some of the other breeds she’d been happy to touch and cuddle. All those wrinkles…they so weren’t working for her. She shuddered.
Many animals were foreign to her. Two weeks on the job hadn’t been enough to change that. She wanted to be an animal person, and cuddling the kitten she’d returned to Stuart had felt good. Yet she knew from experience that wanting something didn’t make it so, at least not overnight.
Dogs still made her uncomfortable. She could probably blame that on Mosey for the moment.
Are you done yet? You keep going around in circles. Get over yourself.
Ninna lifted her head and stared at him. “Easy for you to say. You’re obviously comfortable around people.”
Why not? It’s people that feed me, walk me and give me rides in cool vehicles.
Ninna stared. “That’s it? That’s the only thing you think about? Your comfort?”
Mosey’s front legs slid out from under him, and he dropped the rest of the way to the floor.
What else is there?
The milk chocolate-colored wrinkles on his back jiggled back and forth like pudding before coming to a slow stop. She shook her head to remove that image. “Lots,” she snapped.
“Sorry, Ninna. Did you say something?” Stuart stopped in front of her, a puzzled look on his face.
Heat crept up over her face. “Just talking to myself again,” she muttered. With a heavy sigh, she added, “Sorry, it’s a bad habit.”
He grinned. “No problem. It’s kinda cute, actually.” With that stunning remark, he returned to one of the many rooms in the back. Even after all this time at the Center, her radar flashed on every time he came and went, like a traffic light. She was an idiot.
So he thought talking to herself was cute, huh?
Get over it. He will.
She gasped. “Oh, that’s so mean.”
Whatever. Mosey rolled onto his side, his breath gusting out in a heavy movement. His jowls appeared to re-form into a grin.
Ninna shuddered. She was an idiot. Somehow she’d found it easier to speak to a talking dog than to relax about looking after him. Or were the nerves due to the promise of her future date with Stuart?
Stupid, she thought.
Yeah. You’re not kidding.
“Oh, shut up.” Lifting her head, she spun around, hoping no one else had heard her. Thankfully the open office was empty. “You’re making me crazy.”
Can’t make something that already is.
Her back stiffened and she glared at Mosey. The last thing she needed was to have a dog, or anyone, call her crazy. Bad enough she thought it herself.
Stuart returned to her desk. “So can I give you a lift home tonight? I noticed you’ve been walking to work lately. I’ll need to get moving as soon as I show you around and give you the instructions. I’d hoped to have more time, but it’s not looking good at this point.”
Ninna tore her eyes off Mosey and stared at Stuart, mentally trying to shift to the new topic. He’d noticed her walking? Right. This weekend. He was leaving…
She swallowed. “Sure.” Checking the clock, she realized it was quitting time. “Are you sure you want to leave your animals in my hands? I really don’t know what I’m doing.”
He flashed her that devilish grin and her heart sighed. “What better way for you to learn than to give this a try? You’re thinking about getting a dog, so this is perfect.”
She winced. “I wish those damn break-ins would stop. I don’t think I slept at all last night.”
“Tonight you will. The dogs will keep any intruders at bay.”
She glanced at the two dogs at his side. The three-legged one didn’t appear to notice his disability. He ran around the same as the other. Mosey should be the one running. He might lose a pound or two.
Exactly why I don’t. I’m perfect the way I am.
She glared at him, then remembered herself, and quickly switched on a smile. “Maybe.”
“I’m offering a good night’s sleep,” Stuart wheedled. “You won’t be sorry. And if you sleep over at my house, the animals are calmer.”
She stood up and grabbed her windbreaker and purse. “Except there is nothing like sleeping in your own bed.”
“True, if you’re actually sleeping.”
There was no way to argue with that.
Stuart motioned to the back door. “Let’s go this way and I’ll lock up as I go.” As he talked he checked the various locks and doors.
“Are break-ins a problem here?” It surprised her as she watched him check the security so closely. She’d never expected an animal clinic to have issues like that.
He shot her a frustrated look. “We keep drugs on hand. There’s always a problem with junkies. Unfortunately, it’s like anywhere else. Where there’s opportunity, there will be people to take advantage.”
Before she’d realized it, they were standing in front of his Jeep. He unlocked her side, then opened his door and let the dogs into the back. She hopped in and struggled with the seatbelt. Considering there was no roof, she definitely wanted to be buckled in, even if the drive was only a few blocks.
Stuart did a lot of running around, so it made sense for him to drive to work daily. For herself, walking to work meant fresh air, exercise, a chance to relax and unwind, and it saved gas money. Now that she’d successfully concluded her first two weeks at her new job, she’d settled into a routine. At least no axe had fallen on her head for screwing up. That was good, but it would take longer for her to feel like she really belonged.
“I’ll drive straight home, if you don’t mind. After I show you around, you can run home and get anything you might need for an overnight stay.” He grinned at her. “I kinda like the idea of you sleeping in my house.”
She rolled her eyes at his nudge to stay overnight. And her insides fluttered at his innuendo. He did have a point, though about this weekend. A good night’s sleep would be wonderful.
“Sure, I can do that.” Even as she said that, Stuart pulled into his driveway. He pushed a button on his visor and the garage door lifted. Pulling in, he parked and hopped out while she was still looking for the seatbelt release.
Getting out slowly, she waited for Stuart to open the door to the house. As soon as he pushed it open, a small white dog, something like a hairy dachshund, ran out.
“That one is Goober.” Stuart hit a switch by the door, closing the garage door. “He loves everyone, but he gets overexcited when I take him into the Center so I usually leave him home.”
“Hi, Goober,” she said, then turned to Stuart. “I don’t remember seeing him last time.” Ninna couldn’t resist bending over to scratch the wiggling white bundle as it did its best to trip her up. Maybe she was loosening up a bit, at least around the small breeds.
Ninna followed Stuart inside. Once again, she was hit by the sheer vastness of the house compared to her little nugget. She loved her home, but had to admit it was on the snug side. Jane was right. This place would hold three houses like hers.
“Sorry if the place is messy. I’ve been rushed to get ready for my trip. Normally, I bring the housecleaning service in on the weekend, but I didn’t want to have that as another thing for you to look after.”
Housecleaning service? Was he nuts? No, just single, male and with a hell of a lot more money than she had. And, she had to admit that with all the animals, a cleaning service was just plain sensible.
Stuart led her into the kitchen where he handed her a list of instructions. While she read, he ra
ttled them off the top of his head. “The dogs get fed twice a day. There’s dry kibble here in the pantry.” He opened the door and showed her. “Once a day, I open a can and split it amongst their bowls. Put the dry kibble in first, then the can, then add some water and stir everything up. That way they’ll lick the bowl clean. Not that it’s much of a problem with dogs. You can see on the paper, I have down two amounts here. One amount for the larger two and a smaller amount for the rest. Give the larger dogs their bowls first then the smaller ones. Don’t worry if one doesn’t clean it all up. I can guarantee you that the other dogs will finish it.”
He rambled on about the dog’s routines, including feeding and exercise. Ninna tried to file his words away, knowing she’d forget the minute he left. Thank heavens he’d written it all down. How hard could this be?
Not. Just don’t forget my double portions. I gotta keep my figure.
Ninna refused to face Mosey, and focused instead, on Stuart’s rapid-fire instructions.
“Now for the two kittens—”
“Two?”
“Yes, there’s Blackster here and his new friend…” Stuart picked up a little kitten sleeping in a cushion-type basket she hadn’t even seen. “This guy is Tiny. He’s another runt and exceptionally small for his age. He’s doing fine and with a few months of good food, he’s liable to outgrow his siblings.”
Ninna couldn’t resist cooing over the miniature bundle. She’d never seen anything so adorable. Not black, not brown, but some mottled mix of colors. On top of that, he had huge eyes. “He’s gorgeous.” She placed the list on the counter and reached out to take the little kitten. “You’re making me realize what I’ve missed all my life.”
“Every child should have a family pet. It’s an American tradition.”
Ninna laughed. “That was the problem, then. My parents were killed in a small plane crash, so I lived with my aunt from the age of six. She had allergies. More than that, she was very stern and strict. Animals would never have been allowed inside.”
His grin widened. “Now you have all weekend to make up for it and decide what you’d like to have in your own home.”
Ninna smiled as a warm spot in her heart grew. Tiny yawned, and she saw the same mottled color inside his mouth. “This guy is definitely adoptable.”
“All kittens are. Our problem at the Center stems from having too many adult cats. They’re old enough to have lost their cuteness, but young enough they have a lot of years of love left to give. It’s this age group that can fill a shelter. Then there are the old timers—cats that are over eight years old that still have years left. No one wants them because they are older.”
Ninna dropped a gentle kiss on Tiny’s head and returned him to Stuart’s hands. After that, it was a fast trip though the house, which was starting to look more as a pet facility, as it included two birds in a cage, and…oh gross, a snake. From the doorway Ninna gaped at the reptile in a glass cage and refused to enter the room.
Stuart laughed. “I just wanted you to know this guy is here. He’s been fed and is good until I get back.”
Ninna tilted her head as she stared at the sunning snake with revulsion. “Good thing, because I’d have been out of here, otherwise.”
“He has a cut on his back. It’s healing and I have this perfect window with a great balance of sun and shade for him.”
“Lucky him,” she muttered, backing up and out of the room.
With a chuckle, he grabbed her arm and urged her toward the staircase. “Upstairs is your bedroom. Look on this as a weekend away.”
Ninna refrained from answering. At the second floor, Stuart opened a door to a large guest bedroom. Huge windows overlooked the street. She had to admit, sleeping higher than the ground floor would be nice for a change. She remembered the shadowy figure from the night before… How would she manage to go back to her house again if she let fear beat her?
And what’s wrong with a mini holiday?
Recognizing the voice, Ninna hunched her shoulders. At least she had the foresight to not answer.
“Everything you need should be here. I’ve put several towels on the dresser for you.” He checked his watch as he finished speaking, concern wrinkling his features. “I’m sorry, but I have to run to catch my plane. The seminar is over Sunday afternoon, so I should be back by nine that night. I promise I’ll get home as fast as I can.”
She trailed behind him as he went downstairs, only now noticing the packed suitcase by the front door. He went over the simple security system then turned to face her.
“You’ll be fine. What’s your cell phone number?” He pulled a cell phone and entered the number she reeled off and told her he added it to his list of contacts. “Good. I’ll call you in the morning.” He pulled out a small notebook and wrote something down before ripping it off and giving it to her. “This is where I’m staying and this is my cell. Call me if you need me. If I can’t answer right away, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
He studied her for a brief moment. He must have seen the panicked look on her face, because he said, “You’ll be fine, honest. And thanks, I really appreciate you helping me out.”
He surprised her with a light kiss on her cheek, and with that, he was gone. Ninna stood in the doorway with the dogs milling around her legs, until Stuart reversed down the driveway and took off around the corner of the block. The garage door closed automatically, giving an added oomph to the sense of loneliness she felt in the huge house.
Great, so now what? A walk? A brushing? I know, how about some dinner?
Ninna glared down at Mosey. “How about none of those? How about I go back to my place and try to forget about you guys for an hour or so, huh? How does that sound?”
Sounds cowardly to me. With those words, the oversized Mosey did his famous slumping act to the tiled floor.
Oh, I’m so hungry. Feed me! Feed me!
* * *
Walking into her own home a half hour later, Ninna dropped off the lunch containers she had stashed in her oversized purse. After being in Stuart’s home, her house appeared tiny and more cramped than ever. A good night’s sleep in the guest room across the street was very tempting, and the dogs probably did better with company. After all, she did, so it made sense they would, too.
Changing into jeans and t-shirt helped her relax and slip into the whole ‘I’m home after a day at the office’ feeling. As grateful as she was for the job, it was just a job. Grabbing her latest mystery book from the library, she threw together a small overnight bag, locked up and headed to Stuart’s house. He had a huge TV, comfy circular couch and animals for company. She’d be stupid not to take advantage.
When she’d crossed the road, she’d been amazed at the view from his side of the street. From her side, she could only see the large wealthy homes. From his side of the street, looking across at her house and neighbours it presented the poster picture for that old saying of living on the wrong side of the tracks.
The dogs started barking as she walked up the driveway. Even though she knew how many dogs were inside, their barks made her steps falter. She couldn’t imagine an intruder thinking Stuart’s house was worth the trouble, not when her side of the street offered so much easier access. Then again, her side of the street probably offered less in profits too.
Unlocking the front door and actually getting past the wiggling bodies was another trick. The dogs were hungry and probably needed to go for their walk soon. She shouldn’t have drawn out her visit home.
Ya think? The next time you need to go to the bathroom, we’ll make you wait another hour before you get to go.
Embarrassed by his comment, she headed into the kitchen and the food dishes. Opening the kitchen door, she let the dogs out into the backyard then she sorted out their meals. Grabbing her instruction list, she doled out the food to the dogs, then the cats and the birds. She refused to open the door to the room that housed the snake. When she was finished, she walked into the spare bedroom she’d been offered.
That’s when she saw it—an attached bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub.
That was it. Decision made. She’d holiday here for the night.
* * *
Hours later, she realized getting to sleep hadn’t been a problem, but getting back to sleep after waking up proved to be. Ninna checked the MP3 player she’d brought with her. Just after 2:00 in the morning. She groaned. I hate waking up in the middle of the night. Hate it, hate it, hate it! She rolled over and pulled the covers over her shoulders. The downside of being in the huge house was the chill factor. It was summer, but the nights were cool. In her little house, the heat stayed fairly constant. Not here.
Lying there, she realized another problem. She had to go to the bathroom. Damn.
Hopping up, she raced to the bathroom. When she finished, she walked back just as quickly. Almost to the bed, she veered off to look out the window. The moonlight, peeking through the clouds, shone down on the street. Walking to the next window, she studied the area and picked out her own little house on the right. She smiled. It looked cute like that.
Then she saw it.
Movement.
Around the front of her house, a shadow slid along the wall to where her bedroom window was. Her heart pounded. Shit. Was that an intruder? Was her house being broken into just because she’d decided to spend the night here?
Boy, are you stupid. What if you were home right now? This guy would be watching you sleep. Or worse.
Ninna spun around to see Mosey standing in her doorway. “What do you mean?”
What if he’s not trying to break in?
Ninna shook her head. As she watched, Mosey lifted a back leg to scratch his rib and lost his balance. “What do you know? You’re just a chubby dog.”
A chubby watch dog, thank you.
She glared at him. “The only thing you guard is your damn food dish.”
Go ahead and make fun of me. See if I care. The intruder isn’t walking around my house, looking for me.
“Looking for me?” Ninna spun to look back out the window, horrified at the concept. “It can’t be. We’ve had a run of break-ins in the neighbourhood. Everyone knows that.”
